Thursday, June 17, 2004

National League All-Star Picks

C - Johnny Estrada - Braves - A good move by the Braves in not resigning Javy Lopez so far as Estrada is hitting .332 with 38 RBI

Back up - Michael Barrett - Cubs - Finally living up to his hype of swinging a good stick. Batting .313 with 33 RBI

No Mike Piazza because he has more starts at 1B than C. The best offensive Catcher probably in the history of baseball is just another good hitter at 1B.

1B - Jim Thome - Philly - 20 HR's, 44 RBI, .320 BA = The best 1b in the NL.

Back up - Sean Casey - Cincy - Hitting .364 with 49 RBI and 51 Runs scored.

Honorable Mention - Lyle Overbay - Milwaukee - Hitting .349 with 49 RBI.

2B - Jeff Kent - Still the best offensive 2nd basemen in the NL. Hitting .298 with 10 HR's and 44 RBI

Back up - Todd Walker - Cubs - You know I had to show him some love right? It was really a tough decision with two other players with near identical stats. Mark Loretta of San Diego and Luis Castillo of Florida. In the end I went with who had the better OPS and it was Todd Walker who ironically has a better OPS than Jeff Kent.

3B - Scott Rolen - Cardinals - An MVP candidate so far into this season. Hitting .349 with 17 HR's and 67 RBI.

Back up - Aramis Ramirez - Cubs - Vinny Castilla is having a fine season in Colorado, but not even the thin air can help him beat out Am-Ram. Hitting .328 with 14 HR's, 49 RBI, and 51 Runs scored.

SS - Jack Wilson - Pirates - The wasteland of positions in the NL. Wilson is hitting .345 with 25 RBI. The only worthy candidate.

Backup - Barry Larkin - Cincy - No one else stands out, and the reports of Larkins decline seem to be on hold for the moment. Hitting .299 with 28 RBI.

OF - Barry Bonds - San Fran - Ohh big surprise on that one. Hitting .377 with a .628 OBP is enough to make it alone. Factor in 49 Runs, 18 HR's, and 39 RBI and you have the best player probably ever.

OF - Lance Berkman - Houston - Hitting .332 with 15 HR's and 50 RBI

OF - Bobby Abreu - Philly - Hitting .303 with 15 HR's and 44 RBI, ohh and he has 13 SB's also.

Back up - Ken Griffey Jr - Cincy - 18 HR and 51 RBI would make him a starter in my mind. If only he had a higher batting average than .259. Other than that Griffey is back.

Back up - Miguel Cabrera - Florida - No one else stood out, so I went with the young blood. Hitting .297 with 17 HR's and 44 RBI

SP - Tom Glavine - Mets - Another guy who was supposedly washed up. He is 7-3 on the season with a 2.03 ERA. Thats pretty damn good

SP - Carlos Zambrano - Cubs - Who would of thought Zambrano would be this good? With Wood and Prior out it has been Zambrano's chance to get some of the lime light and he has taken advantage. He is 7-2 with a 2.32 ERA and 81 strikeouts.

SP - Roger Clemens - Houston - 9-1 with a 2.46 ERA and 94 SO's for a 41 year old? Simply amazing.

SP - Jason Schmidt - San Fran - This guy is getting like no publicity. 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 94 SO's.

RP - Armando Benetiz - Florida - 35 IP, 30 SO's, 1.26 ERA, 24 saves. Best closer right now

RP - Danny Kolb - Milwaukee - Danny who? This guy is like the anti-closer. He doesnt strikeout people to get saves. In 25 IP he has 8 strikeouts. So his ERA must be around 3.00 or higher right? Noooo, it is 1.05 and he has 19 saves.

RP - Eric Gagne - Dodgers - Mister untouchable is well still pretty much untouchable. 1.65 ERA with 39 SO's in 27 IP. He has also only surrendered 14 hits in those innings.