Previously we have looked at the rest of the IF positions around the NL East. Today the Hot Corner. This one should be fun.
#5 Placebo Placido Polanco: Declining counting stats, declining slash-line, declining defense, declining health, accelerating age. Sorry but you get #5 by a runaway margin.
#4 Chipper Jones: This shows two things, one how deep the NL is in 3B, two how Chipper is barely hanging on to his former glory. Chipper has had 3 straight seasons of an OPS under .900 and only 221 games games in the last 2 years. There is no question that when healthy he can still hit, the problem is that is few and far between. With the depth in the NL East at 3B he gets the #4.
#3 Hanley Ramirez: I know my friend Alex would be up in arms about this one, ja ja ja. However, until I can see him actually play a complete season at 3B and recover from his worst season he gets the #3 spot. He now says he is on board with moving to 3B. We shall see if that opinion continues when they/he struggles. Times are good right now but Hanley has not proven to be the most strong willed when times are bad. His OPS the last two seasons has declined from his once MVP like numbers, last year was abysmal for the AS posting a .243 .333 .379 .712 in only 92 games. IF he returns to form and is able to handle 3B he could vault right up to the #1/2 spot quickly.
#2 David Wright: Much of what was said about Hanley’s numbers apply to Wright. If he is still struggling with the back injury and mental issues dealing with anything from the park to the beaning then Wright could plummet down this list. For now he is hanging on to that #2 spot by a thread, lets hope his back is not hanging on by that same thread.
#1 Ryan Zimmerman: Another easy pick for #1? What is interesting is how many of the NL East 3B are coming off either their worst seasons or in all cases an unhealthy year. The Nationals as well as I expect Ryan to return to form this year. Extension talks are underway now to lock up one of the game’s premier 3B. Once he gets that big contract though, the days of an .800 OPS and solid defense will not be enough. Keep in mind that this guy, while a great 3B, has been given this throne by default. His numbers overall never really approached Wright in his prime, the question is “Is Wright’s prime finished and is Zimmerman’s just beginning?”
14 comments
SaltyGary
2/24/2012-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
#1, #2 are really close specially with offensive numbers. I think you were correct in your rankings. Zim is a better fielder so that along with the bb/k ratio give him the edge.
oleosmirf
2/24/2012-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Ramirez, Wright or Zimmerman can be #1-3 in any order depending on how they are playing.
I still think Wright will emerge as the best in the NL, going into next season as I am expecting a monster year from him (at the plate at least)…
Stick
2/24/2012-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think that Wright’s prime is finished. He should have another few peak years. the WC, of course, is if his back will support it!
I am cautiously optimistic that he will have a huge year this year. I am actually thinking the team will have a quite potent offense. Key is really Bay either rebounding or getting into a platoon with someone that can hit RHP.
Either way, with DW back to form, there is a lot of hitting ability with murphy/wright/davis/duda. (in some order). bay would be the icing on the cake.
SaltyGary
2/24/2012-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
I thinking a Wright rebound is in order as well. This is a new era and the expectations of having to win this year or it’s a failure are gone. He should be able to sit back and, and hit the way he is comfortable instead of trying to be the hero in every AB. It will be interesting to see how Wright, Duda and Ike gel together.
kingman 26
2/24/2012-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Wow, nice hometown bias here.
Assuming Hanley is healthy, Wright and Chipper right now are a dead heat for 3rd.
Wright may be 4th without a serious rebound.
TRS86
2/24/2012-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Couldn’t you also say “assuming Wright is healthy? or Chipper?”
You are right, Wright could be #4. If he rebounds he could be #1. Health is a major question. You are right, Hanley could be #1/2 IF he rebounds. However, just basing things on last year and what I see for the future Hanley ranks right behind Wright due to the fact he has never played the position. I would love to put Chipper back on top but those days of playing a full season are obviously behind Chipper, for Wright and Hanley I am hoping that is not the case.
Not sure how it’s much hometown bias. Looking at Hanley’s stats last year and Wright’s stats last year, who had better stats? They were both injured so that’s a wash. However, Hanley is having to deal with moving to 3B AND Jose taking his spot. I would think logically you would still place Wright ahead of someone who has never played the position and it not be considered hometown bias.
Stick
2/24/2012-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
never underestimate the passive-aggresive pouting factor either!
kingman 26
2/24/2012-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
Well, Hanley’s had one bad year and Wright hasn’t been at Hanley’s level since 2008; is Wright at his best Hanley’s equal? Maybe.
And over the last 3 years, Wright and Chipper are not that far apart.
I love Wright, I think he’s a great guy and a great Met, but the more that time passes, it appears that the Cain beaning ended his days of the 2005–2008 numbers. Since that beaning, which is now a long time ago, he has never been the same.
In 2009, the power disappeared, in 2010 it returned but the BA and OBP plummeted, and in 2011 his entire game including fielding sunk to a crazy level of mediocrity.
TRS86
2/24/2012-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Even in 2010 Wright had slightly better numbers than Ramirez overall. Again, I can’t put Hanley ahead of Wright until he shows he can and will play 3B even slightly effectively.
Stick
2/24/2012-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
the only thing that disappeared in 2009 was some HRs. Other #s (BA, OBP, 2Bs) were right there, and if anything, the 2B rate was up a tick. So to me that screams of Citi taking away his natural style (driving the ball to CF and RCF). And of course, it was cut short by Cain. But overall, he still put up very good #s.
2010, power and production were right back to his normal level, but yeah, BA (not too much) and OBP (a fair amount) took a dive to accomplish it. Does support the idea that he “sold out” to start pulling the ball. Still, while not up to his normal standards, 29/103/.283/.354/.503 is still AS territory.
2011, this was like Porky’s III. Just pretend it never happened. Since it seems like he played much of the year with an injured back, if anything what he did put up was pretty damned good.
assuming (a big If of course) his back is good to go, I expect the power output to be at least at 2010 levels, but the BA and OBP to climb back to his earlier level, with a corresponding drop in Ks. Basically that he will migrate back to more of his old style of hitting. And if that happens, he will easily be #1 on this list (and starting the AS game!)
MetsFan4Decades
2/24/2012-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
Are these ratings just based on offense numbers?
I have no problem with your #1 and #5.
The 3-4-5 though….Since this is projections for the upcoming year, the case for Chipper considering his age, his health and his ability to stay on the field probably does warrant him 4th. But damn he can hit….
I’m torn between Wright and Ramirez rankings. I don’t think even the Marlins are too confident Ramriez can play a decent 3rd base. I’ve heard it commented that might not be where he winds up playing by the end of the year.
So given the fact that Ramirez is a huge defensive unknown at 3rd right now, I’d probably give the edge to Wright over him – even though Wright’s defensive numbers have taken a hit as late. In other words, I’m more confident of Wright having an all around bounce back type year than Ramirez.
TRS86
2/24/2012-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
No, not really. Just looking at their entire game but of course at 3B offense does help.
Stick
2/24/2012-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
where else are they going to play him, other than SS for some other team?
would have to be an OF position I guess, though not sure how crowded that is for them.
TRS86
2/24/2012-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
They mentioned CF I think. What about 2B? Not too strong there either.