3B has gone pretty fast in my slow offseason draft and I'm trying to weight my options at 3B. Anyone want to throw in their 2 cents of the top 10 thirdbasemen real quick? Where does Ensberg fit in? Thanks for the opinions
(1) Alex Rodriguez: he does it all and is still only 30 y.o.
(2) Miguel Cabrera: Oh, how I wanted to put him down lower due to the depleted FLA lineup, but I couldn't. He's THAT good. And he won't even touch 23 y.o until Spring Training.
(3) David Wright: Is it a stretch placing him this high? 2 years ago most people (myself included) didn't even have him on radar. Now, he's making a case for a bona fide Top 3 3B man. Turns 23 (5) days before Christmas btw.
(4) Eric Chavez: 28 year old slugger had a down year (by his standards). I won't be overlooking him.
(5) Aramis Ramirez: Couldn't place him any higher I don't think. But he IS a top 5 3B man, provided he's healthy.
(6) Chone Figgins: Speed is his most valuable asset, but his BA will keep him in the upper tier.
(7) Hank Blalock: Might be a little too high, but I really sense that he is going to have a HUGE breakout year one of these years. This could be the last year rgar he ranks below Chavez, Aram and Figgins for me. Just turned 25 y.o btw.
(8) Scott Rolen: Injury risk pushes him down, but if healthy, he probably deserves to be 3 or 4 spots higher hitting in that lineup.
(9) Morgan Ensberg: I'm going to put him here as I am not completely sold on his year he had. At worst, he's an excellent sleeper pick but for some reason I'd still target just about everyone else on this list before him
(10) Troy Glaus: You only wanted 10, so I chose Glaus over chipper and Beltre. Not high on Beltre unless he goes to Coors or Philly, and Chipper is on the downside I think.
3B is a very deep position. Even knowing that Mora, Koskie, Garciaparra (3B eligible in most leagues), Lowell, Cantu and boone are very serviceable (when healthy), though Lowell will be interesting to see where some people place him next spring. Nomar doesn't make my list only because most of his value to me is at SS (no one will draft him as a 3B man unless they HAVE to), and plus hes quite the injury risk. Let's also not forget McPhereson and Encarnacion will be starting next year, and Marte may not be far off.
ARam deserves to be higher. He puts up better #'s than Chavez. Or has for the past several years. Last year would have equaled the prior years if he did not get hurt. Plus, he did not get going until about 6 weeks into the season. One can argue for Wright, but I would take ARam.
1. ARod
2. Wright (i know MCab is soo good, but wright will have the better lineup around him while mcab probably will lack movtivation, knowing his team is gona be out of it pretty fast.)
3. MCab
4. ARam
5. Chavez (IF he doesnt go though his first month drought again).
6. Ensberg (Hitters ballpark and if he gets a few more bats around him he'll put up some sweet numbers).
7. Mora
8. Rolen (STAY HEALTHY PLEASE!)
9. Blalock
10. Glaus (STAY HEALTHY PLEASE!)
I can't understand how Mora does not make a Top Ten. He's out produced each of the past two years. He's gotta rank higher than Blalock and Beltre, and has similar production, without the injury history of Chavez or Glaus. I'd make it:
ARod
Miggy
Wright
Rolen
Chavez
Mora
ARam
Blalock
Figgins
Ensberg
This fire sale in Florida has dropped MCab out of the first round for me and behind Wright in my 3B rankings.
MCab .323/.385/.561 HR 33 R 106 RBI 116 SB 1
Wright .306/.388/.523 HR 27 R 99 RBI 102 SB 17
Both hitters are going to improve next year. MCab can potentially hit 40 HR but right now there is absolutely no reason for anyone to pitch to MCab.
Maine has a good swing for a pitcher but on anything that moves, he has no chance. And if it's a fastball, it has to be up in the zone. Basically, the pitcher has to hit his bat. - Mike Pelfrey
1) A Rod
2) D Wright - With the Mets grabing Delgado, and posied to do more, Wright looks like he'll get to bat 3rd or 5th in a potent lineup. I like M Cab better talent wise, but Wright's in a better situation.
3) M Cab - A great talent, but even great talent's need some protection, and the Florida lineup offers very little right now, or in the forseeable future.
4) A Ramirez - Has been very consistent. Cubbies will make trades to improve offense.
5T ) Morgan Engberg - I think last year was a breakout year for him.
5T) Chone Figgins - Mr. Super Utility Player, you probably pick him up for 2B/SS or OF, but he needs to be mentioned here.
7) Melvin Mora - 2005 was still pretty good by most standards. He could regain some of what he did in 2004.
8) Jorge Cantu - This guy gets ignored because he plays in Tampa, but he went ,286-28-117 last year, and had a decent rookie year in 2004, so he does not look to be a fluke.
9) Scott Rolen - I think he'll bounce back, but why take the risk with these other
10T ) Troy Glaus - I move him up ahead of Melvin Mora if he get back to the American League and can DH part time.
10T) Eric Chavez - I think he is a injury risk this year. Has shoulder problems, and decided against surgery in the off season.
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by lbbaseball14 » Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:27 pm 
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