Posts Tagged ‘Adrian Beltre’

2013 MLB Top 10 Third Basemen

Friday, March 29th, 2013

by LeRoy McConnell III

 

 

 

 

10. Pittsburgh Pirates 3B  Pedro Alvarez

Pedro Alvarez

When looking at Pedro Alvarez’ .244 BA last season, you may wonder how can he be part of top 10.  My take is it was his first full season in the big leagues.  Never mind the batting average, let’s talk about the power he displayed.  In his first full season at third base he smacked 30 HRs and drove in 85 RBI on an up and coming Pittsburgh Pirates team.  Alvarez will be asked to provide the same power as last season.  He will bat in the middle of the lineup once again with plenty of RBI chances.  If he can improve on his batting average, he will become even more dangerous.

2013 Prediction .249BA 29HR 99RBI.315OBP.440SLG

9. Toronto Blue Jay 3B.  Brett Lawrie

Brett Lawrie is a Canadian born player, playing right in his backyard for the hometown Tor0nto Blue Jays.  There is so much promise for the second-year stud as he has shown speed on the bases and power at the plate.  With the addition of Jose Reyes, Lawrie will now bat in the middle of the order to provide Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista with some needed protection.  Brett put up decent numbers last season before missing the last two months with an oblique strain.  The injury has been a lingering problem for Lawrie as he just removed himself from the WBC this past week.  The key for Brett Lawrie is to just get well.  He could miss opening day.

 

 

2013 Predicitons .282BA 20HR 76RBI 24SB .330OBP.450SLG

8.  San Diego 3B Chase Headley

Stats don’t lie.  31HR 115RBI and OBP of .376.  This individual was a Silver Slugger and won the Gold Glove last year.  Kind of strange that those numbers didn’t even warrant a trip to the All-Star game last season.  I mean this guy earned these numbers playing half his games in a pitcher’s park in San Diego.  Padres aren’t known for scoring a lot of runs and Mr. Chase Headley managed to lead the NL in RBI last year.  Could you imagine what type of publicity Chase Headley would receive today if he played in a bigger market?  Put Headley as the starting third baseman for the New York Mets and he would be the one with the $100 million dollar contract.

2013 Prediction .272BA 27HR 100RBI 16SB .360OBP .440SLG

 

 

7. San Francisco Giants 3B  Pablo Sandoval

If we are keeping score at home, Kung Fu Panda has two more World Series rings than the legendary San Francisco great, Barry Bonds.  Oh, I forgot, he won the 2012 World Series MVP as he joined Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols as the only members to hit three home runs in a World Series game.  Two of the long bombs Sandoval hit were off of Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.  Pablo didn’t stop there.  He played Winter ball and was the MVP of the Venezuelan League.  With all the accolades Pablo has received, he has yet to post a 30 homer/100 RBI season.  Is this the year that the 26-year-old, 2-time all-star puts it all together?

 

2013 Prediction .297BA 28HR 94RBI .350OBP.480SLG        

 

6. Milwaukee Brewers 3B  Aramis Ramirez

Hard to believe Ramirez has been in the Major Leagues for 15 years!  He has been a pleasant surprise for the Brew Crew, as he protected MVP Ryan Braun in the lineup with the departure of Prince Fielder just a year ago.  Aramis proved to the baseball lords that he could put up numbers outside of Wrigley Field.  Ramirez led the majors in doubles with 50 last season and also maintained a .300 average.  Though he is now in his mid-thirties, expect Aramis to continue protecting Braun in the lineup and putting up MVP numbers.

 

 

2013 Prediction .300 26HR 101RBI .344OBP.497SLG

 

5. Washington Nationals 3B  Ryan Zimmerman 

Who says that the Washington Nationals aren’t serious about winning?  They paid Zimmerman over $100 million to man the position at third base.  Ryan is the second highest paid third baseman behind Alex Rodriguez because he has some serious game.  Just last year he bounced back from an injury plagued season to put up 25HR and 95RBI while batting in the #3 hole.  Zimmerman went and had shoulder surgery during the offseason and though his surgery was successful, he may come out of the gates a little slow this spring.  As the season progresses, look for Ryan to enjoy another successful season at third base.  

2013 Prediction .285BA 30HR 100RBI.350OBP.471SLG 

 

 

4. New York Mets 3B David Wright

Is David Wright ready to be the darling in New York?  Well he does wear a “C” on his uniform, just not in pin stripes.  Jeter is still the man in the Bronx while David owns Manhattan.  Mr. Wright is definitely the right man at third.  He has been a cornerstone for the Mets for the past nine seasons.  The 6x-All-Star, 2x Gold Glove, and 2x Silver Slugger will own every statistical offensive mark in a Mets uniform before he is done.  So while he is now in his prime, it’s time to go after the National League MVP.  That award is within his reach and it will be the first time a Mets player would hold such an honor.

 

2013 Prediction .294BA 27HR 89RBI.366OBP.464SLG

 

 

3. Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria

An injury plagued season kept Evan from having another  decent year at the plate.  Any time he is in the lineup, he is sure to do damage with his wooded piece.  Just last season, he spent 13 weeks nursing a hamstring tear that cost him and his team another playoff berth.  The former Rookie of the Year hits for average, has power all over the field, is willing to take a pitch, and draws walks.  He is a 3X All-Star, 2X Gold Glove, and has a Silver Slugger’s Award at the ripe old age of 27.  He is now entering his prime and barring injuries could make a run at Most Valuable Player.

 

 

 

2013 Prediction .295BA 31HR 102RBI .365OBP.510SLG

 

 

2. Texas Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre

By far the best defensive third baseman in the majors, as he has now collected back to back Gold Gloves (total 4) since joining the Texas Rangers.  This 3x All-Star could have easily been last year’s MVP with his .321 BA, 36 HR, 102 RBI, getting on base 35% of the time, and with a slugging rate of .561!  Texas will lean heavily on Adrian’s production even more this year with the departure of Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.  Beltre is the clear leader on this team now and will bat cleanup again, protecting the likes of newly acquired Lance Berkman.  Adrian will turn 34 in early April and is entering his 16th season in the BIGs.  The question is, how much longer will the talented third baseman play at an elite level?

 

2013 Prediction .305BA 33HR 117RBI .355OBP.519SLG

 

 

 

1. Detroit Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera

Without a doubt the 7x-All-Star, Miguel Cabrera is flat out the best third baseman in baseball.  He became the American League MVP last season by achieving the triple crown (first time since Carl Yastrzemski in ’67) which primarily gave him a slight edge over Mike Trout as being the best player in baseball.  The 29 year old, Cabrera reached career highs in average, home runs, RBI, and collecting his first ever 200 hits in a season.  With the addition of Prince Fielder last season, Miguel was able to take advantage of pitchers and that contributed to his historical season.  Cabrera is now entering into his prime years with the Tigers and with Prince protecting him, so don’t be surprised if Miguel continues putting up triple crown-like numbers.

2013 Prediction .322BA 39HR 131RBI.401OBP.574SLG

 

 

 

Players who could easily crash the party.

David Freese – Freese made the All-Star game for the first time last year and the World Series MVP is capable of cracking the top 10.  2013 Prediction .300BA 22HR 86RBI.351OBP.436SLG

Will Middlebrooks – Numbers should improve even more now.  He will be the every day player for a full season and also half of his games are in Fenway, which should contribute to a successful second year.  2013 Prediction  .290BA 22HR 76RBI.310OBP.430SLG

Todd Frazier- Todd has the chance to put up some pretty nice numbers hitting in Great American Ballpark.  2013 Prediction .258BA 25HR 70RBI.314OBP.433SLG

LeRoy McConnell III of “A Fan’s Point of View”, for War Room Sports

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Top 9 Active Players That Have a Legitimate Shot at 500 Home Runs

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

By LeRoy McConnell III

Believe it or not, Major League Baseball has two active players that are members of the 500 Home Run Club.  In fact both Alex Rodriguez (640) and Jim Thome (608) are members of the 600 Home Run Club.  With the new drug testing policy in MLB, you will no longer see power hitters continue to put up inflated numbers.  With a level playing field it will be difficult for upcoming ball players to reach the magical 500 number.  However, there are still big league players with a chance at joining the elite club.  Here are my list of players that have a shot at 500 home runs.

