From: niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent)
Subject: Re: NL East analysis comment
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 22:40:10 GMT

In article <Dec.17.10.51.47.1992.7401@pilot.njin.net> gajarsky@pilot.njin.net (Bob Gajarsky - Hobokenite) writes:
>iacurtop@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Iacurto Paul) writes:

>>What are the most important positions? You tell me.

>>Any team would like to have a Darren Daulton (C), Mark Grace (1B),
>>Ryne Sandberg (2B), Wil Cordero (SS), Dave Hollins (3B), Bernard
>>Gilkey (LF), Ray Lankford (CF) and Larry Walker (RF).

>>So which guy is the most important?

>i don't know if you're referring to me, but i  believe you
> put the best player available out there.  defense is more
> important at the middle positions, since less people can
> play there competently (on d.) and less important on the
> outside ones.  and would any team like to have those players?
> hmm.  i know the braves, reds and padres have starting lineups
> that on the whole are arguably better than the one
> you've thrown out there.

I think your assessment is a little off here.  Sure, the Braves *could*
have a great starting lineup, but they don't.  And the Padres?  Get real.

C-Daulton    v.  Olson/Berryhill, Oliver, and Walters.
	Well, Daulton isn't as good as '92, but he's always been decent,
	if injury prone.  Certainly his potential is much higher than
	these guys.
1B-Grace     v.  Hunter/Bream, Morris, and McGriff
	Atlanta is way behind; if they used Klesko they'd have a chance.
	Morris last year was much worse, but I'll call that even.
	McGriff is much better.
2B-Sandberg  v.  Lemke, Roberts, and ? Paul Faries?
	Roberts is good, but not as good as Sandberg.  The others aren't
	close.
SS-Cordero   v.  Blauser/Belliard, Larkin, and Stillwell
	If Blauser gets most of the PT, Atlanta is better.  Larkin is
	better.  Stillwell?  Blech.
3B-Hollins   v.  Pendleton, Sabo, and Sheffield.
	I'll give you Sheffield ahead of Hollins, but not the other 2.
LF-Gilkey    v.  Gant, Mitchell, and Plantier.
	Okay, Gilkey is the worst of the 3.  (Though he was the best
	last year.)
CF-Lankford  v.  Nixon/Sanders, Kelly, and Jackson.
	I'd call Lankford the best, though Sanders *might* be better.
	But Atlanta isn't playing him full time, necessarily.  
RF-Walker    v.  Justice, Sanders, and Gwynn.
	I'd take Walker, though all four are good.

So, Atlanta is better at SS and LF.  Cincinnati is better at SS and LF.
And San Diego is better at 1B, 3B, and LF.

Feel free to disagree...

>which i think shows how bad the nl east has gotten. never fret,
> your expos will finish first...

On the other hand, this isn't the best possible lineup from the NLE,
either.  Cordero has lots of potential, but there's no way he's ahead of
Jay Bell or Ozzie Smith at this point.

Lankford also has potential, but probably isn't as good as Van Slyke now,
or maybe even Dykstra, though much less fragile, obviously.

-- 
David M. Nieporent   | Is it too early to start making predictions for 1993?
niepornt@phoenix.    | Probably, but that never stopped me before.
   princeton.edu     | ALE: Baltimore ALW: Chicago NLE: Montreal NLW: Atlanta
Baltimore Orioles 93 | AL MVP: Cal Ripken  AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina