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Ranking the NL Middle Infields
2004-05-26 09:05
by Jon Weisman

2004 National League Middle Infield Combos

First figure is Win Shares from The Hardball Times
Second figure is Value Over Replacement Player by Baseball Prospectus.

Players with the most plate appearances at the position for each team are flush-left; backups or injured starters are indented.

1. San Diego
2B Mark Loretta (9, 18.7)
SS Khalil Greene (5, 8.2)

  • Comment: The top second baseman in the league and one of the top shortstops - a rookie with great upside at that.

    2. Los Angeles
    2B Alex Cora (6, 13.9)
    SS Cesar Izturis (5, 9.0)
    --2B Jose Hernandez (3, 7.6)

  • Comment: The reason for undertaking these rankings was to document the surpising performances by Izturis and Cora. Making contributions on offense and defense from both positions, with tangible help from the backup.

    3. Milwaukee
    2B Keith Ginter (4, 10.4)
    SS Craig Counsell (4, 6.0)
    2B Junior Spivey (3, 8.3)
    --SS Bill Hall (3, 3.8)

  • Comment: Another shock. Four guys for two slots, all pulling some weight.

    4. Atlanta
    2B Marcus Giles (7, 14.6)
    SS Jesse Garcia (2, -1.5)
    --2B Nick Green (1, 3.9)
    --SS Rafael Furcal (2, 2.7)

  • Comment: Sinking with Giles injured - he and Furcal have hardly played together at all.

    5. St. Louis
    2B Tony Womack (4, 7.0)
    SS Edgar Renteria (4, 6.5)
    --2B Marlon Anderson (4, 8.7)

  • Comment: Womack is 10 for 10 on steals, but Anderson is otherwise the better offensive player. Not a great start for Renteria.

    6. Pittsburgh
    2B Jose Castillo (2, 4.1)
    SS Jack Wilson (7, 22.7)
    --2B Bobby Hill (2, 3.9)

  • Comment: Wilson has been the league's top shortstop. Renteria could still be the starter thanks to his rep.

    7. Houston
    2B Jeff Kent (6, 17.2)
    SS Adam Everett (4, 6.8)

  • Comment: Though not at his peak, Kent should still be an All-Star this season.

    8. Chicago
    2B Todd Walker (6, 11.4)
    SS Ramon Martinez (1, -1.9)
    --2B Jose Macias (1, 2.5)
    --SS Alex Gonzalez (1, 1.3)

  • Comment: Cubs should improve once Gonzalez returns from broken wrist. Mark Grudzielanek (Achilles problems) could help as well.

    9. Florida
    2B Luis Castillo (5, 4.6)
    SS Alex Gonzalez (1, -2.3)
    --2B Damion Easley (2, 7.4)

  • Comment: OBP of .234 for the other Gonzalez. Easley has shown surprising pop in limited action.

    10. Philadelphia
    2B Placido Polanco (1, -0.3)
    SS Jimmy Rollins (2, 1.6)
    --2B Tomas Perez (2, 2.5)
    --2B Chase Utley (2, 6.8)

  • Comment: Doesn't look like a championship middle infield, does it. Will Utley get more playing time?

    11. New York
    2B Danny Garcia (3, 4.2)
    SS Kazuo Matsui (6, 11.3)
    --2B Joe McEwing (1, -2.3)
    --2B Ricky Gutierrez (0,-4.2)

  • Comment: I've heard Matsui criticized, but he's No. 3 in VORP at his position in the league. Garcia has drawn 13 walks to lift .217 batting average to .382 on-base percentage. The other backups are hurting the Mets. Waiting on Jose Reyes ...

    12. Cincinnati
    2B D'Angelo Jimenez (4, 2.3)
    SS Barry Larkin (3, 10.8)

  • Comment: Jimenez also has an OBP more than 100 points above his batting average. Larkin has been charged with one error this year.

    13. Colorado
    2B Luis Gonzalez (1, -0.1)
    SS Royce Clayton (5, 15.7)
    --2B Aaron Miles (1, -0.1)

  • Comment: Even in Colorado, surpising to see anything from Clayton.

    14. Montreal
    2B Jose Vidro (2, 0.8)
    SS Orlando Cabrera (2, 0.4)

  • Comment: Huge disappointment. These guys aren't this bad.

    15. Arizona
    2B Matt Kata (3, 3.9)
    SS Alex Cintron (1, 1.0)
    --2B Roberto Alomar (1, -0.3)

  • Comment: Pretty much a disaster.

    16. San Francisco
    2B Ray Durham (2, 4.9)
    SS Neifi Perez (0, -5.5)
    --SS Deivi Cruz (1, 0.0)

  • Comment: Durham just can't stay in the lineup, and Perez is every bit the negative influence he's cracked up to be.

    • Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.