DTFC LINX

12/06/1999

In this Mendoza Line we will look back at the worst players of 1999 in the National League and name our All Star Team.

Catchers

Player	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Eddie Perez	32	104	309	77	30	30	17	0	7	.249	.299	.372	3.35
Todd Hundley	31	114	376	78	49	55	14	0	24	.207	.295	.436	3.68
Benito Santiago	35	109	350	87	28	36	18	3	7	.249	.305	.415	3.87

None of the 3 catchers above should have been a starting catcher in '99.  Eddie Perez was forced into catching everyday because of Javier Lopez's knees.  Hundley is still trying to make a comeback from elbow surgery in '97.  The power is there but nothing else is, including his throwing arm.  He was the worst defensive regular catcher in the major leagues in 1999.  Benito Santiago used up all of his ability to hit when he decided to hit a tree with his Ferarri a few years ago.  At best he is a back-up catcher and deserves serious consideration for ugliest player in Major League Baseball.  All things considered Todd Hundley is the starting catcher for the Mendoza Line All-Star Team.

First Base

Player	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Travis Lee	25	120	375	89	57	50	16	2	9	.237	.337	.363	4.19
Brad Fullmer	25	100	347	96	38	47	34	2	9	.277	.321	.464	4.27
Rico Brogna	30	157	619	172	90	102	29	4	24	.278	.336	.454	4.76

At first base we have a slightly different situation than catcher.  Two young guys trying to break in, and one guy that has the job but doesn't really deserve it.  Travis Lee was a major disappointment for the D'backs in 1999 and lost his first base job to Erubiel Durazo, Lee will need to make a splash (hopefully on the field and not in the pool) in the outfield in 2000.  Fullmer is not only one of the worst hitting first basemen in the league, he is also one of the worst fielding first basemen.  Rico Brogna is in fact head and shoulders above either Lee or Fullmer but he really doesn't put up enough offense for a first baseman.  Defense is the deciding factor at first base and thus Fullmer gets the nod as our starting first baseman.

Second Base

Player	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Mickey Morandini	34	144	456	110	60	37	18	5	4	.241	.319	.329	3.54
Bret Boone	31	152	608	153	102	63	38	1	20	.252	.310	.416	4.26
Marlon Anderson	26	129	452	114	48	54	26	4	5	.252	.292	.361	4.13

If you had asked me before I looked at the numbers I would have told you second base was going to be a battle between Bret Boone and Marlon Anderson.  But Morandini's numbers are just too pitiful to overlook for long.  Boone is definitely not the number 2 hitter the Braves used him as, and Anderson is not the long term solution for Phillie at second base.  Mickey Morandini is our starting second baseman, if just because he makes Bret Boone look productive.

Third Base

	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Shane Andrews	28	117	348	68	41	51	12	0	16	.195	.295	.368	3.09
Vinny Castilla	32	158	615	169	83	102	24	1	33	.275	.331	.478	4.99
Mike Lowell	26	97	308	78	32	47	15	0	12	.253	.317	.419	4.65

It is really not fair to Mike Lowell to even be considered here, as he missed the beginning of the season while recovering from testicular cancer.  He has a bright future for the Marlins.  Vinny Castilla's numbers don't look too bad, until you consider he plays half his games in Denver, the Braves decision not to protect him in the '93 expansion draft was not really the bad decision many have portrayed it as.  Shane Andrews just plain sucked for Montreal and Chicago in 1999.  Not only is he the Mendoza Line starting third baseman, he is the Mendoza Line MVP.

Shortstop

	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Walt Weiss	36	110	279	63	38	29	13	4	2	.226	.315	.323	3.98
Orlando Cabrera	25	104	382	97	48	39	23	5	8	.254	.293	.403	3.77
Neifi Perez	25	157	690	193	108	70	27	11	12	.280	.307	.403	4.36
Rey Ordonez	27	154	520	134	49	60	24	2	1	.258	.319	.317	3.30

Shortstop is a tale of 3 young defensive wizards and an old guy that used to flash the leather pretty good.  Weiss has seen better days, but still has a few years ahead of him as a backup middle infielder.  Rey Ordonez is our starting shortstop, while he may be flashy he is not the defensive god Mets fans try to make him out to be.  He is at best an average defensive shortstop, that can't hit.

Left field

	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Richard Hidalgo	24	108	383	87	49	56	25	2	15	.227	.328	.420	4.50
Gerald Williams	33	143	422	116	76	68	24	1	17	.275	.335	.457	5.37
Al Martin	32	143	541	150	97	63	36	8	24	.277	.337	.506	6.00

Left field is primarily an offensive position where most teams try to hide their defensive liabilities.  The class of this position has to be Hidalgo, and while he has a bright future ahead of him, he has a long way to go.  Gerald Williams is a fourth outfielder that was forced into a starting role in Atlanta because of injuries.  While Al Martin  barely edged out Ron Gant to round out the top 3.  

Center field

	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Marquis Grissom	33	154	603	161	92	83	27	1	20	.267	.327	.410	4.48
Ruben Rivera	26	147	411	80	65	48	16	1	23	.195	.295	.406	3.07
Brian McRae	32	134	403	88	47	48	17	2	12	.218	.327	.360	3.55

There shouldn't be any surprises on this list.  Brian McRae was pretty horrible for the Mets this year, that they managed to pawn him off is a tribute to someone's stupidity.  Marquis Grissom isn't necessarily a bad player but he isn't the player he used to be either.  Ruben Rivera takes the cake.  He has to be a major disappointment for the Padres, whom acquired him via the Hideki Irabu trade.  He is solid defensively and is showing good power, but in order to utilize his power he needs to make some contact.

Right field

	Age	G	AB	H	R	RBI	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	RC/27
Derek Bell	31	128	509	120	61	66	22	0	12	.236	.306	.350	3.08
Mark Kotsay	24	148	495	134	57	50	23	9	8	.271	.306	.402	3.39
Michael Tucker	29	133	296	75	55	44	8	5	11	.253	.338	.426	5.06

Mark Kotsay is still very young, and was rushed to the majors because of the Marlin's fire sale.  He should develop into a solid player.  Michael Tucker is a fourth outfielder that somehow continues to find himself in a starting role.  His offensive game isn't bad, but it is better suited to second base, his position coming up through the minors.  Derek Bell gave Shane Andrews some stiff competition for the Mendoza Line MVP award, but his average was too high.  How he had a starting job on a contending team is beyond me.

The Mendoza Line 1999
NL All Star Team

C	Todd Hundley	LA
1B	Brad Fullmer	MON
2B	Mickey Morandini	CHC
3B	Shane Andrews	CHC
SS	Rey Ordonez	NYM
LF	Richard Hidalgo	HOU
CF	Ruben Rivera	SD
RF	Derek Bell	HOU

Next time we will look back at the junior circuit and name our American League All-Star Team.

National League MVP Chipper Jones had the worst range factor of any regular third baseman in the major leagues. Chipper's range factor was 2.12 compared to a league average of 2.62. Equally surprising was Rey Ordonez who turned in a range factor of 4.35 well below the league average of 4.59.

A few projections for next year:

1. Cal Ripken will get his 3000th hit.

2. The Braves will win the NL East.

3. Mark McGwire will lead the majors in homeruns if he stays healthy.

Trivia Answer:  Seattle's Safeco Field is 2 feet below sea level.

The stats included here are from the STATS Major League Handbook 2000.  Definitely worth the price to help make it through the winter.

--O-fer

© 1999 K. Hollingshead 1999