Comments on: Top 100 Prospects: Feeling The Heat At The Hot Corner http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2013/02/top-100-prospects-feeling-the-heat-at-the-hot-corner/ Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:43:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Matt Eddy http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2013/02/top-100-prospects-feeling-the-heat-at-the-hot-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-444354 Matt Eddy Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:56:14 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=18990#comment-444354 <p>As a postscript to the above comment: The unique set of skills that top-end major league third basemen must possess makes them underappreciated in the grand scheme of things, in my opinion. </p> <p>They must hit for power along the lines of a corner outfielder, while having the arm strength and body control of a middle infielder. </p> As a postscript to the above comment: The unique set of skills that top-end major league third basemen must possess makes them underappreciated in the grand scheme of things, in my opinion.

They must hit for power along the lines of a corner outfielder, while having the arm strength and body control of a middle infielder.

]]> By: Matt Eddy http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2013/02/top-100-prospects-feeling-the-heat-at-the-hot-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-443786 Matt Eddy Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:41:07 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=18990#comment-443786 <p>Major league teams have demonstrated that they value power at third base and the other three corner positions. As a group, major league first basemen had the highest slugging percentage (.442) last season, followed by right fielders (.434), left fielders (.431), DHes (.428) and third basemen (.427) all clustered together. </p> <p>Sampling the data 10 and 20 years ago, center fielders ranked slightly ahead of third basemen in terms of slugging, but teams today seem to value power at third base and speed/range in center fielder.  </p> <p>With power apparently harder to find at up-the-middle positions, the demands on third basemen will probably hold steady or possibly increase.</p> Major league teams have demonstrated that they value power at third base and the other three corner positions. As a group, major league first basemen had the highest slugging percentage (.442) last season, followed by right fielders (.434), left fielders (.431), DHes (.428) and third basemen (.427) all clustered together.

Sampling the data 10 and 20 years ago, center fielders ranked slightly ahead of third basemen in terms of slugging, but teams today seem to value power at third base and speed/range in center fielder. 

With power apparently harder to find at up-the-middle positions, the demands on third basemen will probably hold steady or possibly increase.

]]> By: Ben http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2013/02/top-100-prospects-feeling-the-heat-at-the-hot-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-443762 Ben Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:01:33 +0000 http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=18990#comment-443762 Separate from Arenado, why does a third baseman need to have power?  Certainly, third basemen need to have contribute more offensively than those higher on the defensive spectrum, but Chone Figgins and Placido Polanco are two recent examples of better than average major leaguers with almost no power.  The same idea applies to corner outfielders.  We've seen Brett Gardner and Ben Revere be successful left fielders with no power.  Now, clearly, it takes a lot of other things to be a quality major leaguer with the power of those four, but if guys can hit 10-15 home runs while doing other things well, I don't feel like we should be talking about how they need more power. Separate from Arenado, why does a third baseman need to have power?  Certainly, third basemen need to have contribute more offensively than those higher on the defensive spectrum, but Chone Figgins and Placido Polanco are two recent examples of better than average major leaguers with almost no power.  The same idea applies to corner outfielders.  We've seen Brett Gardner and Ben Revere be successful left fielders with no power.  Now, clearly, it takes a lot of other things to be a quality major leaguer with the power of those four, but if guys can hit 10-15 home runs while doing other things well, I don't feel like we should be talking about how they need more power.

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