MLB Showdown 2013: Catcher 

Player	On	Points	Speed	Field	HR	Triple	Double	Single+	Single	Walk	FB	GB	K
Joe Mauer	10	350	B(14)	8	0	0	18-20	0	9-17	4-8	3	1-2	0
Yadier Molina	9	300	B(14)	8	20	0	16-19	0	7-15	5-6	2-4	1	0
Chris Iannetta	9	260	B(14)	3	20	0	18-19	0	13-17	6-12	5	4	1-3
Yan Gomes	8	330	B(13)	8	18-20	0	15-17	0	7-14	5-6	4	2-3	1
Derrick Norris	8	280	A(18)	5	20	0	18-19	0	10-17	5-9	4	0	1-3
Jarrod Saltalamachia	8	230	C(10)	4	19-20	0	15-18	0	10-14	6-9	0	0	1-5
Brian McCann	8	230	C(11)	4	18-20	0	17	0	10-16	6-9	3-5	2	1
Jason Castro	8	180	C(11)	4	20	0	17-19	0	10-16	3-9	0	0	1-2
Dioner Navarro	8	180	C(10)	5	19-20	0	0	0	8-18	3-7	1-2	0	0
Wellington Castillo	8	170	C(11)	5	20	0	18-19	0	8-17	3-7	2	0	1
John Jaso	8	140	B(16)	2	0	0	18-20	0	9-17	3-8	2	1	0
Russell Martin	7	210	B(14)	8	19-20	0	17-18	0	11-16	5-10	4	3	1-2
Jose Loboton	7	190	B(13)	2	19-20	0	16-18	0	10-15	7-9	6	4-5	1-3
Salvador Perez	7	170	B(13)	7	20	19	16-18	0	7-15	6	4-5	1-3	0
Carlos Ruiz	7	80	C(9)	5	20	0	18-19	0	9-17	7-8	5-6	1-4	0
Gerald Laird	7	40	C(8)	7	0	0	18-20	0	9-17	3-8	0	0	1-2
Wil Nieves	7	30	C(10)	5	0	0	18-20	0	8-17	7	6	0	1-5
Wilin Rosario	6	210	B(15)	6	17-20	0	15-16	0	5-14	0	4	0	1-3
Wilson Ramos	6	180	C(10)	5	17-20	0	15-16	0	8-14	5-7	0	1-4	0
Hank Conger	6	140	B(13)	4	19-20	0	16-18	0	9-15	6-8	4-5	3	1-2
Alex Avila	6	120	C(9)	3	19-20	0	17-18	0	8-16	4-7	0	0	1-3
AJ Ellis	6	110	B(13)	8	20	0	17-19	0	12-16	4-11	0	2-3	1
Miguel Montero	6	60	C(9)	6	20	0	19	0	12-18	4-11	0	0	1-3
Ryan Hanigan	6	50	C(12)	9	0	0	19-20	0	13-18	6-12	4-5	1-3	0
Breyan Pena	6	30	C(9)	4	0	0	18-20	0	5-17	4	0	1-3	0
Matt Weiters	5	150	B(15)	7	17-20	0	13-16	0	8-12	6-7	3-5	2	1
AJ Pierzynski	5	140	B(13)	6	18-20	0	15-17	0	4-14	0	3	1-2	0
Tyler Flowers	5	130	B(14)	4	18-20	0	16-17	0	10-15	8-9	7	6	1-5
Nick Hundley	5	120	C(11)	5	18-20	0	14-17	0	8-13	5-7	0	0	1-4
David Ross	5	110	C(9)	5	18-20	0	15-17	0	9-14	3-8	0	0	1-2
Devin Mesoraco	5	110	C(10)	5	18-20	0	16-17	0	9-15	6-8	3-5	1-2	0
Mike Zunino	5	70	B(13)	3	19-20	0	18	0	10-17	5-9	0	0	1-4
Eric Kratz	5	70	C(10)	4	16-20	0	14-15	0	10-13	7-9	6	3-5	1-2
Josh Phegley	5	50	B(15)	6	20	0	19	0	9-18	8	4-7	2-3	1
Henry Blanco	5	50	C(8)	8	19-20	0	0	0	15-18	8-14	5-7	3-4	1-2
Kurt Suzuki	5	50	B(14)	2	20	0	17-19	0	9-16	5-8	2-4	1	0
Carlos Corporan	5	40	C(9)	4	19-20	0	0	0	12-18	6-11	0	0	1-5
Jeff Mathis	5	40	C(10)	6	20	0	18-19	0	10-17	7-9	6	5	1-4
John Buck	5	40	C(11)	5	19-20	0	18	0	11-17	6-10	5	4	1-3
Chris Stewart	5	20	B(14)	6	0	0	20	0	11-19	5-10	3-4	1-2	0
Jose Molina	5	10	C(8)	5	0	0	18-20	0	9-17	5-8	0	2-4	1
Tony Cruz	5	10	B(13)	6	0	0	20	0	9-19	7-8	5-6	2-4	1
Yorvit Torrealba	5	10	C(10)	5	0	0	17-20	0	10-16	6-9	4-5	1-3	0
JP Arencebia	4	20	B(13)	5	17-20	0	14-16	0	7-13	0	5-6	0	1-4

