Read the opposing argument from Bleacher Fan.
We take a break from your scheduled editorial calendar full of March Madness debates to throw in a fascinating baseball debate that is sure to start some discussion. Babe Ruthless has asked Bleacher Fan to determine if the current Philadelphia Phillies team has the best infield in the modern era. I am not a Phillies fan by any stretch of ANY vivid imagination (being a fan of a National League East rival makes it difficult to root for the Phils), but I am someone who appreciates greatness, and greatness currently resides in the city of Brotherly Love. Yes, this Phillies infield, consisting of first baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, and third baseman Placido Polanco is the greatest infield of the modern era.
I realize this is a tough argument to make. The infield that up North that dons the pinstripes is pretty strong as a group, and Bleacher Fan has mentioned casually in editorial conversations about some of the mid 1990s Indians infields. But let’s take a closer look.
Ryan Howard needs no explanation, but we are going to explain anyway. Howard, who won the 2005 Rookie of the Year despite only having 312 at-bats (which is quite impressive if you think about it), has continued to improve each season. His defense is definitely improving as he is not the most agile guy over at first base. The thing is, he can still get so much better. He has won an MVP award and is a strong candidate to win more. In essentially five years of playing he has amassed 222 home runs and 640 RBI. I will let you pull out the calculator and do the math. He is so good that his name was recently rumored to have been mentioned in a trade for the arguably the game’s greatest player, Albert Pujols.
Chase Utley, who is my favorite Phillies player, is arguably the best second baseman in the game today. The thing is, he would have been a starting second baseman sooner in his career if not for the fact that second base was manned by his current (again) teammate at the hot corner. He has been a full-time starter for four years now (he was not a full-time starter in 2005 until Polanco was traded in June) and in those four years, he has put up impressive numbers. He’s made the All-Star team as a starter all four years and is in the conversation for MVP every season. He has had 118 home runs in four years as a starter and has 161 home runs for his career.
Love him or hate, the brash Jimmy Rollins definitely reigns as one of the game’s best overall shortstops. He has pop in his bat (146 home runs), he has speed (326 stolen bases), and he has the glove (three-time Gold Glove winner). He also won a league MVP award in 2007. I would have to say that he is the spokesman for the Phillies, and is likely also the team’s leader.
Polanco’s career has come full circle with the Phillies and now he mans third base after being their starting second baseman several years ago. Polanco is one of those guys who flies under the radar, and he is going to fit in nicely with this current Phillies team. He is going to get on base quite often, as evidenced by his career .303 batting average. He, along with Rollins, will likely be responsible for setting the table at the top of the lineup for the big guns like Utley, Howard, and Jayson Werth. He’s a former All-Star and a two-time Gold glove winner. In short, a very nice resumé.
So there you have it. Excellent gloves on the left side of the infield and pop on the right. Show me an infield that is better OVERALL.