9. Detroit Tigers 1B Prince Fielder

Prince, son of former Detroit Tiger Cecil Fielder, is a whopping 28 years old with 241 home runs in seven big league seasons.  He and dad are the only father-son tandem in MLB history to hit 50 home runs in a season.  Prince won the 2009 and 2012 Home Run Derbys and is a 2-time Silver Slugger Award winner.  This past off-season he left the Milwaukee Brewers and took his talents to the Detroit Tigers, where he signed a nine-year deal worth 214 million dollars.  Since being in the big leagues, Prince has averaged 37 home runs each season.  I am predicting that he will reach the 500 club at the age 35.  So far he has hit eleven homers this season, so he has some work to do.

8. Detroit Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera

Superstar Miguel Cabrera is on pace to be one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all-time when his career is over.  He is part of the new “Bash Brothers” that exist in Detroit, alongside his new slugging partner Prince Fielder.  The Detroit Tigers will be intimidating the American League Central for years to come because of “Miggy’s” potent bat.  At the age of 29, he has sent 292 balls out of the park.  This young man has already won a home run crown (2008), he is a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and won an American League batting title just last year.  Cabrera is averaging 33 dingers a year and at his age you can calculate him also reaching the 500 club at the age 35.  He is also on pace for 3000 hits.

7. Texas Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre

 

Once the youngest player in the big leagues, Adrian Beltre has blossomed over the years to become a 3-time Gold Glove third basemen as well as a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner.  He is now 33 years of age with 322 home runs in fourteen Major League seasons.  In 2004, he led the National League in home runs with 48.  Adrian is in his second season with the two-time defending American League Champions, Texas Rangers, where he flourished with 32 home runs a year ago.  Beltre will continue to see good pitches because of the Texas dynamic offensive squad.  It also doesn’t hurt that he is playing in a hitter’s park.  In his career he has averaged 26 home runs a year so it’s possible that he may join the 500 club at the age of 39.
6. New York Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira

This slugger came into the Majors swinging for the fences as soon as he was called up.  “Tex” has never hit less than 26 home runs in a season and that was his rookie year.  Mark is 32 years old with 326 round trippers.  He will soon join Micky Mantle and Eddie Murray as the only switch-hitters to ever hit 500 home runs.  He is a 4-time Golden Glove winner, a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and he won a home run title in the American League with 39 dingers in 2009.  Teixeira is currently a member of the New York Yankees, where he gets to benefit from a short porch down the right field line.  He averages 37 homers a years so my prediction for him to reach the 500 club would be at the age 36.  Realistically he may be looking at the 600 Club!

5. Chicago White Sox 1B Adam Dunn

We have former Texas Longhorn, Chris Simms, to thank for Adam “Big Donkey” Dunn becoming a Major League ball player.  When Simms arrived in Austin, Mack Brown asked Dunn to move from quarterback to tight end.  So long Austin, no more gridiron for the “Big Donkey”!  Adam is 32 years old with 388 home runs.  In his career, he hits a home run every 14 at-bats, second on the active list behind Jim Thome and only Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, and Barry Bonds have a better ratio.  In 2011, Adam had a career low 11 homers.  He may have thought his career was in jeopardy, but so far in 2012, he leads the Majors in home runs and he probably will be the comeback player of the year.  Dunn averages 38 home runs a year so expect the 500 club in his future at the age of 35.  Like Teixeira, barring injuries, he has a legitimate shot at 600.

4. Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz

This man needs no introduction as he is known as the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history.  David Ortiz, or “Big Papi” holds the all-time MLB record for RBIs and home runs for a designated hitter.  David has a total of 398 career homers, 5-time Silver Slugger Award winner, led the American League in home runs in 2006, and won the Home Run Derby in 2010.  “Big Papi” averages 35 home runs a year and at the age of 36 he has some work to do.  Fenway is the perfect place for the slugger to pile up home runs so expect Red Sox nation to welcome Mr. Ortiz to the 500 club at the age of 39!

3. Chicago White Sox 1B Paul Konerko

Paul Konerko is the blue-collar player out of the group who steadily puts up numbers year in and year out.  He is the surprise of the list with a total of 409 home runs.  Konerko has never led the league in home runs, has never won a Home Run Derby, has never won a Silver Sluggers Award, but at this time he can hang his hat on leading the American League in batting with a .346 average.  At the age of 36, Paul is 91 homers from 500.  He is averaging 32 home runs a season, so I predict in 2 1/2 years he will join his old teammate Frank Thomas in the club.

2. New York Yankees OF Andruw Jones

Did you raise an eyebrow?  Mine raised as well; but I had to put him down.  This once 10-time Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, National League Home Run leader(2005), and no longer a sure-fire Hall of Famer has only hit 56 home runs in the last four years.  What the hell happened?  Remember he was the youngest player ever to hit a home run in the World Series (’96).  I believe he hit a home run in his first two at-bats in that series.  Andruw is 35 years old with 427 home runs and averages 32 homers a season.  Jones had a chance at 600 home runs but now I will be surprised if he threatens the 500 club, simply because he is no longer an every day player and he has a history of giving into the breaking ball.  He only needs 73 home runs, so if he makes it, he will be the one to limp to the finish line.

1. Los Angeles Angels 1B Albert Pujols

No one in the history of Major League Baseball has put up the numbers Albert Pujols has.  Since arriving to the league, his lowest output for home runs has been 32.  Upon last year, he had hit at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs every year until last season when he was 1 RBI short.  Like Prince Fielder, he took his talents to the American League and signed a 10-year, 254 million dollar contract with the LA Angels.  At age 32, he has hit a comfortable 456 home runs.  We can say he will pass the 500 home run club as he averages 42 home runs a season.  In his first year with the Angels he has put up a meager 11 home runs, pressing a little at each at-bat and trying to live up to that ridiculous contract.  Albert is a perfectionist and will soon settle down and figure it out.  He is a 3-time MVP,2-time Gold Glove, 6-time Silver Slugger Award winner, a National League batting champ (2003), and 2-time National League home run champ.  In the next ten years, we can predict he will chase down A-Rod, Mays, Ruth, Aaron, and Bonds for the number one overall spot.  He will be the Home Run King, and with over 2100 career hits, he will be in that select group of 3000 hits and 700 home runs.  The only player ever to do that is the great Henry Aaron.

 

 

Honorable Mentions

Chipper Jones is 40 years old with 459 round trippers and has announced that this will be his last year.  Chipper is going out with class and knows when to hang them up.  Vladimir Guerrero 37 years old with 449 HRs, oh so close, not with a team right now.  If he gets picked up by another MLB team it will be painful to watch!  Jason Giambi is 41 years old with 429 HRs and playing for the Colorado Rockies.  Jason is no longer an every day player and only has 1 HR this season.  Can we say father time?!  Lance Berkman is 36 years old, fighting an MCL tear and has 359 HR.  He has pop in his bat but with injury issues he probably won’t make it.  Todd Helton will be 39 this year with 354 HR.  He has had a wonderful career, and can rival Peyton Manning as the richest quarterback ever to come out of Tennessee, but too far away from the elite club.  Alfonso Soriano 354 HRs & Carlos Lee 353 HRs are both 36 years old and might be too far out of reach.  The two that may fall just short of the 500 home run club may be Aramis Ramirez who is 34 years old with 324 HRs and Carlos Beltran, who is 35 with 322 HRs.

LeRoy McConnell III of “A Fan’s Point of View”, for War Room Sports

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