Yesterday, Grantland.com published an article looking ahead to the San Francisco Giants 2016 season. You can read the article here: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-san-francisco-giants-even-year-2016-world-series/. In the article, the author Jonah Keri referred to the Giants infield of 1B Brandon Belt, 2B Joe Panik, SS Brandon Crawford, and 3B Matt Duffy, also including C Buster Posey, as the best infield in the game. Now I have felt that, since Joe Panik was promoted to the big club on 6/21/2014, and including Pablo Sandoval until this season, that the Giants have had a very good infield, but I don't know if I'd be so bold to call it the best in the league. But that got me to thinking, what other team has a better infield? My first reaction would be the Chicago Cubs. 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Starlin Castro (although Castro initially started at SS and of late has been coming off the bench), SS Addison Russell, and 3B Kris Bryant. Now that lineup certainly has more power potential than the Giants, especially from Rizzo and Bryant, but you know, I'd still take my chances with the Giants infield. So, just because I feel like it, here are the starting infields for every team in Major League Baseball. I've also included the primary 5th Infielder. Which do you think is the best?
Arizona Diamondbacks - 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Chris Owings, SS Nick Ahmed, 3B Jake Lamb, IF Aaron Hill
Atlanta Braves - 1B Freddie Freeman, 2B Jace Peterson, SS Andrelton Simmons, 3B Adonis Garcia, IF Pedro Ciriaco
Baltimore Orioles - 1B Chris Davis, 2B Jonathan Schoop, SS J.J. Hardy, 3B Manny Machado, IF Ryan Flaherty
Boston Red Sox - 1B Travis Shaw, 2B Dustin Pedroia, SS Xander Bogaerts, 3B Pablo Sandoval, IF Brock Holt (note: Allen Craig was supposed to be Red Sox starting 1B, but has only played in 60 games with the club since being acquired from St. Louis in 2014)
Chicago Cubs - 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Tommy La Stella, SS Addison Russell, 3B Kris Bryant, IF Starlin Castro
Chicago White Sox - 1B Jose Abreu, 2B Carlos Sanchez, SS Alexei Ramirez (can also pitch in a blowout, see White Sox vs. A's from 9/15/2015), 3B Mike Ott, IF Gordon Beckham
Cincinnati Reds - 1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips, SS Euenio Suarez, 3B Todd Frazier, IF Skip Schumaker (note: starting SS Zack Cozart was lost for season to a right knee injury on 6/10/2015)
Cleveland Indians - 1B Carlos Santana, 2B Jason Kipnis, SS Francisco Lindor, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, IF Mike Aviles
Colorado Rockies - 1B Justin Morneau, 2B D.J. LeMahieu, SS Jose Reyes, 3B Nolan Arenado, IF Daniel Descalso
Detroit Tigers - 1B Miguel Cabrera, 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Jose Iglesias, 3B Nick Castellanos, IF Andrew Romine
Houston Astros - 1B Chris Carter, 2B Jose Altuve, SS Carlos Carrea, 3B Luis Valbuena, IF Jed Lowrie
Kansas City Royals - 1B Eric Hosmer, 2B Omar Infante, SS Alcides Escobar, 3B Mike Moustakas, IF Ben Zobrist
Los Angeles Angels - 1B C.J. Cron, 2B Taylor Featherston, SS Erick Aybar, 3B David Frese, IF Ryan Jackson
Los Angeles Dodgers - 1B Adrian Gonzalez, 2B Howie Kendrick, SS Jimmy Rollins, 3B Justin Turner, IF Alex Guerrero
Miami Marlins - 1B Justin Bour, 2B Dee Gordon, SS Angel Hechavarria, 3B Martin Prado, IF Derek Dietrich
Milwaukee Brewers - 1B Adam Lind, 2B Scooter Gennett, SS Jose Segura, 3B Elian Herrera, IF Hernan Perez (note: starting 3B Aramis Ramirez was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates)
Minnesota Twins - 1B Joe Mauer, 2B Brian Dozier, SS Eduardo Escobar, 3B Trevor Plouffe, IF Eduardo Nunez
New York Mets - 1B Lucas Duda, 2B Daniel Murphy, SS Wilmer Flores, 3B David Wright, IF Ruben Tejada
New York Yankees - 1B Greg Bird, 2B Stephen Drew, SS Didi Gregorius, 3B Chase Headley, IF Brendan Ryan (note: starting 1B Mark Teixeira was lost for season to a leg injury)
Oakland Athletics - 1B Mark Canha, 2B Brett Lawrie, SS Marcus Semien, 3B Danny Valencia, IF Eric Sogard
Philadelphia Phillies - 1B Ryan Howard, 2B Darnell Sweeney, SS Freddy Galvis, 3B Cody Asche, IF Andres Blanco (note: starting 2B Chase Utley was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers)
Pittsburgh Pirates - 1B Pedro Alvarez, 2B Neil Walker, SS Jordy Mercer, 3B Josh Harrison, IF Jung Ho Kang
San Diego Padres - 1B Will Myers, 2B Jedd Gyorko, SS Clint Barmes, 3B Yangervis Solarte, IF Cory Spangenberg (note: starting 1B Yonder Alonso out for season with lower back injury)
San Francisco Giants - 1B Brandon Belt, 2B Joe Panik, SS Brandon Crawford, 3B Matt Duffy, IF Ehire Adrianza
Seattle Mariners - 1B Logan Morrison, 2B Robinson Cano, SS Ketel Marte, 3B Kyle Seager, IF Brad Miller
St. Louis Cardinals - 1B Matt Adams, 2B Kolten Wong, SS Jhonny Peralta, 3B Matt Carpenter, IF Pete Kozma
Tampa Bay Rays - 1B James Loney, 2B Logan Forsythe, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, 3B Evan Longoria, IF Tim Beckham
Texas Rangers - 1B Mitch Moreland, 2B Rougned Odor, SS Elvis Andrus, 3B Adrian Beltre, IF Hanser Alberto
Toronto Blue Jays - 1B Justin Smoak, 2B Ryan Goins, SS Troy Tulowitzki, 3B Josh Donaldson, IF Cliff Pennington
Washington Nationals - 1B Ryan Zimmerman, 2B Anthony Rendon, SS Ian Desmond, 3B Yunel Escobar, IF Danny Espinosa
Some of these lineups have been altered due to trades, injuries, etc. Some of them were hard to fill out because some teams have a utility player currently listed at the top of their position depth chart. But there you go. So who do you think has the best infield?
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