Best players per position

[PaulBako]

Who is the best in the MLB per position?

I'll do mine.

C- Joe Mauer

1B- Albert Pujols

2B- Dustin Pedroia

3B- Alex Rodriguez

SS- Hanley Ramirez

LF- Manny Ramirez

CF- Grady Sizemore

RF- Nick Markakis

SP- Roy Halladay

RP- Joakim Soria

[ShoelesJoe]

Here are Pedroia's stats during away games:

.309 BA

.359 OB%

.468 SLG

Here are Dan Uggla's:

.296 BA

.387 OB%

.573 SLG

If Pedroia didn't play hald his games in Fenway he's not even in the conversation for best 2nd baseman in baseball.

[PaulBako]

Here are Pedroia's stats during away games:

.309 BA

.359 OB%

.468 SLG

Here are Dan Uggla's:

.296 BA

.387 OB%

.573 SLG

If Pedroia didn't play hald his games in Fenway he's not even in the conversation for best 2nd baseman in baseball.

Cool. I hate Pedroia anyways.

It's between Pedroia and Chase Utley, and Chase Utley might be better. But you think Dan Uggla is the best?

[backwardsk]

I wouldn't venture too far away from what you have, but I'd put Utley at 2B, Hamilton in CF, and Rivera at RP.

I'd have Mauer at C, but Martin's a close second, and hopefully Matt surpasses them both.

[Stotle]

Cool. I hate Pedroia anyways.

It's between Pedroia and Chase Utley, and Chase Utley might be better. But you think Dan Uggla is the best?

I think it's Utley and it's not particularly close. Uggla is one of the worst defensive 2Bs in the game.

[PaulBako]

For some reason, I think Joakim Soria is a really good young closer. I really like him. If I could choose one closer for my team, it would be him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28688

Those are great numbers.

[backwardsk]

I think it's Utley and it's not particularly close. Uggla is one of the worst defensive 2Bs in the game.

Do you think Uggla eventually gets moved from 2B? At 5'11, he probably can't play first. Does he have the glove to play third?

[Migrant Redbird]

What are your ground rules? Are players valued purely on offensive contributions, or should defense be factored in?

By VORP (Baseball Prospectus), the 2008 rankings are as follows:

Catcher

1. Joe Mauer 57.0

2. Brian Mccann 52.0

3. Geovany Soto 39.1

1st Base

1. Albert Pujols 98.6

2. Lance Berkman 73.1

3. Kevin Youkilis 53.6

10. Mark Teixeira (ANA) 35.2

13. Mark Teixeira (ATL) 31.0

2nd Base

1. Chase Utley 63.5

2. Dustin Pedroia 60.0

3. Ian Kinsler 54.8

4. Brian Roberts 47.6

Shortstop

1. Hanley Ramirez 78.6

2. Jose Reyes 62.9

3. Jimmy Rollins 44.3

3rd Base

1. Chipper Jones 75.9

2. David Wright 66.1

3. Alex Rodriguez 62.9

Right Field

1. Ryan Ludwick 54.7

2. Nick Markakis 46.7

3. Brian Giles 41.1

Center Field

1. Grady Sizemore 59.1

2. Carlos Beltran 57.6

3. Josh Hamilton 57.4

Left Field

1. Matt Holliday 61.7

2. Carlos Quentin 51.3

3. Manny Ramirez 48.4

Starting Pitchers

1. Cliff Lee 76.5

2. Johan Santana 73.6

3. Tim Lincecum 72.3

11. C.c. Sabathia MIL 51.9

78. C.c. Sabathia CLE 25.5

VORP tends to break down for relief pitchers, if you figure that closers are more valuable.

I guess that I would argue that at least three seasons should be considered, with the most recent weighted more heavily. One could also argue on whether to use VORP, WinShares, WARP, or some combination of values.

[Stotle]

I'll play:

C - Mauer

1B - Pujols

2B - Utley

3B - A. Rodriguez

SS - Reyes

LF - M. Ramirez

CF - Sizemore

RF - Markakis

DH - H. Ramirez

SP - Lincecum

RP - Nathan

Order:

1. Mauer

2. Sizemore

3. A. Rodriguez

4. Pujols

5. M. Ramirez

6. H. Ramirez

7. Utley

8. Markakis

9. Reyes

[Stotle]

Do you think Uggla eventually gets moved from 2B? At 5'11, he probably can't play third. Does he have the glove to play third?

I think he should be at 1st. No idea if he will get moved.

[isestrex]

C - Russel Martin

1B - Albert Pujols

2B - Chase Utley

SS - Hanley Ramirez

3B - David Wright

LF - Manny Ramirez

CF - Grady Sizemore

RF - Josh Hamilton

P - Johan Santana

CL - Jonathan Papelbon

It's a little weird coming up with this list because I put Martin on based on his raw talent and potential and I put Manny on because he still capable of putting maybe 1 more All-Star season. Josh Hamilton is easily the better player than Markakis.

[backwardsk]

C - Russel Martin

1B - Albert Pujols

2B - Chase Utley

SS - Hanley Ramirez

3B - David Wright

LF - Manny Ramirez

CF - Grady Sizemore

RF - Josh Hamilton

P - Johan Santana

CL - Jonathan Papelbon

It's a little weird coming up with this list because I put Martin on based on his raw talent and potential and I put Manny on because he still capable of putting maybe 1 more All-Star season. Josh Hamilton is easily the better player than Markakis.

I agree with that, but I viewed him as CF and was comparing CFs. Now if I was putting a team together, Sizemore and Hamilton could be in my starting line-up. But then, I'd probably put Rodriguez at SS and Wright/Longoria at

3B.

[TyCobb]

C - Wieters

1B - Pujols

2B - Utley

3B - D. Wright

SS - H. Ramirez

LF - Holliday

CF - Sizemore

RF - Markakis

DH - Berkman

This is what I think is the best team for next season. Offense and Defense.

Surprises No A-Rod

[isestrex]

C - Wieters

1B - Pujols

2B - Utley

3B - D. Wright

SS - H. Ramirez

LF - Holliday

CF - Sizemore

RF - Markakis

DH - Berkman

This is what I think is the best team for next season. Offense and Defense.

Surprises No A-Rod

Holliday's numbers will see a huge dip hitting in the cavernous Coliseum as opposed to the crisp air of Coors. Wieters is jumping the gun a bit. I know everyone wants to compare him to Piazza but it could be a few years before he gets to that point... if at all.

And adding Berkman as a DH is laughable since he doesn't even play it

[TyCobb]

Holliday's numbers will see a huge dip hitting in the cavernous Coliseum as opposed to the crisp air of Coors. Wieters is jumping the gun a bit. I know everyone wants to compare him to Piazza but it could be a few years before he gets to that point... if at all.

And adding Berkman as a DH is laughable since he doesn't even play it

Check out Matt Holliday home/away splits on Fan Graphs. Will show you that he closed the gap and is just as good a hitter away as he is home.

http://www.fangraphs.com/splits.aspx?playerid=1873&position=OF&page=0&split=ha&type=mini

If I have to go with a real DH then I would go Huff.

Wieters is better than Piazza.