The Sporting News' Top 50 Active MLB Players
by FuturePants on May 20, 2009 11:09 AM CDT
33 comments
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List:
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
3. Johan Santana, Mets
4. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
5. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
6. Chase Utley, Phillies
7. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Mariano Rivera, Yankees
10. Chipper Jones, Braves
11. Ryan Howard, Phillies
12. Grady Sizemore, Indians
13. David Wright, Mets
14. Justin Morneau, Twins
15. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
16. Josh Beckett, Red Sox
17. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
18. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
19. Tim Lincecum, Giants
20. Evan Longoria, Rays
21. Lance Berkman, Astros
22. Jose Reyes, Mets
23. Carlos Beltran, Mets
24. Ian Kinsler, Rangers
25. Zack Greinke, Royals
26. Josh Hamilton, Rangers
27. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
28. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
29. CC Sabathia, Yankees
30. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
31. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks
32. Ryan Braun, Brewers
33. Dan Haren, Diamondbacks
34. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
35. Matt Holliday, A's
36. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
37. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
38. Jake Peavy, Padres
39. Joe Mauer, Twins
40. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
41. Jason Bay, Red Sox
42. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers
43. Cliff Lee, Indians
44. Torii Hunter, Angels
45. Victor Martinez, Indians
46. Roy Oswalt, Astros
47. Carlos Delgado, Mets
48. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs
49. Cole Hamels, Phillies
50. Brian McCann, Braves
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Mark Teixeira at 17? Pedroia at 18? Based on one good season? If so, why is Greinke only 25th? I have to admit, I'm scratching my head on a few of these, but what do you people think?
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Young?
How is Michael Young not on this list?
by Big50 on May 20, 2009 11:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Mariano Rivera, Yankees
11. Ryan Howard, Phillies
35. Matt Holliday, A’s
47. Carlos Delgado, Mets
Go Rangers...don't suck...
by Kinslerhomer on May 20, 2009 11:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i think it is entire body of work
that explains rivera
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
by ab03 on May 20, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then why is Pedroia on there at all?
One good season shouldn’t overcome future hall of famers’ bodies of work, if what you are suggesting is the case.
Bottom line: this list is stupid.
by FuturePants on May 20, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but hes small and scrappy!
how can you hate small and scrappy??
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on May 20, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and Longoria
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 20, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take Ryan Braun over most of those.
by tyd3311 on May 20, 2009 11:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll take Hanley Ramirez...
…over Manny, too. WTF.
by FuturePants on May 20, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Manny has had himself a pretty nice career. 17 seasons and a career OPS+ of 155, which is a mark that Hanley has yet to reach in a single season.
I could see an argument either way, but I sure don’t see how Manny being higher merits a WTF.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
by tricer on May 20, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant...
…I’d take Hanley today over Manny today (even if I ignore the 40 someodd games he still is suspended for) since this list just came out.
by FuturePants on May 20, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ryan howard at 11 might be the most laughable choice on this list
imho
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 20, 2009 11:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This list blows
I guess this is what happens when you let HOFs and award winners vote. There is absolutely no consistency in this at all. You have some one year wonders mixed in with former greats and then some actual talented players that have a great track record too. Jeter is far from the 8th best player right now while Pedroia is far from the 18th best player in baseball now or in the past. And how is Beckett 16th overall? He sucks now and is far from one of the top 20 active players in baseball.
The Sporting News is teh suck
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 20, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
anyone who wears and east coast uniform
especially that of Boston or NY, they are automatically overrated.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 20, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
?
This list is terrible. I’m not sure J. Rollins is the 15th best shortstop this year, much less the 15th best player overall.
First place Texas Rangers!
by chadero on May 20, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
is this list based on value
going forward or what they have done up to this point? It seems that it tries to blend both, making it, what’s the word? Shit.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on May 20, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Jeter at #8 is just hilariously bad
Really, this list is just a list of who baseball fandom at large perceives are the best players. It is also epically wrong.
It is fun to see that three of the other AL West players on there (Ichiro, Vlad, Hunter) probably don’t belong on the list at all, and the fourth (Holliday) has been completely marginalized by that ballpark.
PhD
by JBImaknee on May 20, 2009 11:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That was the one that jumped out at me
a poor defensive SS who hits .270 with limited power and decent speed? If I had to win a game tomorrow, I’d rather have Elvis out there than Jeter.
Obviously I’m biased, but I think Hamilton is a top 10 player and Kins ain’t far behind.
by Sherman McCoy on May 20, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe Kinsler is more valuable than Hamilton
When healthy, Kinsler is the best 2b in the AL (though he probably still falls behind Utley). He’s an asset on the bases, he gets on base reliably enough to be a solid leadoff option, and he has solid power. He’s not as powerful as Hamilton, but in every other aspect of the game Kinsler seems more reliable.
Hammy is the superstar, but Kinsler is the guy I’d say is a top 15 player in baseball right now.
PhD
by JBImaknee on May 20, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is how i feel as well
hamilton is a guy who will bring people to the park, day in and day out — and has tools out the wazoo
but kinsler is the kind of guy you need to win day in and day out — if hes healthy this year i dont see how he cant be in the running for MVP
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 20, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kinsler is going to have to learn how
to hit on the road if he wants to be MVP.
MVPs don’t hit .182/.241/.351 on the road. Tough to argue with anyone who wants to say he is purely a product of TBiA, because he has been putrid on the road so far.
"I'd praised catcher Max Ramirez two weeks ago, but after his continued struggles I'm increasingly convinced he's not going to pan out." - crops.mlblogs.com
by DJCahill on May 20, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on
you’re talking about 80 plate appearances and his numbers last year were nearly evenly split home-away.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 20, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought we were talking about MVP for this year?
Ian can start by stepping it up tonight, as far as I’m concerned.
"I'd praised catcher Max Ramirez two weeks ago, but after his continued struggles I'm increasingly convinced he's not going to pan out." - crops.mlblogs.com
by DJCahill on May 20, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would certainly
agree that he has not been playing at that level now for a while.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 21, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least they got #1 right.
"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley
by trza on May 20, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Three blind monkeys could get #1 right.
Pujols has no equal.
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
by bioaggie on May 20, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Roy Oswalt??
he was good last when ‘05 ’06?? I mean he is solid, but there about 50 players not on here I would rather have than him, and he is above Hamels and Zambrano?? I guess he’s got a longer track record than Hamels?? but just never thought of him in that light
by blueballlefty on May 20, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I look at the list like this
i think the objective was that if you move forward in time 50 years and evaluate the careers of all baseball players that were active in 2009. So with the younger guys, there is some projection on what they will do and with the older guys the evaluation is more weighted to what they have already done.
If you look at it like that, I think the list is pretty decent.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
by tricer on May 20, 2009 4:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Big ol' meh
A lot of these veterans are being projected to finish their careers pretty strong then.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 20, 2009 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought we'd previously determined that The Sporting News sucked.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 20, 2009 11:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
this is what made me puke in my mouth
18. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
19. Tim Lincecum, Giants
by slash on May 22, 2009 12:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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