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Ranking the NL Central: OF | Print |  E-mail
Written by Justin Bridgman   
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 08:17

Here are the rankings from the beginning of the season, needless to say they are changing quite a bit.

Left Field
1. Matt Holliday, Cardinals (preseason rank: NR)
I really struggled with this rank, but Holliday's defensive abilities put him at the head of the class. Holliday came into St. Louis and killed the ball right away, he didn't stop hitting until the playoffs started, and the fact that he is a plus left fielder makes him even more valuable. Despite what was considered a down half season in Oakland Holliday was still a 5.6 WAR player. He might not stay, but for right now he is the top of the LF class.

2. Ryan Braun, Brewers (preseason rank: 1)
Braun will never be considered a defensive whiz, but his bat is one of the best in the game. His -15.5 UZR this season needs to get better, but his .405 wOBA does not. He was able to hit 32 homers this year despite having some back problems that hindered his power. Braun is established as one of the best in baseball, and he will be back again next season helping lead that powerful Brewers lineup.

3. Carlos Lee, Astros (preseason rank: 3)
His age is starting to catch up to him, but Lee is still producing offensively at a solid clip. He played most of the season and hit 26 homers (his lowest total since 2002) yet still managed to post a .831 OPS. His defense still hovers around terrible, though not as bad as Braun, and his age means he will decline more. Still Lee is a strong bat to have in the middle of a lineup and has a future as a solid DH in the AL.

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4. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs (preseason rank: 2)
Alfonso had one of the worst seasons of his career and spent a lot of the season injured. He had two great months (April and July) and the rest was horrible before the Cubs finally shut him down in September. His defense suffered a ton from his bad knee, and his power went down a lot. A good offseason workout program and some luck with his healthy should put Soriano back to his 2008 level of play.

5. Laynce Nix/Jonny Gomes (preseason rank: NR)
This Nix/Gomes combo does bring a bit of everything, if the Reds could combine them they would have a heck of a player. Nix can't hit to save his life, but he plays a solid left field. Gomes isn't that great a fielder (he plays left a bit above average) but he can swing a solid power bat. He had 20 homers in 280 at-bats and should be considered for full-time duty above Nix next season.

6. Lastings Milledge, Pirates (preseason rank: NR)
Milledge is still a struggling top prospect is trying to make it on his third team. His bat isn't much to talk about since he hates taking walks and doesn't hit for much power, but his glove in left is above average. He is still prone to making stupid mental decisions in the field, but he still presents some upside for the Pirates to justify playing him all next season.

Center Field
1. Mike Cameron, Brewers (preseason rank: 3)
Cameron posted his second straight season above 4 WAR and did it with a combination of great defense and solid offense. He strikes out a ton and his power comes in some crazy streaks, but in the end he brings an above average bat despite a questionable plate approach.

2. Michael Bourn, Astros (preseason rank: 5)
Bourn sure made me look stupid this season. He plays a great defensive centerfield and his bat took a huge leap forward. He got better at taking walks despite a ton of strikeouts and his 60+ steals with only 12 caught stealing make him one of the games elite base stealers. Getting him for Brad Lidge ended up being a win-win deal.

3. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates (preseason rank: NR)
For a team full of bad players at least the Pirates have one star. McCutchen game up in June and became the Pirates best player right away. He hits for average and power, plays an average center, and proved to be a solid base stealer. He will be the only true threat in the Pirates lineup going into next season and will be a star for years.

4a. Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs (preseason rank: 4)
4b. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals (preseason rank: NR)
Fukudome and Rasmus tie for the fourth spot because they finished right next to each other in WAR this season. Fukudome is obviously a finished product- he essentially replicated his rookie season, but in centerfield where it wasn't as horrible to look at. He became a doubles machine and improved his already solid OBP. He will be back in right next season where his defense is elite.
Rasmus had a solid rookie season with his glove, but really struggled at times with his offense. He finished with a 10.3 UZR, and there is no reason to think his defense would slump. He does need to improve on offense, and he will given more playing time. He has solid power and a decent approach though he does strikeout a lot.

6. Drew Stubbs, Reds (preseason rank: NR)
Stubbs isn't a bad player at all, and his ranking is more a reflection on the talent in center than it is Stubbs himself. Stubbs posted 1.5 WAR in limited play, giving the Reds a 7.7 UZR in center while having a league average bat. Stubbs has some speed and will steal some bases, he is a vast improvement over the Willy Taveras thing that Dusty was trotting out before.

Right Field
Right has taken over center as a major weak spot in the division, really with the expected trade of Milton Bradley there won't be much talent left.
1. Hunter Pence, Astros (preseason rank: 5)
Pence is the head of a weak class. He posted a 3.4 WAR this season by improving his bat and maintaining a great glove in right. He has a lot of power in his tiny legs and posted a .351 wOBA this year thanks to a rise in walks and a drop in strikeouts. Pence had a drop in his UZR, but still maintained a great number.

2. Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals (preseason rank: 4)
Another reflection on how poor this position is right now in the NL Central. Ludwick had the predicable fall off the cliff with his numbers and is back to being about a league average player. His .336 wOBA and .775 OPS show his true talent level, and even his defense in right is about average. The Cardinals could do worse, but they could certainly do better.

3. Jay Bruce, Reds (preseason rank: 2)
Bruce suffered a hardcore sophomore slump this season, but Reds fans don't need to panic about him yet. Injuries limited Bruce to 101 games, and his .329 wOBA is going to rise with his .222 BABIP. Nobody has a BABIP that low two seasons in a row, the power is still there and in the park he plays in Bruce will probably be a star. He also has a stellar UZR of 8.5 in right meaning that he adds to his bat with a great glove.

4. Milton Bradley, Cubs (preseason rank: 1)
I'm afraid to type anything here. Milton didn't have the season I expected him to, if he were to return next season he would post much better numbers, but whatever its done. Anything else I write will just bring a storm of criticism.

5. Corey Hart, Brewers (preseason rank: 3)
Hart was primed for a solid season but instead saw a drop in power and the Brewers aren't high on him. He isn't lucky enough to say he had a bad BABIP season since his was .311. Hart didn't really experience a change in his numbers, his wOBA actually went up and his OPS stayed about the game, but he didn't have as much power. He really duplicated his 2008 season, and that just isn't good enough.

6. Brandon Moss, Pirates (preseason: 6)
Bad, just bad.

Next up is catchers.



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