The 2011 All-Division Team, Part 6: NL West

A year after Andre Ethier stole the
spotlight in LA, Matt
Kempis back on top.

Part 6 of 6: National League West


It's finally here!  The finale of the best around baseball in 2011.  The Diamondbacks came out of virtually nowhere to take the division away from the Giants this past season, but did they have the individual star power to make a major impact on the All-Division Team?  Let's find out!


C Miguel Montero, ARI
Well, the D-Backs have at least one on the board.  This 27-year-old breakout catcher put together all his skills in 2011 to earn MVP votes and his first All-Star selection.  Montero is now one of the game's best offensive catchers.  Plus, he's really fun to play with in MLB: The Show (an added bonus in my book).  He was not really a notably good defensive catcher early in his career but has improved there as well.  86 RBIs and a .282 average from behind the plate made him a reliable part of the offense down in the desert.
Competition: Eli Whiteside (SF), Nick Hundley (SD), Chris Iannetta (COL), and Rod Barajas (LAD).


1B Todd Helton, COL
A team leader who hit for a high batting average and a ridiculously high OBP.  Do I sound like a broken record?  I should.  Helton played 124 games this season.  His .385 OBP this season was the lowest of any season in which he played 124 or more games excluding his rookie season of 1998.  This player is undoubtedly the best in franchise history and a first ballot Hall of Famer.  Still, however, his role on this team is apparent.  He may not have much flash or power at age 37 anymore, but his defense is still a plus as it always has been.  Helton provides the Rockies with stability the franchise had never had before the Tulowitzki era.  Helton's job is his as long as he wants it and if the Rockies are smart, they'll do everything they can to keep him in black and purple for at least two or three more years.
Competition: James Loney (LAD), Aubrey Huff (SF), Jesus Guzman (SD), and Juan Miranda (ARI).


2B Jamey Carroll, LAD
How many 37-year-olds in the Majors steal 10 bases?  If you say Ichiro or Rickey Henderson, that's cheating.  However, neither Suzuki nor Henderson accomplished that feat without getting caught.  In a random statistical anomaly from the 2011 season, the veteran Carroll went 10-for-10 in steals, nearing his career high.  Perhaps a late bloomer, he has now stolen more bases in the last two years than any other two-year stretch in his career.  In 2011 overall though, Carroll was very durable for the Dodgers, playing in 146 games at second base and shortstop and batting .290.  That's really all manager Don Mattingly could ask for.
Competition: Orlando Hudson (SD), Mark Ellis (COL), Kelly Johnson (ARI), and Freddy Sanchez (SF).

Pablo Sandoval

3B Pablo Sandoval, SF
While Ryan Roberts was the greatest surprise from the division and the best utility man in baseball in my opinion, Sandoval's resurgence kept the Giants out of offensive limbo.  Let's face it; GM Brian Sabean has not done a good job of building an offense for a team that should be a deep postseason contender every year.  If there's one thing he has done right on offense, though, it was keeping Sandoval when he was a highly-touted prospect and attractive to other teams.  Despite the pressure of being the only 'big' bat, Sandoval batted .315 and was the only Giant to hit over 15 home runs and 60 RBIs.  The only one.  Perhaps it's fitting that the Kung Fu Panda has to run the show solo.
Competition: Ryan Roberts (ARI), Ty Wigginton (COL), Juan Uribe (LAD), and Chase Headley (SD).

SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL
A wild Tulo appears!  Still only 26, Tulowitzki is purely one of the best players in the game.  Naming him to the All-Division Team was a no-brainer.  Even though the Rockies are the most successful expansion franchise of the past two decades in terms of fan support, Tulowitzki gives the Rockies a brand and identity. He arrived right when Helton's star power began to fade, and Rockies fans now have another prime superstar to hail to.  Tulo is a true team player who contributes on offense, defense and special teams with impressive power and a great arm.  It actually looks like he prefers making off-balance throws but they're accurate.
Competition: Dee Gordon (LAD), Brandon Crawford (SF), Stephen Drew (ARI), and Jason Bartlett (SD).

