MLBNetwork Daily Poll: Which Player to Start a Franchise?

[HPC]

This was the poll question yesterday for the MLBNetwork

Which player would you chose?

My answer: Hanley

 

[justwar]

Went with hanley, but you know I'd rather take Upton... 22 years old suckas!

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Mauer.

Catchers are typically leaders, easy enough. To top it off he can hit.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Hanley all the way. The guy can lead-off, hit clean-up, steal bases, hit for power, win a batting title, play Gold Glove caliber shortstop and all while being a good clubhouse guy. What more could you possibly ask for.

 

[trevordchi]

Anyone but Braun. He's great but I don't want to start a team with an arrogant kid.

 

[jbhofmann]

Hanley all the way. The guy can lead-off, hit clean-up, steal bases, hit for power, win a batting title, play Gold Glove caliber shortstop and all while being a good clubhouse guy. What more could you possibly ask for.

Can he catch and handle a pitching staff? I'll take the once in a generation Catcher.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

It seems like often times a catcher will be injured more frequently and have a shorter prime than any other position player.

 

[sportscardtheory]

It seems like often times a catcher will be injured more frequently and have a shorter prime than any other position player.

That's another reason I went with Ramirez. Mauer has been hurt a lot in his career.

 

[Anthony K.]

I noticed the best player currently playing isn't in the poll, so I went with the second best player, Hanley.

Probably the 2nd most critical position (to catcher), can bat anywhere in the lineup, hits for power and average, speedy, great defense and still very young.

Would have gone with Mauer, but the smaller prime and higher injury risk kept me away.

 

[Therion]

Mauer, without hesitation.

 

[Sly]

Well, I'd take Pujols considering he's only 30 and still has many years ahead of him...

...but of those listed, Hanley.

He's the best all-around player of the four.

Mauer's good, but his knees are going to give way soon and he'll have to move positions to where he'll just be another solid playing 1st baseman. At this point, he's the best catcher, but in a few years, he'll be a top 10 first baseman who hits for average, but less power than most others and won't drive in the runs that other first basemen do (ie. Howard, Fielder, Pujols, etc.).

 

[andyduke86]

If you think Hanley plays great defense, you obviously don't know very much about good defense.

 

[HPC]

Pujols wasnt an option listed, and im just going by the choices given on the network

Mauer's good, but his knees are going to give way soon and he'll have to move positions to where he'll just be another solid playing 1st baseman. At this point, he's the best catcher, but in a few years, he'll be a top 10 first baseman who hits for average, but less power than most others and won't drive in the runs that other first basemen do (ie. Howard, Fielder, Pujols, etc.).

I agree with this. I would actually take Longoria over Mauer, due to my concerns about Mauer's health.

Look at Victor Martinez, they are talking about using him at 1b this season along with C in Boston.

 

[jeff550]

Jason Heyward

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

If you think Hanley plays great defense, you obviously don't know very much about good defense.

While I agree he isn't a great defensive player, he seemed to make big strides last season. His fielding percentage last year was .983 vs. Toluwitzki's .986. I'm sure there are better fielding stats out there that I'm not going to pretend to fully understand, but the impression that Hanley is still a terrible fielder might be a bit outdated. Of course last season could be an outlier and he could fall back to earlier in his career.