Matthews: Ranking MLB's Best Infields

RANKING BASEBALL’S BEST INFIELDS ENTERING THIS SEASON

WHO SAYS SU HAS ONLY THREE GUYS WHO CAN SCORE?

WHY DID THE BILLS SIGN CHRIS IVORY?

Which team has the best all-around infield in Major League Baseball entering the 2018 season?

Last week, I gave the nod to the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees for baseball’s No. 1 outfield.

Here are my picks for the best infields (rankings based on recent past performances and projected production this season):

1—Washington. 1B Ryan Zimmerman...2B Daniel Murphy...SS Trea Turner (breakout year?) 3B Anthony Rondon (the most underrated third baseman).

2—Houston. 1B Yulieski Gurriel/Marwin Gonzalez...2B Jose Altuve SS and Carlos Correa (best young DP combination in a long time)...3B Alex Bregman (first .300 season?).

3—Cubs. 1B Anthony Rizzo...2B Javier Baez...SS Addison Russell (likely to improve)...3B Kris Bryant.

4—Dodgers. 1B Clay Bellinger...2B Logan Forsythe/Kiki Hernandez/Chase Utley...SS Kyle Seager...3B Justin Turner.

5—Boston. 1B Mitch Moreland/Hanley Ramirez...2B Dustin Pedroia (can he get healthy and stay healthy?)/Eduardo Nunez...SS Xander Bogaerts...3B Rafael Devers.

6—Seattle. 1B Ryon Healy...2B Robinson Cano...SS Juan Segura (good hit, not-so-good field)...3B Kyle Seager. Can the underachieving (or overrated?) Mariners finally put it together?

7—Texas. 1B Joey Gallo...2B Rougned Odor...SS Elvis Andrus...3B Adrian Beltre.

8—Baltimore. 1B Chris Davis (the weak link? In my opinion, one of the most overrated players in baseball)/Mark Trumbo...2B Jonathan Schoop...SS Manny Machado...3B Tim Beckham.

9—San Francisco. 1B Brandon Belt...2B Joe Panik...SS Brandon Crawford...3B Evan Longoria.

10—Yankees. 1B Greg Bird (could have a 100-plus RBI season as a left-handed hitter in a lineup loaded with right-handed hitters)...2B Gleyber Torres/Ronald Torreyes...SS Didi Gregorius 3B Brandon Drury/Miguel Andujar. The Yankees would better this ranking if Torres and/or Andujar are ready during this season).

11—Cleveland. 1B Yonder Alonso...2B Jason Kipnis...SS Francisco Lindor...3B Jose Ramirez.

12—St. Louis. 1B Matt Carpenter...2B Kolten Wong SS...Paul DeJong...3B Jedd Gyorko.

13—Toronto. 1B Justin Smoak...2B Yangervis Solarte/Devon Travis...SS Troy Tulowitzki 3B Josh Donaldson.

14—Colorado. 1B Ryan McMahon/Ian Desmond... 2B DJ LeMahieu SS...Trevor Story...3B Nolan Arenado.

15—Minnesota. 1B Joe Mauer/Logan Morrison...2B Brian Dozier...SS Jorge Polanco...3B Miguel Sano/Eduardo Escobar.

(Underrated) Philadelphia. 1B Carlos Santana... 2B Cesar Hernandez...SS J.P. Crawford (will he hit?)...3B Maikel Franco.

(Toughest to gauge) Angels – 1B Luis Valbuena/Albert Pujols (hope4s to play in the field more this season; we’ll see)...2B Ian Kinsler...SS Andrelton Simmons...3B Zack Cozart.

DOLEZAJ, CHUKWU SCORING DEMONS IN WIN OVER WAKE FOREST

Who said the Syracuse Orange have only three guys who can score?

Freshman Marek Dolezaj scored a career-high 20 points and offensively-challenged center Paschal Chukwu had 14 points in a 73-64 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Tuesday night in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

During the regular season, Dolezaj and Chukwu averaged a combined 10 points per game. Iron men Tyus Battle, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett averaged 42 of SU’s 67.6 points per game.