LF Carlos Gonzalez, COL (2nd)
Gonzalez's season was much lower profile than his Triple Crown chase of 2010.  Still, though, there's nothing wrong with a solid 26-20 season in less than a full season.  Apparently he has also taken after his Colorado teammates in Helton and Tulowitzki with his .363 OBP.  Gonzalez will be 26 next season so the Rockies have many years left of CarGo after he earned his big extension last winter.  I don't think they're regretting the Matt Holliday trade much anymore.  The only concern I have is that his full force nature could result in more injury.  Best of luck to this star.  
Competition: Tony Gwynn, Jr. (LAD), Gerardo Parra (ARI), Cody Ross (SF), and Ryan Ludwick (SD).

CF Matt Kemp, LAD
After Kemp really struggled with his hitting coach and manager in 2010, questions arose about his motivation and morale.  Could this be another headcase who would never live up to his full potential?  Kemp replied no with an MVP excellent season that fell just short of 40-40 levels.  The dude is real dynamite.  Even with all the drama surrounding the Dodgers and their ownership situation, Kemp was the most valuable player in the MLB and should have won MVP.  Actually, he's the MVP of PED-free players (yeah, I went there Ryan Braun).  Although winning a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and getting an All-Star selection in the same season is rare, a career high walk total and OBP help forecast how Kemp will continue his success.  The hardest thing for pitchers to deal with when facing a power hitter is if the hitter forces them to throw a strike to get them out.  Kemp did it in 2011 and should win more his first MVP soon.
Competition: Dexter Fowler (COL), Chris Young (ARI), Andres Torres (SF), and Cameron Maybin (SD).

Justin Upton

RF Justin Upton, ARI
Want to know a main reason Arizona won the West?  In case you couldn't tell, Upton helped a bit.  Besides having his own bleacher section in right field at Chase Field, appropriately tabbed 'Uptown', he finished 4th in MVP voting because of his monster 30-20 season.  Apparently he also got under the skin of opposing pitchers, as he was plunked 15 times more than he ever had been before.  His bat speed ranks among the best in the majors with that old-school two-handed power swing of his.  It's fun to watch as the younger Upton bro has risen above his elder.  For a young franchise like Arizona, a cornerstone player like this is just what they need to keep the fans coming.
Competition: Seth Smith (COL), Andre Ethier (LAD), Wil Venable (SD), and Nate Schierholtz (SF).

SP Clayton Kershaw, LAD
I have held back on the Kershaw show in recent years, but I think he's finally earned it.  At 21 years old and in his first full season in the big leagues, Kershaw was the best starting pitcher on the 95-win Dodger team of 2009.  That speaks to Chad Billingsley's inconsistency more than it does Kershaw's talent, especially considering that Kershaw was raw and hardly a polished product like he is today.  Awarding him with the National League Cy Young, though, was the right choice as his 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts mean he has arrived for good.  The Sandy Koufax comparisons just keep rolling in.
Competition: Jhoulys Chacin (COL), Ian Kennedy (ARI), Tim Lincecum (SF), and Mat Latos (SD).

CP J.J. Putz, ARI
The late-blooming Putz rose to becoming the game's best closer in 2007 with Seattle, but just two years later he found himself with a new team thousands of miles away and without the closer's job.  That team was the New York Mets, from which he went to the White Sox, also in a setup role.  The Diamondbacks finally put Putz back in his rightful place in the 9th inning and it paid off as Putz recorded 45 saves, a 2.17 ERA, over 9 K/9 innings and under 2 BB/9 innings.  His .914 WHIP was also among the best in the league.
Competition: Brian Wilson (SF), Javy Guerra (LAD), Huston Street (COL), and Heath Bell (SD).

The Projected Power Rankings 2011-2020: Top 50 Players

Matt Trueblood of Bleacher Report published a slideshow on Saturday of his projected top 50 players over the next decade.  I think this brings up not just a few, but many debates.  Such a topic is very hard to predict considering that we probably have never even heard of most of the next decades' stars.  For example, there's no way anyone knew the potential of Hanley Ramirez in 2000.  The following rankings are his, followed by my spin on the ranking.

