Best of series: Shortstop

[Megatron]

These type of threads were done a few years ago by Blue Cardinal, and now that a few years have passed, times have changed and we may (or may not) have a new perspective on who we think is best. This series will be used to help identify who WZ think is the best current baseball player. While some positions are deeper than others, if you aren't the best at your own position you can't be the best in the game. With that being said, here's the criteria I'd like you all to use:

Who you think will play the best for THIS season only? Not in 5 years, not who's been the best in the past 5 years. Salaries aren't accounted for either. If you choose Yunel Escobar over Jose Reyes, it better be because you think Escobar will have a better season, NOT because he will give you more bang for your buck.

This ISN'T a lifetime achievement award. Think of it like this: if you are a GM, and you have any 1 shortstop you can take for THIS YEAR ONLY, who would it be?

Also, for shortstop, try to use guys that will play primarily at shortstop (so no DH-first or multi-position guys (unless their primary position is shortstop))

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SS is the spot where I think we'll have our first real consensus. Sure, there's a few nice players you could make an argument for, but I'll save my babble and get right to the top 3:

3. Starlin Castro: Offensively speaking, he might be next to my #1 guy in every category except Homers. The dude is only in his early 20's, though, and the only way he doesn't stay in this spot is if he gets moved sometime in the near future (to possibly 2B) due to his rather porous defense. Offensively, though, the sky is the limit, and he's one of the pieces the Cubs can build around for their next contender.
2. Jose Reyes: When he's healthy, he's a nice spark of energy at the top of the lineup that can play much better defense than Castro. He's got 30/30 (doubles/SBs) seemingly every time he can play enough games. Yes he's already 29 and he may have simply had a contract year, but he's still one of the better leadoff players in the game.
1. Troy Tulowitzki: Maybe give a slight assist to the friendly confines of Coors Field (I haven't checked the splits) but he's still the most complete offensive and defensive SS in the game (the early season struggles defensively notwithstanding) and a guy I would classify as a '5-Tool player'. Quite deserving of this ranking.

I might include another player or two, but these 3 really should be the viable options.

Previous Entries
1st base: Albert Pujols
2nd base: Robinson Cano
3rd base: Miguel Cabrera and Evan Longoria

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

Starlin Castro.

I'm a HUGE Cubs fan, but even as a biased fan, I can say that Castro's got the potential to be as good as Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel as far as SS's go. He's actually got some power, gets on base constantly, and keeps his head on a swivel on the base paths.

On defense, he's effortless in his mechanics and has a strong arm that can throw from any angle to get to first base in time to beat the baserunner. And in Wrigley Field, it's tough for a SS to be successful with the wind blowing in all the time and the randomness of the ballpark itself. But he's doing well and to me, seems to be one of the best shortstops today.

 

[Harthan]

I desperately want to answer Cabrera. But I'm nothing if not an honest man.

Can you honestly not pick Tulo? I don't see how. Sure, his April hasn't been fantastic, but I'm not going to judge someone on April versus how they performed all last season, unless it's one hell of a bad April, and Tulo's isn't. Reyes is arguably as good offensively as Tulo, but he's merely capable of playing short, whereas Tulo excels at it. Peralta, Ramirez, Hardy, are all premier defenders, but can't swing the bat nearly as well as Tulo can. As for the guys listed in the poll...Cabrera, God knows I love him, but his defense is shoddy. Yes, he's a human highlight reel, but read between the lines and he was a poor defender in 2011. Well, UZR says he was anyway. It's a bit of a raised flag to see a staggeringly low UZR and a Golden Glove nomination, but you can reason it away with the web gems. I will say though that he's made an obvious, concentrated effort to be a better defender in 2012 and it's really paying off. If he swings his bat like he did in 2011 and can keep his D at this level, he shoots up huge in my league wide estimations. Castro is Cabrera-esque - somewhat better, but not good, defense, and a weaker bat. He's been dynamite in 2012, though; I have doubts that he can sustain it over the season to anything much more than his 2011 levels, though he could break into as an All-Star this year. Jeter has had a ridiculous April and I refuse to accept that he can actually sustain it over an entire season; he was unspectacular in 2011, though. I'd take Cabrera or Castro first.

