We will see if the MLB’s tentative and hopeful plan to resume play in May comes to fruition, but until then we can still get our San Francisco Giants fix!
Giants beat writer Maria Guardado is running a weekly poll on her Twitter account asking fans which players have been the best at each position.
This week, she is looking back at the top Giants’ second baseman.
Guardado ranks Jeff Kent at No. 1.
Here is what she had to say about her choice:
1. Jeff Kent, 1997-2002
“Key fact: Hit 351 of his 377 career home runs as a second baseman, a Major League record for the position
Kent played for six teams over his 17-year career in the big leagues, but he enjoyed his most prolific stretch during his tenure with the Giants. Acquired in a blockbuster trade that sent the popular Matt Williams to the Indians in 1996, Kent teamed up with Barry Bonds to give the Giants their most fearsome power duo since the Willie Mays-Willie McCovey era. Kent slashed .297/.368/.535 and averaged 29 home runs and 115 RBIs per season over his six years in San Francisco. He earned three consecutive All-Star selections from 1999-2001 and edged Bonds for the National League MVP Award in 2000, when he hit .334/.424/.596 with 33 homers, 125 RBIs and 7.2 WAR, all career bests. He became only the fifth NL second baseman to earn the award, joining Ryne Sandberg, Joe Morgan, Jackie Robinson and Frankie Frisch.”
The rest of Guardado’s list looks this:
2) Larry Doyle
3) Frankie Frisch
4) Robby Thompson
5) Ray Durham
Honorable mentions: Danny Richardson, Eddie Stanky, Joe Panik.
This is Week 3 of Guardado’s polls, the previous winners include:
Catcher: Buster Posey
First baseman: Willie McCovey.
How do you rank the second baseman Giants’ history?
Now onto some more links:
Giants mailbag: Will Gabe Kapler be as interesting as Bruce Bochy (SF Gate)
Two reasons why Giants, fans got iconic Oracle Park design right (NBC Bay Area)
San Francisco Giants: Best MLB draft picks since 2000 (Fansided)