MLB Showdown 2013: Catchers

               The longer I do this, the more I am amazed at the types of seasons Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Piazza and Jason Kendall (for 3 years or so) were able to put up. Not that any class at any position looks like the 2000/2001 classes, but the catcher class looks much different. Joe Mauer has been the clear cut, best catcher in the league since we started. He had an average year by his standards with a .404 OBP, 11 homers and 35 doubles. Brian McCann has the odd stats for his generation by having noticeably more home runs than doubles the last 3 years (64 to 46 over the last 3 years and 20 to 13 last year). 20 homers for 6 straight years is nothing to sneeze at for a catcher. If your teams catcher seemed average that is likely true, as this year more than most the variability seemed very low. Thankfully this is a relatively slow year (7 of the 25 10s are speed A). So arm isn’t as important as years past.

Situational Hitting 

Two Showdown legends happen to Third base and another position. Whose career is a better Showdown career (not single card).

Thirdbase

Miguel Cabrera

2013

11

620

C(10)

2

18-20

0

17

0

11-16

3-10

2

1

0

Miguel Cabrera

2012

10

620

C(11)

2

17-20

0

14-16

0

8-13

5-7

3-4

2

1

Firstbase

Miguel Cabrera

2011

11

570

C(11)

0

19-20

0

16-18

0

10-15

4-9

2-3

1

0

Miguel Cabrera

2010

11

590

C(12)

0

18-20

0

16-17

0

12-15

4-11

2-3

0

1

Miguel Cabrera

2009

10

500

B(13)

0

18-20

0

16-17

0

9-15

6-8

3-5

2

1

Thirdbase

Alex Rodriguez

2013

7

240

B(16)

2

18-20

0

16-17

0

10-15

3-9

0

0

1-2

Alex Rodriguez

2012

8

240

B(13)

1

19-20

0

17-18

16

8-15

3-7

0

2

1

Alex Rodriguez

2011

9

300

C(12)

2

19-20

0

17-18

0

10-16

5-9

0

3-4

1-2

Alex Rodriguez

2010

8

340

B(13)

3

18-20

0

15-17

0

9-14

6-8

5

3-4

1-2

Alex Rodriguez

2009

10

470

B(17)

0

17-20

0

0

0

11-16

5-10

4

0

1-3

Shortstop

Alex Rodriguez	2001	10	640	B	4	17-20	0	15-16	14	10-13	3-9	0	2	1
Alex Rodriguez	2000P	10	550	B	4	18-20	0	16-17	15	11-14	4-10	0	3	1-2

Alex Rodriguez

2000

8

510

A

5

15-20

0

14

13

10-12

5-9

3-4

2

1

Alex Rodriguez*

1996

10

680

A(20)

3

18-20

0

14-17

13

11-12

4-10

3

0

1-2

* Custom card

Who is the better MLB Showdown player?
	Miguel Cabrera
	Alex Rodriguez
pollcode.com free polls

Last Week's Results

               Last week we posted 4 “flawed” players and asked you guys to say which was the most playable. This is an interesting question that basically which flaws are least detrimental. The four players were Ian Desmond. His flaw is that he costs more than 250 points for an 8 with SS+1. He has speed and some power by shortstop standards. At 310 points his question “is he worth it?” JJ Hardy like Desmond costs too much for a 220 point 6. He also has power with 17-20 HR. He also supplies a SS+5. That is a lot of points to pay for a 6-7-8 hitter. Elvis Andrus is a 7 with speed A(23) for 130 points. His SS+3 is average but has no homer and basically a weak chart all around. Pete Kozma has the advantage of being 20 points and having SS+4. His flaw is the worst (or tied for worst) offensive player at shortstop.

Card of the Week - 3/26/14

Having played with my 2000-01 Showdown cards exclusively until this year, I am finding that there are some cards in this year's set that just seem to fit the standard set by their team's cards from those earlier years.  They have charts that are almost exact replicas of their earlier team mates, or their position was strong or weak then and continues with the 2013 set.  This weeks card of the week fits more than any other card in this year's set.