If Dolezaj and Chukwu combine for 34 points Wednesday night against North Carolina, the Orange could pull off the upset that could mean a NCAA Tournament berth. The Tar Heels are favored by 7 ½ points.

The Tar Heels beat SU 78-74 at the Carrier Dome February 21. The game was tied late but the Orange went cold in the final three minutes. That should give SU some confidence.

Here’s how NC and SU measured up in the regular season (rank among the 351 NCAA Division I teams in parentheses):

Records – NC 22-9 (11-7 in the ACC)...SU 19-12 (8-10 in the ACC)

Scoring – NC 83.0 (22nd)...SU 67.6 (309th)

Scoring defense – NC 74.0 (225th)...SU 64.1 (14th)

Field-goal percentage – NC .466 (87th)...SU .419 (311th)

Field-goal defense – NC .428 (108th)...SU .396 (8th)

3-point FG percentage – NC .371 (79th)...SU .323 (315th)

3-point FG defense – NC .386 (333rd)...SU .333 (t89th)

Free-throw percentage – NC .736 (87th)...SU .737 (81st)

Rebounds per game – NC 42.7 (1st)...SU 37.55 (t77th)

Rebound margin per game – NC +10.7 (1st)...SU 4.9 (45th).

Bob’s pick: North Carolina 75, Syracuse 63.

CAN CHRIS IVORY FILL THE BILL FOR THE BILLS?

The Buffalo Bills this week signed veteran running back Chris Ivory to a two-year, $5.5 million deal ($3.25 million guaranteed).

What’s to like? He averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a rookie (716 yards rushing) with New Orleans in 2012...He won the AFC rushing title in 2015 (1,070) for the New York Jets...He caught 71 passes in the last three seasons...He might be better than Mike Tolbert, LeSean McCoy’s primary backup last season).

What’s not to like? He averaged 3.8 yards and 3.4 yards on 229 carries with Jacksonville the last two seasons...He’s older (turns 30 March 22) than LeSean MCoy (turns 30 July 12). Can he get the 100 or so carries to adequately spell McCoy?

I was hoping the Bills would select a running back in the first three rounds of this year’s NFL draft as a possible successor to McCoy. They still might, but the arrival of Ivory makes that less likely.

Who knows, Buffalo might get lucky on a running back – sort of like last year, when New Orleans selected Alvin Kamara No. 67 and Kansas City took Kareem Hunt 86th.

 REMEMBER WHEN HARDEN, WESTBROOK AND DURANT WERE TEAMMATES?

The Houston Rockets, with this season’s probable NBA Most Valuable Player (James Harden), beat the host Oklahoma City Thunder, with last season’s league MVP (Russell WestbrooK, 122-112 Tuesday night.

Do you remember when Harden, Westbrook and 2014 league MVP Kevin Durant were teammates in Oklahoma City 2009-10 through 2011-12? They have to be in the running for the best trio of NBA players on one team simultaneously never to win a championship.

Durant was the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Westbrook was fourth overall in 2008 and Harden was third overall in 2009.

2009-2010 season – Durant won the NBA scoring title with 30.1 points per game, Westbrook averaged 16.1 and rookie Harden averaged 9.9. The Thunder were 50-32 and lost to the Lakers 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs.

2010-11 season – Durant 27.7, Westbrook 21.9 and Harden 12.2. Thunder were 55-27. Beat Denver 4-1, beat Memphis 4-3 and lost to Dallas 4-1 in the playoffs.

2011-12 – Durant 28.0 for his third straight scoring title, Westbrook 23.6 and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Harden 16.6. Thunder were 47-19. Lost to Miami 4-1 in the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City refused to give Harden a max contract after the 2011-12 season and traded him to Houston (with center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round draft picks and a second-round pick).

Durant was league MVP in the 2013-14 season.

Would Oklahoma City have won a championship by now with Durant and Westbrook and Harden?

Not necessarily. The Thunder couldn’t afford them and it would be difficult to keep them all happy with one basketball.