Honorable Mention: Players 60-51

60. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs: I'm glad Jackson made this list, but I think the Cubs' top pick in the 2009 MLB Draft deserves a higher spot.  Even Trueblood acknowledges that he has "plate discipline, speed, defense in either center or right field and the potential to hit 25-30 homers."  Seeing as Jackson will be only 22 in 2011, I think Jackson will have a great decade.

59. Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers: Verlander is an ace as of now, which means he won't be an ace in 2020.  However, he should put in a bunch of great seasons.

58. Mike Montgomery, SP, Kansas City Royals: Hasn't debuted in the Majors yet, which explains your head scratching.  Has looked great in the minors though, with a 2.27 ERA in 245.2 innings.

57. Ryan Kalish, OF, Boston Red Sox: Did debut in 2010, playing in 53 games.  He's developed power in the minors the last couple years, so he could be a 20-20 threat with the speed that he has.

56. Daniel Bard, RP, Boston Red Sox: He didn't leave much to complain about in his 2010 stat line, a 1.93 ERA in over 70 innings of relief.  One of the hardest throwers in baseball, it won't be long before he overtakes the overemotionally inconsistent Jonathan Papelbon.

55. Brian McCann, C, Atlanta Braves: Probably a 'half-decade' star for the late 2000s and early 2010s, much like Mike Piazza ten years before.  It's easy to forget he's still only 26, but let's see if his high workload takes a toll on him in his early 30s.

54. Zack Greinke, SP, Milwaukee Brewers: Many fans would put him higher, but he doesn't seem to be stable enough.  I agree with this ranking because he is already 27, was really bad to start his career, had depression issues early on, and still doesn't have a great attitude.

53. Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers: An appropriate ranking here, too.  Braun has flashed major power (37 homers in 2008) and not major power (25 in 2010).  He'll be a lock for 25 homers for a while, but I don't know that he'll be that great.

52. Michael Pineda, SP, Seattle Mariners: A big time prospect, Pineda should be in the Majors soon.

51. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies: Sort of a surprise to me.  Gonzalez just had a monster season and Trueblood writes this one off due to the Colorado effect among other things.  But Gonzalez's power goes to all fields, including center where Coors Field measures 425 feet.  And don't forget the infamous humidor for the baseballs.  I don't think the Colorado effect really makes a difference anymore.


The Main List (Top 50):

50. Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers: Speed, defense, hitting for average, a fan base that loves you, why not?

49. Joakim Soria, CP, Kansas City Royals: Often overlooked, Soria should be a great closer for a long time.  He is just 27 but has 132 saves in four seasons.

48. Brian Matusz, SP, Baltimore Orioles: If you're a believer in hype, then believe it.  I'm not sold on Matusz because he didn't have a standout year and hasn't proved he can be anything special in the Majors.  He won't deserve this rank if he repeats 10-12, 4.30 ERA seasons.

47. Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Colorado Rockies: Like I've always preached about Jimenez, he's a tick below the league's top pitchers and will be until he cuts down on the walks.  But his 15-win first half of 2010 was unbelievable, and his fastball velocity should zip him higher on this list.

46. Brett Lawrie, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays: A speedy infielder, he should cut down on the strikeouts and work on contact before he can earn this rank.  A .285 average at AA isn't ideal for a speedy infielder.

45. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals: Smashing 20 homers in A and AA ball in 2010, the Royals' first round pick from 2008 should be in KC sometime this summer. 

44. Brett Gardner, OF, New York Yankees: Already 27 having only recorded one full season in the Majors, Gardner is in his prime right away.  You'll be seeing his scrawny 5'10" frame on ESPN for the next half-decade, until he loses his speed and therefore any value to anybody. 

43. Yovani Gallardo, SP, Milwaukee Brewers: Already a star, I think Gallardo should be in the 30s at least.  Now without the pressure of being a forced ace at age 23 (in 2009) when he probably wasn't ready for it, I think he'll thrive in his #2 role.  His on-the-job ace training has been successful even though he still has areas to improve on, like walks.

42. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves: It sounds like a name computer-generated for a video game, but the name Freddie Freeman is one you'll hear about plenty.  This dude is a big power hitter who had his best season in 2010 and is simply an RBI machine.

