Best in the Game Series: 1B* (NPD-Non-Pujols Division)

[NAHSTE]

Wait... You'd rather have Prince, Adrian and Ryan over Tex?. Tex has only hit below .280 once in his career, someone who consistently puts up All-Star numbers and has a great glove. Yeah, you're right, he's not as good.

The only 1B i'd take over Tex is Freddie Freeman.

Ryan Howard is the one I'd least want to take over Tex, and he has a higher career OPS and averages 10 more HR per 162. Career AVG is only .8 less also. Gonzalez has been in a pitcher's park for the last 5 seasons and is poised to increase his numbers, and Prince is four years younger and has already topped Tex's career high in HR twice.

I'll give you the defense factor, but other than that, yeah, I'd probably take all three of those guys over Teixiera.


Career OPS +
Howard 140
Fielder 139
Gonzalez 137
Teixiera 134

Career OPS

Howard .944
Fielder .919
Teixiera .917
Gonzalez .875

Career HR/162
Howard 47
Fielder/Teixiera 37
Gonzalez 32

Career AVG
Teixiera .286
Gonzalez .284
Fielder/Howard .279

 

[Lanteri]

Ryan Howard is the one I'd least want to take over Tex, and he has a higher career OPS and averages 10 more HR per 162. Career AVG is only .8 less also. Gonzalez has been in a pitcher's park for the last 5 seasons and is poised to increase his numbers, and Prince is four years younger and has already topped Tex's career high in HR twice.

I'll give you the defense factor, but other than that, yeah, I'd probably take all three of those guys over Teixiera.


Career OPS +
Votto 151
Howard 140
Fielder 139
Gonzalez 137
Teixiera 134

Career OPS

Votto .958
Howard .944
Fielder .919
Teixiera .917
Gonzalez .875

Career HR/162
Howard 47
Fielder/Teixiera 37
Gonzalez 32
Votto 32

Career AVG
Votto .314
Teixiera .286
Gonzalez .284
Fielder/Howard .279

:shifty:

 

[Woy]

The drunk.

 

[NAHSTE]

:shifty:

Congrats, you just proved that my 2nd choice (or 3rd depending on Morneau's health) in this poll is better than my 4th, 5th and 6th choices.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Going with Votto- as leftwich said, he's the reigning NL MVP and he's just entered his prime. Votto is also solid defensively, but at first base, it's the one position where defense doesn't matter as much. What is even better about Votto- his stats away from home are actually better- his HR and RBI numbers are the same, and his average and OBP numbers are 50 points higher away.

Cabrera is also in the discussion, but the off-field issues worry me.

 

[Mark Skid]

Oh Canada!... Joey Votto

 

[mcstl25]

Can't believe I'm the only person who has voted for Howard. I figured that Cabrera would be the top vote getter, but I don't understand the 10-0 margin of Votto vs. Howard. Howard had a down year last year, but had four consecutive seasons from 06 to 09 of 40 plus home runs and 135 plus RBIs. Even Votto's MVP season last year didn't top that.

 

[FedEx227]

None of those seasons we're particularly "great" though.

Yes, he hit a lot of homers, no doubt he's a giant power bat. Pointing to his RBI numbers though doesn't really say anything other then he drove in a lot of runs because he had awesome players (aka MVPs) in front of him that were constantly on base. Add in the fact that Howard was helped immensely by his home park.

2006: 167 OPS+
2007: 144 OPS+
2008: 124 OPS+
2009: 141 OPS+

Votto's MVP year was 174 OPS+

 

[NAHSTE]

Yeah, Howard scares the shit out of me as a Braves fan, and he seems to really thrive in RBI situations, but he's not better than Votto.

 

[mcstl25]

None of those seasons we're particularly "great" though.

Yes, he hit a lot of homers, no doubt he's a giant power bat. Pointing to his RBI numbers though doesn't really say anything other then he drove in a lot of runs because he had awesome players (aka MVPs) in front of him that were constantly on base. Add in the fact that Howard was helped immensely by his home park.

2006: 167 OPS+
2007: 144 OPS+
2008: 124 OPS+
2009: 141 OPS+

Votto's MVP year was 174 OPS+

I guess the point I'm trying to make is Votto had one MVP caliber year (2010) while Howard has had four (2006 - 2009). OPS+ is a nice statistic, but I still can't discount 45+ home runs and 135+ RBIs, despite his teammates or ballpark.

Both 2008 and 2009 were good seasons for Votto, but he didn't hit more than 25 home runs or drive in more than 85 runs. I'd just like to see Votto put together another great season or two before anointing him the best 1B not named Pujols.

