BrewersCubs • NL Central position rankings

cubbiefan009 · by **cubbiefan009** on Feb 7th, 2012, 3:17 pm

By David Schoenfield of ESPN.com
Full Article: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/ ... n-rankings

Catcher
1. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
2. Devin Mesoraco/Ryan Hanigan, Reds
3. Geovany Soto, Cubs
4. Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
5. Rod Barajas, Pirates
6. Humberto Quintero/Jason Castro, Astros

First base
1. Joey Votto, Reds
2. Lance Berkman, Cardinals
3. Carlos Lee, Astros
4. Garrett Jones, Pirates
5. Bryan LaHair, Cubs
6. Mat Gamel, Brewers

Second base
1. Brandon Phillips, Reds
2. Rickie Weeks, Brewers
3. Neil Walker, Pirates
4. Jose Altuve, Astros
5. Darwin Barney, Cubs
6. Skip Schumaker/Daniel Descalso, Cardinals

Third base
1. Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
2. David Freese, Cardinals
3. Scott Rolen, Reds
4. Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
5. Ian Stewart, Cubs
6. Jimmy Paredes, Astros

Shortstop
1. Starlin Castro, Cubs
2. Rafael Furcal, Cardinals
3. Clint Barmes, Pirates
4. Zack Cozart, Reds
5. Jed Lowrie, Astros
6. Alex Gonzalez, Brewers

Left field
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers
2. Matt Holliday, Cardinals
3. Alex Presley, Pirates
4. J.D. Martinez, Astros
5. Chris Heisey/Ryan Ludwick, Reds
6. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs

Center field
1. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
2. Drew Stubbs, Reds
3. Nyjer Morgan/Carlos Gomez, Brewers
4. Jon Jay, Cardinals
5. Marlon Byrd, Cubs
6. Jordan Schafer, Astros

Right field
1. Corey Hart, Brewers
2. Carlos Beltran, Cardinals
3. Jay Bruce, Reds
4. Jose Tabata, Pirates
5. David DeJesus, Cubs
6. Brian Bogusevic, Astros

No. 1 starter
1. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals
2. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
3. Mat Latos, Reds
4. Matt Garza, Cubs
5. Brett Myers, Astros
6. Jeff Karstens, Pirates

No. 2 starter
1. Zack Greinke, Brewers
2. Johnny Cueto, Reds
3. Jaime Garcia, Cardinals
4. Wandy Rodriguez, Astros
5. Ryan Dempster, Cubs
6. Charlie Morton, Pirates

No. 3 starter
1. Shaun Marcum, Brewers
2. Bud Norris, Astros
3. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
4. Homer Bailey, Reds
5. Paul Maholm, Cubs
6. James McDonald, Pirates

No. 4 starter
1. Randy Wolf, Brewers
2. Mike Leake, Reds
3. Kyle Lohse, Cardinals
4. Travis Wood, Cubs
5. Erik Bedard, Pirates
6. J.A. Happ, Astros

No. 5 starter
1. Chris Narveson, Brewers
2. Bronson Arroyo/Aroldis Chapman, Reds
3. Jake Westbrook, Cardinals
4. Jordan Lyles/Henry Sosa, Astros
5. Chris Volstad, Cubs
6. Kevin Correia, Pirates

Closer
1. John Axford, Brewers
2. Ryan Madson, Reds
3. Joel Hanrahan, Pirates
4. Jason Motte, Cardinals
5. Carlos Marmol, Cubs
6. Brandon Lyon, Astros

Bullpen
1. Reds -- Sean Marshall, Nick Masset, Bill Bray, Sam LeCure, Logan Ondrusek
2. Cardinals -- Fernando Salas, Marc Rzepczynski, Mitchell Boggs, Lance Lynn, Eduardo Sanchez
3. Brewers -- Francisco Rodriguez, Kameron Loe, Marco Estrada, Jose Veras, Zach Braddock
4. Pirates -- Daniel McCutchen, Chris Resop, Evan Meek, Tony Watson, Jason Grilli
5. Cubs -- Jeff Samardzija, Kerry Wood, James Russell, Marcos Mateo, Scott Maine
6. Astros -- Wilton Lopez, Fernando Rodriguez, Aneury Rodriguez, Sergio Escalona, Juan Abreu

