Jason Kipnis and Other Names You Need To Know

Jason Kipnis has helped the Indians
remain competitive in 2012

Now that we are through two months of the season, I've decided to fill out my first All-Star ballot this year.  While looking up the numbers this season, I figured I should take the time out to fill you in on five guys at the plate that you need to know about.


1. Jason Kipnis - 2B Cleveland Indians
His 9 Home Runs and 34 RBI are tops for second basemen in Major League Baseball.  The Glenbrook North grad was the Tribe's top prospect going into 2011 and made his ML debut last July.  Kip has a reputation as a gamer.  He's a tough out and his effort at the plate translates to the field.

2. Kyle Seager - 3B Seattle Mariners
While all of the preseason hype surrounded Blue Jays 3rd Baseman Brett Lawrie, Seager has charged it up at the plate.  Last week he banged out four hits en route to a 21-8 victory over the Rangers.  His 32 RBI are tied for 5th among 3rd Basemen and have helped add to the young core of the Mariners once nonexistent offense.

 3. Dayan Viciedo - LF Chicago White Sox

Kyle Seager has helped put a charge in to the
Mariners offensive attack.

The Cuban import, Viciedo has finally come up to be a major contributor to this White Sox club.  He has combined a solid presence at the plate with some stellar plays in the field.  His arm is growing in reputation and his numbers at the plate are similar to those of Jay Bruce and Corey Hart.  As a person who lives in the Sox market, I can attest that the "Tank" is a 100% percent improvement in the field over Juan Pierre.

4. Lucas Duda - RF New York Mets
While he has not made the biggest splash this season, Duda is starting to have the makings of a player who can start in this league for the better part of the next decade.  His presence in the lineup has helped the Mets to the occupation of first place in June.

5. Tony Campana - CF Chicago Cubs
Camapana made his debut last May and has swiped 42 bags in 132 games since then.  All Campana is going to do is get on first base and steal second.  In 2012, he has 26 singles and 18 Stolen Bases.  His lone career Home Run was an inside the park homer last season.  Campana will be a major part of the Cubs offense, when and if Epstein can build them to compete for a pennant.




Now before I go, here's my first All-Star ballot.
American League
C - A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox .291 BA 9 HR 35 RBI
1B - Paul Konerko - White Sox .366 BA 11 HR 33 RBI
2B - Jason Kipnis - Indians .280 BA 9 HR 34 RBI
3B - Miguel Cabrera - Tigers .318 11 HR 44 RBI
SS - Derek Jeter - Yankees .336 BA 6 HR 20 RBI
OF - Josh Hamilton - Rangers .348 BA 21 HR 57 RBI
OF - Adam Jones - Orioles .315 16 HR 34 RBI
OF - Curtis Granderson - Yankees .261 17 HR 33 RBI
DH - Adam Dunn - White Sox .222 BA 17 HR 38 RBI

National League
C - Carlos Ruiz - Phillies .368 8 HR 32 RBI
1B - Joey Votto - Reds .346 9 HR 33 RBI
2B - Jose Altuve - Astros .316 3 HR 18 RBI
3B - Hanley Ramirez - Marlins .276 11 HR 37 RBI
SS - Starlin Castro - Cubs .305 4 HR 32 RBI
OF - Melky Cabrera - Giants .364 4 HR 27 RBI
OF - Carlos Gonzalez -Rockies .329 14 HR 45 RBI
OF - Andre Ethier - Dodgers .314 9 HR 46 RBI

Feel free to disagree with these picks or to suggest anybody else I should keep my eyes on.

30 In 30 Part 13: Chicago White Sox

The waters that the White Sox are sailing are rough,
but in Paul Konerko they have one of the
best captains they could ask for to right the ship.

"Big-league players should be mentally tougher than to have that stuff bother you. And for the longest time, we were as a group. … It all came to a head. But that's how things end. If it didn't go like that, then no one would see a need to make a change. Some stuff like that has to happen to make a change."
—1B Paul Konerko, on how the problems behind the scenes last season did hurt the product on the field.


This quote, taken from Yahoo! Sports summed up the Chicago White Sox of yesteryear.  The Sox will start their 2012 campaign rid of Ozzie Guillen, Sergio Santos, Juan Pierre, Mark Buehrle and Carlos Quentin.  With all of the turnover in the clubhouse, it is fortunate for the Sox to have Paul Konerko as their captain and Don Cooper as their pitching coach.  The White Sox also have a new manager in Robin Ventura and a budding closer in Addison Reed.  As a Sox fan, I don't have the greatest memories of prospects with the name "Reed."

What you need to know about Robin Ventura is that he manned 3rd base for the Sox in the 90's, playing alongside the likes of Ozzie Guillen and Frank Thomas.  What you probably remember him from was him getting his ass beat by Nolan Ryan.  What you need to know about Addison Reed is that he was San Diego State's closer when Stephen Strasburg was an Aztec.

More changes are on the horizon in 2012 as Chris Sale is transitioning to the rotation and Dayan Viciedo will be starting the season in the lineup.  Kosuke Fukudome was brought in and is a platoon candidate with Alex Rios in Right Field.  Alejandro de Aza will start in Center Field and hit leadoff.  This will be an improvement because de Aza is less of a defensive liability than Juan D'Vaughn Pierre and will certainly get caught stealing less.

The three players who are on the hot seat going into 2012 are Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Jake Peavy.  Dunn and Rios need to hit and Peavy needs to stay healthy for an entire season.  These three players having Comeback Player of the Year type seasons is imperative to the White Sox making any noise in 2012.  If the White Sox make it to the playoffs, the comeback player of the year will be on their squad UNLESS the Twins secure a playoff spot as well.

I do have guarded optimism that this team can make progress.  Don't count them out.  It just is not very likely that this team can do anything serious in 2012.  If they do, it takes a turnaround from everyone.

Everyone except Paul Konerko that is.

X-FACTORS:
Lineup: DH Adam Dunn.  Nobody's batting average drops 101 points overnight.  Dunn needs to figure himself out if the White Sox are even considering contending this year.
Rotation: Jake Peavy.  We've seen flashes of "Vintage Peavy."  He just needs to do that for a whole season now.
Bullpen: Matt Thornton.  This guy has no business closing.  I really hope to see him return to his role as All-Star Setup Man.
The Kids: RP Addison Reed.  This kid is the closer of the future.  He needs to work to assume that role in the near future

ROYAL LIST: 
#66 RHP Addison Reed.  I've said all I need to say about this kid for the moment.

PROJECTION: 2nd Place AL Central
-I can see this team winning around 85 games.  That will be an improvement, but I think it will take 90 to secure a berth in the Wild Card game.