2014 MLB Season

[Leonardfan]

Baseball has enjoyed a fairly noticeable spike in the number of great white players over the past few years. The two obvious faces of the MLB are Trout and Harper. Optimistic for this season, not looking forward to the continuing bitching and moaning about the lack of blacks in baseball (this has been going on for probably a decade).

Hopefully there are some more white middle infielders and catchers starting this season. I will be doing my fantasy basbeball research over the weekend and try to post some lesser known young players I come across. Fantasy baseball is great because it allows me to field competitive all white teams.

This is that moron Bud Seligs last year as commissioner - looking forward to him getting away from the game.

 

[Leonardfan]

Here is a quick positional breakdown by position. Updated all positions. Hopefully this is more accurate. Not sure if I want to do pitchers as the great majority are white. I may make a list of pitchers but not as comprehensive.

Catchers:
Matt Wieters BAL
A.J. Piezynski BOS
Tyler Flowers CWS
Chris Iannetta LAA
Brian McCann NYY
Derek Norris OAK
Mike Zunino SEA
Ryan Hanigan TB
Evan Gattis ATL
Devin Mesoraco CIN
A.J. Ellis LAD
Jarrod Saltalamacchia MIA
Johnathan Lucroy MIL
Travis D’ Arnaud NYM
Buster Posey SF

1B
Paul Goldschmidt ARI
Freddie Freeman ATL
Anthony Rizzo CHC
Joey Votto CIN
Justin Morneau COL
Garrett Jones MIA
Mark Reynolds MIL (Recently added to Roster)
Ike Davis NYM
Brandon Belt SF
Matt Adams STL
Adam LaRoche WAS
Chris Davis BAL
Mike Napoli BOS
Nick Swisher CLE
Marc Krauss HOU
Eric Hosmer KC
Joe Mauer MIN
Mark Teixeira NYY
Brandon Moss OAK
Justin Smoak SEA


2B
Ryan Flaherty BAL
Dustin Pedroia BOS
Gordon Beckham CWS
Jason Kipinis CLE
Ian Kinsler DET
Brian Dozier MIN
Brian Roberts NYY
Eric Sogard OAK
Ben Zobrist TB
Ryan Goins TOR
Aaron Hill ARI
Dan Uggla ATL
D.J. LeMahieu COL
Scooter Gennett MIL
Daniel Murphy NYM
Chase Utley PHI
Neil Walker PIT
Jedd Gyorko SD

Shortstop
Chris Owings ARI **PLATOON
Zack Cozart CIN
Troy Tulowitzki COL
Jordy Mercer PIT
Brandon Crawford SF
J.J. Hardy BAL
Jed Lowrie OAK
Brad Miller SEA (Nick Franklin in position battle)

Third Base
Will Middlebrooks BOS
Conor Gillapsie CWS
Lonnie Chisenhall CLE
Nick Castellanos DET
Mike Moustakas KC
David Freese STL
Trevor Plouffe MIN
Kelly Johnson NYY
Josh Donaldson OAK
Kyle Seager SEA
Evan Longoria TB
Brett Lawrie TOR
Chris Johnson ATL
Todd Frazier CIN
Casey McGehee MIA
David Wright NYM
Cody Asche PHI
Chase Headley SD
Matt Carpenter STL
Ryan Zimmerman WAS

Leftfield
Mark Trumbo ARI
Ryan Sweeney CHC
Ryan Ludwick CIN
Cory Dickerson COL
Christian Yelich MIA
Michael Morse SF
Matt Holiday STL
Bryce Harper WAS
David Lough BAL
Daniel Nava BOS
Andy Dirks DET
Robbie Grossman HOU
Alex Gordon KC
Josh Hamilton LAA
Josh Willingham MIN
Brett Garnder NYY
Dustin Ackley SEA

Centerfield
Adam Eaton CWS
Mike Trout LAA
Alex Presley MIN
Jacoby Ellsbury NYY *
Colby Rasmus TOR
A.J. Pollock ARI
Peter Bourjos STL

Rightfield
Nate Schierholtz CHC
Jay Bruce CIN
Mike Cuddyer COL
Ryan Braun MIL
Seth Smith SD
Hunter Pence SF
Allen Craig STL
Jayson Werth WAS
Nick Markakis BAL
David Murphy CLE
Kole Calhoun LAA
Josh Reddick OAK
Cory Hart SEA
Wil Meyers TB

AL – DH
Adam Dunn CWS
Billy Butler KC
Jason Kubel MIN
John Jaso OAK
Logan Morrison SEA
Matt Joyce TB
Mitch Moreland TEX
Adam Lind TOR

 

[Carolina Speed]

Here is a quick positional breakdown by position. Ill update one position per day for the next week and a half.

C
Buster Posey SF
Brian McCann NYY
Johnathan Lucroy MIL
Matt Wieters BAL
A.J. Pierzynski BOS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia MIA

Young players to keep an eye on:
Devin Mesoraco Cin
Travis D'Arnaud NYM
Mike Zunino SEA

Thanks Leonardfan! I'm really looking forward to the MLB season. Lots of great white talent out there, especially at the pitching position.

Would like to see Harper stay healthy and have real big season along with Trout continuing to be the best player in MLB.

Do you see anyone coming along this year in the Trout or Harper mold? It would be nice to keep the pipeline of great white talent full!

Looking forward to the talent breakdown by position.

Thanks again.

 

[PamelaOC]

For us L.A. baseball fans, the Angels are looking reasonably white, although it's disappointing that they essentially replaced Trumbo with Ibanez. Trout, of course, is always great to watch. The Dodgers...what can I say? "Los Doyers"...that's about all that needs to be said. :thumbdown:

 

[Freethinker]

For us L.A. baseball fans, the Angels are looking reasonably white, although it's disappointing that they essentially replaced Trumbo with Ibanez. Trout, of course, is always great to watch. The Dodgers...what can I say? "Los Doyers"...that's about all that needs to be said. :thumbdown:

Out of position players, The Dodgers seem to be the most non-White this year. They only start catcher A.J. Ellis, though you could argue that Adrian Gonzalez is a "white" Mexican (I wouldn't). Is Don Mattingly, one of my favorite ballplayers growing up, really this racist or is the GM Ned Colletti to blame? Either way, let's hope this team with their large payroll of browns and blacks bombs and misses the playoffs.

 

[Leonardfan]

Thanks Leonardfan! I'm really looking forward to the MLB season. Lots of great white talent out there, especially at the pitching position.

Would like to see Harper stay healthy and have real big season along with Trout continuing to be the best player in MLB.

Do you see anyone coming along this year in the Trout or Harper mold? It would be nice to keep the pipeline of great white talent full!

Looking forward to the talent breakdown by position.

Thanks again.

Thanks Carolina Speed. A couple of outfielders to keep an eye on are Wil Meyers from Tampa Bay, Christian Yelich (pretty sure he is totally white) for MIA and Kole Calhoun for Anaheim.

 

[PamelaOC]

Adrian Gonzalez is a mestizo. He's not one of us. The Dodgers are the epitome of a Caste team. Usually only their pitcher and catcher will be white. But look at their list of starting pitchers - 6 whites, 1 Asian. Also for the catchers list - both the Dodgers and Angels should have a white starter there - A.J. Ellis for the Dodgers and Chris Iannetta for the Angels. Hank Conger (Asian) should see some time as the Angels' catcher but Iannetta is the starting man.

 

[Don Wassall]

Here is a quick positional breakdown by position. Ill update one position per day for the next week and a half.

C
Buster Posey SF
Brian McCann NYY
Johnathan Lucroy MIL
Matt Wieters BAL
A.J. Pierzynski BOS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia MIA

Young players to keep an eye on:
Devin Mesoraco Cin
Travis D'Arnaud NYM
Mike Zunino SEA

Is that list of the best White catchers only, or is that all of the White catchers projected to start this year?

Joe Mauer has moved to first base, which should have been done years ago considering his injury problems.

 

[Leonardfan]

Is that list of the best White catchers only, or is that all of the White catchers projected to start this year?

Joe Mauer has moved to first base, which should have been done years ago considering his injury problems.

List of all white catchers projected to start this year.

 

[Don Wassall]

List of all white catchers projected to start this year.

That's pretty shocking. Catcher used to be the Whitest position of them all, even more than pitchers.

 

[Leonardfan]

That's pretty shocking. Catcher used to be the Whitest position of them all, even more than pitchers.

It seemed like their was a pretty big hispanic push at catcher (same with middle infield) from the late 90s on. I will go back and review my list, I could of missed some guys and I did not include white players in a platoon situation behind the plate.

 

[Carolina Speed]

That's pretty shocking. Catcher used to be the Whitest position of them all, even more than pitchers.

Lots of Dominicans at that position now, I think?:icon_sad:

 

[Don Wassall]

I knew there were a lot of hispanic catchers, but didn't realize how many. Black catchers have always been very rare.

 

[jaxvid]

I knew there were a lot of hispanic catchers, but didn't realize how many. Black catchers have always been very rare.

