BPro Top 50 (Updated)

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 22, 2008 7:24 AM CDT

SI.com is hosting an article written by Nate Silver about the top 50 players in baseball. In his own words:

Welcome to the third annual Baseball Prospectus Ultimate Fantasy Draft. We will attempt to answer this question: If you were starting a baseball team from scratch, which players would you want to build your team around? That is, which players would you take -- and in what order would you take them -- if your goal was to win as many championships as possible over the medium-to-long-term?

This is a two-part series, with 50 to 26 (liked above) appearing on Thursday, and the rest should come online sometime today.

Kinsler came in at number 29, ahead of Dan Haren, Rich Harden, Roy Halladay, Chad Billingsley, Carlos Zambrano among others. BTF has some comments about this list, which can be found here.

So now that both parts (Part 1 and Part 2) have been published, here is the list of players (you will have to read the actual articles to get the commentary):

Hanley Ramirez
David Wright
Albert Pujols
Evan Longoria
Grady Sizemore
Jose Reyes
Joe Mauer
Alex Rodriguez
CC Sabathia
Johan Santana
Brian McCann
Jake Peavy
Chase Utley
Miguel Cabrera
Tim Lincecum
Curtis Granderson
Ryan Braun
Brandon Webb
Scott Kazmir
Cole Hamels
Josh Hamilton
Josh Beckett
Jay Bruce
Felix Hernandez
Justin Upton
Russell Martin
Matt Holliday
Joba Chamberlin
Ian Kinsler
Ryan Zimmerman
Dan Haren
Matt Wieters
Jimmy Rollins
Nick Markakis
Prince Fielder
Lance Berkman
Rich Harden
Mark Teixeira
Roy Halladay
Dustin Pedroia
Chad Billingsley
Edinson Volquez
Carlos Zambrano
Howie Kendrick
Carlos Beltran
B.J. Upton
Geovany Soto
Dan Uggla
John Lackey
Matt Kemp

Honorable mention goes to:

Erik Bedard
Clay Buchholz
Matt Cain
Robinson Cano
Adam Jones
Chipper Jones
Cliff Lee
Jonathan Papelbon
Jhonny Peralta
David Price
Ben Sheets
Troy Tulowitzki
Justin Verlander

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

21. Josh Hamilton, CF, Rangers, Age 27 (—). For my money, it’s a tough call between Hamilton and Michael Phelps for Sportsman of the Year. What’s remarkable with Hamilton is not just that he maintained so much of his raw ability, but also that he’s emerged with pretty good higher-level baseball skills. Hamilton takes a decent number of walks, for instance, and is a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen-base attempts. His center-field defense, however, is a touch rough, and he’d probably belong on a corner for a team that had more depth in its outfield.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7976

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Aug 22, 2008 10:06 AM CDT 0 recs

Sportsman of the year??

Wow, thats a huge jump to make in one year, but hey, it’d be great if it was Hamilton.

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Aug 22, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

Kinsler for Billingsley

As much as i lambasted Cowlishaw for suggesting trading Kinsler, I think I would make that swap from an organizational perspective.

that would be a much better return than Larry Walker, and we can even keep Erik Thompson.

by clark on Aug 22, 2008 11:51 AM CDT 0 recs

that would be a start

I think both teams would do that deal. Billingsley would be under control for 3-4 years, right?

baseBALLIN!

by kevzta on Aug 22, 2008 12:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

not until 2013

by clark on Aug 22, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

Interesting...

Billinsley’s a better fit than Greinke. Actually he’s a perfect storm of strikeout and groundball rate, and even younger.

I’d use the farm to get him, though, and headline a deal with Davis. If they want Kinsler, they’d have to add to their end.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 22, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

I can’t imagine why the Dodgers would want him. They already have James Loney at first, and spent the last two seasons doing everything they could to screw a perfectly good 3B prospect in Andy LaRoche out of a job.

Not to mention that Davis is probably about 10 years too young to play on a Joe Torre team.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Aug 22, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Why they'd want Davis

He’s better than Loney.

