Best Players By Position

[The Edge]

Who do you think the best players at each position are going into the 2011 MLB Season?


C:
1B:
2B:
3B:
SS:
LF:
CF:
RF:
DH:

SP(RHP):
SP(LHP):
Setup Man:
Closer:

 

[The Edge]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
LF: Ryan Braun/Carl Crawford(really can't choose between them. Braun's better bat and poor defense or Carl's insanely better defense and weaker bat but it is down to just those 2 players.)
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Ichiro
DH: David Ortiz/Johnny Damon(stat combo I prefer to use for a hitting only position leads them to nearly an exact tie.)

SP(RHP): Tim Lincecum
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: Grant Balfour(I want to go Jonny Venters here but both to not be a homer and the fact that I'd like to see another good year from him, I couldn't do it but statistically he's at or near the top)
Closer: Mariano Rivera(can't pick against him. He wasn't Mo in 2009, despite still being really good and made a nice recovery in 2010. Until he jsut gets rocked for an entire season or retires I think he is the best in the game and probably one of the most underrated pitchers ever.)

 

[Elite]

C: Mauer, he's the only option here, far and away the best at he position.
1B: Albert Pujols, another no brainer here.
2B: Chase Utley, I wanna take Cano but I just can't, Utley's the better player.
3B: Ryan Zimmerman, I just think he's better than Longo.
SS: Tulo, better defensively and still has a very good bat.
LF: Josh Hamilton, they're moving him there this upcoming season to keep him healthy.
CF: I honestly can't decide now that Hamilton is out of the equation. A year ago this was just as easy as C and 1B with Matt Kemp, now I have no idea.
RF: Ichiro

SP(RHP): King Felix
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
SU: Joaquin Benoit
CL: Mariano Rivera

 

[The Edge]

I'd prefer Rasmus over Kemp. Actually at this point I'm not convinced Kemp is worth all the hype he gets.

 

[Elite]

I'd prefer Rasmus over Kemp. Actually at this point I'm not convinced Kemp is worth all the hype he gets.

Pre-2010 season, Kemp was an easy pick in CF. He had a really bad year this year. If he bounces back I'll put him at #1 in CF, but until then I don't think there is really a clear front-runner for the top spot.

 

[RipCity32]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Hanley Ramirez
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Chris Young
RF: Ichiro Suzuki
DH: Vladimir Guerrero

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: Joaquin Benoit
Closer: Mariano Rivera

 

[CameronCrazy06]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Hanley Ramirez
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Ichiro
DH: Not David Ortiz

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: ???
Closer: Brian Wilson

 

[Yankees2772]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Hanley Ramirez
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Ichiro
DH: David Ortiz

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: Mike Adams
Closer: Mariano Rivera

 

[Mexi]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Evan Longoria

SS: I love Hanley, but his defense is atrocious. I do think when he's on, he might be the best hitter in the game, but Tulo isnt far behind him offensively, and his D is amazing. so Tulo narrowly

LF: Ryan Braun

CF: Hamilton and Cargo arent playing CF anymore. I'll be a homer and put Matt Kemp. he sucked last year, but still put up 28 bombs. Dodgers might move him to RF if Gwynn Jr. has a good ST, but as of now he's in Center. I dont think he'll have 2 bad years in a row

RF: Ichiro
DH: I guess Ortiz

SP(RHP): Felix
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: Hong-Chih Kuo. Am I being a homer? maybe a little. but here ASG doesnt mean anything, but he did make it as a set up guy. doesnt happen often
Closer: Mariano Rivera

 

[bosoxlover12]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Andre Eithier
DH: David Ortiz

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Jon Lester
Setup Man: Daniel Bard
Closer: Brian Wilson

I can say 3 of these picks can be considered homer picks

 

[Lake Louise]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Hard to pick with Hamilton not there anymore. I'm not going to be a homer and say A-Jax. There's a lot of young guys who can get this status but not yet. I can't help but go with Torii Hunter here. He's getting older, but he still managed to put up some decent numbers last year. Along with battling injury. Also, this year being a contract year for him, he could put up some crazy numbers.
RF: Ichiro
DH: David Ortiz

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: Joaquin Benoit
Closer: Mariano Rivera

 

[Phil The Thrill]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Andre Eithier
DH: David Ortiz

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Jon Lester
Setup Man: Daniel Bard
Closer: Brian Wilson

I can say 3 of these picks can be considered homer picks

I actually agree completely with Lester. Maybe not the best, but top 3 left handed.

 

[Elite]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Andre Eithier
DH: David Ortiz

SP(RHP): Roy Halladay
SP(LHP): Jon Lester
Setup Man: Daniel Bard
Closer: Brian Wilson

I can say 3 of these picks can be considered homer picks

Just stop.

 

[The Guid]

Lester is top 3 but not best, same with Gonzalez. At least he can make a case for Bard

 

[elcheato]

C: Joe Mauer
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: David Wright
SS: Tulo
LF: Carlos Gonzalez
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Shin-Soo Choo
DH: Vlad Guerrero

SP(RHP): King Felix
SP(LHP): Cliff Lee
Setup Man: Mike Adams
Closer: The Heath Bell Experience

 

[The Guid]

cheato reminds me that Heath Bell doesn't get the recognition he deserves

 

[elcheato]

None of the pitchers on San Diego get the recognition they deserve. Latos, Adams, Bell, Greggerson, etc.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Lester is top 3 but not best, same with Gonzalez. At least he can make a case for Bard

This, Bard is very dependable.

 

[Elite]

Yeah, him and his 7 blown saves.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Yeah, him and his 7 blown saves.

Have you ever even seen him pitch?

Plus all you looked at was the blown saves. SMH