Who is this Firstbaseman?

by Charlie77 on Jun 16, 2010 8:02 AM MDT

Can you guess who this first baseman is?

Here’s a clue; A former Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner who made his debut in 1997. He has 300 career home runs, this year however, he is hitting somewhere near the Mendoza line and his manager has been criticized for hitting him in a prime RBI position. Some people suggest he should be moved down in the order. This season he’s on pace to surpass his career high in double plays hit into. After experiencing a decline in homeruns he had a sudden surge last year earning him several MVP votes. Starting for a team that many expected to make the playoffs his team has suddenly found themselves trailing the Dodgers in the Wild Card standings. Who is this 1B?

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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sneaky.

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by Andrew Martin on Jun 16, 2010 8:10 AM MDT reply actions

Ryan Howard

"just win Baby"....... unless you draft jamarcus russell

by nw3030 on Jun 16, 2010 8:35 AM MDT reply actions

opps

I didnt see 97 i figured helton would be too easy

"just win Baby"....... unless you draft jamarcus russell

by nw3030 on Jun 16, 2010 8:37 AM MDT reply actions

Derrek Lee.

Impossible not to have positive thoughts.

I want Sam Deduno to pitch already.

by bballrox4717 on Jun 16, 2010 8:39 AM MDT reply actions

This.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.
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by Bryan Kilpatrick on Jun 16, 2010 8:50 AM MDT up reply actions

yep, p sure that's who it is

Helton isn’t taller than Pujols.

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by Andrew Martin on Jun 16, 2010 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions

definitely Lee

I thought of a different guy, but he debuted in 1999 and they aren’t expected to contend

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 16, 2010 12:59 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Plus

Helton hasn’t been as close to the Mendoza line as Lee has. His lowest average this year (.239) is higher than Lee’s now.

Impossible not to have positive thoughts.

I want Sam Deduno to pitch already.

by bballrox4717 on Jun 16, 2010 1:18 PM MDT up reply actions

Sounds like Helton

Don't look back, something might be gaining on you-Satchel Paige

by bleedspurple on Jun 16, 2010 8:49 AM MDT reply actions

that was the point

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by Andrew Martin on Jun 16, 2010 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions

sorry

Don't look back, something might be gaining on you-Satchel Paige

by bleedspurple on Jun 16, 2010 10:02 AM MDT up reply actions

A giant.

Stand by your man.

by Muzia on Jun 16, 2010 9:09 AM MDT reply actions

Its not Mark DeRosa..

The Giants wish he was hitting as good as this 1B. Then they would save a year of arbitration on Posey.

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by Charlie77 on Jun 16, 2010 2:13 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Prince Fielder....just kidding...que cake video

In leadership,sometimes it comes strictly down to courage. We have to have courage within our organiztion today. It takes courage to be a Colorado Rockie.
....Keli McGregor 2007

by butterfly on Jun 16, 2010 11:02 AM MDT reply actions

Well Done

The only way I got who that was is because Helton isn’t that tall.

There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK

by jrockies on Jun 16, 2010 12:36 PM MDT reply actions

Without looking up, I'm gonna guess Lance Berkman?

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by Mondogarage on Jun 16, 2010 4:29 PM MDT reply actions

that's not a bad guess either

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by Andrew Martin on Jun 16, 2010 4:48 PM MDT up reply actions

The player listed above is on this list..

For those looking to crucify Helton, notice that he leads this group (we’ll call them the F-Team) in AVG and OBP.
The state of Texas is not represented well on this list.

AVG / OBP / SLG
Todd Helton, COL …… .250/.353/.330
Lance Berkman, HOU . .235/.342/.388
Derrek Lee, CHC …….. .229/.335/.370
Mark Teixeira, NYY……. .226/.345/.396
Justin Smoak, TEX…… .203/.322/.358
Carlos Pena, TB………. .195/.305/.426
Jason Giambi COL ….…187/.345/.328
Casey Kotchman SEA… .184/.260/.295
Ryan Garko, TEX….…… .090/.166/.090

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by Charlie77 on Jun 17, 2010 9:57 AM MDT reply actions

Pena's ISO numbers look like he's just having some BABIP luck

but thanks for compiling this

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by Andrew Martin on Jun 17, 2010 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions

His Out of Zone swing% is also 9 points higher than his average.

So swinging at bad balls could be inducing easy grounders.

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by Charlie77 on Jun 17, 2010 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm not sure what you're trying to say with this post

If you’re suggesting that Helton has been anything but an offensive liability this I’m not buying it. This list says to me “Hey, let’s take all the first basemen in MLB who have been worse than Helton this year so we can make a list that Todd leads”.

"If you mess with us, we are going to answer back." - Troy Tulowitzki

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jun 17, 2010 3:56 PM MDT up reply actions

*this season

"If you mess with us, we are going to answer back." - Troy Tulowitzki

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jun 17, 2010 4:33 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm saying Todd is outhitting and nearly outslugging the great Mark Texeira among other notable firstbasemen..

So maybe we should cut him some slack. He’s hitting .300 with an .800 OPS in his last 7 games FWIW.

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by Charlie77 on Jun 17, 2010 10:37 PM MDT up reply actions

I love Todd but there is no way I can defend that .683 OPS (which is 60 points behind Teixeria BTW)

As a fan of the Rockies I don’t think that type of offensive production is acceptable and I hope the Rockies don’t either because if they do then they have a losing mentality when it comes to this issue.

I’m not saying bench Todd becuase I think he’s still too good a hitter to continue to put up these types of numbers but I am saying that this needs to turn around soon regardless of what numbers the other people on this list are putting up. (Helton is hurting this team with his bat anyway you slice it right now)

I also don’t think Todd would want us to cut him some slack becuase he has such high expectations for himself.

"If you mess with us, we are going to answer back." - Troy Tulowitzki

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jun 17, 2010 11:18 PM MDT up reply actions