NL Silver Slugger Update
Coming into today’s games, everyone has about seven games left to go, and some races are more or less decided. The Silver Slugger, unlike the Gold Glove Award which is based on offense and defense for some reason, is given to one player at each position, including the pitcher. I was wondering how each position stacked up, so I thought I’d share the data. You may see some names you recognize for the guys that are competing for this hopefully not based on RBI award. Predicted winners, not who I like the most, are bolded.
Perhaps you’ve heard, but Buster Posey.
Catcher — With Posey going for an MVP, STL fans may feel overlooked
Buster Posey (23 HR, .400 wOBA, 157 wRC+, 7.0 fWAR)
Yadier Molina (21 HR, 12 SB, .381 wOBA, 143 wRC+, 6.5 fWAR)
1st Base — I don’t expected advanced stats to win this one, but dingerz
Paul Goldschmidt (19 HR, 16 SB, .369 wOBA, 127 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR)
Corey Hart (half of his games in OF; 28 HR, .362 wOBA, 128 wRC+, 3.3 fWAR)
Adam LaRoche (32 HR, .355 wOBA, 122 wRC+, 3.2 fWAR)
Allen Craig (4/5 of his games at 1B; 114 G, 22 HR, .376 wOBA, 140 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR)
2nd Base — I don’t think this one is close, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by leaving on Danny and BP
Aaron Hill (24 HR, 14 SB, .373 wOBA, 130 wRC+, 5.6 fWAR)
Danny Espinosa (16 HR, 20 SB, .320 wOBA, 99 wRC+, 3.9 fWAR)
Brandon Phillips (18 HR, 15 SB, .333 wOBA, 105 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR)
Ian Desmond’s been pretty good this year for the playoff-bound Nationals
Shortstop — How I would love to have a 20/20 guy on the team I cheer for
Ian Desmond (25 HR, 21 SB, .372 wOBA, 134 wRC+, 5.3 fWAR)
Jimmy Rollins (23 HR, 30 SB, .328 wOBA, 104 wRC+, 4.8 fWAR)
Jose Reyes (11 HR, 36 SB, .340 wOBA, 114 wRC+, 4.6 fWAR)
3rd Base — The tale of Chase Headley not being traded and still producing for the Padres will be too much for voters
David Wright (20 HR, 14 SB, .372 wOBA, 137 wRC+, 7.2 fWAR)
Chase Headley (29 HR, 14 SB, .371 wOBA, 141 wRC+, 6.9 fWAR)
Aramis Ramirez (26 HR, .382 wOBA, 141 wRC+, 6.2 fWAR)
Will Jay Bruce get the 3rd of 3 Silver Sluggers?
Outfield — The first two SS should be obvious enough, but then what?
Ryan Braun (41 HR, 29 SB, .420 wOBA, 167 wRC+, 8.1 fWAR)
Andrew McCutchen (30 HR, 19 SB, .406 wOBA, 160 wRC+, 7.7 fWAR)
Carlos Gonzalez (22 HR, 20 SB, .376 wOBA, 124 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR)
Matt Holliday (27 HR, .376 wOBA, 140 wRC+, 5.1 fWAR)
Jay Bruce (34 HR, .361 wOBA, 124 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR)
Alfonso Soriano (31 HR, .347 wOBA, 114 wRC+, 3.8 fWAR)
Carlos Beltran (30 HR, .351 wOBA, 115 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR)
Pitcher — While Stras will get the sentimental vote, he’s only hit 1 HR! One! What a slacker!
Stephen Strasburg (1 HR, .277/.333/.426, .331 wOBA, 106 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR)
Mike Leake (2 HR, .288/.300/.424, .312 wOBA, 92 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR)
Hope I haven’t upset anybody with the predictions of who I think will win based of what I think the baseball people will do when they vote for the Silver Slugger winners.
