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Showing posts with the label Kris Bryant

2018 Postional Top 10: Third Base

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Matt Linder The current crop of third basemen is unique.  The position has the unusual combination of being both top heavy and deep.  There are stars atop the list, in addition to having close to twenty players worthy of top ten consideration.  Enjoy! Ezra Shaw - Getty Images 1. Kris Bryant You know Bryant is great, because hitting .295/.409/.537 with 29 home runs is considered a down year.  The Cubs’ third baseman finished first (7.7) and third in WAR (6.1) in 2016 and 2017, respectively.  Bryant also increased his walk rate while decreasing his strikeout rate last season.  At only 26 years old, I expect the home run total to rebound to his 2016 level as he continues to develop. David Zalubowski - AP 2. Nolan Arenado It is always tough to compare a Rockie to other players because Arenado’s home ballpark certainly helps his offensive numbers.  With that being said, he led all third basemen in OPS (.959) and WAR ...

The Faceless State of Baseball

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By Patrick Zeng @ Roundtripper891 With this week marking the occasion of the Yankees retiring Derek Jeter's iconic #2, much has been made of the fact that baseball has not had a true "face" since the Yankee captain hung up his cleats in 2014. Even with the likes of Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw and Kris Bryant dominating the game in markets all over the country, baseball has struggled to establish one star that shines above the rest. But they don't need one, because baseball differs from leagues like the NFL and NBA. Both these leagues are required to market their stars for they have so much more of an influence over a game than one MLB player. Players like LeBron James have the ability to score ten straight points for their team while Carlos Correa only comes up to bat once every nine players. The NFL and especially the NBA are much more individualistic leagues, so of course their star power is much more easily marketed. Debate always seems to center...