NO SURPRISE...BOB LILLEY’S RIVERHOUNDS ARE LOOKING GOOD

Departed coach Bob Lilley of the at least temporarily departed Rochester Rhinos is making a quick positive impression as coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

The Riverhounds have unveiled a fresh logo, have a TV deal to show all road games and selected home games, have plans to expand 3,500-seat Highmark Stadium, recently signed former USL leading goal scorer Dennis Chin and MLS veteran midfielder Ben Zemanski, and have a 7-0 record in the exhibition season, outscoring opponents 17-4, with 5 shutouts.

The Rhinos might make a comeback in Rochester next season but it isn’t likely that Lilley would be returning with them. The team’s greatest asset is doing very nicely in his new soccer home.

SHORT SHOTS

The Minnesota Twins reportedly struck out in a bid to sign 30-year-old free-agent former St. Louis Cardinals right-handed starting pitcher Lance Lynn. He was 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA last season after sitting out all of the 2016 season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. He turned down Minnesota’s offer of two years for $20 million. He has a 72-47 career record and 3.38 ERA for the Cardinals.

On this date in sports, 161 years ago (1857), baseball decided 9 innings and not 9 runs would constitute an official game...63 years ago (1955), Commissioner Ford Frick said he favored legalization of the spitball...2 years ago (2016), Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the Denver Broncos and the NFL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Wednesday, March 7

Pharoh Cooper (23)...Sam Gash (49)...Jeff Kent (50)...Ricky Proehl (50)...Jeff Feagles (52)...Steve Beuerlein (53)...Jeff Criswell (54)...Sean McKenna (56)...Joe Carter (58)...Ivan Lendl (58)...Tom Lehman (59)...Tommy Kramer (63)...Will Grant (64)...Lynn Swann (66)...Franco Harris (68)...Pete Beathard (76)...Janet Guthrie (80). Rachel Weisz (47) and Wanda Sykes (54) are invited to the birthday party.

Thursday, March 8

Marcus Spears (35)...Juan Encarnacion (42)...Hines Ward (42)...Steve Sarkisian (44)...Bob Boughner (47)...Jason Elam (48)...Kenny Smith (53)...Shaun Gayle (56)...William Fuller (56)...Larry Murphy (57)...Buck Williams (58)...Jim Rice (65)...Dick Allen (76)...Jim Bouton (79).

RANKING BASEBALL’S BEST INFIELDS ENTERING THIS SEASON

WHO SAYS SU HAS ONLY THREE GUYS WHO CAN SCORE?

WHY DID THE BILLS SIGN CHRIS IVORY?

Which team has the best all-around infield in Major League Baseball entering the 2018 season?

Last week, I gave the nod to the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees for baseball’s No. 1 outfield.

Here are my picks for the best infields (rankings based on recent past performances and projected production this season):

1—Washington. 1B Ryan Zimmerman...2B Daniel Murphy...SS Trea Turner (breakout year?) 3B Anthony Rondon (the most underrated third baseman).

2—Houston. 1B Yulieski Gurriel/Marwin Gonzalez...2B Jose Altuve SS and Carlos Correa (best young DP combination in a long time)...3B Alex Bregman (first .300 season?).

3—Cubs. 1B Anthony Rizzo...2B Javier Baez...SS Addison Russell (likely to improve)...3B Kris Bryant.

4—Dodgers. 1B Clay Bellinger...2B Logan Forsythe/Kiki Hernandez/Chase Utley...SS Kyle Seager...3B Justin Turner.

5—Boston. 1B Mitch Moreland/Hanley Ramirez...2B Dustin Pedroia (can he get healthy and stay healthy?)/Eduardo Nunez...SS Xander Bogaerts...3B Rafael Devers.

6—Seattle. 1B Ryon Healy...2B Robinson Cano...SS Juan Segura (good hit, not-so-good field)...3B Kyle Seager. Can the underachieving (or overrated?) Mariners finally put it together?

7—Texas. 1B Joey Gallo...2B Rougned Odor...SS Elvis Andrus...3B Adrian Beltre.

8—Baltimore. 1B Chris Davis (the weak link? In my opinion, one of the most underrated players in baseball)/Mark Trumbo...2B Jonathan Schoop...SS Manny Machado...3B Tim Beckham.

9—San Francisco. 1B Brandon Belt...2B Joe Panik...SS Brandon Crawford...3B Evan Longoria.

