Top 10 Catchers - 2015 MLB

Third basemen are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB catchers for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings. I'll revisit before Opening Day

MLB Network

10. Wilton Ramos Wash
9. Derek Norris SD
8. Brian McCann NYY
7. Salvatore Perez KC
6. Devin Mesoraco Cin
5. Russell Martin Tor
4. Yan Gomes Cle
3. Yadier Molina StL
2. Jonathan Lucroy Mil
1. Buster Posey SFG

Jividen
20. J. Saltalamacchia Mia 1.3
19. A. Avila Det 1.5
18. M. Zunino Sea 1.8
17. S. Vogt Oak 1.85
16. C. Iannetta Col 1.85
15. M. Montero Chi 2
14. W. Ramos Wash 2.05
13. M. Wieters Bal 2.05
12. D. Norris SD 2.2
11. D. Mesoraco Cin 2.25
10. T. d'Arnaud NYM 2.4
9. B. McCann NYY 2.4
8. C. Ruiz Phi 2.45
7. Y. Grandal LAD 2.5
6. S. Perez KC 2.55
5. Y. Gomes Cle 2.8
4. J. Lucroy Mil 3.15
3. R. Martin Tor 3.2
2. Y. Molina StL 3.4
1. B. Posey SFG 4.75

Top 10 Third Basemen - 2015 MLB

Second basemen are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB third basemen for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings. I'll revisit before Opening Day

MLB Network

10. Nolan Arenado Col

9. Juan Uribe LAD

8. Evan Longoria TB

7. Matt Carpenter StL

6. Kyle Seager Sea

5. David Wright NYM

4. Anthony Rendon Wash

3. Josh Harrison Pitt

2. Josh Donaldson Tor

1. Adrian Beltre Tex

Jividen
20. A. Ramirez Mil 1.4
19. J. Lamb Ari 1.65
18. L. Chisenhall Cle 1.8
17. M. Prado Mia 1.85
16. J. Uribe LAD 1.85
15. C. Headley NYY 2.5
14. T. Frazier Cin 2.8
13. P. Sandoval Bos 2.85
12. B. Lawrie Oak 3
11. N. Arenado Col 3.25
10. J. Harrison Pit 3.25
9. A. Rendon Wash 3.35
8. D. Wright NYM 3.35
7. M. Machado Balt 3.55
6. A. Beltre Tex 3.65
5. E. Longoria TB 4
4. K. Seager Sea 4.05
3. M. Carpenter StL 4.35
2. J. Donaldson Tor 4.35
1. K. Bryant Chi 5

Tendown Feb 22 2015

163 is here. This is Tendown 164

1. SNL 40 wasn't very funny.  It was fragile. It was elegiac. I really enjoyed it.  Here are 40 years of candid pics.

2. Rolling Stone ranks every cast member.  It's a dopey list.

3. An academic paper about Chris Benoit.

4. 26-25....and here's the finish.

5. I see your Brian Williams and raise you a...oh, guess.

6. Stop me if you've heard this before - raise taxes on rich people.

7. The Oscars are tonight - my picks are here.

8. Check your recently purchased Lenovo laptop.

9. A-Rod killed those people and now must....oh, that's all he did?  He seems remorseful.

10.

43-9.

11. And one more...



That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time...if there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

Forever Giants:1980 San Francisco Giants Year 23 (98)

1979 is here.

My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season.  The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.

1980 73-89

C Milt May 1.45

1B Mike Ivie -.8

2B Rennie Stennett -1.15

SS Johnnie LeMaster -1.9

3B Darrell Evans 4.15

LF Terry Whitfield 1

CF Bill North 2.5 

RF Jack Clark 4.05  

OF Larry Herndon .05

IF Joe Pettini -.55

LF Jim Wohlford  .6

2B Joe Strain -.15 

1B Rich Murray -.85

C Mike Sadek .35 

OF Max Venable -.45 

1B Willie McCovey -.65 (61.05) Last Season

SP Vida Blue 4.95 

SP Bob Knepper .8

SP Ed Whitson 2.95

SP John Montefusco -.25 (16.8) Last season

SP Allen Ripley .35

RP Greg Minton 3.45 

RP Tom Griffin 2.25

RP Gary Lavelle 1.15
RP Al Holland 3.2

-McCovey retires at midseason; we get no hit, at the Stick, by the Dodgers, and it's Dave Bristol's last season after back to back 73 pythagorean win seasons.  Other than the blip in "my" season, 1978, the Giants have been below .500 in pythag record from '74 forward.  That's a lot of negative WAR for a middle infield. Montefusco and Halicki finish up. 

Top 10 Second Basemen - 2015 MLB

First Basemen are here.

Here's my ranking for MLB second basemen for the 2015 MLB season.  But first - the MLB Network rankings.

MLB Network
10. Scooter Gennett Mil
9. Brian Dozier Min
8. Chase Utley Phil
7. Howie Kendrick LAD
6. Jose Altuve Hou
5. Ian Kinsler Det
4. Neil Walker Pit
3. Ben Zobrist Oak
2. Dustin Pedroia Bos
1. Robinson Cano Sea

Jividen
20. O.Infante KC 1.3
19. S. Gennett Mil 1.3
18. DJ LaMahieu Col 1.35
17. N. Franklin TB 1.5
16. D. Gordon Mia 1.65
15. B. Phillips Cin 1.85
14. A. Hill Ari 1.9
13. J. Gyorko SD 2.15
12. D. Murphy NYM 2.2
11. H. Kendrick LAD 2.3
10. B. Dozier Min 2.4
9. J. Kipnis Cle 2.45
8. K. Wong StL 2.55
7. I. Kinsler Det 2.95
6. B. Zobrist Oak 3.15
5. N. Walker Pit 3.2
4. D. Pedroia Bos 3.35
3. C. Utley Phi 3.45
2. J. Altuve Hou 3.5
1. R. Cano Sea 5.6