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.
The all-baseball network's social media account on Tuesday morning published a video from a studio segment in which several panelists revealed their list of top players at the position in the Senior Circuit. One list, by 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 even Joey Votto of the Reds are nowhere to be found.
Granted, Goldschmidt isn't splashy, and has gotten off to a slow start for the Cardinals -- .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 CJ Cron of the Rockies.
The Rizzo snub is even more perplexing, given that the Cubs star is off to a solid if unspectacular start, hitting .254/.365/.449 with 5 home runs through Monday.
Pujols, despite picking up an RBI single in his Dodgers debut on Monday night, 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 was not about to let this go unanswered.
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