Oh Dear God ESPN - Best defensive infielder of decade

[CubbieBum]

They have this poll on the front page right now.

 

Who is the best infielder of the last decade?

 

Adam Everett

Albert Pujols

Scott Rolen

Chase Utley

 

Really? Really really? This is beyond their normal bad crap.

[sweetpeteman]

They have this poll on the front page right now.

 

Who is the best infielder of the last decade?

 

Adam Everett

Albert Pujols

Scott Rolen

Chase Utley

 

Really? Really really? This is beyond their normal bad crap.

 

 

I'm surprised they didn't include Jeter.

 

 

 

 

 

I would say that I'm kidding, but I really don't know if I am or not.

[inari]

Ok, is it really that bad for ESPN? Everett is probably the right choice, Rolen is excellent, and the other two are quite good.

[TruffleShuffle]

Ok, is it really that bad for ESPN? Everett is probably the right choice, Rolen is excellent, and the other two are quite good.

 

yeah i don't get the outrage either.

[shnsajax]

MLB network named Jeter the best SS of the past decade.

[Derwood]

I was positive they had awarded it to Jeter before I read the thread

[Tracer Bullet]

is there an obvious omissions I'm forgetting? I find it pretty hard to argue with that infield.

[Uber]

is there an obvious omissions I'm forgetting? I find it pretty hard to argue with that infield.

 

THIS IS BEYOND THEIR NORMAL CRAPPITY CRAP CRAP

[Magnetic Curses]

i'd put lee ahead of pujols.

[SouthSideRyan]

i'd put lee ahead of pujols.

 

I'd put Helton ahead of both.

 

Utley's probably the most egregious, can't argue with Rolen or Everett. I too was convinced they gave it to Jeter by the title.

[SouthSideRyan]

MLB network named Jeter the best SS of the past decade.

 

Top of my head, (assuming they're not talking strictly defense) they're probably right.

[fromthestretch]

You could make an argument for Adrian Beltre to be on that list, but other than that, it's a solid list.

[jersey cubs fan]

MLB network named Jeter the best SS of the past decade.

 

Top of my head, (assuming they're not talking strictly defense) they're probably right.

 

ARod, even if he played SS for only half the decade, he was the best SS of the decade.

 

And I thought Utley was a defensive liability.

[Post Count Padder]

I don't see anything wrong with that list. All good defenders.

 

I'm pretty surprised they didn't include Jeter. Now that would've made it stupid. Someone with a brain and common sense must've created that poll.

[woodchip2153]

MLB network named Jeter the best SS of the past decade.

 

Top of my head, (assuming they're not talking strictly defense) they're probably right.

 

ARod, even if he played SS for only half the decade, he was the best SS of the decade.

 

And I thought Utley was a defensive liability.

 

UZR has Utley as the best since 2007. Link

[CubbieBum]

Yes they are all good defenders but pretty easily not the top four. As people mentioned Lee and Helton are above Pujols at 1B then there is Mientkiewicz.

 

At other positions the previously mentioned Beltre, I would assume Orlando Cabrera has been pretty good at SS from all the talk he gets for defense, Izturis wouldn't have played as long as he did if he wasn't a very good defender, Placido Polanco won how many GG's at 2B (I know not that great of an award)? I'm sure there are a few others as I'm not big into the defense side of the game.

[inari]

Yes they are all good defenders but pretty easily not the top four. As people mentioned Lee and Helton are above Pujols at 1B then there is Mientkiewicz.

 

At other positions the previously mentioned Beltre, I would assume Orlando Cabrera has been pretty good at SS from all the talk he gets for defense, Izturis wouldn't have played as long as he did if he wasn't a very good defender, Placido Polanco won how many GG's at 2B (I know not that great of an award)? I'm sure there are a few others as I'm not big into the defense side of the game.

 

So you're basing all this on assumptions? Everett is easily the right choice. Rolen is awesome.

 

You seem as if you just wanted to be outraged and assumed everyone here would hate ESPN enough to tear apart the list with you. It's a good list.

[fromthestretch]

Yes they are all good defenders but pretty easily not the top four. As people mentioned Lee and Helton are above Pujols at 1B then there is Mientkiewicz.

 

At other positions the previously mentioned Beltre, I would assume Orlando Cabrera has been pretty good at SS from all the talk he gets for defense, Izturis wouldn't have played as long as he did if he wasn't a very good defender, Placido Polanco won how many GG's at 2B (I know not that great of an award)? I'm sure there are a few others as I'm not big into the defense side of the game.

 

Pujols is better than Lee and slightly better than Helton or Mientkiewicz.

 

Cabrera is solid (despite a crappy 2009), but he's no Adam Everett. Izturis doesn't come close to Everett.

 

Utley's been a lot better than people think. Although, he did look like garbage defensively in the post-season.

[CubbieBum]

Yes they are all good defenders but pretty easily not the top four. As people mentioned Lee and Helton are above Pujols at 1B then there is Mientkiewicz.

 

At other positions the previously mentioned Beltre, I would assume Orlando Cabrera has been pretty good at SS from all the talk he gets for defense, Izturis wouldn't have played as long as he did if he wasn't a very good defender, Placido Polanco won how many GG's at 2B (I know not that great of an award)? I'm sure there are a few others as I'm not big into the defense side of the game.

 

So you're basing all this on assumptions? Everett is easily the right choice. Rolen is awesome.

 

You seem as if you just wanted to be outraged and assumed everyone here would hate ESPN enough to tear apart the list with you. It's a good list.

 

I don't have a problem with Everett or Rolen. Scott Rolen would be my vote. I do have a problem with Pujols and Utley. I don't think Pujols is the top defender at his position. Maybe I'm wrong. I'll have to look into more. As for Utley, he is great but only played half the decade. How can you be the best of a decade when you only played half of it.

[Guest]

Utley is the only bad choice on the list.

 

I'd point out the Pujols was at 1B for less than half the decade, though.

[TruffleShuffle]

Utley is the only bad choice on the list.

 

I'd point out the Pujols was at 1B for less than half the decade, though.

 

that's why i thought pujols was a poor choice, he didn't play 1B early in his career. i probably would've picked helton because he's nearly as good defensively and played the entire decade at the position.

 

i don't know why utley is a bad choice. who would you suggest has been much better over the course of the decade?

[Tracer Bullet]

moved from rants. seems like there's at least legitimate baseball discussion about the choices.

[Guest]

After a little thought (but no research) I probably would have gone with either Polanco or Hudson at 2B. I'm positive I'm forgetting someone from the first half the decade, though...

[daske17]

I don't know the metrics too well, but wasn't A-Rod a pretty good defender at short and third?

[bukie]

UZR's best defenders of the decade

 

That is the list Rob Neyer asked Michael Lichtman for to determine best defenders at each position for the decade. ESPN's poll is based on that. Neyer is one of the 3 most adamant defenders of sabermetrics in mainstream media these days, and one of the best baseball writers in America.