Diamond Conference: First Base

The pool of first base candidates to start the All-Star Game for the Diamond Conference is a bit...shallow this year.

As in the Micro Conference, the Diamond's best bats may be eligible at 1B but spend more of their time at DH. The Diamond Conference is made up of Arkansas, Empire City, Hoboken, Hopatcong, Loudon, Newark, Sardine City, San Francisco, Tucson, and Vancouver.

FIRST BASE

You name it and Tucson's Matt Olson is likely leading Diamond 1B in it. He holds a massive lead in RC (55.4) and not quite as big in RC/27 (6.4), and is tops in extra base hits (38) and total bases (157), as well as traditional categories like hits (81), doubles and (19). He also leads 1B in the Diamond Conference in most of the key defensive categories, such as, putouts and assists -- although he trails several Micro 1B in those categories. But after Olson, it may just be a race for reservers between a few different first basement.

Joey Votto, a mainstay in the Hopatcong lineup for a decade and 2011 Mitchell Award winner, fell on hard times before Loudon gave him a chance on a minor league deal last year. The 38-year-old Canadian has proven himself to the point that he might garner some All-Star consideration, either 1B or DH. He's started 47 of his 63 games at 1B and leads Diamond 1B in SLG (.525) and OPS (.861) while ranking 2nd in RC (40.3) and RC/27 (6.1).

Luke Voit is coming off a 60-HR season between Loudon and Hoboken but was drafted by Hopatcong this year and has continued with the power, leading Diamond 1B in HR (22) and tying with Olson for RBI (51), while ranking 2nd in total bases (148) and EBH (33). He also trails only Olson and Votto in RB (39.7) but falls farther behind with a paltry 3.9 RC.

Who else is out there among Diamond 1B? Well, Empire City's Jonathan Schoop leads Diamond 1B in batting (.280) but not much else (30.0 RC, 4.5 RC/27). Austin Riley is eligible at 3B but has gotten most of the reps in Arkansas at 1B. His slash line is respectable enough (.261/.315/.470) and while he ranks 4th in RC/27 (4.9), he trails most everyone in other categories by even larger margins. Surprisingly, Hoboken slugger Ryan Mountcastle leads Diamond 1B in putouts per game (8.13) and total chances per game (8.73) but his offensive numbers leave a bit to be desired for the ASG.