Using Jeff Sackmann's MLE
Calculator, I translated Huntsville's starting eight to Miller Park so that they would be directly comparable to their Milwaukee analogues. I've
bolded the "winner":
CATCHER:
Angel Salome: .329/.363/.488/.851
Jason Kendall: .259/.339/.341/.680
If only Salome was merely bad defensively...
FIRST BASE:
Chris Errecart: .254/.313/.447/.760
Prince Fielder: .273/.360/.434/.794
Not nearly as close as it looks right now, obviously. Errecart is only the seventh-best prospect in the Stars lineup, which is pretty remarkable.
SECOND BASE:
Mike Bell: .233/.272/.366/.638
Rickie Weeks: .201/.325/.354/.689
Mike Bell has nice power, but even with Rickie struggling to clear the Mendoza Line, he's the more valuable hitter, and his defense has come around to where he's no longer a detriment.
THIRD BASE:
Mat Gamel: .326/.376/.551/.927
Bill Hall: .227/.296/.420/.716
Gamel is better than Bill Hall right now, in every facet of the game.
SHORTSTOP:
Alcides Escobar: .272/.303/.352/.655
J.J. Hardy: .254/.333/.331/.664
Hardy has the higher OPS, but Escobar's defense probably swings it in his favor as the stats currently stand. James Jerry isn't going to slug .331 all year, though (I hope).
LEFT FIELD:
Cole Gillespie: .236/.311/.418/.729
Ryan Braun: .299/.328/.576/.904
Poor Cole Gillespie, who should start think about hiring a hitman or two.
CENTER FIELD:
Michael Brantley: .277/.334/.327/.661
Mike Cameron: .231/.289/.470/.759
As much as everyone seems to love Brantley, his walks will not translate to the Major Leagues unless he can display some semblance of power; even Escobar is blowing him away in that department.
RIGHT FIELD:
Matt LaPorta: .236/.326/.448/.774
Corey Hart: .296/.345/.463/.808
This is really the most interesting contest. Hart is a much better hitter for average, but doesn't have nearly the plate discpline that LaPorta offers. Given that the Brewers saw LaPorta as the best power bat in the draft last year, I'd say he slightly edges Hart in slugging ability, too. Hart's been a little better so far though, and is probably significantly better on defense.
In conclusion, two of Huntsville's sticks, Salome and Gamel, are unquestionably better than their big-league counterparts, but are held back by their defensive inadequacies. Two more, Escobar and LaPorta, are quite close in value to their Brewer complements. Errecart and Bell are afterthoughts, while Gillespie and Brantley must wait and see what happens.
CATCHER:
Angel Salome: .329/.363/.488/.851
Jason Kendall: .259/.339/.341/.680
If only Salome was merely bad defensively...
FIRST BASE:
Chris Errecart: .254/.313/.447/.760
Prince Fielder: .273/.360/.434/.794
Not nearly as close as it looks right now, obviously. Errecart is only the seventh-best prospect in the Stars lineup, which is pretty remarkable.
SECOND BASE:
Mike Bell: .233/.272/.366/.638
Rickie Weeks: .201/.325/.354/.689
Mike Bell has nice power, but even with Rickie struggling to clear the Mendoza Line, he's the more valuable hitter, and his defense has come around to where he's no longer a detriment.
THIRD BASE:
Mat Gamel: .326/.376/.551/.927
Bill Hall: .227/.296/.420/.716
Gamel is better than Bill Hall right now, in every facet of the game.
SHORTSTOP:
Alcides Escobar: .272/.303/.352/.655
J.J. Hardy: .254/.333/.331/.664
Hardy has the higher OPS, but Escobar's defense probably swings it in his favor as the stats currently stand. James Jerry isn't going to slug .331 all year, though (I hope).
LEFT FIELD:
Cole Gillespie: .236/.311/.418/.729
Ryan Braun: .299/.328/.576/.904
Poor Cole Gillespie, who should start think about hiring a hitman or two.
CENTER FIELD:
Michael Brantley: .277/.334/.327/.661
Mike Cameron: .231/.289/.470/.759
As much as everyone seems to love Brantley, his walks will not translate to the Major Leagues unless he can display some semblance of power; even Escobar is blowing him away in that department.
RIGHT FIELD:
Matt LaPorta: .236/.326/.448/.774
Corey Hart: .296/.345/.463/.808
This is really the most interesting contest. Hart is a much better hitter for average, but doesn't have nearly the plate discpline that LaPorta offers. Given that the Brewers saw LaPorta as the best power bat in the draft last year, I'd say he slightly edges Hart in slugging ability, too. Hart's been a little better so far though, and is probably significantly better on defense.
In conclusion, two of Huntsville's sticks, Salome and Gamel, are unquestionably better than their big-league counterparts, but are held back by their defensive inadequacies. Two more, Escobar and LaPorta, are quite close in value to their Brewer complements. Errecart and Bell are afterthoughts, while Gillespie and Brantley must wait and see what happens.