41. Gio Gonzalez, SP, Oakland Athletics: Some baseball experts are picking the Oakland A's as a surprise pick in the AL West to upset the incumbent Texas Rangers, but here's the way I look at it: no Gio, no go.  Gonzalez had his first decent season in the Majors in 2010, posting 15 wins after two partial seasons where he showed potential but struggled.

40. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox: It seems like this guy was forgotten down the stretch of 2010 due to his injury and the fading Red Sox.  But people shouldn't yet forget about the 2008 AL MVP because, if nothing else, he's just a good hitter.  Pedroia will probably pick up where he left off.

39. Kyle Drabek, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: And the displeasure of having to deal with Pedroia will be something Drabek will face, a stud starter and the crown jewel in the Roy Halladay trade.  No problems with this rank.

38. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Boston Red Sox: 'Gonzo' will be a half-decade star for sure because of the short right field line distance and Green Monster at Fenway, as Gonzo is a terrific opposite field power hitter. 

37. Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners: I'm not sold on Ackley, a highly touted prospect in the MLB Draft last year who didn't hit well in the minors.  He should develop though, as he was rushed forwards by the Mariners in the minors and he deserves a higher spot on this list.

36. Prince Fielder, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers: Fielder is one of the most underrated players in the game because besides his 50-homer season in 2007, the Brewers haven't contended at the same time as him having an elite season.  A change of scenery could put him on the map once again, seeing as he's a free agent after 2011.

35. Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs: For more on this dude, read the post right below this one.  But without bias, he deserves a higher spot on the list.  Scouts have noticed Castro has the correct work ethic and although he hasn't put it all together yet, he has the raw talent to be like a slightly less speedier Jose Reyes-type player.  But because he was rushed to the Majors, he still needs to put it together himself soon.

34. Jesus Montero, C, New York Yankees: In this day and age, the traditional, three-outcome (homer, strikeout, or walk) kind of DH has fallen out of favor with baseball executives; players like Jim Thome and Frank Thomas are becoming more uncommon in favor of tandems of fielding players to get them 'a day off'.  All this means Jesus Montero is swimming against the current.  Trueblood notes Montero could hit 35 homers a season in the Majors, although his defense as a catcher isn't good enough to justify him fielding.  One of the few traditional DHs we will see in the 2010s.

33. Martin Perez, SP, Texas Rangers: Definitely not.  Although he looked to be a great up and coming pitcher in 2009 with a sub-3.00 ERA, he didn't look at all in 2010 as that number climbed over 5.00, including a 10.9 H/9 ratio.  Although he will be a good player in the next decade, let's not jump the gun here.  Also, he does play in the bandbox that is Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

32. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Tampa Bay Rays: Hellickson has a stat line to drool over in the minors, with a 2.71 ERA in six seasons of Minor League ball covering 580.1 innings.  In those innings, he has 634 strikeouts to just 137 walks.  His career 4.63 K/BB ratio is the new meaning of 'control freak'.  He got his first taste of the Majors with four starts last year.

31. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates: A multi-tooled star, this is probably the right spot for him because he has less power than some of the standout 20/20 talent-caliber five tool players of today.

30. Mat Latos, SP, San Diego Padres: Latos had a breakout season in 2010 at the age of 22, and there is no reason to think he shouldn't continue.  Playing in Petco Park is an advantage for him, but it also hurts his offense and this may result in him having lower win totals than some other top line starters.  Not to worry, Latos has the tools to make the 2010s great for the Padres.

29. Dominic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies: A 20/20 talent in the Minors, 23 year old Brown didn't hit well in his playing time with Philadelphia in 2010.  Brown is overrated and will make some noise with Philly, but he's going to need to hit Major League pitching first.

28. Carlos Santana, C, Cleveland Indians: In the summer of 2008, the Dodgers traded Santana and prospects to the Indians for Casey Blake and other prospects.  While Blake has had just a disappointing 10.2 WAR in two and a half seasons in Los Angeles, Santana produced a 2.2 WAR in just 150 at-bats at the Major League level in 2010.  Santana is the next Victor Martinez-style power-hitting catcher who should become a star in Cleveland, proving the winner of that trade.

27. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals: Yes, another Kansas City Royal.  The stats speak for themselves, but they're so incredible I'll speak for them anyway.  36 home runs?  Who does that in the Minors?

26. C.C. Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees: Trueblood notes here that although Sabathia has already played a lot of baseball and is 30 years young, if anyone is capable of being the best in the next decade it's him.  This guy is a workhorse who has won at least 12 games in 10 straight seasons, never throwing less than 188 innings.  Sabathia has a better chance than anyone at winning 300 games, especially with his run production from the Yankees.

25. Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins: With his salary, Mauer better be this good.  His surprising power vanished in 2010, but that wasn't what made him famous in the first place and he should have at least five more elite seasons.

24. Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants: Lincecum is no freak, but the hitters freak when they have to face him.  This should stay the same for most of the 2010s because any time you make the hitter uncomfortable in the box, you have an advantage right off the bat (no pun intended).

23. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Many baseball experts and fans were buying big on Kershaw after his impressive first full season of 2009.  I was not one of them.  Once again, I am not a buyer on Kershaw because of his alarmingly high walk rate of 4.2 BB/9 IP in his career.  

22. Julio Teheran, SP, Atlanta Braves:  Teheran's highest level in 2010 was AA but he's sure to be moving up soon with his strikeout stuff.  Remember this name, definitely.

21. Jon Lester, SP, Boston Red Sox:  Already a star, Lester is one of the most effective starters in the game right now.  Trueblood is spot on with this ranking; just wait till he really gets paid.

20. Mike Stanton, OF, Florida Marlins: If you follow baseball, you know about Stanton.  The new stadium of the Marlins which opens in just over a year is slightly larger than Sun Life Stadium, but this will prove no issue for one of the best power hitters in the game for the next decade.

19. Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants: A World Series-clinching victory may have jumpstarted his career, and he's definitely proved he can deal with pressure.  The next step is to adjust to hitters adjusting on him, and he'll have no trouble avoiding a sophomore slump.

18. Josh Johnson, SP, Florida Marlins: Johnson looked like a Cy Young candidate for much of the 2010 season before fading at the end.  But he should be in contention again soon, especially with that new ballpark in Miami just mentioned with Stanton.  A certain star of the 2010s.

17. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Washington Nationals: A scout told Trueblood "he's so much better than David Wright at this level" which is not an opinion you hear everyday about New York's golden boy.  Remember Zimmerman's 30 game hit streak in 2009?  A prime example of what a fixture he is in the Washington lineup.  With an improved team this year, Zimmerman could be primed for his best year ever.

16. Justin Upton, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Upton had a quiet year in 2010, but this isn't the same kid called up to the Majors at 19 years young in 2007.  He's been around the block a few times and should be ready for an even better season this year.  This will be his 5th year in the Majors, at 23 years old.  So don't worry, because he has plenty of time to turn on the tools.

15. Tommy Hanson, SP, Atlanta Braves: With the Braves' history of pitching, Hanson is a welcome addition to a team looking to improve on a playoff team from 2010.  Him and Tim Hudson will make a great duo.  Definite future star.

14. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels: With a .428 OBP, he got on base a lot in 2010 in the Minors. But you won't often find him at first base.  Yeah, he just stole second, that fast.  His super speed (56 steals in A ball in 2010) will zoom into the Majors in about two years, and then watch out.

13. Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds: Votto got his first MVP award in 2010, but it probably won't be his last.  Watch for Votto and Albert Pujols to go at each other for the entire next decade, and Votto will succeed Pujols as the best hitter in the division at some point.

12. Aroldis Chapman, SP, Cincinnati Reds: His speedy debut came quickly for a Reds organization that pulled a surprise in signing him.  Believe the annoying hype; he's here to stay and for real.  The definite future ace of the Reds once those old guys step out in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo.

11. Bryce Harper, C, Washington Nationals: The first pick in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Nationals, Harper should be a Buster Posey-type player.  The jury is out, because we haven't seen much of him.

10. Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners: Imagine what Hernandez could do if not for that historically horrible Mariners offense.  Hernandez should have won around 20 games based on his pitching, and would have won 24 with a team like the Yankees.  However, baseball finally got something right and gave him the AL Cy Young.  If he could get off the Mariners, he would be widely regarded as the best pitcher in baseball at 25 in 2011.

9. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida Marlins: 2010 was supposed to be the season where Ramirez put it all together, but he put up yet another season that left people wondering how he hasn't yet unleashed his full potential except for a dynamite 2007 season.  As Trueblood points out, anytime you hit .300 and hit 21 homers, stealing 32 bases and still being told you're having a down year, you know you're good.

8. Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays: Longoria's production will go down with the absence of Carl Crawford and run producing former teammate Carlos Pena, but Longoria will still hit for average and play good defense.  He may be a bit overrated here, though.

7. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves: 'J-Hey' is getting star treatment in Atlanta, but didn't finish the 2010 season very well.  Watch for Heyward to get better, but he'll need to put in the work first.

6. Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants: Most rookies on championship teams contribute behind the core of established players.  At 23, Posey was arguably the most important piece to the World Champion Giants.  Expect big things out of the biggest Giant of them all.

5. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies: The Rockies gave 'Tulo' a big extension just because this is exactly what they think he'll become.  During a stretch with "video game" stats (14 homers, 31 RBI in 15 games) in early September, it became clear that Tulowitzki is capable of carrying the Rockies.  However, he had only 6 RBI after that and the Rockies missed the playoffs.  If he can carry his team into the playoffs, he will earn this rank.

4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers: His entire career, it seems Cabrera has been flying under the radar .  His monster seasons have come when his team wasn't contending, and therefore he hasn't received the publicity he deserves.  Cabrera already had 126 RBI in only 150 games in 2010, meaning he's at the top of his game right now to enter the new decade.

3. David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays: Price gained a lot of popularity in the 2008 playoffs, and with good reason.  Price was one of the top candidates for AL Cy Young and will be the ace of Tampa Bay for a long time barring a trade.  Look for Price to finish the next decade in the top 10 in wins.

2. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals: Red flag.  I will never, ever again trust a young hardthrower with major surgery complications in just the first year of his Major League career.  So maybe he will come back and blow away the league, but be very, very careful about expecting this out of him.  Plus, the fact he showed signs of vulnerability in his rookie season.  There's a lot of pressure on him, so we'll have to see what he can do in the future.

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals: At 31, Pujols is one of the oldest guys on this list.  But he is absolutely the favorite to be the best player of the 2010s after being the best of the 2000s.  His consistency is incredible, and ten more equal seasons will give him the all time home run crown.  He has never been stopped consistently, so just watch him go.

Speed Thrill Skill

Back in late July at the Trade Deadline, when Ryan Theriot was traded to the Dodgers, I predicted that Jim Hendry would acquire some kind of speed in the offseason.  He has yet to do so, and the clock is ticking.  Theriot stole 16 bases in four months of Cubs baseball, but he still led the team.  Besides him, the 2010 Cubs were led in steals by Starlin Castro with 10; while being caught eight times.  Castro is raw and one can expect production of 20+ steals in the future with his speed, but his development can really be relied upon as the team's main source of speed.  Behind Castro was Kosuke Fukudome with seven; he was also caught a ridiculous eight times.  Speed is clearly a problem and has not been a strength for the Cubs in quite some time.  The last prototypical leadoff man on the North Side was none other than Kenny Lofton; and he lasted three months.  The player I suggest the Cubs try to acquire is not a prototypical leadoff man either, but he is much closer to it than anyone the Cubs have.  The name is B.J. Upton, a 26 year old center fielder playing for Tampa Bay.  Upton has 20/20 potential (he did this in 2007); hell, he has 20/40 potential.  Upton has arguably one of the best five tool skill sets in baseball, but he has yet to put it all together.  He possesses the following abilities: hitting for average (.300 in 2007), decent power (24 homers in 2007), decent run production (82 RBI in 2007), improving plate discipline (97 BB in 2009), good overall scoring (89 runs in 2010), excellent speed (128 steals since 2008), good outfield range (1.5 defensive WAR in 2008), and good on-base percentage (.383 in 2008).  As a big B.J. fan, I've been waiting for a breakout year for quite some time now.  Perhaps a change of scenery is in order.  The Rays, now in a rebuilding mode, aren't going to let him run off for nothing, however.  So here is the trade I propose:

