Mound Talk

With all the people checking out MoundTalk, we’ve been receiving plenty of emails. So, we’re starting a weekly mailbag. If you’ve got questions, send an email to me at koby.schellenger@gmail.com.

Jonathan from Chicago writes:
I’m in a tough situation. I have a to choose between 6 players for 4 keeper spots. It’s a standard 5×5 league with 12 teams and normal positions. Who should I keep out of: Vlad Guerrero, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Jose Reyes, Chris Carpenter and Hanley Ramirez?

MoundTalk.com: With four keepers it is important to get a good base of players to cover a range of statistics offensively. You have such a variety of players that you can mix and match to build a good base in each of the offensive categories. You have to keep Jose Reyes and Travis Hafner. That gives you the best source of speed and a top source of power and both have good averages. You need to keep Vlad Guerrero because his value is so high. He’s a contributor in multiple categories as well. For your final selection, you have to go with Grady Sizemore. You don’t need to keep a pitcher and you don’t have a spot for Hanley Ramirez to play. Sizemore has as much upside this season as anyone else you’re keeping and ought to be a 20/20 guy and with Hafner hitting behind him, he’ll score plenty of runs.

Jen from Philly writes:
Who has the best lineup in the National League?

MoundTalk.com: Good question. It’s more of who doesn’t have a terrible lineup. We can easily eliminate the National League West teams. None have the depth (or the stars) to qualify. The only teams I’ve heard in the discussion would be the Cubs, Mets and Phillies. Really, putting the Cubs in is a big stretch.

Looking at the Cubs likely lineup, Soriano will lead off. This is a mis utilization of his skills. Plain and simple he does not get on base enough, his stolen bases are more than negated by his caught stealing and 40 home runs are not nearly as valuable hittng after Carlos Zambrano than after Mark DeRosa and Michael Barrett. Nonetheless, he’s a good player and an improvement over last season. DeRosa should hit second, nothing special. Then is the constantly overrated Derrek Lee. The simple fact about Derrek Lee are this: He has had one above average season. Aramis Ramirez is good. But then the talent level falls of dramatically. Barrett, Jacque Jones, Matt Murton, Cesar Izturis and the pitcher are bad. The Cubs are nowhere near the level the of offensive talent the Phillies and Mets are.

So between the two National League East rivals, it has to be the Mets. The combination of youth, speed and depth on their team make them the top offensive team in the National League coming into 2007. While I think the Phillies have the better top 4, and maybe 5 hitters in their lineup, it’s the sixth through eighth slot that is a concern for the Phils.

Todd from Boston writes:
Do the Red Sox have the best pitching staff in baseball?

Moundtalk.com: No. Not even close.

Davey from Memphis writes:
Do you think Albert Pujols will be able to carry the Cardinals to another postseason this year?

Moundtalk.com: I don’t think any World Series champion has ever gone into the following season with so many question marks. First of all, they have a new pitching staff. Not one or two new starters, they have one and a half (Anthony Reyes was there for half a season) left. Their offense is another year older and that leaves question marks for the oft-injured Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen as to how they will be able to fill in as supporting cast members for Albert “I got robbed of another MVP” Pujols this year.

Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that the NL Central is once again weak. The Cubs and Brewers could make some noise but they have major issues to deal with in injury and youth. The Reds overachieved last season and didn’t improve enough to make a legitimate run. The Astros likely lost both of their aces and the Pirates are still the Pirates. I do think Pujols will carry the Cardinals to another postseason.

Thanks for your emails and if you have a question, send it to koby.schellenger@gmail.com. Don’t forget to include your location!