Thursday, June 7, 2012

All-Star Preview: Second Base

This week, we're taking a look at the ABL's many potential All-Stars. After writing way too much on the first basemen, it's time for the easier choices we face at second base. Make your voice heard in the comments.

Let's start with the Thurmon Munson League:

PLAYER                   AB   R HR RBI   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS OPS+
Gary McLernon, EUR      269  37  3  28 .290 .368 .420 .788  109
Steve O'Donnell, LAS    289  37  3  13 .280 .356 .363 .719   92
Clarence Sutton, CAB    238  35  1  26 .298 .352 .395 .747   99
Attis Veloukhiotis, CAB 139  23  1  24 .374 .444 .496 .940  150
Jeff Wade, MIL          266  40  2  24 .342 .387 .406 .793  112

Attis Veloukhiotis has been Cabo's primary designated hitter. He missed the first three weeks of the season, which is why he doesn't have the at-bats of the others, but boy is is he making up for lost time!

Jeff Wade
The clear choice for starting the All-Star game is Jeff Wade: he has had the best overall offensive season, and he is the best defensive second basemen in all the ABL. Mile High has the best defense in baseball, and Wade is a big part of that.

Defense probably puts Steve O'Donnell ahead of Clarence Sutton: O'Donnell ranks second only Wade with the glove, while Sutton is among the TML's worst. Is O'Donnell's better defense enough to move him past Gary McLernon. If you go by WAR, then yes.

As with the first basemen, the Roberto Clemente League second-sackers outhit their counterparts in the TML Here are four of the top contenders:

PLAYER                   AB   R HR RBI   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS OPS+
Danny Burris, NOT       271  29  1  34 .380 .443 .483 .926  147
Jeffrey McDonald, DAL   239  42  9  40 .343 .415 .523 .938  148
Marvin Welch, MIN       255  47 11  38 .294 .375 .467 .842  123
Andy Reynolds, MON      265  48  9  43 .298 .363 .430 .793  110


Danny Burris is a phenomenon. He had 26-game hit streak, and his average is creeping towards .400. By all accounts, he is a top defender. Jeffrey McDonald can hit, but he has lead hands. He an atrocious defender who splits his time at first base. Burris should start.

Marvin Welch and Andy Reynolds are also lacking with the leather, but their bats sure make up for it. Welch leads all second basemen with 11 home runs, while Reynolds leads with his 48 runs and 43 RBI. Solid hitters, both, but neither quite matches the production of Burris and McDonald.

What do you guys think?
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3 comments:

  1. FunnelmasterJune 7, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    I would need to do some research on just how bad the defense for McDonald is. McDonald has produced more runs/rbi's, and so I would need more clarity on the atrocious defense for McDonald to make a call come vote time. I'll look at this before I vote :)

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  2. UnknownJune 7, 2012 at 11:13 AM

    McDonald has a -9.0 zone rating and a defensive efficiency of .857 in only 33 games at 2B, which is amazingly poor. Burris is at +7.2 and 1.054, so they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

    Burris is going to have lower run and RBI totals than he should because he is getting zero help in that Nottinghamshire lineup.

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  3. USFCOMMISHJune 9, 2012 at 6:18 AM

    Some awesome 2b in the RCL! Going to be interesting before the allstar ballots are released to see who gets the nod as starter! Burris and McDonald? Can Welch and Reynolds make a run...

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