To the Cubs:
CF B.J. Upton
1B Dan Johnson

To the Rays:
RF Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs work out some kind of salary arrangement)
SP Chris Archer
RP James Russell
C Welington Castillo

The Rays, although they have already acquired a few relievers in Cesar Ramos and Joel Peralta, but need more and James Russell is a guy they can work on to make him into an effective middle reliever.  Russell is never going to be a standout player in his career, but he should be a reliable and effective middle reliever for at least a bunch of years.  Chris Archer is the top pitching prospect in the Cubs system, someone the Cubs front office has been excitedly anticipating for a while now.  He can start, but would probably end up in the bullpen with the Rays depth of starters.  Archer is the key prize and centerpiece of this deal.  Kosuke Fukudome has been someone the Rays have discussed in the past and they would be willing to take him but the Cubs would probably have to pay for more than half of his salary.  Fukudome probably has one more chance with a Major League team before his career starts falling apart.  He needs to prove himself, and fast.  Welington Castillo is a prospect the Rays can throw into the catching core that already includes John Jaso, Kelly Shoppach, and Dioner Navarro.  But neither Navarro nor Shoppach hit well enough anymore to have an everyday job, and certainly by the end of next season one of them will not be with the Rays.  It's no secret the Rays aren't afraid to talk trade involving Shoppach namely.

The Cubs get the main guy, B.J. Upton, and first baseman Dan Johnson just to add some depth to the infield.  With Xavier Nady signing with the Diamondbacks, the Cubs no longer have a backup first baseman and will be stuck with Jeff Baker instead, who shouldn't be playing over there.  Baker is an okay infielder, but he shouldn't be the backup for the entire infield and Johnson gives the Cubs a veteran who won't do much offensively but will do enough defensively and give Carlos Pena a little break every once in a while.  Johnson was also played at third base for a short time with the Rays, and this could be something the Cubs experiment with as well.

The upsides to this deal are enormous.  With Upton, the Cubs would offensively be a playoff caliber team just one season after looking lost and disinterested at the plate.  If they could add a veteran starter, these Cubs could make it over the .500 mark.  But speed is crucial.  We don't want the opposing pitchers to be comfortable to pitch and not be distracted by a potential base stealer.  We also don't want to be reliant on hits to move guys around like we did last season.  If Jim Hendry doesn't acquire Upton, which is by far the more likely option, then just pray he gets some kind of speed on this team.  It could be a long, and slow, summer without that speed thrill skill.  

A True Leeder

Since finishing 3rd in MVP voting in 2005 after winning the batting title and belting 46 HR, Derrek Lee was looked upon as a disappointment from 2006-08.  In 2009, he revitalized himself as a power hitter in the middle of the Cubs lineup, hitting 35 HR and 111 RBI.  Although I have always been a fan of the 6-5 Lee, I admit there were times I became very frustrated with him grounding into double plays and not being able to push the fly balls over the wall.  In 2008, it appeared he was back because he hit around 15 HR in April and May combined, on pace for an impressive 45, but the power hit hibernation over the summer and he finished with only 20.  The one thing Cub fans forget, however, is the how important his presence is on the Cubs.  He is a calm, cool leader in the clubhouse and many young players coming through the system have learned a lot from his practice on and off the field.  Many atheltes in professional sports refuse to watch ESPN or read the Sports section of the local paper because it keeps a more positive influence around your mind and the rest of the team.  This is understandable; you wouldn't want to read articles that criticize what you do for a living and make judgements about your career and motivation, etc.  However, Lee doesn't care and reads it anyway.  He doesn't take offense or allow his opinions to be changed from the media, but rather reads it like a fan.  If there is an article the questions his ability, I'm sure he either uses that as motivation to try harder or he ignores it and keeps doing what he does.