10—Yankees. 1B Greg Bird (could have a 100-plus RBI season as a left-handed hitter in a lineup loaded with right-handed hitters)...2B Gleyber Torres/Ronald Torreyes...SS Didi Gregorius 3B Brandon Drury/Miguel Andujar. The Yankees would better this ranking if Torres and/or Andujar are ready during this season).

11—Cleveland. 1B Yonder Alonso...2B Jason Kipnis...SS Francisco Lindor...3B Jose Ramirez.

12—St. Louis. 1B Matt Carpenter...2B Kolten Wong SS...Paul DeJong...3B Jedd Gyorko.

13—Toronto. 1B Justin Smoak...2B Yangervis Solarte/Devon Travis...SS Troy Tulowitzki 3B Josh Donaldson.

14—Colorado. 1B Ryan McMahon/Ian Desmond... 2B DJ LeMahieu SS...Trevor Story...3B Nolan Arenado.

15—Minnesota. 1B Joe Mauer/Logan Morrison...2B Brian Dozier...SS Jorge Polanco...3B Miguel Sano/Eduardo Escobar.

(Underrated) Philadelphia. 1B Carlos Santana... 2B Cesar Hernandez...SS J.P. Crawford (will he hit?)...3B Maikel Franco.

(Toughest to gauge) Angels – 1B Luis Valbuena/Albert Pujols (hope4s to play in the field more this season; we’ll see)...2B Ian Kinsler...SS Andrelton Simmons...3B Zack Cozart.

DOLEZAJ, CHUKWU SCORING DEMONS IN WIN OVER WAKE FOREST

Who said the Syracuse Orange have only three guys who can score?

Freshman Marek Dolezaj scored a career-high 20 points and offensively-challenged center Paschal Chukwu had 14 points in a 73-64 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Tuesday night in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

During the regular season, Dolezaj and Chukwu averaged a combined 10 points per game. Iron men Tyus Battle, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett averaged 42 of SU’s 67.6 points per game.

If Dolezaj and Chukwu combine for 34 points Wednesday night against North Carolina, the Orange could pull off the upset that could mean a NCAA Tournament berth. The Tar Heels are favored by 7 ½ points.

The Tar Heels beat SU 78-74 at the Carrier Dome February 21. The game was tied late but the Orange went cold in the final three minutes. That should give SU some confidence.

Here’s how NC and SU measured up in the regular season (rank among the 351 NCAA Division I teams in parentheses):

Records – NC 22-9 (11-7 in the ACC)...SU 19-12 (8-10 in the ACC)

Scoring – NC 83.0 (22nd)...SU 67.6 (309th)

Scoring defense – NC 74.0 (225th)...SU 64.1 (14th)

Field-goal percentage – NC .466 (87th)...SU .419 (311th)

Field-goal defense – NC .428 (108th)...SU .396 (8th)

3-point FG percentage – NC .371 (79th)...SU .323 (315th)

3-point FG defense – NC .386 (333rd)...SU .333 (t89th)

Free-throw percentage – NC .736 (87th)...SU .737 (81st)

Rebounds per game – NC 42.7 (1st)...SU 37.55 (t77th)

Rebound margin per game – NC +10.7 (1st)...SU 4.9 (45th).

Bob’s pick: North Carolina 75, Syracuse 63.

CAN CHRIS IVORY FILL THE BILL FOR THE BILLS?

The Buffalo Bills this week signed veteran running back Chris Ivory to a two-year, $5.5 million deal ($3.25 million guaranteed).

What’s to like? He averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a rookie (716 yards rushing) with New Orleans in 2012...He won the AFC rushing title in 2015 (1,070) for the New York Jets...He caught 71 passes in the last three seasons...He might be better than Mike Tolbert, LeSean McCoy’s primary backup last season).

What’s not to like? He averaged 3.8 yards and 3.4 yards on 229 carries with Jacksonville the last two seasons...He’s older (turns 30 March 22) than LeSean MCoy (turns 30 July 12). Can he get the 100 or so carries to adequately spell McCoy?

I was hoping the Bills would select a running back in the first three rounds of this year’s NFL draft as a possible successor to McCoy. They still might, but the arrival of Ivory makes that less likely.