MLB Showdown 2013: Thirdbase

Miguel Cabrera	11	620	C(10)	2	18-20	0	17	0	11-16	3-10	2	1	0
Josh Donaldson	10	470	B(15)	1	19-20	0	16-18	0	10-15	6-9	5	2-4	1
Adrian Beltre	10	460	B(13)	1	19-20	0	17-18	0	10-16	7-9	3-6	1-2	0
David Wright	10	450	A(20)	3	20	19	18	17	9-16	5-8	2-4	1	0
Aramis Ramirez	9	240	C(9)	2	20	0	18-19	0	8-17	3-7	2	1	0
Evan Longoria	8	350	B(16)	2	17-20	0	14-16	0	10-13	5-9	0	0	1-4
Kyle Seager	8	290	A(19)	1	19-20	0	16-18	15	9-14	6-8	3-5	0	1-2
Ryan Zimmerman	8	280	B(14)	0	18-20	0	16-17	0	9-15	5-8	0	4	1-3
Eric Chavez	8	280	C(9)	3	18-20	0	15-17	0	9-14	7-8	5-6	4	1-3
Chase Headley	8	250	B(16)	2	19-20	0	16-18	0	10-15	4-9	0	0	1-3
Juan Uribe	8	200	C(12)	3	19-20	0	17-18	0	10-16	7-9	5-6	4	1-3
Pablo Sandoval	8	190	C(12)	1	19-20	0	17-18	0	9-16	5-8	3-4	1-2	0
Luis Valbuena	8	170	C(11)	3	19-20	0	18	0	13-17	7-12	4-6	2-3	1
David Freese	8	170	B(13)	2	20	0	18-19	0	10-17	5-9	3-4	2	1
Alex Rodriguez	7	240	B(16)	2	18-20	0	16-17	0	10-15	3-9	0	0	1-2
Will Middlebrooks	7	240	B(14)	2	18-20	0	15-17	0	9-14	5-8	0	0	1-4
Donnie Murphy	6	220	B(15)	2	15-20	0	13-14	0	8-12	4-7	0	0	1-3
Cody Ashe	6	140	C(12)	1	18-20	0	15-17	0	11-14	7-10	5-6	0	1-4
Todd Frazier	6	140	B(14)	2	19-20	18	15-17	0	9-14	5-8	3-4	2	1
Manny Machado	6	120	B(16)	3	20	19	13-18	12	5-11	0	4	2-3	1
Trevor Plouffe	6	120	B(13)	1	19-20	0	17-18	0	9-16	6-8	4-5	3	1-2
Brett Lawrie	6	110	A(18)	2	20	19	17-18	16	9-15	5-8	3-4	1-2	0
Nolan Arenado	6	100	B(14)	3	20	19	16-18	0	9-15	7-8	5-6	1-4	0
Placido Polanco	6	40	C(12)	3	0	0	19-20	0	7-18	4-6	3	1-2	0
Pedro Alvarez	5	220	B(14)	0	13-20	0	10-12	0	6-9	4-5	0	0	1-3
Lonnie Chisenhall	5	90	B(14)	2	18-20	0	15-17	0	9-14	7-8	4-6	2-3	1
Matt Dominguez	5	70	C(12)	1	18-20	0	15-17	0	9-14	5-8	4-5	1-3	0
Mike Moustakas	5	20	B(14)	1	20	0	17-19	0	9-16	6-8	3-5	2	1
Cody Ransom	5	10	C(10)	1	20	0	18	0	13-18	6-12	5	0	1-4

MLB Showdown 2013: Thirdbase

               Third base didn’t have a triple crown winner this year but Cabrera only took a small step back. His homers stayed the same with 44. He lost 14 doubles from 40 to 26. He was hurt and lost 67 at-bats from the year before. Evan Longoria got healthy and had another great year though his defense seemed to suffer. His 32 homer, 2 triples, 39 2B helped carry the Rays to the playoffs. “The Bull” Pedro Alverez showed he was no fluke with 30 homers in 2012 when he hit 36 this past year. Manny Machado developed offensively. Many of us are hoping some of his 51 doubles turn into homers but this year interesting. David Wright is still a fantastic all-around player. Mets fans may describe him different than his stats define him but he is still great.

Situational Hitting

Anyone can see why sought after players are good. I like to see what not so sought after players do people think are good. 