Intangibles
1. Brewers
2. Reds
3. Pirates
4. Cardinals
5. Cubs
6. Astros

Final tally
1. Brewers, 77 points
2. Reds, 73 points
3. Cardinals, 68 points
4. Pirates, 46 points
5. Cubs, 39 points
6. Astros, 33 points

What do you guys think of some of these rankings? He also gives a paragraph of descriptions for each position at the link of the full article.

cubbiefan009 · by **cubbiefan009** on Feb 7th, 2012, 3:22 pm

I obviously disagree with the Wainwright ranking. Assuming he comes back fully healthy, he's their #1. Even in the category he put Waino in though, how is Marcum and Norris ranked higher?

I also would put Sori at #4 in LF...Presley and Martinez have to show something first. Not saying Sori will be better this season, but I give him the benefit of the doubt to start the year.

Boozer1011 · by **Boozer1011** on Feb 7th, 2012, 4:46 pm

cubbiefan009 wrote:I obviously disagree with the Wainwright ranking. Assuming he comes back fully healthy, he's their #1. Even in the category he put Waino in though, how is Marcum and Norris ranked higher?

I also would put Sori at #4 in LF...Presley and Martinez have to show something first. Not saying Sori will be better this season, but I give him the benefit of the doubt to start the year.

Well that's the thing, why should anyone assume that? It usually takes a year before pitchers are back to normal.
I'd definitely take Marcum over Wainwright for 2012 only.
I don't get the Norris love though.

sedgy145 · by **sedgy145** on Feb 7th, 2012, 5:04 pm

Amazing how two years ago, Carlos Marmol was one of the top closers in all of MLB, but now, he's maybe the 5th best in a division of six teams.

The Stache · by **The Stache** on Feb 7th, 2012, 5:23 pm

Yeah that's the one thing that stuck out to me too. Marmol has the ability to be the best closer in this division. I hope he can revert back to 2010 form.

Fan174 · by **Fan174** on Feb 7th, 2012, 7:20 pm

cubbiefan009 wrote:

I obviously disagree with the Wainwright ranking. Assuming he comes back fully healthy, he's their #1. Even in the category he put Waino in though, how is Marcum and Norris ranked higher?

Please look up Marcum, Shawn.
Then when you do that look John, Tommy-Surgery-2nd time.

Then come back and you can answer your own question.

Indianplaya17 · by **Indianplaya17** on Feb 7th, 2012, 7:27 pm

Fan174 wrote:
cubbiefan009 wrote:

I obviously disagree with the Wainwright ranking. Assuming he comes back fully healthy, he's their #1. Even in the category he put Waino in though, how is Marcum and Norris ranked higher?

Please look up Marcum, Shawn.
Then when you do that look John, Tommy-Surgery-2nd time.

Then come back and you can answer your own question.

No such player by that name. Maybe try Marcum, Shaun?

cubbiefan009 · by **cubbiefan009** on Feb 8th, 2012, 8:09 am

Indianplaya17 wrote:
Fan174 wrote:
cubbiefan009 wrote:

I obviously disagree with the Wainwright ranking. Assuming he comes back fully healthy, he's their #1. Even in the category he put Waino in though, how is Marcum and Norris ranked higher?

Please look up Marcum, Shawn.
Then when you do that look John, Tommy-Surgery-2nd time.

Then come back and you can answer your own question.

No such player by that name. Maybe try Marcum, Shaun?

I see what you did there

Old Style · by **Old Style** on Feb 8th, 2012, 9:35 am

The thing that stood out to me here was how much has changed in a few years. If they had a similar ranking system 4 years ago, we'd have more guys at the top.

I think this division will come down to the Reds and Cardinals. I'd throw the Brewers in there too, but I think the loss of Fielder, and a 50 game absence from Braun will be hard to recover from.

The Stache · by **The Stache** on Feb 12th, 2012, 2:26 am

Hopefully next February we see:

1. Starlin Castro, SS

3. Brett Jackson, CF

2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

3. Yoenis Cespedes, LF

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