Who knows, Buffalo might get lucky on a running back – sort of like last year, when New Orleans selected Alvin Kamara No. 67 and Kansas City took Kareem Hunt 86th.

 REMEMBER WHEN HARDEN, WESTBROOK AND DURANT WERE TEAMMATES?

The Houston Rockets, with this season’s probable NBA Most Valuable Player (James Harden), beat the host Oklahoma City Thunder, with last season’s league MVP (Russell WestbrooK, 122-112 Tuesday night.

Do you remember when Harden, Westbrook and 2014 league MVP Kevin Durant were teammates in Oklahoma City 2009-10 through 2011-12? They have to be in the running for the best trio of NBA players on one team simultaneously never to win a championship.

Durant was the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Westbrook was fourth overall in 2008 and Harden was third overall in 2009.

2009-2010 season – Durant won the NBA scoring title with 30.1 points per game, Westbrook averaged 16.1 and rookie Harden averaged 9.9. The Thunder were 50-32 and lost to the Lakers 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs.

2010-11 season – Durant 27.7, Westbrook 21.9 and Harden 12.2. Thunder were 55-27. Beat Denver 4-1, beat Memphis 4-3 and lost to Dallas 4-1 in the playoffs.

2011-12 – Durant 28.0 for his third straight scoring title, Westbrook 23.6 and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Harden 16.6. Thunder were 47-19. Lost to Miami 4-1 in the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City refused to give Harden a max contract after the 2011-12 season and traded him to Houston (with center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round draft picks and a second-round pick).

Durant was league MVP in the 2013-14 season.

Would Oklahoma City have won a championship by now with Durant and Westbrook and Harden?

Not necessarily. The Thunder couldn’t afford them and it would be difficult to keep them all happy with one basketball.

NO SURPRISE...BOB LILLEY’S RIVERHOUNDS ARE LOOKING GOOD

Departed coach Bob Lilley of the at least temporarily departed Rochester Rhinos is making a quick positive impression as coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

The Riverhounds have unveiled a fresh logo, have a TV deal to show all road games and selected home games, have plans to expand 3,500-seat Highmark Stadium, recently signed former USL leading goal scorer Dennis Chin and MLS veteran midfielder Ben Zemanski, and have a 7-0 record in the exhibition season, outscoring opponents 17-4, with 5 shutouts.

The Rhinos might make a comeback in Rochester next season but it isn’t likely that Lilley would be returning with them. The team’s greatest asset is doing very nicely in his new soccer home.

SHORT SHOTS

The Minnesota Twins reportedly struck out in a bid to sign 30-year-old free-agent former St. Louis Cardinals right-handed starting pitcher Lance Lynn. He was 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA last season after sitting out all of the 2016 season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. He turned down Minnesota’s offer of two years for $20 million. He has a 72-47 career record and 3.38 ERA for the Cardinals.

On this date in sports, 161 years ago (1857), baseball decided 9 innings and not 9 runs would constitute an official game...63 years ago (1955), Commissioner Ford Frick said he favored legalization of the spitball...2 years ago (2016), Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the Denver Broncos and the NFL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Wednesday, March 7

Pharoh Cooper (23)...Sam Gash (49)...Jeff Kent (50)...Ricky Proehl (50)...Jeff Feagles (52)...Steve Beuerlein (53)...Jeff Criswell (54)...Sean McKenna (56)...Joe Carter (58)...Ivan Lendl (58)...Tom Lehman (59)...Tommy Kramer (63)...Will Grant (64)...Lynn Swann (66)...Franco Harris (68)...Pete Beathard (76)...Janet Guthrie (80). Rachel Weisz (47) and Wanda Sykes (54) are invited to the birthday party.

Thursday, March 8

Marcus Spears (35)...Juan Encarnacion (42)...Hines Ward (42)...Steve Sarkisian (44)...Bob Boughner (47)...Jason Elam (48)...Kenny Smith (53)...Shaun Gayle (56)...William Fuller (56)...Larry Murphy (57)...Buck Williams (58)...Jim Rice (65)...Dick Allen (76)...Jim Bouton (79).


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