AL Central Position Rankings - Designated Hitter

[Seth Stohs]

Today in our preseason AL Central vote, we finish out the offense by voting on the Designated Hitter. We will get to the pitchers soon. Be sure to vote for your choice for "Which AL Central Designated Hitter will have the best 2012?" Be sure to vote here.

 

The Candidates (2011 stats)

 

Minnesota Twins – Ryan Doumit - .303/.353/.477 (.830) with 12-2B, 1-3B, 8-HR, 30 RBI

Chicago White Sox – Adam Dunn - .159/.292/.277 (.569) with 16-2B, 0-3B, 11-HR, 42 RBI

Cleveland Indians – Travis Hafner - .280/.361/.449 (.811) with 16-2B, 0-3B, 13-HR, 57 RBI

Detroit Tigers – Ryan Raburn - .256/.297/.432 (.729) with 22-2B, 2-3B, 14-HR, 49 RBI

Kansas City Royals – Billy Butler - .291/.361/.461 (.822) with 44-2B, 0-3B, 19-HR, 95 RBI

 

SUMMARY

 

After seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Doumit comes to the Twins. He will be the team’s #2 catcher, get some time in the corner outfield spots and maybe even at first base. He will also likely be the team’s primary DH. In the National League, he posted a .777 career OPS. The Twins could use several players in the DH role in 2012.

 

Think Adam Dunn would like to forget 02011 as quickly as possible? After a career in the NL, many believed that Dunn would put up major numbers with the White Sox, but the exact opposite happened. His previous career-low OPS was .819 and that was way back in 2003. His career numbers going into the 2011 season were .250/.381/.521 (.902). 2012 is suddenly a huge year for the 32 year old Dunn? Can he recover and to what level?

 

North Dakotan Travis Hafner had a solid 2012, but as has become the normal of late, he played in just 94 games. It’s hard to believe that he will be 35 years old in June. He’s finished in the Top 5 in MVP voting before. If healthy, he can be a good producer in the middle of the lineup.

 

Ryan Raburn will likely be one of several DHs in the Tigers lineup. The last two years, he has played all positions but catcher and shortstop. He will likely get plenty of time at 2B in 2012 as well. The soon-to-be-31 year old is coming off of his worst big league season, with the sub-.300 OBP and 114 strikeouts to go with just 21 walks, but he does have some power in his bat.

 

Billy Butler seems older than 25, doesn’t he? Well, he will be 26 in April, but it is unusual to see such a young player limited to DH duties, but Butler has done it well. Butler hits the ball hard which helps him hit a lot of doubles and double plays. He hasn’t hit as many home runs and some still believe he still will.

 

 

There is your information, now it is time to vote. Who will be the best designated hitter in the AL Central in 2012?

 

My choice?

 

[Seth Stohs]

I think this is a tough one... Butler is just so consistently solid, every year. I think Doumit could have a huge year in the AL, playing more consistently. And, I have no idea what Adam Dunn will do in 2012. This is a tough group.

[Neinstein]

Butler

Doumit, Dunn, Hafner, Rayburn

 

I agree, this AL Central field makes me dizzy.

I'd like to keep thinking Rayburn could turn up a really great year... Hafner is a ginormous ?... and DUNN Dunn dunnn... maybe Doumit fits the Twins' need.

 

I pick Butler, but almost any one of these other guys having a really surprisingly great year seems fine to me.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I voted for Rayburn--as a proxy for Miggy who will end up being the DH for Tiggers...

 

Butler is good, so is Pronk, I think Dunn is done.

[whydidnt]

Butler

Doumit

Hafner

Dunn

Raburn

 

I think Butler might add some HR power to his already good line. Head and shoulders above the rest. Dunn could very well surprise and hit 30 HR this year, but he was SO awful last year, no way I'm ranking him above guys like Doumit and Hafner here. Raburn would be a great pick if the league was made up of all LH pitchers. Until Leyland trusts him against RHs he has to be at the bottom of this list. I think Doumit could put up a .285-15-75 line, but something tells me Gardner is going to find ways to keep him on the bench 2-3 times a week. I hope I'm wrong.

[Cody Christie]

I voted for Butler but I could see a couple of these other players making a mark this season. Dunn can't possibly be as bad as he was a year ago. As a fellow NoDak native, I'd like to see Hafner put together a healthy campaign.