When it comes down to it, Tulo is just the total package. He's got All-Star defense and All-Star offense, which isn't something that really any other shortstop can say.

Top three right now:

1. Tulo
2. Reyes
3. Peralta (shockingly underrated player)

 

[Stormtrooper]

Who you think will play the best for THIS season only? Not in 5 years, not who's been the best in the past 5 years. Salaries aren't accounted for either. If you choose Yunel Escobar over Jose Reyes, it better be because you think Escobar will have a better season, NOT because he will give you more bang for your buck.

This ISN'T a lifetime achievement award. Think of it like this: if you are a GM, and you have any 1 shortstop you can take for THIS YEAR ONLY, who would it be?

And don't worry, I'm not gonna make an argument based on a lifetime achievement award. I don't need to. I'm not gonna say he's better then Tulowitzki, but Derek Jeter is still largely in the conversation for this.

During the second half of last year (Team game 82-162), he hit .331/.384/.447 (Average/On Base/Slugging).

OK, so he was amazing in the second half of last year, what's he doing now, he must have regressed because he's old, right? NO. In fact, he is leading the Major Leagues (through May 3) in hits with 44 and Batting Average at .404. All the while his defense has been way better then people think (people think he is atrocious, he's more then adequate).

All that being said, here are my Top 3:

3. Jose Reyes. Last year he was excellent. If he could be that good for a 150+ games each year, I'd have him higher. Truth is he seemingly can't anymore. Last year he was on the DL twice, only playing 126 games, and hasn't played more then 150 since 2008. And those DL stints last year were hamstring related. Reyes' game is based off of his legs, and if his legs are not staying healthy, he becomes an average player.

2. Derek Jeter. I already talked about this. No need to repeat myself.

1. Troy Tulowitzki. He's been a sure-thing forever now in Colorado. A Derek Jeter fan himself (where do you think he got his Number 2 from?), he plays similarly, except with more power. In his athletic prime, the sky is the limit for him, and if Colorado could get some pieces around him, I wouldn't be surprised to see Tulo and the Rockies hoisting some trophies over their heads.

 

[CH David]

I miss Michael Young playing short.

Offensively, the top two in baseball are Tulowitzki and Castro. Castro with the bat in his hand is just impressive to watch. Probably going to be a perenial 200 hit type of batter. He is only 22-23. Defensively he is suspect, and quite possibly could be moved to 3rd, which are the rumors I hear on radio shows and what not.

Tulowitzki is excellent on defense, as shown by him winning the Fielding Bible Award three times, and two of which were the past two years. When he's healthy he is likely going to get you around 150 hits, fluctuation happens, 25 doubles, probably 25 home runs, and likely 90 RBI.

Defensively, I'm throwing Alexei Ramirez out there. He hasn't gotten much recognition for his defense, but he usually saves a lot of runs with his glove and arm. He has steadily gotten better with limiting his errors since he moved to short full time in '09. It's a shame he hasn't won a gold glove yet. His offense is consistent year after year, but it's not exactly blazing a trail. .270-ish, 15 home runs, 70 RBI.

But I must go with overall, right? Alright.

3. Jose Reyes. His injury history would make me tread very lightly with him. When healthy his legs drive opponents crazy and he can still pick it at short. Health is the X-factor though.

2. Starlin Castro. If his defense weren't so suspect, in my eyes anyway, I see it as him dogging it a bit because he is so good, he fights for #1. No doubt in my mind. He is a magician with the bat.

1. Troy Tulowitzki. Defense is excellent, and after last year his offensive stats jumped him up on everyone's list.

Honorable mentions go to Alexei Ramirez, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Elvis Andrus.