AL Central Position Rankings - Third Base

Today, we'll round out the infield and vote for the preseason AL Central third baseman. Let's get the discussion going on "Which AL Central Third Baseman will be the best in 2012?" Vote now and comment your rankings.

The Candidates (2011 stats)

Minnesota Twins - Danny Valencia - .246/.294/.383 (.677) with 28-2B, 2-3B, 15-HR, 72 RBI
Chicago White Sox - Brent Morel - .245/.287/.366 (.653) with 18-2B, 1-3B, 10-HR, 41 RBI
Cleveland Indians - Jack Hannahan - .250/.331/.388 (.719) with 16-2B, 2-3B, 8-HR, 40 RBI
Lonnie Chisenhall MLB - .255/.284/.415 (.699) with 13-2B, 0-3B, 7-HR, 22 RBI
Lonnie Chisenhall MILB - .267/.353/.431 (.784) with 15-2B, 3-3B, 7-HR, 45 RBI
Detroit Tigers - Miguel Cabrera - .344/.448/.586 (1.033) with 48-2B, 0-3B, 30-HR, 105 RBI
Kansas City Royals - Mike Moustakus MLB- .263/.309/.367 (.675) with 18-2B, 1-3B, 5-HR, 30 RBI
Mike Moustakus MILB- .287/.347/.498 (.845) with 15-2B, 1-3B, 10-HR, 44 RBI

SUMMARY

Valencia burst on the scene in June of 2010 and hit .311. He hit .311 and came up big in many situations. 2011 was a very frustrating year for Valencia offensively and defensively. He was the lone Twins player who managed to stay pretty much healthy all year. He's off to a good start the spring, and hopefully that will carry into the season. Valencia will be 27 years old most of the season.

Morel has been a prospect in the White Sox system for quite some time. He is solid with the glove, but he struggled at the plate in 2011. Morel will turn 25 years old in April.

Cleveland has a little position battle brewing at third base. Cretin-Derham Hall grad and former Gopher Jack Hannahan is 32 and the definition of a solid, replacement level veteran. Lonnie Chisenhall was the team's 1st round pick in 2008 and has risen quickly up the system. He didn't hit as well as most believe that he will. He is just 23 years old.

Miguel Cabrera is one of the best hitters in all of baseball. He has played in six All Star games. Although he's never been named league MVP, he has finished in the top five in voting five times. he has finished in the top three each of the past three seasons. He moves to third base this season with the Tigers' acquisition of Prince Fielder. That should be interesting for the soon-to-be 29 year old.

Mike Moustakus has been a top prospect since being drafted by the Royals. He is a good combination of power and batting average. The 23 year old should hopes to make big strides in 2012 and give the Royals a great young nucleus with its corner infielders.


There is the information, now it is time to vote. Who will be the best third baseman in the AL Central in 2012?

My choice?

Attachment 312

Even though I picked Cabrera(how can you not) I really think Valencia is going to have a monster year. 20+ HR 85+ RBI

Cabrera (with the caveat that due to awful D will be DH before June - so doesn't really count)
Valencia
Moustakas
Indians' tandem
Morel

Gernzy,

I agree Danny Valencia is very under valued by this organization. Everytime the Twins lost last season the king idiot (Ron Gardenhire) would blame Valencia for something. Valencia had a nice season offensively and as long as his defense improves he will the starting 3B for a while.

Cabrera-Moustakas-Chisenhall-Valencia-Morel

Of the third basemen with at least 400 at bats last year, 24 had better offensive seasons last year, three had worse.*

*according to Fangraphs, only looking at offense.

So, it is hard to argue he had a good offensive season last year.

Miggy will not be playing 3rd base long--and when he does it will be an adventure--I can see teams bunting on him every day. Cant vote him at 3B.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gernzy

20+ HR 85+ RBI

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This would be great, and I could see it happening if his average on balls in play buoys upward, but I'm more concerned with which defensive Valencia will show up--2010 or 2011? He was awful in the field last year after being very respectable in 2010.

Cabrera, Moustakus, Chisenhall, Valencia, Morel, whoever replaces Cabrera at third eventually. The middle three are pretty close for me because I think their low ends are all similar, but as far as their high ends, Moustakus can be crazy good and Chisenhall has a bit higher potential than Valencia because "he didn't hit as well as most believe that he will" and still had a higher OPS than Valencia and has a better minor league track record. The drop off between Cabrera and Detroit's alternatives offensively is so huge that it makes sense that they would give him a chance to see if he is passable enough to get by.

Cabrera
Moustakus
Valencia
Indians (slightly interesting)
Morel

I still don't really consider Cabrera a third baseman because I think, as the season wears on, Feilder and Cabrera will end up splitting most of their time between 1B and DH if Inge hits well enough to justify his glove at third.

I think, based on what's above:
Cabrera
Moustakas

big gap

Lonnie Chisenhall
Valencia
Jack Hannahan
Brent Morel

I rank Chisenhall higher than Valencia but it could be very very close. This season, it's going to be all about what adjustments Valencia makes and what he learned last season. Chisenhall was the #25 prospect per Baseball America entering the 2011 season....