The wRC+ Challenge

No, this isn't a discussion about rally racing, though let's give it up for Ken Block, the American action sports legend and only Yankee* on the 2012 circuit. This is the W.R.C. for those who may be confused right now. Okay, enough international racing talk, let's get back to some baseball. Here's the challenge:

Who do you, AN, believe will lead this team in wRC+ at the end of the upcoming season?

In non-sabermetric terms, this question is simply: Who will be the team's best hitter in 2012? The math inclined (myself included) like to quantify this through mathemagic and look at stats such as wRC, but please use the metric of your choice. Keep in mind that this discussion isn't about the best overall player; I'm tired of hearing about defense and positional value. I want to know who you think will be the guy we most look forward to seeing come up the plate.

I have no idea whatsoever who's going to take home the A's wRC+ title. Last year Willingham's skill set of home runs and not much else beat out Weeks with his doubles n' triples and Scott "I sort of know how to draw walks" Sizemore's late season surge

2011 A's who were above league average in wRC+ (100 is an exactly league average hitter)**:

Willingham: 123

Sizemore: 118

Weeks: 110

Crisp: 100

This year the title is completely up for grabs. With Willingham gone, Sizemore is now the reigning champ on the team. But Weeks should be biting at his heels. Crisp will probably finish outside the top 3 again (yay for veterans you can count on). The question becomes, who among the hordes of OF/1B/DH do you like to challenge Weeks and Sizemore for king of the hill?

There's the new golden boy Cespedes. Smith could wind up with a huge wRC+ if platooned correctly. Allen could turn in a Willingham type season buoyed by HRs and eke out the top dog position. Maybe Reddick/Carter/Kila/Taylor blossoms into a stud hitter? That walking fool Barton is still just a year removed from a 126 wRC+ season.

My prediction: Smith takes home the title for this rate stat, but does it with only about 300 PA to his name. Among the full-timers, I like Sizemore to take a step forward and capture the 2012 A's wRC+ title. A guy like Reddick could settle in to a quiet life of 105 wRC+ production, but the others will have wild swings of productivity and slumpage. I've resigned myself to the idea of Manny coming to Oakland, and I'm okay with him putting up serviceable numbers. I dislike the idea of him being our best hitter. Here's a stat: In Manny's worst full season he put up a Willingham-like 125 wRC+ (for Boston in '07).

So, who do you all think will be the biggest threat at the plate for the green and gold this year?

*Does it bother anyone else that out hated baseball rival bears the name of the international nickname for Americans. Every time someone references the US populace using that nickname, I have to twinge a bit.

**Well, if you want to play small sample size, Jai Miller hit that one home run as part of his 12 PAs and wound up with a 103 wRC+ last year.