1. Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals 2. Alex Rodriguez 3B, Yankees 3. Johan Santana SP, Mets 4. Manny Ramirez LF, Dodgers 5. Hanley Ramirez SS, Marlins 6. Chase Utley 2B, Phillies 7. Roy Halladay SP, Blue Jays 8. Derek Jeter SS, Yankees 9. Mariano Rivera RP, Yankees 10. Chipper Jones 3B, Braves 11. Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies 12. Grady Sizemore CF, Indians 13. David Wright 3B, Mets 14. Justin Morneau 1B, Twins 15. Jimmy Rollins SS, Phillies 16. Josh Beckett SP, Red Sox 17. Mark Teixeira 1B, Yankees 18. Dustin Pedroia 2B, Red Sox 19. Tim Lincecum SP, Giants 20. Evan Longoria 3B, Rays 21. Lance Berkman 1B, Astros 22. Jose Reyes SS, Mets 23. Carlos Beltran CF, Mets 24. Ian Kinsler 2B, Rangers 25. Zack Greinke SP, Royals 26. Josh Hamilton CF, Rangers 27. Alfonso Soriano LF, Cubs 28. Miguel Cabrera 1B, Tigers 29. CC Sabathia SP, Yankees 30. Ichiro Suzuki RF, Mariners 31. Brandon Webb SP, Diamondbacks 32. Ryan Braun LF, Brewers 33. Dan Haren SP, Diamondbacks 34. Francisco Rodriguez RP, Mets 35. Matt Holliday LF, A's 36. Kevin Youkilis 1B, Red Sox 37. Vladimir Guerrero RF, Angels 38. Jake Peavy SP, Padres 39. Joe Mauer C, Twins 40. Carlos Quentin LF, White Sox 41. Jason Bay LF, Red Sox 42. Chad Billingsley SP, Dodgers 43. Cliff Lee SP, Indians 44. Torii Hunter CF, Angels 45. Victor Martinez C/1B, Indians 46. Roy Oswalt SP, Astros 47. Carlos Delgado 1B, Mets 48. Carlos Zambrano SP, Cubs 49. Cole Hamels SP, Phillies 50. Brian McCann C, Braves http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=550872 thoughts? i think rivera is to high, and longoria to low
i stopped reading the list after Jeter was in the top 10, much less higher then Evan freakin Longoria.... edit: this list is pathetic...but to point out one other one...Ian Kinsler that high and ahead of the likes of Miguel Cabrera? LMFAO!!
Umm the list sucks. Just looking at it quickly I just don't know where to start. No way Jeter in the top 10, I'm really not sure he'd be in the top 30 or 40. There's Rivera at 9 (which is insane) and also K-Rod but no Joe Nathan or Papelbon. Beckett at 16, really? Manny at 4 over guys like Hanley and Utley? I wouldn't even have put guys like Guerrero, Delgado, McCann, Zambrano, you know what I'm just going to stop, the list makes zero sense and is just terrible.
At this stage Rivera is too high but not by much. I hate the closer position in general but if there is a player with value there its Rivera and Papelbon. They've got nerves of steel in the big spots and dominate the opponent. I suppose we could drop Rivera some but it would be because of his age not necessarily because of his performance. The guys I think are too low: David Wright, Ryan Braun, Jason Bay Too high: Rivera, Josh Beckett, Ian Kinsler, Ichiro, Holliday, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt Cases for/Cases against: David Wright Rated too low based on: Still young, 4 straight 100 rbi seasons, restored previously putrid franchise for the 3 years prior to his arrival back to relevance. 1st full season the team jumped 17 wins. Consistent 30-30 threat...100 runs and rbi usually a given. Id probably switch him and Rivera Ryan Braun Rated too low based on: Tons of power, high average hitter who like Wright has not entered his prime yet. Would move him in to the 20-25 range Jason Bay Rated too low based on: Clutch hitter in his prime has done an outstanding job replacing Manny's production. Underrated defender with a knack for the clutch hit. Would probably switch him with Ichiro Josh Beckett: Rated too high based on: Rarely healthy, inconsistent from year to year. Great postseason performer but regular season is iffy. Should really be somewhere in the 36-44 range. Ian Kinsler Rated too high based on: Has never played a full season. Rating seems to be based on position scarcity but then why isn't a guy like Brandon Phillips on the list when hes regularly a 25hr/25SB guy just like Kinsler? I would probably drop him 10-15 spots. Ichiro Suzuki Rated too high based on: Age, not the same player. Doesnt hit for quite as high an average as he used too. Id probably drop him about 10-12 spots. Matt Holliday Rated too high based on: Home/Away OPS splits. Last 3 years outside of Coors hes experienced a difference of at least 125 OPS points each year peaking last year at nearly a 200 point difference. Good player but stats are certainly coors inflated. Cliff Lee Rated too high based on: Good pitcher but really a #3 starter, maybe a 2 in a good year. Year to year consistency is a major issue. Except for last year, peripherals are very average. If the ratings are based entirely off of last year then hes not ranked nearly high enough. On a year to year basis, dropped out of top 50 Roy Oswalt Rated too high based on: K/9 has decreased each of past few years, seems to be a second half pitcher. Would drop him just outside top 50. Substitutions I would make: Out: Carlos Zambrano In: Chris Carpenter Out: Roy Oswalt In: James Shields Out: Cliff Lee In: Carl Crawford
I don't mind seeing Manny at #4. I don't think many people would doubt how important he is and was to the Dodger offense not only in runs produced and OBP but giving the youngsters a much needed esteem boost. Just look at Ethier's production pre and post-suspension.
Roy Halladay imo is the best picture in baseball, and could be making so much money somewhere else if it was not for the fact, he likes playing in Canada...
i agree with most of the objections of this list. but the biggest travesty is that the GOAT pitcher King Felix is not number 1 on the list. automatically discredits the list
ok dude, what makes you think chipper is on roids, his awesome power or his constantly getting injured. Maybe you should actually watch baseball before you comment on this list.
Entire league is a joke to me now. I can't say how good a player really is, because it's extremely questionable whether or not that player would be clean.
like I said stop watching the wnba, watch some baseball, maybe read a book or two about it, sign up for a softball league, then you and I can talk.
If you're going to throw random garbage out there have some proof. Otherwise do us all a favor and stop going for the cheap thrill just to antagonize people. Thanks. And for the record Chipper is on the top 5 players I would be most shocked if he was caught on steroids along with Wright, Jeter, Johan Santana, and Evan Longoria. And Im a Mets fan who has watched his team be burnt more by chipper then I care to recollect.
Good to see McCann pop up at the end of the list and get some recognition. I'd probably put Wright higher on the list than Hanley Ramirez, though they play different positions. Just my opinion.
Strongly disagree. Hanley has more tools than Wright, and has improved his defense to where he's slightly above average. That makes him a better player, especially when he hasn't had nearly the protection in the lineup Wright has had. EDIT: Not to say Wright isn't a great player because he is.
I dont know how you can put Manny that high after the whole steroid thing. Unless you just dont care about that. Granted, many players were/are juicing, but to actually get caught?
Considering he'd been clean after numerous tests for years earlier, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Hell, A-Rod's #2 on there yet no gripe about him?
i dont agree with hanley. he might have the talent but he hasn't had any success in the league team-wise. not much of a leader or hasn't had the chance to be one yet.....just my opinion
He's one hitter out of 8 man. A-Rod didn't have a lot of success team wise in Texas for a while. It didn't mean he wasnt a top player in the league. One player can't win a baseball game. In fact its more impressive, because it means he doesnt have any protection in the lineup.
I think you're overblowing this protection in the lineup thing a little bit. I just think Wright is a top notch player. It gives me no pleasure talking up a Met, believe me. I wanted to believe he was overrated but he's not. He hasn't caught up to Chipper yet among 3rd baseman but he's got a shot.
well ichiro was pretty good on the 2001 team but besides that he hasn't been on very many good teams. dude is not a leader either but i think were he is okay. maybe a little lower. im just saying a lot of those guys have proven themselves in the playoffs and on legit world series contender teams and hanley hasn't yet(key word:yet). not trying to discredit him i said in the other post he has top 5 talent.
That's unfair. This is the top 50 players, not top 50 teams, team success should have no bearing on the list. It's not Hanley's fault he's on a bad team. If you want to say Hanley shouldn't be that high because he's defense is a little shakey that's fine but then guys like Manny would be lower.
I never said Wright was overrated. I think he belongs on the top ten of that list. The only thing Wright did have over Hanley was defense, and while he is still better in that aspect Hanley has closed the gap by a lot.
you sure that the only thing Wright does better is defense? Last I checked Hanley didnt have: 4 100+ rbi seasons, actually he has 0. Hanley for his career is 309BA/381obp/912ops vs Wright being 312BA/393/926....slight edge wright Wright gets more extra basehits Hanley steals more but everything else is pretty even. Id say you could make a case either way.
Looking it over a little more closely I can't really get behind Carlos Delgado being higher on the list than McCann.
Jeter 8th??? Maybe 5 years ago. I would put him around #20. Also, Raul Ibanez of the Phillies is having an MVP season, and I don't see him anywhere on the list.
I don't doubt Ibanez is having a tremendously great half of a season, I don't think he's had the kind of production consistently to warrant top 50. Not to mention his numbers could whittle down in the 2nd half.
Based on position scarcity and age you would be correct. Going by pure stats you would be wrong. Delgado is capable of carrying a team for weeks at a time.
