MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2014: Thirdbase

                Third base is such a fun position in the majors right now. Matt Carpenter was the guy who had the amazing year out of nowhere two years ago. I must admit he had a worse year this year hitting .272 with a .375 OBP with only 43 extra base hits. That is still pretty good all things considered. Adrian Beltre has had a very interesting career. He had his league leading 48 homer year in 2004 with the Dodgers. Moves to Seattle and never becomes the 48 homer a year player but has a bunch of 25 homer years there in obscurity. Has an injury plagued year at the end of that contract and comes to the Red Sox for one year where he wore out the Green Monster. Gets a nice contract in Texas where he has continued to be a great player. Last year hitting .324 with 19 homers and 33 doubles. With his 395 homers at age 37 he could make a realistic run at 500.

                Power hitters have an interesting decision. The best power hitter in this class is Josh Donaldson as an 8 OB 17-20 HR, 14-16 2B with speed A(19) and 3B+0 for 400 points. 400 points does not lock him into the 3-4 spots. He is a very enticing 5 hole hitter who can protect the bigger bats while his speed would allow him to score on some more slap hitting bottom of the orders. His speed usually is a turn off for most power hitters as it is just extra points. He also means Miguel Cabrera (Utility 3B/1B) has to play first. I like him but I wouldn’t take him until Neil Walker (2B) is taken. The 50 points to trade a homer for a double is probably a better fit for less speed. For a 6 or 7 hitter I really like Evan Longoria as a 7 OB, 18-20 HR, 16-17 2B with speed B(15) and 3B+1 for 240 points.  Also Nolan Arenado as an 8 OB, 18-20 HR, 15-17 2B as a speed B(15) for 290 points is a better bargain but likely is more of a solid 6 hitter than 5.

                Pingers are targeting Casey McGehee as their prototype. He has the 9 OB, 18-20 2B with speed B(15) and 3B+3 for 260 points. I know most would like him to have a 20 homer but this is about as close to a prototype as Pingers will get this year. He is a perfectly fine player who fits the mold. Moneyballers however get a perfect player in Matt Carpenter with his 10 OB, 20 3B, 18-19 2B, speed B(15) and 3B+1 for 310 points. The Pingers could jump for him but this is the player that Moneyballers will covet. If they fall through maybe Headley. Chase Headley is really the man without a team. He doesn’t fit the power hitters with his 9 OB, 19-20 HR. His speed B(15) scares off speed guys with a +11 single. 460 points scares of Pingers and Moneyball players. Someone will take him but I am not sure if he has a true home.

                Speed Players have a choice. Adrian Beltre is a great 4 hitter as a 10 OB, 20 HR, 17-19 2B, 9-16 2B with speed B(13) and 3B+3 for 410 points. He can easily bat behind Trout/McCutchen and drive them in. Of course he won’t steal himself but he can drive in the 1-2-3 hitters who stole in front of him and get a ton of RBI for the price tag. Carpenter doesn’t work here. Donaldson is fun but likely too may points for not the type of production you want. For 340 points Kyle Seager offers 8 OB, 18-20 HR, 17 3B, 15-16 2B with speed A(19) and 3B+3 for 340 points. He is a nice 5-6 hitter. David Wright as a 7 OB, 20 HR, 16-19 2B with speed A(19) and 3B+1 for 140 points is a nice semi-punt option. He can bat late and still steal bases and score cheap runs.

                Chris Johnson as a 5 OB, 10 point 3B+3 is a decent bench player if you get Donaldson or Chisenhall with 3B+0. David Freese as a 18 point, 7 OB pinch hitter is also a nice option. No speed off the bench and no one under 6 points with a discount. Look to pick someone who is going to stay in the game a vast majority of the time. 

*** this is new and has been retro-actively added to 1B/2B/SS

Player Colby would add (4 of 10): Chipper Jones 2000. This has been the hardest selection so far. This class breaks up very nicely where most players will get someone they want. What they don’t have is a player that will perform well at the highest level but is severely over costed. Is Fernando Tatis the same player for 40 points less? I would say so but I think that actually makes him a worse pick. I would put Chipper in because he is for the guy on pick 15 who realized he still has 1,500 points to spend. He runs well, fields well, hits for power. He will be an MVP candidate in any league… just not for cheap.