I know this has been argued here and elsewhere, but I keep hearing during the STL/HOU series that Pujols is the one player you would want to start a franchise around. While he is definitely one of only two IMO, why doesn't Beltran get the same thing? Is .330 40-45HR's 120 RBI's that much better than a switch htting, .300, the only real 40-40 threat, and gold glove caliber defense in CF? Maybe I'm missing something here, but I almost never hear anyone talk about Beltran in the "start a franchise" discussion, at least not nearly as much as Pujols. This is coming from the biggest Cardinal homer in the world, so am I way out in left field on this one? Am I just being overly influenced by his performace in the post season?
Don't get me wrong Beltran is a great player. His SB make up for some of the difference in SLG and he plays great defense. Pujols is younger, a better hitter and has done it while playing 3B, LF and 1B. Plus he has really turned into a great defense 1B this last year. There is no one else that I would want if I am starting a team from scratch.
Pogotheostrich wrote:Beltran - 27, Career OBP .353, SLG .490
Pujols - 24, Career OBP .413, SLG .624
Don't get me wrong Beltran is a great player. His SB make up for some of the difference in SLG and he plays great defense. Pujols is younger, a better hitter and has done it while playing 3B, LF and 1B. Plus he has really turned into a great defense 1B this last year. There is no one else that I would want if I am starting a team from scratch.
Pujols a "great defensive 1B"? He's not exactly J.T Snow or Keith Hernandez with the glove. However, Pujols (and close behind Manny) is the best hitter not named Barry Bonds. I guess the question is does Beltran's edge in speed and defense close the gap between their offense?
Either would be an excellent player to build around, but I concur with most, that you Cards fan have the top dog. If Pujols really is that young he's consistantly putting up numbers that rival the all time greatest players in baseball's history. Stolen bases are more valuable to fantasy teams than they are to MLB teams in this era of big offenses. Yes it's true that ideally, you'd want your franchise player to be a difference maker at a crucial posistion in the field. Beltran shines in CF, but Pujols is no slouch with the leather and he's proven he can play many positions. That allows flexibilty to continue to build that franchise around him, even if it means adding a stud at 1B and shifting Pujols to 3B or a corner OF posn.
Last edited by dannahann on Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If I were starting a franchise the top 3 on my board would be in this order:
1. Albert Pujols
2. Alex Rodriguez
3. Carlos Beltran
Note: This is if I were to pick a hitter. Unless I had the number 1 pick, or possibly the number 2, my first rounder would probably be a pitcher whether it be Prior, Santana etc..
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by SaintsOfTheDiamond » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:35 pm 
Am I just being overly influenced by his performace in the post season? 
