Today Cubs close out the Pittsburgh series by beating them 8-7 in another opposite of a pitching duel game with Rueschel giving up 5 runs in 5 IP and Lee Smith blowing a save in the ninth allowing PIT to tie.
All Star game coming up on July 10th so let’s look at the top players in each position based upon this data model and compare them to players fans picked. In Part 1 we’ll cover the 4 infield positions, 1B , 2B , 3B , and SS.
First Base
| Rank | WAA | Name | TeamID | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +003+ | 3.97 | Leon_Durham | CHN | 1B |
| +009+ | 3.76 | Eddie_Murray | BAL | 1B |
| +010+ | 3.74 | Willie_Upshaw | TOR | 1B |
| +017+ | 3.25 | Alvin_Davis | SEA | 1B |
| +029+ | 2.79 | Don_Mattingly | NYA | 1B-LF |
| +082+ | 1.68 | Barbaro_Garbey | DET | 1B-3B-DH |
| +099+ | 1.45 | Tim_Corcoran | PHI | 1B-RF |
| +116+ | 1.28 | Kent_Hrbek | MIN | 1B |
| XXXXX | 1.13 | Len_Matuszek | PHI | 1B |
| XXXXX | 1.09 | Gerald_Perry | ATL | 1B-LF |
This model picks Leon Durham and Eddie Murray highlighted above in bold blue for NL, bold red for AL. For this exercise we’ll use this list on Wikipedia. Survey says: Rod Carew for AL, Steve Garvey for NL. Neither player is in the top ten list above according to this data model. Both players are unranked at this point in the season.
Starters are voted on by fans with real hand punched hanging chad paper ballots. Both Carew and Garvey are near the end of great careers so name recognition prevailed here.
Eddie Murray and Mattingly make the reserves.
Second Base
| Rank | WAA | Name | TeamID | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +028+ | 2.81 | Ryne_Sandberg | CHN | 2B |
| XXXXX | 1.24 | Joe_Morgan | OAK | 2B |
| XXXXX | 1.18 | Juan_Samuel | PHI | 2B |
| XXXXX | 0.76 | Lou_Whitaker | DET | 2B |
| XXXXX | 0.71 | Tim_Flannery | SDN | 2B-3B-SS |
| XXXXX | 0.71 | Tim_Teufel | MIN | 2B |
| XXXXX | 0.57 | Jerry_Royster | ATL | 2B-3B-SS-LF |
| XXXXX | 0.46 | Alan_Bannister | TEX | 2B-DH |
| XXXXX | 0.4 | Glenn_Hubbard | ATL | 2B |
| XXXXX | 0.17 | Alan_Bannister | TOT | 2B-DH |
The people pick Lou Whitaker for AL, Ryno for NL.
Third Base
| Rank | WAA | Name | TeamID | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +012+ | 3.65 | Mike_Schmidt | PHI | 3B |
| +054+ | 2.1 | Wayne_Gross | BAL | 3B |
| +060+ | 1.97 | Ron_Cey | CHN | 3B |
| +107+ | 1.39 | Howard_Johnson | DET | 3B |
| XXXXX | 0.88 | Bob_Horner | ATL | 3B |
| XXXXX | 0.8 | Graig_Nettles | SDN | 3B |
| XXXXX | 0.73 | Pedro_Guerrero | LAN | 3B-RF-CF-1B |
| XXXXX | 0.55 | Richie_Hebner | CHN | 3B |
| XXXXX | 0.4 | George_Brett | KCA | 3B |
| XXXXX | 0.4 | Nick_Esasky | CIN | 3B-1B |
Schmidt gets the nod for NL, Brett for AL.
Shortstop
| Rank | WAA | Name | TeamID | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +038+ | 2.46 | Cal_Ripken | BAL | SS |
| +048+ | 2.25 | Alan_Trammell | DET | SS-DH |
| XXXXX | 0.5 | Mario_Ramirez | SDN | SS |
| XXXXX | 0.13 | Robin_Yount | MIL | SS-DH |
| XXXXX | 0.08 | Tom_Foley | CIN | SS-2B |
| XXXXX | 0.06 | Spike_Owen | SEA | SS |
| XXXXX | 0.04 | Jerry_Dybzinski | CHA | SS-3B |
| XXXXX | 0.02 | Dave_Owen | CHN | SS |
| XXXXX | 0 | Lenny_Faedo | MIN | SS |
Fans pick Cal Ripken of course for AL and Ozzie Smith for NL.
This is still early in the season. Only 96 118 of 787 players are rank eligible but fans must choose who they think is best with less than 1/2 season of data. In Part 2 we’ll look at Catcher and outfield positions and Part 3 we’ll cover pitchers.
Tomorrow Cubs start a series with the Dodgers which will be next matchup post. Until then …