Which of the following flawed players is most playable as a starter?
	Ian Desmond (Expensive 8 with bad fielding)
	JJ Hardy (Power and Fielding bad OB)
	Andrus (Speed, no power)
	Pete Kozma (20 point fielding, he is no Darwin Barney)
pollcode.com free polls

Last Week's Results

               I must admit I was surprised by the results of last week’s poll (thus far). Of the 11 votes cast there was a split between Pedroia as a lead-off man (no surprise) and Aaron Hill as a number 6 hitter in a line up. The surprise none winners include Darwin Barney and his 10 point 2B+5 self, taking 2 votes. The idea of punting at second base only makes sense with Barney but I did not think he would garner 2 votes. Scutaro has a cult following among our pinger players so his 1 vote was not shocking. I was shocked Robinson Cano only got 1 vote. My guess is players would ether bat him third or don’t like the 1-5 out for a guy who needs to be driving people in with hits.

Card of the Week - 3/19/14

This week, I am taking a suggestion from someone for the card of the week.  Since we are talking shortstops this week, and because I find this year's class of shortstops to be...'eh'....I figured I would take their suggestion and talk about one of the most unusual cards you will ever see in Showdown.

Don't get me wrong; the fact that it is unusual has not stopped people from drafting him over the years.  In fact, this card has been held in such high regard for what it offers that people are not afraid to take him, especially when they are looking for ways to save points.  The card I am talking about is....

MLB Showdown 2013: Shortstops

Player	On	Points	Speed	Field	HR	Triple	Double	Single+	Single	Walk	FB	GB	K
Troy Tulowitzki	10	460	B(15)	4	19-20	0	17-18	0	10-16	5-9	3-4	2	1
Hanley Ramirez	9	540	A(21)	2	18-20	0	15-17	14	6-13	3-5	2	0	1
Jose Reyes	9	350	A(21)	4	20	0	18-19	17	10-16	7-9	4-6	1-3	0
Evereth Cabrera	9	320	A(22)	4	0	20	18-19	15-17	10-14	79	6	1-5	0
Johnny Peralta	9	240	C(12)	4	20	0	17-19	0	9-16	5-8	3-4	0	1-2
Ian Desmond	8	310	A(20)	1	19-20	18	15-17	14	9-13	7-8	6	5	1-4
Stephen Drew	8	260	B(16)	5	20	17-19	14-16	0	9-13	6-8	5	0	1-4
Didi Gregorious	8	189	B(16)	3	20	19	16-18	0	10-15	7-9	3-6	0	1-2
Yunel Escobar	8	160	C(12)	5	20	0	18-19	0	10-17	7-9	5-6	1-4	0
Jean Segura	7	220	A(23)	3	20	17-19	15-16	12-14	4-11	3	0	1-2	0
Mark Ellis	7	140	B(15)	5	0	20	19	0	9-18	6-8	3-5	1-2	0
Elvis Andrus	7	130	A(23)	3	0	20	19	16-18	8-15	3-7	2	1	0
Jonathan Villar	7	100	A(20)	0	0	20	17-19	14-16	11-13	7-10	0	5-6	1-4
JJ Hardy	6	220	B(14)	5	17-20	0	14-16	0	7-13	6	4-5	1-3	0
Brandon Crawford	6	110	B(15)	3	20	0	17-19	0	9-16	5-8	0	2-4	1
Jurikson Profar	6	100	B(17)	4	20	0	18-19	0	10-17	6-9	4-5	2-3	1
Erick Aybar	6	40	A(20)	3	0	20	16-19	15	8-14	7	5-6	1-4	0
Jimmy Rollins	6	40	A(20)	4	0	0	17-20	16	9-15	4-8	2-3	1	0
Omar Quintella	6	20	B(14)	3	0	20	18-19	0	10-17	6-9	0	3-5	1-2
Alexi Ramirez	6	10	A(21)	0	0	0	17-20	15-16	6-14	5	4	1-3	0
Anderlton Simmons	5	150	A(18)	5	19-20	17-18	13-16	0	7-12	4-6	2-3	1	0
Asdrubal Cabrera	5	90	B(17)	4	19-20	0	14-18	0	7-13	3-6	2	0	1
Pedro Florimon	5	70	A(19)	2	20	0	19	0	9-18	6-8	5	2-4	1
Adeiny Heccheveria	5	70	A(18)	3	0	18-20	17	15-16	9-14	7-8	5-6	1-4	0
Starlin Castro	5	70	A(20)	0	20	0	15-19	0	9-14	7-8	5-6	3-4	1-2
Alcides Escobar	5	60	A(22)	3	0	20	18-19	16-17	7-15	0	4-6	1-3	0
Zach Cozart	5	60	B(14)	3	20	19	15-18	0	8-14	7	5-6	2-4	1
Eduardo Escobar	5	30	B(15)	2	0	20	19	0	10-18	7-9	4-6	1-3	0
Ruben Tejada	5	20	B(16)	2	0	0	18-20	0	12-17	7-11	4-6	1-3	0
Pete Kozma	5	20	B(13)	4	0	0	18-20	0	10-17	7-9	4-6	2-3	1