I'm more surprised than anything that Howard was the only 1B on that list to not have a single vote.

 

[SethMode]

I guess the point I'm trying to make is Votto had one MVP caliber year (2010) while Howard has had four (2006 - 2009). OPS+ is a nice statistic, but I still can't discount 45+ home runs and 135+ RBIs, despite his teammates or ballpark.

Both 2008 and 2009 were good seasons for Votto, but he didn't hit more than 25 home runs or drive in more than 85 runs. I'd just like to see Votto put together another great season or two before anointing him the best 1B not named Pujols.

I'm more surprised than anything that Howard was the only 1B on that list to not have a single vote.

I love Howard. He's my favorite player that isn't named Roy on the Phillies. But I had to vote for Cabrera despite how great I think that Howard is. His statistics might not be the greatest in the typical baseball stat nerd's eyes (no offense FedEx) but I love his attitude and say what you will about RBI but I think they've been considered overrated for so long that they've almost become underrated.

 

[NAHSTE]

I guess the point I'm trying to make is Votto had one MVP caliber year (2010) while Howard has had four (2006 - 2009). OPS+ is a nice statistic, but I still can't discount 45+ home runs and 135+ RBIs, despite his teammates or ballpark.

Both 2008 and 2009 were good seasons for Votto, but he didn't hit more than 25 home runs or drive in more than 85 runs. I'd just like to see Votto put together another great season or two before anointing him the best 1B not named Pujols.

I'm more surprised than anything that Howard was the only 1B on that list to not have a single vote.

Which is why we anointed him the best 1B not named Pujols or Cabrera.

 

[mcstl25]

Which is why we anointed him the best 1B not named Pujols or Cabrera.

True

 

[FedEx227]

I love Howard. He's my favorite player that isn't named Roy on the Phillies. But I had to vote for Cabrera despite how great I think that Howard is. His statistics might not be the greatest in the typical baseball stat nerd's eyes (no offense FedEx) but I love his attitude and say what you will about RBI but I think they've been considered overrated for so long that they've almost become underrated.

I'm use to it... Not sure why you have to be a nerd to like baseball stats but either way. Howard is still good I'm not saying otherwise we aren't splitting hairs about replacement level players were talking about the top plater in arguably baseballs deepest position.

 

[SethMode]

I'm use to it... Not sure why you have to be a nerd to like baseball stats but either way. Howard is still good I'm not saying otherwise we aren't splitting hairs about replacement level players were talking about the top plater in arguably baseballs deepest position.

I think we're mostly nerds here regardless, just depends on the topic. Hell, that outlook could be used for life in general.

 

[FedEx227]

I think we're mostly nerds here regardless, just depends on the topic. Hell, that outlook could be used for life in general.

Oh okay I'm use to the hollier then thou stats argument I agree with what your saying.

 

[DJ Fog]

Since it's "mortal 1Bman" I don't understand why defense would not have a play and Teixiera isn't included in the list.

 

[NAHSTE]

Since it's "mortal 1Bman" I don't understand why defense would not have a play and Teixiera isn't included in the list.

I had to cap it somewhere. Tex is very, very, good, but the only 1B among this group who I'd no doubt take him over is Ryan Howard.

 

[shag773]

Hate to say it, especially with the way Howard is hitting the ball right now, but I'll take Teixiera's offense and defense

 

[SethMode]

Morneau might have won a 2nd MVP last year if he would of stayed healthy. Howard's numbers have been declining the last 3 years I believe. His K's are what really hurt him, but he still puts up the numbers. He's going to have to cut down his K's with Utley out and Werth gone, then again with that rotation if they get 3-4 on the board it may be a win most of the time.

Eh, I'd say in many ways Howard is improving as a hitter more than he's declining, having watched 90% of the Phils games. His k's have dropped each year, and while his power numbers slightly declined each year, it was really only a slight decline from 2008 to 2009, and then the major decline from last year is partially because he missed almost a month (he was on pace for a typical Howard numbers before the injury).

The thing to love about Howard is that the guy shows up each season in better shape than the season before, and his work ethic is beyond admirable. He's never going to be great at hitting a slider, but if he continues to focus more on making contact rather than killing the ball, I think he'll maintain his numbers. He hits more singles now, but that's just because he's doing MUCH better at taking what is given to him rather than trying to jack a 3 run homer every time he's at the plate.

Howard's fielding, while also always improving, still leaves much to be desired. My heart still leaps into my throat anytime he goes to fire the ball to second.