NL Central: All-First Quarter Team
C: Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
BA: .298 HR:: 4 RBI: 10 R: 18 OBP: .463 SLG: .468
I would give this to Cincinnati Reds’ catcher Ryan Hanigan, but he’s only played in 22 games so far. Sure, Soto doesn’t have the at bats to qualify either, but he has played 33 games and the closest qualified catcher is the Pirates Ryan Doumit.
1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
BA: .324 HR:: 8 RBI: 29 R: 23 OBP: .429 SLG: .568
Is there really any other player you were expecting? Joey Votto or Derrek Lee? He is the three-time NL MVP for a reason.
2B: Mike Fontenot, Chicago Cubs
BA: .295 HR:: 1 RBI: 12 R: 7 OBP: .344 SLG: .386
Yup, that is right. There are two Cubs so far despite the fact they are in third place and are playing sub-.500 baseball. Although, this pick has much less to do with how amazing Fontenot has been and far more to do with how few decent second basemen there are to choose from. Let’s put it this way, the runner up is the Houston Astros’ Jeff Keppinger.
3B: Casey McGehee, Milwaukee Bucks
BA: .322 HR:: 8 RBI: 35 R: 20 OBP: .393 SLG: .559
McGehee is actually the best offensive third baseman in the National League while simultaneously being the worst defensive third baseman. Still, he is a an offensive force and that trumps his inability to throw the ball to across the diamond.
SS: Ryan Theriot, Chicago Cubs
BA: .319 HR:: 0 RBI: 14 R: 21 OBP: .349 SLG: .356
He may not be a power hitter, but he has the best batting average among NL Central shortstops and is a decent fielder. Really it is difficult to understand how the Cubs could be so bad with so many players on this list and more to come.
LF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
BA: .338 HR:: 7 RBI: 29 R: 33 OBP: .418 SLG: 561
Braun more than just edges out the Cubs Alfonso Soriano. He has a batting average 18 points higher, OBP 46 points higher, and six more stolen bases (8 to 2) than his Cubs counterpart.
CF: Marlon Byrd, Chicago Cubs
BA: .340 HR:: 7 RBI: 25 R: 25 OBP: .368 SLG: .582
Byrd has been amazing this season and he should be starting for the National League in the All Star Game on July 13th.
RF: Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago Cubs
BA: .313 HR:: 5 RBI: 20 R: 19 OBP: .410 SLG: .504
Great OBP for a leadoff hitter and is on track to have a career power hitter (he might hit 20!). Seriously, the Cubs have five of the best position players in the division. It is ridiculous that we are battling the Pirates to keep third place.
SP: Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals
4-2, 1.42 ERA 1.06 WHIP 7.3 K/BB
Garcia is having one hell of a rookie season. I am sure he will come back down to Earth once he sees teams multiple times, but this is a nice start to his career.
CL: Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati Reds
13 Saves, 3.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 7.2 K./BB
His ERA, WHIP, and strikeout ratio are not remotely close to amazing, but his 13 saves are too impressive to pass up at this point in the season.
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Comments
Comment from Brian
Time May 27, 2010 at 10:03 am
This was a difficult call. Cordero had the advantage of the best single pure number that defines the role, while Lindstrom has made the best out of a terrible situation in Houston. I decided I had to go with the one number that stood out above all others when discussing closers.
Comment from Emily
Time June 3, 2010 at 3:25 pm
This was a difficult call. Cordero had the advantage of the best single pure number that defines the role, while Lindstrom has made the best out of a terrible situation in Houston. I decided I had to go with the one number that stood out above all others when discussing closers.
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Comment from gregory
Time May 26, 2010 at 12:56 am
as few chances as they give him, the astros’ closer, lindstrom, has been extremely effective….dare i say moreso than cordero?