In my opinion, first base is the second most important position on the field, behind center field.  The first baseman, first of all, needs to be physically able to get outs and help his defense by picking balls out of the dirt and having enough size to reach and snag errant throws, saving errors and baserunners.  Second of all, he needs to lead the team.  This means doing what Lee does every day; setting an example on defense, giving a jolt of spirit to the guys even when being destroyed out there, listening to each and every individual player, not being afraid to give advice when deemed necessary, and knowing that winning goes before fame and money.  In other words, understanding the winning is the number one priority of everyone involved in the game and the team, and doing everything possible to achieve that goal.

Having doubts about the importance of first base theory?  I can't blame you.  But I looked around at teams that have had success recently, and it is apparent that there is plenty of truth.

-The Rays, surprise AL Pennant winners of 2008 and perennial winners for some time to come, have been anchored by powerful 1B Carlos Peña, and he leads the younger nucleus of Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist, and Evan Longoria.  Until the 2008 transformation, the Rays never came close to a winning record.  Peña arrived in 2007.

-The Phillies, back-to-back NL Champions and the Rays' opponent in the 2008 World Series, certainly have a gift in 1B Ryan Howard.  The Phillies popped back on the baseball radar in 2006 after consistently winning all decade but usually not sniffing the playoffs because of the Braves' ridiculous streak of divison titles.  In fact, the Phillies hadn't made the playoffs since their 1980 World Series run and naturally the Philly fans were never happy.  But then this kid named Ryan Howard comes along and sends 58 baseball into orbit (or the bleachers) and now the Phillies really had some potential to upend the Braves and the Mets, who had won the division in 2006.  Sure enough, the Phillies have won three division titles in a row and Howard is the face of the franchise.

-The Cardinals were a no-brainer here.  Albert Pujols is the best hitter to set foot on this planet, unquestionably the leader of the Cardinals.  They were usually among the NL's best throughout the early and mid 2000's, except for a bump in the road called 2006.  At just 83-78 (ironically the Cubs' 2009 record), the redbirds marched into the playoffs with horrible momentum.  Oh yeah, they also happened to win the World Series that year.  Now with Matt Holliday in the order, the birds might be flying high for a while.

-The Yankees have Mark Teixeira.  Not too bad.  Possibly overlooked because of the Yankee legends that still inhabit Yankee Stadium, this dude is a key cog in the winning formula.  The first year he arrived, they won the Series.

-Who doesn't love the Swinging Padre logo that the Padres hold sacred?  The Padres are always an interesting team because of their ability to harvest young talent in a hurry and make all their pitchers look like aces in Petco Park.  The Padres were never the team to win 100 games and lead the NL in a whole bunch fo categories, but I'm pretty sure 1B Adrian Gonzalez had a lot to do with the Padres making the postseason in three straight years from 2005-2007 (I consider the one-game tiebreaker with the Rockies in 07 as playoffs).  Okay, fine, I know Gonzalez wasn't called up for real until 2006.  Still though, there is a point.  Now the Padres are leading the NL West and continue to prove doubters wrong with every step as more young talent pours into Petco and they all get schooled (in a good way) by the man, Gonzalez.

-The Twins, completely overpublicized because of homegrown Joe Mauer, probably have the most underrated first bagger in the league.  Justin Morneau is a patient (through 21 games, he leads baseball with 21 walks and a ridiculous .490 OBP) and powerful (22 or more homers the past five seasons) hitter and a great defender, and that skill is also overlooked.

-Although this era has ended in Flushing, the Mets run from 2006-2008 was very successful and was sparked by the big three: David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Delgado.  Delgado was getting old when he arrived in New York, so of course the media was all over him about it.  He quickly became a fan favorite in 2006, then an enemy after a disappointing 2007, then a hero in 2008 after a series of clutch hits.  In the tornado of negativity that was 2009 for the Mets, Delgado had to sit back and watch while his team surprisingly lost 92 games.  The Mets now lead the NL East, but Delgado is gone and a partial new generation has been welcomed into Citi Field.

None of the guys on this list are troublemakers and all are critical to their teams.  First base has never been more important to baseball teams, and the Cubs are extremely lucky to have a guy like Derrek Lee.  Resigning him after this season, his free agent year, is absolutely the number one priority in the offseason.  Go Cubs!