The Tigers catcher Alex Avilla is a 2nd generation Cuban and seems to be of white spanish ancestry. His godfather is Tommy Lasorda. Born in Florida he lived some in the Detroit area and has a father in the Tigers organization. He is basically like Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio, a white american that has spanish (hispanic) heritage and is considered as such when counting heads racially.

 

[Don Wassall]

When I think of black catchers, John Roseboro of the LA Dodgers always comes to mind. He was clubbed on the head by Juan Marichal's bat during a game in 1965 for no reason. 1965 was a couple of years before the Permanent Communist Revolution was full-on launched in the U.S. by Frankfurt School graduates and associates and was a huge story as America was still America at the time. It was a complete "chimp out" by a hispanic, but it was on a black which made it even more strange.

Marichal made the Hall of Fame and his chimp out was forgotten, but black catchers are still a rarity a half century on. Roy Campanella (White father black mother) had his career prematurely ended by a car crash, have there been any other top-flight black catchers?

 

[sport historian]

When I think of black catchers, John Roseboro of the LA Dodgers always comes to mind. He was clubbed on the head by Juan Marichal's bat during a game in 1965 for no reason. 1965 was a couple of years before the Permanent Communist Revolution was full-on launched in the U.S. by Frankfurt School graduates and associates and was a huge story as America was still America at the time. It was a complete "chimp out" by a hispanic, but it was on a black which made it even more strange.

Marichal made the Hall of Fame and his chimp out was forgotten, but black catchers are still a rarity a half century on. Roy Campanella (White father black mother) had his career prematurely ended by a car crash, have there been any other top-flight black catchers?

Marichal claimed that Roseboro ticked his ear with the ball while throwing it back to the mound. A trait of hispanics was to grab a bat in case of a fight.

There were other incidents between American blacks and hispanic blacks (who considered themselves superior) about this time. Rico Carty, a black Dominican, called Hank Aaron the N-word in the Braves clubhouse, causing a fight.

 

[jaxvid]

When I think of black catchers, John Roseboro of the LA Dodgers always comes to mind. He was clubbed on the head by Juan Marichal's bat during a game in 1965 for no reason. 1965 was a couple of years before the Permanent Communist Revolution was full-on launched in the U.S. by Frankfurt School graduates and associates and was a huge story as America was still America at the time. It was a complete "chimp out" by a hispanic, but it was on a black which made it even more strange.

Marichal made the Hall of Fame and his chimp out was forgotten, but black catchers are still a rarity a half century on. Roy Campanella (White father black mother) had his career prematurely ended by a car crash, have there been any other top-flight black catchers?

The black (american) catcher rivals the black 3rd baseman and the black left handed pitcher as one of the truly rare sights in pro baseball. I believe that Josh Gibson of Negro league fame was a catcher. After Campy and Roseboro-who wasn't that good the pickings are pretty thin. Earl Williams was a guy with some power who played a few years for the Orioles, as did Paul Casanova. Manny Sanguillen was black but one of the first hispanics. Earl Battey was an All-Star at the position. Elrod Hendricks was another decent one, it seemed the Orioles had a thing for them, Elston Howard was the first black Yankee star. Cliff Johnson was the only other good one I can think of.

I believe a big part of the reason there are so few black catcher is that it is a "thinking mans" position which is not a strong point of black athletes. Now it is looked upon as a difficult position to play with little glamor and thus not suitable for the current generation of black athletes that prefer the spotlight.

Note that only on castefootball can you have honest discussions of this type. Do a search on this subject on the internet and you will get the typical PC speak and thinking on a topic like this.

 

[Freethinker]

Hey Leonardfan, love your posts but you're making catcher look bleak when it really isn't.

Mike Avila (as jaxvid said)
A.J. Ellis of the Dodgers
Chris Iannetta of the Angels
Tyler Flowers of the White Sox (young guy with power)
Yan Gomes of the Indians (first Brazilian born MLB player, is clearly White and from Sao Paulo)
Jason Castro of the Astros (Allstar last year, another White guy with Spanish surname)
Derek Norris of the Athletics (another good young guy)
Ryan Hanigan of the Rays (listed as starter over the terrible Jose Molina)
Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks (a White Venezuelan)
Evan Gattis of the Braves (25 homers last year, huge 27 year old with massive pop)
Yasmani Grandal of the Padres (would pass for White if his name wasn't so ethnic. Cuban)

As you can see, catcher is majority White, with the rest being Hispanics of mixed races, mulatto Russell Martin and Asian Kurt Suzuki.

As for American black catchers, the only one I can remember in my lifetime was Charles Johnson. He had a long career with some good seasons. Can't think of all the teams he played for but I do remember the Rockies and Marlins amongst them.

 

[PamelaOC]

Iannetta platooned with Conger last season, but he (Iannetta) is supposed to get a lot more time this year.

