(AUDACY) An MLB Network host has turned heads on social media after his decidedly strange rankings of the best first basemen in the National League came to the attention of baseball fans.
On Tuesday morning, the all-baseball network's social media account published a video from a studio segment in which several panelists revealed their list of top NL first basemen. One list, from studio host Greg Amsinger, became fodder for a pile-on from around the baseball Twittersphere.
The dubious list touts Marlins slugger Jesus Aguilar as the NL best's at first base, with late-blooming Dodgers standout Max Muncy as the runner-up and oft-injured Giants fixture Brandon Belt at No. 3. Reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman of the Braves is a curious fourth place.
Perhaps strangest of all is the inclusion of newly acquired Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols at No. 9 -- while Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo, Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the Reds' Joey Votto were nowhere to be found.
Granted, Goldschmidt isn't splashy and has gotten off to a slow start for the Cardinals -- slashing .242/.302/.408 through Monday's action -- but one would think his track record of success would buy him the benefit of the doubt, especially over someone like Pujols or C.J. Cron of the Rockies.
The Rizzo snub is even more perplexing, given that he's off to a solid start in hitting .254/.365/.449 with five home runs through Monday.
After making his Dodgers debut Monday, Pujols is hitting a paltry .200/.250/.367 in 96 plate appearances. By just about any measure, he's been not only a non-factor but actively hurting his teams with sub-replacement-level production.
The peanut gallery on Twitter wasn't about to let this list go unanswered.
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