Before I get to the actual list, I must say when I posted this on FanNation, readers were complaining about the omission of the New York Mets' star-studded infield.
The funny thing is, I'm a Mets fan. And yet I ranked both the Braves and Phillies' infields ahead of the Metropolitans. Talk about reserving one's biases...
This was all based upon a specific mathematical projection system of mine, as you'll learn when reading the full preseason predictions post. That said, here come the infields:
5-Atlanta Braves: 1B-Casey Kotchman, 2B-Kelly Johnson, 3B-Chipper Jones, SS-Yunel Escobar, and C-Brian McCann.
In my mathematical ranking system, it helps to have one of the premier players at a particular position. That said, the Braves have standouts at both catcher (McCann ranked No. 1) and third base (Chipper ranked No. 4).
Johnson is a strong offensive second baseman with sneaky pop from the left side of the plate, while Kotchman is better known for his defense at first.
Escobar is somewhere in between as a slick-fielding shortstop with offensive potential to boot. Yunel has a cannon from the hole, and he's a developing gaps hitter at the dish.
4-Los Angeles Dodgers: 1B-James Loney, 2B-Orlando Hudson, 3B-Casey Blake, SS-Rafael Furcal, and C-Russell Martin.
Like the preceding Braves, the Dodgers boast one of the game's outstanding backstops in Martin. Russell is a leader in the clubhouse and by example on the field. He has the ability to hit to all fields, and though young, commands the respect of his pitching staff when he's calling the signals.
Hudson has always been of the top defenders at second, and though Furcal is slowing a bit defensively, he remains dangerous as ever in the batter's box -- either box actually, because Raffy's a skilled switch hitter.
Loney is a young first baseman with a veteran's poise and mindset, and Blake is a versatile vet at third.
3-Chicago Cubs: 1B-Derrek Lee, 2B-Aaron Miles, 3B-Aramis Ramirez, SS-Ryan Theriot, and C-Geovany Soto.
This unit is rock solid at the corners with Lee and Ramirez, and Miles is a nice addition to the Cubbies in terms of batting average and on-base percentage. His counterpart, Theriot, is a similar type player both offensively and defensively.
Like the Braves at 5 and the Dodgers at 4, the Cubs have an elite catcher. In this case, it's the potent youngster Soto.
(Note: it now appears that Mike Fontenot has defeated Aaron Miles in the heated battle for the starting second base job.)
2-Philadelphia Phillies: 1B-Ryan Howard, 2B-Chase Utley, 3B-Pedro Feliz, SS-Jimmy Rollins, and C-Carlos Ruiz.
It's hard to envision an infield that can outrank one including Howard, Utley, and Rollins. All three stand tall in the top five at their respective positions, and collectively they're especially dangerous with the lumber.
Ruiz hurts this unit ever-so-slightly with his offensive shortcomings. He is a valuable defensive backstop, however.
1-New York Yankees: 1B-Mark Teixeira, 2B-Robinson Cano, 3B-Alex Rodriguez, SS-Derek Jeter, and C-Jorge Posada.
Last, but certainly not least. It's tough to argue with A-Rod and Tex at the corners -- that's an intimidating tandem. Jeter remains Steady Eddy at short, and Posada is one of the greatest hitting catchers in the history of the game.
Cano is the wild card, and if he can get back to his .340 form of a couple years ago...look out, opposing pitchers.
Keywords: Alex Rodriguez, Aramis Ramirez, assessing the infields, Atlanta Braves, Carlos Delgado, Chase Utley, Chicago Cubs, David Wright, Derek Jeter, Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto, Infield rankings, infield ratings, Jimmy Rollins, Jose Reyes, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Teixeira, MLB predictions, MLB projections, MLB rankings, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Russell Martin, Ryan Howard