 

[knightedsoldier5000]

Here is a quick positional breakdown by position. Ill update one position per day for the next week and a half.

C
Buster Posey SF
Brian McCann NYY
Johnathan Lucroy MIL
Matt Wieters BAL
A.J. Pierzynski BOS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia MIA

Young players to keep an eye on:
Devin Mesoraco Cin
Travis D'Arnaud NYM
Mike Zunino SEA


1B
Paul Goldschmidt ARI
Chris Davis BAL
Joey Votto CIN
Freddie Freeman ATL
Joe Mauer MIN
Allen Craig STL
Billy Butler KC
Brandon Belt SF
Anthony Rizzo CHC
Brandon Moss OAK
Daniel Murphy NYM
Justin Morneau COL
Adam Lind TOR
Adam LaRoche WAS
Adam Dunn CHW
Justin Smoak SEA

Don't forget Matt Adams will play 1B for Stl. Craig is moving to RF.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/adamsma01.shtml

Adams:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
2009	20	STL-min	A-,Rk	63	270	245	31	87	17	0	10	52	0	0	20	41	.355	.400	.547	.947		134	7	1	0	4	3		BAT,JOH · NYPL,APPY
2010	21	STL-min	A	121	510	464	71	144	41	0	22	88	5	1	33	78	.310	.355	.541	.896		251	11	4	0	9	3		DAV · MIDW
2011	22	STL-min	AA	115	513	463	80	139	23	2	32	101	0	1	40	90	.300	.357	.566	.923		262	12	4	0	6	7		SPD · TL
2012	23	STL-min	AAA	67	276	258	41	85	22	0	18	50	3	1	15	57	.329	.362	.624	.986		161	5	0	0	3	1		MEM · PCL
2012	23	STL	NL	27	91	86	8	21	6	0	2	13	0	0	5	24	.244	.286	.384	.669	82	33	3	0	0	0	0	3
2013	24	STL-min	AA	3	12	12	1	3	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	.250	.250	.333	.583		4	1	0	0	0	0		SPD · TL
2013	24	STL	NL	108	319	296	46	84	14	0	17	51	0	1	23	80	.284	.335	.503	.839	131	149	9	0	0	0	0	3

 

[Leonardfan]

Hey everyone working on updating my list. Will try to post all infield positions late tonight. I have been busy the last couple days. Thanks for the input, I was going off yahoo rankings for fantasy initially and am now referring to weenie world depth charts (ironic, right? :nod

 

[PamelaOC]

Freese @ 3B plays for the Angels now.

 

[PamelaOC]

Angels win with a walk-off home run in the 12th by white man Chris Iannetta.

 

[jaxvid]

The Tigers finally beat the Angels today after having lost 9 straight to them. Mike Trout struck out 4 times, first time that's happened to him, ever. Trout is the most hated player in baseball to the Detroit fans. He has finished 2nd to Miguel Cabrera in the MVP the last two years and each year the media has pumped up Trout using sabermetrics to make a case for Trout. I think it's more a case of the media wanting to create a contrived controversy and some left coast bias, Cabrera has put up phenomenal numbers the last few years and his team has gone deep into the post season. Trout will have his day soon enough.

The Los Tigres have changed direction slightly jettisoning Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler. Today they played Andrew Romaine at SS and Bryan Holaday at catcher. Nick Castallenos and Alex Avila are cuban/spanish americans and Andy Dirks will be back in June to platoon in left. The Tigers still play an all black outfield and feature two Venezuelans, Cabrera and Martinez, with another, Alex Rodriguez, platooning at SS. Still a big improvement from last year.

 

[Truthteller]

The Los Tigres have changed direction slightly jettisoning Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler. Today they played Andrew Romaine at SS and Bryan Holaday at catcher. Nick Castallenos and Alex Avila are cuban/spanish americans and Andy Dirks will be back in June to platoon in left. The Tigers still play an all black outfield and feature two Venezuelans, Cabrera and Martinez, with another, Alex Rodriguez, platooning at SS. Still a big improvement from last year.

Yes, it seems Texas and Detroit have switched places. Detroit now has a few white position players starting; Rangers were supposed to be pretty much all non-white (except catcher and DH) after getting rid several white starters.

However, injuries have opened up spots for whites at 2B and 3B in Texas. Big news is, after 3 full seasons in the minors, Kevin Kouzmanoff is really hitting the cover off the ball. Hopefully he continues to excel.

Recently read on some sort of blog (via google search) that Nick Castallenos was the most "famous Greek athlete in Detroit since Alex Karros"...Has the idiot that wrote it ever heard of Chris Chelios?