It would take more to get a Billingsley, and LA’s probably not looking to move him. That said, the Dodgers can use more offense.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 22, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

you guys are just riffing now right

Billingsley isn’t really available…?

by Goyogringo on Aug 22, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

not at all

i would imagine he won’t be any time soon, either. i could be wrong, but i am pretty sure the dodgers will lose Lowe and Penny this offseason, and they recently had to patch a hole with Maddox. Even with Kershaw coming up, they will need Billingsley to form a 1-2 punch at the front end of that rotation, and then they will have to patch up the rest (maybe that McDonald kid, but that’s about it for internal options, unless those Asian arms they have in the bullpen make the transition).

by clark on Aug 22, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Penny

not sure they’ll really miss him.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 22, 2008 9:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Volquez wasnt available either!

by blueballlefty on Aug 23, 2008 9:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

Says who?

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 23, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

These PECOTA rankings

are they just BP’s version of Elias that cover a greater # of years?

by Goyogringo on Aug 22, 2008 1:26 PM CDT 0 recs

Proprietary

The algorithm used for PECOTA is proprietary, but if you have a subscription, you might be able to find out more.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 22, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

First thing I noticed

Hamilton 21
Volquez 42

It’s looking more and more like a “win”

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Aug 22, 2008 1:37 PM CDT 0 recs

Pitchers Ranked Low

A lot of pitchers are ranked much lower than I expected. I guess if you are trying to build a team, you would probably choose those players who will have more opportunities to contribute (i.e. position players). One person at BTF said that no pitcher should be in the top ten. That sounds a bit extreme, but makes sense at a certain level.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 22, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

yep, that settled it

kidding, of course, but it is nice to see.

by clark on Aug 22, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Markakis at 34? Ugh, no.

Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.

by Brian Thomas on Aug 22, 2008 2:37 PM CDT 0 recs

Markakis is good

24 years old putting up a line of .302/.404./492/.896 17 HR 39 2B. 88 K’s to 82 BB’s. Stud. Plus he has 13 OF assists this year playing right. He’s a great, young, all-around player.

If I could take any young OFer currently in the majors that is under 25, he’d be my pick I think.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 22, 2008 4:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Even though he's outplaying all of them

I think I’d still take Bruce and the Uptons. But he is sweet.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 22, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hmm I could see the Upton's

Maybe Bruce because he’d have a bit more power (30-35 HR instead of 25ish for Markakis). But, will Bruce ever have that kind of plate discipline? His career MiLB OBP is .366? I guess he makes up for it with his power, though.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 22, 2008 5:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

Two things, he’s always been extremely young for his league, so I think there’s room for him to grow in that area. And part of the reason I like those players is the ability to play a solid CF vs Markakis playing a solid RF. I know that Upton plays RF, but he could easily handle CF if Young weren’t there.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 22, 2008 5:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Meh, he's good

He’s definitely improved his OBP this year, that’s true. But an 892 OPS in a corner OF is not all that.

I’d easily rather have both Uptons, Jay Bruce, Maybin and possibly D. Young over him as well.

I think he has got a fine career ahead of him. I just don’t see him that high…

Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.

by Brian Thomas on Aug 25, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

Davis...

will be on that list next year. Book it.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Aug 22, 2008 3:21 PM CDT 0 recs

wow

Arod 8th? Even at his age, put him back at SS and he probably has several good years left…i’d put him 1.

to me, abortion is not a religious issue, it's a common sense one...

by Longhorn on Aug 22, 2008 3:54 PM CDT 0 recs

Yeah...

A-Rod has no buisness being 8th on any list of best players in the league.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Aug 22, 2008 5:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

First thing that stood out to me...

Wieters at 32…

If he’s THAT good, I don’t see why he’s still in the minors. I know, the O’s suck and it’d just start his clock early, but that literally states he’s a top 35 player in MLB. I don’t know how you can not play a guy that good.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 22, 2008 4:21 PM CDT 0 recs

Well they’re not good this year, so the best case scenario for them is to call him up a few weeks into next season. But he has just dominated, AA as much as HA.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 22, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Would you agree

that he is in the top 32 players in all of baseball?

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 22, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

I would neither say that he is one of the 32 best players in baseball nor agree that that is what they’re measuring. They’re predicting future performance, which favors young players.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 22, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Check the list

above Roy Halladay. I don’t know if Roy is top 10 or anything, but …. 39th ??

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Aug 22, 2008 5:31 PM CDT 0 recs

Easy: He's old.

“if your goal was to win as many championships as possible over the medium-to-long-term?”

That’s the key quote there. Would you rather have Roy for a few more good years or a guy like Lincecum, Kazmir or Cole Hamels for (potentially) many more is the question.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 23, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs