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To view my list of favorite players, go here.
Carl Everett-Probably the most unlikable Red Sox player in my lifetime. The man was crazier than Charlie Sheen and liked to fight more than Billy Martin. Bad combination.
Manny Ramirez-A real pain in the butt during his seven and a half seasons with the Sox, who paid him $20 million a season to be one of the most one-dimensional baseball players in recent memory (in fairness, he was reaaaaaaallllly good at that one dimension). Loafed around on defense, never hesitated to ask for a day off, faked/exaggerated injuries, constantly showboated, listened to music while playing left field, and seemed to be incapable of running at anything more than half speed. By the summer of 2008, when he was sparring with Kevin Youkilis and pushing down aging traveling secretaries like they were dominoes, his time in Boston had been up for some time. I don't think you could have paid him any amount of money to hustle every now and then. He was just one of those guys who had no respect for the game,
Edgar Renteria-I remember in a September game against the Yankees, there was a play at the plate and he received a cutoff throw from Ramirez. He promptly hurled it directly into the infield dirt in front of him. The two-time Gold Glove winner committed 30 errors that season, and the following winter was shipped out of town for Andy Marte, who never played a game for the Sox because they included him in a package deal with Cleveland that brought Coco Crisp, Johnny Damon's successor in center field, to town.
David Wells-Big, fat, mean, and a former Yankee. To quote Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."
J.D. Drew-More valuable than a lot of people give him credit for, but as a passive personality on a team full of emotional grinders (Youk, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon) he stuck out like a Yankee fan in Fenway's bleachers. Outside of his 2007 ALCS grand slam, he never seemed to come up with the big hit and struggled with runners in scoring position. I've never seen someone take so many called third strikes and walk back to the bench without so much as a frown. Unfortunately, Ryan Sweeney isn't half the player Drew is and will have us crying for J.D.'s return by June.
Julio Lugo-A skeleton as useful as a bag of balls in the batter's box, where he hit all of .251/.319/.346 for the Olde Towne Team (good for a measly 71 OPS+) while making just under ten million bucks a year. Those numbers would have been a little more tolerable if he was playing like Ozzie Smith in the field, but his -1.6 dWAR in Beantown indicate that he wasn't anything close to the Wizard at short. For reasons I don't fully understand, the Indians just gave the 36 year old a minor league deal.
Daisuke Matsuzaka-If only his success in the World Baseball Classic could translate to the Show. He's an overhyped and overpaid player who has given Boston two effective seasons as a starting pitcher at the cost of $103 million. He's in the final year of his contract, and at this point not even a Justin Verlander kind of season can salvage this sunk cost who's never healthy and ineffective during the rare stints when he is. He seems determined to make Red Sox Nation (the ones he hasn't already put to sleep with his plodding pace) pull their hair out every time he steps on the mound. Lacks command and nibbles too much, a combination that typically results in a fifth or sixth inning departure. The antithesis of an innings-eater, Dice-K is a bona fide bullpen killer. Texas hopes to avoid a repeat with Yu Darvish.
John Lackey-I'm always pulling for him because he's been through a lot lately, but he really needs to stop calling out his fielders and acting like he's the only pitcher on the planet who gave up a bloop single. His name is mud in Boston, and after a lost 2012 he needs a pair of strong seasons to save face. But for now, he has been a colossal disappointment who hasn't earned a cent of his $82 million contract and won't pitch again until he's 34.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Patriots Advance to Super Bowl XLVI
With a thrilling 23-20 victory over the shell-shocked Baltimore Ravens, the New England Patriots are headed to their fifth Super Bowl appearance of the (for lack of a better word) "productive" Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era.
The game was a grind-it-out slugfest chocked full of big hits, heated brawls and plenty of passion. The Pats drew first blood on a Stephen Gostkowski field goal, but it was clear from the get-go that Brady wasn't playing like himself. After a rough start, Joe Flacco found his groove and outplayed his seasoned counterpart. They both finished 22/36, but Flacco threw for over 300 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. Brady, in an uncharacteristically poor performance, finished with just 239 yards and tossed two interceptions without throwing a touchdown. To his credit, though, Tom Terrific delivered the go-ahead touchdown by leaping into the end zone on fourth and goal late in the game.
But in the end, the AFC championship game was Baltimore's to lose. They stood on the precipice of victory, only to let it slip right through their fingers. Wide receiver Lee Evans hauled in a pass from Flacco in the end zone, a play that would have put the Ravens ahead with under a minute left, but Sterling Moore smashed the ball out of his hands for an incompletion. Two plays later with eleven seconds remaining on the clock, former Pro Bowler Billy Cundiff shanked a 32 yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.
Gillette erupted in celebration. The sullen Ravens looked on through the uprights with their jaws dropped to the turf and hollow eyes in the full thousand-yard-stare mode. In the span of just two plays, a stunning turn of events, they had gone from AFC champs to tough luck losers. They had battled all game, recovered from a halftime deficit to take a 20-16 lead deep into the fourth quarter. Their defense limited Brady, fresh off a six touchdown performance against the Broncos a week earlier, to zero passing touchdowns and held New England's juggernaut offensive attack to a pair of measley rushing TDs (the other came from BenJarvus Green-Ellis). But for all their efforts, they are going home empty-handed.
New England will face the winner of the 49er's/Giants game on February 5th in Indianapolis.
The game was a grind-it-out slugfest chocked full of big hits, heated brawls and plenty of passion. The Pats drew first blood on a Stephen Gostkowski field goal, but it was clear from the get-go that Brady wasn't playing like himself. After a rough start, Joe Flacco found his groove and outplayed his seasoned counterpart. They both finished 22/36, but Flacco threw for over 300 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. Brady, in an uncharacteristically poor performance, finished with just 239 yards and tossed two interceptions without throwing a touchdown. To his credit, though, Tom Terrific delivered the go-ahead touchdown by leaping into the end zone on fourth and goal late in the game.
But in the end, the AFC championship game was Baltimore's to lose. They stood on the precipice of victory, only to let it slip right through their fingers. Wide receiver Lee Evans hauled in a pass from Flacco in the end zone, a play that would have put the Ravens ahead with under a minute left, but Sterling Moore smashed the ball out of his hands for an incompletion. Two plays later with eleven seconds remaining on the clock, former Pro Bowler Billy Cundiff shanked a 32 yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.
Gillette erupted in celebration. The sullen Ravens looked on through the uprights with their jaws dropped to the turf and hollow eyes in the full thousand-yard-stare mode. In the span of just two plays, a stunning turn of events, they had gone from AFC champs to tough luck losers. They had battled all game, recovered from a halftime deficit to take a 20-16 lead deep into the fourth quarter. Their defense limited Brady, fresh off a six touchdown performance against the Broncos a week earlier, to zero passing touchdowns and held New England's juggernaut offensive attack to a pair of measley rushing TDs (the other came from BenJarvus Green-Ellis). But for all their efforts, they are going home empty-handed.
New England will face the winner of the 49er's/Giants game on February 5th in Indianapolis.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Kobe vs. LeBron, Again
For much of the past decade, the debate over the title of the NBA's top player revolved around the Association's two marquee superstars; Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. They will be remembered as two of the best players the game had ever seen, and the hoop gods had aligned the stars so that their peaks overlapped for a stretch of time. Fans became entrenched in two separate camps (I've always been the Bryant side), and passionate arguments reminiscent of the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird days ensued. Bryant's supporters claimed that their guy was a superior pure shooter (especially from the line and downtown), a lights-out closer in the same vain as Mariano Rivera and above all, a winner with five championship rings, the Derek Jeter of the NBA. The King James disciples, and there were a lot more of them two years ago, replied that their guy was a better passer, rebounder, defender, and more efficient scorer. Bryant fans rebutted that James played for weaker teams and could pile up counting stats more easily, and James fans fired back that Kobe was selfish and a poor teammate, while LeBron made the other four guys on the court better. Statistically speaking it was very close, but you had to give the nod to James because of his more impressive all around numbers. But if you measure players by the number of titles they've won, and many people do, then the Black Mamba held an overwhelming advantage over his ringless peer.
But last year, the arguments died down as the two players seemed to be heading in opposite directions. James teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and immediately promised myriad championships, while Bryant battled age and ailments during Phil Jackson's final season. His creaky knees prevented him from practicing with the team, and at 34 minutes a night he was getting the lowest amount of PT in his career since becoming a full time starter in the '98-'99 season. While James seemed poised to win multiple rings, Bryant's numbers dipped across the board and it looked like his best days were behind him. Miami absorbed all the attention and media coverage, whereas LA seemed to have been surpassed by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and an up-and-coming Thunder team. During the postseason, LeBron's Big Three made it to the NBA Finals, Kobe's Lakers got swept out of the conference semifinals by a Dallas team on its way to an unlikely championship. And for the first time since 2006-2007, neither Kobe nor LeBron walked away with the league MVP trophy (apparently some guy named Derrick Rose won the thing).
At the age of 33, when many of his contemporaries are beginning to slide down the slippery slope of their career arcs, Bryant has re-emerged as an MVP candidate and is back on LeBron's level. His offseason knee surgery in Germany has rejuvenated him and an early season wrist injury hasn't derailed Bryant's white hot start to the lockout shortened season; Kobe's currently leading the Association in games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goal attempts, free throws made, points scored, and points per game, pretty good for the seventh best player in the NBA according to ESPN. His usage rate is higher than it was in 2005-2006, when, at the peak of his selfishness, he averaged 35.4 points per game and jacked up more than 27 shots a night because the Lakers surrounded him with Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Chris Mihm (seriously, other than Lamar Odom and an 18 year-old Andrew Bynum, Kobe had zero help. He would have killed for the Mo Williams, Antawn Jamisons and Anderson Varejaos Bron Bron left behind in Cleveland). And even though Bryant is taking nearly 25 shots a game, he's still racking up nearly six dimes per game, too, so he's not playing like a total ballhog. But because he's handling the ball so much in an attempt to carry the offense, he's also leading the league in turnovers, which is pretty hard for a non-point guard to do.
Even so, Kobe's not the only one who's getting better. James returned this year with a much improved post game and is scoring more efficiently. He stopped hoisting up threes, too, and is down to 1.5 attempts per game. He's picked up the slack with Wade sidelined and has re-established himself as a frontrunner in the MVP race, along with Bryant and Durant. As long as Kobe can stay healthy (a tall order given his age and 37 minutes per game), there should be a three-way battle for the honor as the top player in the NBA. No matter who you prefer, at least Bryant has made things more interesting, allowing us to debate the merits of Kobe vs. Lebron once again.
But last year, the arguments died down as the two players seemed to be heading in opposite directions. James teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and immediately promised myriad championships, while Bryant battled age and ailments during Phil Jackson's final season. His creaky knees prevented him from practicing with the team, and at 34 minutes a night he was getting the lowest amount of PT in his career since becoming a full time starter in the '98-'99 season. While James seemed poised to win multiple rings, Bryant's numbers dipped across the board and it looked like his best days were behind him. Miami absorbed all the attention and media coverage, whereas LA seemed to have been surpassed by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and an up-and-coming Thunder team. During the postseason, LeBron's Big Three made it to the NBA Finals, Kobe's Lakers got swept out of the conference semifinals by a Dallas team on its way to an unlikely championship. And for the first time since 2006-2007, neither Kobe nor LeBron walked away with the league MVP trophy (apparently some guy named Derrick Rose won the thing).
At the age of 33, when many of his contemporaries are beginning to slide down the slippery slope of their career arcs, Bryant has re-emerged as an MVP candidate and is back on LeBron's level. His offseason knee surgery in Germany has rejuvenated him and an early season wrist injury hasn't derailed Bryant's white hot start to the lockout shortened season; Kobe's currently leading the Association in games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goal attempts, free throws made, points scored, and points per game, pretty good for the seventh best player in the NBA according to ESPN. His usage rate is higher than it was in 2005-2006, when, at the peak of his selfishness, he averaged 35.4 points per game and jacked up more than 27 shots a night because the Lakers surrounded him with Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Chris Mihm (seriously, other than Lamar Odom and an 18 year-old Andrew Bynum, Kobe had zero help. He would have killed for the Mo Williams, Antawn Jamisons and Anderson Varejaos Bron Bron left behind in Cleveland). And even though Bryant is taking nearly 25 shots a game, he's still racking up nearly six dimes per game, too, so he's not playing like a total ballhog. But because he's handling the ball so much in an attempt to carry the offense, he's also leading the league in turnovers, which is pretty hard for a non-point guard to do.
Even so, Kobe's not the only one who's getting better. James returned this year with a much improved post game and is scoring more efficiently. He stopped hoisting up threes, too, and is down to 1.5 attempts per game. He's picked up the slack with Wade sidelined and has re-established himself as a frontrunner in the MVP race, along with Bryant and Durant. As long as Kobe can stay healthy (a tall order given his age and 37 minutes per game), there should be a three-way battle for the honor as the top player in the NBA. No matter who you prefer, at least Bryant has made things more interesting, allowing us to debate the merits of Kobe vs. Lebron once again.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Baseball's All Overrated Team
To see the underrated team, go here
C Geovany Soto-The 2008 NL Rookie of the Year has been up and down over the last four years. Just look at his rollercoaster OPS over that span.
2008-.868
2009-.702
2010-.890
2011-.721
Throw in the fact that he's played more than 125 games exactly once, and you have a volatile, injury prone backstop who struck out almost three times as often as he walked in 2011. On the bright side, he has great power for a catcher and at 29 is squarely in his prime.
Honorable Mention: Joe Mauer
1B Ryan Howard-Much like Mark Teixeira, his strong power numbers have helped mask his regression. He posted career lows in slugging percentage and OPS last year, strikes out a and his numbers in 2010 and 2011 were way down from his 2006-'09 peak when he paced the majors in RBI three times, home runs twice, and finished in the top five of the MVP voting every year. The big slugger got a late start to his career because of Jim Thome and is already 32. While he's still a great hitter he isn't nearly as good as people think he is. His days of 40 dingers and 130 ribbies look long gone.
Honorable Mention: Eric Hosmer
2B Gordon Beckham-Was great in his 2009 debut, but since then has deteriorated badly with a .241/.306/.356 line during his age 23 and 24 seasons. When Beckham is supposed to be improving, he has gone the other way by regressing across the board. His power and walk rates are down, while his strikeouts are up. The White Sox can't afford to pencil him in for 150 games in 2012 unless he makes a drastic turnaround, but since he's only 25 there's still some rebound potential here. He could be a late bloomer like Alex Gordon.
Honorable Mention: Rickie Weeks
3B Alex Rodriguez-Has regressed for four consecutive seasons now, and it looks like age, injuries, and steroids are taking their toll. After averaging 159 games played from 2001 through 2007, Rodriguez has become much more familiar with the DL lately and hasn't topped 138 games since. He doesn't run anymore and his plate discipline has suffered as well. A-Rod can still be an effective third baseman when healthy, but at 36 he's no longer in the discussion as one of the best players in the game.
Honorable Mention: David Wright
SS Jimmy Rollins-The parallel between J-Roll and A-Rod, baseball's 2007 MVPs, are alarming. Rollin's numbers havealso plummeted since he earned the hardware, and the once durable shortstop who averaged 157 games played from in the previous seven seasons has managed just 130 over the past four. He's put up a .261/.,325/.412 line over that span has produced an underwhelming 94 OPS+. His counting stats were always gaudy because he got 650 at-bats at the top of a stacked Phillies lineup every year, but he and his teammates are graying around the temples. He's the baseball equivalent of a high volume shooter (think Brandon Jennings) who needs a lot of touches to be effective on offense because he isn't efficient. I was really tempted to put Derek Jeter here, but resisted the urge.
Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter
OF Ichiro Suzuki-Back-to-back down years suggest that age (38) and overuse (only once has he failed to play at least 157 games) have finally caught up to Seattle's fan favorite. His high batting averages and hit totals were always overrated because about 80 percent of his base knocks were measly singles, and even though he owns a career .326 average he's only posted an OBP over .400 once in his eleven seasons (in 2004, when he batted .372 and set the single season record with 262 hits). For me, the most telling statistic is that he's won just two batting titles despite leading the bigs in hits seven times.
OF Jacoby Ellsbury-His monster 2011 campaign notwithstanding, Ellsbury had never showed signs of being an MVP candidate and had been somewhat of a disappointment in Boston . He stole a ton of bases (including home against the Yankees) but didn't do much else; from 2008 through 2010 batted .285/.339/.395 with an 89 OPS+, 17 home runs and 112 RBI. For those attempting to project him for this year, I suggest splitting the difference between last season and 2009 (he missed almost all of 2010 with cracked ribs). Anyone expecting a repeat of or improvement upon last year will be sorely disappointed.
OF Jayson Werth-Got a big boost from the lineup and ballpark in Philly, and now he's been exposed for what he really is. He's a great complementary player that can contribute in all facets of the game, but not someone to build your team around. Werth can't anchor a lineup and isn't worth $126 million over seven years.
Honorable Mentions: Vernon Wells, Josh Hamilton, Jason Heyward, Nelson Cruz, Desmond Jennings
DH Michael Young-His high batting averages are nice, but with eleven home runs and 2.4 bWAR last year he was not deserving of the serious MVP support he received. Like Ichiro, his high batting averages lose value because he doesn't walk enough; his .350 career OBP is on the low side for a .304 hitter. The career Ranger has also benefitted from the Ballpark in Arlington (he's a .283/.327/.410 hitter everywhere else) and is always surrounded by talented hitters.
Honorable Mention: Jesus Montero
SP Justin Verlander-Great pitcher had a phenomenal season last year, but it wasn't as special as everyone made it out to be. Guys like Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Jake Peavy, Johan Santana have been just as dominant at different points during the last decade, when offensive levels were much higher, yet have zero MVPs combined. Verlander, on the other hand, pitched in the cavernous Comerica Park against a weak AL Central with league-wide offense dialed back to 1992 levels. He was the most overhyped player of 2011 and I don't think he deserved the Most Valuable Player award.
SP Josh Beckett-Too inconsistent and not durable enough; in 2006, 2008 and 2010 he fell far short of expectations, and has eclipsed 200 innings only three times in his eleven seasons. He had just one great season (his last one) in Florida, and has received Cy Young votes in only two seasons. Like Curt Schilling, his career is enhanced in the public mind by an impressive postseason track record.
SP Zack Greinke-Since winning the 2009 AL Cy Young award has gone 20-20 with an ERA over four. In fairness, last year his xFIP was 2.56 and his FIP was 2.98, so he endured his fair share of bad luck. Other than 2009, he's been a good, but not great, starting pitcher who looks like more of a number two than an ace.
SP Ivan Nova-Perfect example of why a win-loss record can be deceiving. He went 16-4 last year and finished fourth in the Rookie of the year voting, but failed to reach 100 strikeouts and posted a 1.33 WHIP. An ordinary pitcher that benefits from a strong lineup that provides plenty of run support, he remains a likely regression candidate for 2012 (expect an ERA over four with a record closer to 13-10). Most Yankees are overrated as soon as they put on the pinstripes (think Andy Pettitte and Nick Swisher), and Nova is no exception.
SP Ubaldo Jimenez-Fell apart in the second half of 2010 and finished with some brutal numbers last year; a 4.68 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 10-13 record. Upon closer review, it seems bad luck played a part his dismal performance as his 3.67 FIP and 3.71 xFIP suggest, and his peripherals were in line with his career numbers. Nonetheless, his dominant first half of 2010 when he led the league in winning percentage and finished third in the Cy Young voting appears to be an aberration. See Greinke, Zack.
SP Francisco Liriano-Can't stay healthy and has topped 30 starts and 140 innings just once (2010) in his career. Holds a career 4.19 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 101 ERA+. Considering that he now calls Target Field home and plays in the NL Central, his numbers should be much better. The Twins need him to sustain the flashes of potential he displayed in 2006 and 2010.
Honorable Mentions: Jeremy Hellickson, Chad Billingsley, Clay Buchholz
RP Francisco Rodriguez-The man who saved 62 games in 2008 has seen his saves decline every year since, and his 1.26 WHIP since 2007 is on the high side for a closer. Then again, he's not even a closer anymore; he's John Axford's setup man. Was never as good his his eye-popping saves total suggested, though.
Honorable Mention: Aroldis Chapman
CL Chris Perez-He saved 36 games for the Indians last year, but his strikeout rate (barely better than Nova's and terrible for relievers, who should strike out a batter per inning) is half of what it was in 2009 and he's an average reliever at best. In addition, his 3.32 ERA and 1.21 WHIP aren't great, and an xFIP of 5.01 says he was extremely lucky last year.
Honorable Mention: Brian Wilson
C Geovany Soto-The 2008 NL Rookie of the Year has been up and down over the last four years. Just look at his rollercoaster OPS over that span.
2008-.868
2009-.702
2010-.890
2011-.721
Throw in the fact that he's played more than 125 games exactly once, and you have a volatile, injury prone backstop who struck out almost three times as often as he walked in 2011. On the bright side, he has great power for a catcher and at 29 is squarely in his prime.
Honorable Mention: Joe Mauer
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| Howard isn't a top slugger anymore |
Honorable Mention: Eric Hosmer
2B Gordon Beckham-Was great in his 2009 debut, but since then has deteriorated badly with a .241/.306/.356 line during his age 23 and 24 seasons. When Beckham is supposed to be improving, he has gone the other way by regressing across the board. His power and walk rates are down, while his strikeouts are up. The White Sox can't afford to pencil him in for 150 games in 2012 unless he makes a drastic turnaround, but since he's only 25 there's still some rebound potential here. He could be a late bloomer like Alex Gordon.
Honorable Mention: Rickie Weeks
3B Alex Rodriguez-Has regressed for four consecutive seasons now, and it looks like age, injuries, and steroids are taking their toll. After averaging 159 games played from 2001 through 2007, Rodriguez has become much more familiar with the DL lately and hasn't topped 138 games since. He doesn't run anymore and his plate discipline has suffered as well. A-Rod can still be an effective third baseman when healthy, but at 36 he's no longer in the discussion as one of the best players in the game.
Honorable Mention: David Wright
SS Jimmy Rollins-The parallel between J-Roll and A-Rod, baseball's 2007 MVPs, are alarming. Rollin's numbers havealso plummeted since he earned the hardware, and the once durable shortstop who averaged 157 games played from in the previous seven seasons has managed just 130 over the past four. He's put up a .261/.,325/.412 line over that span has produced an underwhelming 94 OPS+. His counting stats were always gaudy because he got 650 at-bats at the top of a stacked Phillies lineup every year, but he and his teammates are graying around the temples. He's the baseball equivalent of a high volume shooter (think Brandon Jennings) who needs a lot of touches to be effective on offense because he isn't efficient. I was really tempted to put Derek Jeter here, but resisted the urge.
Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter
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| Ichiro failed to make the All-Star team or win a Gold Glove for the first time in a subpar 2011 |
OF Jacoby Ellsbury-His monster 2011 campaign notwithstanding, Ellsbury had never showed signs of being an MVP candidate and had been somewhat of a disappointment in Boston . He stole a ton of bases (including home against the Yankees) but didn't do much else; from 2008 through 2010 batted .285/.339/.395 with an 89 OPS+, 17 home runs and 112 RBI. For those attempting to project him for this year, I suggest splitting the difference between last season and 2009 (he missed almost all of 2010 with cracked ribs). Anyone expecting a repeat of or improvement upon last year will be sorely disappointed.
OF Jayson Werth-Got a big boost from the lineup and ballpark in Philly, and now he's been exposed for what he really is. He's a great complementary player that can contribute in all facets of the game, but not someone to build your team around. Werth can't anchor a lineup and isn't worth $126 million over seven years.
Honorable Mentions: Vernon Wells, Josh Hamilton, Jason Heyward, Nelson Cruz, Desmond Jennings
DH Michael Young-His high batting averages are nice, but with eleven home runs and 2.4 bWAR last year he was not deserving of the serious MVP support he received. Like Ichiro, his high batting averages lose value because he doesn't walk enough; his .350 career OBP is on the low side for a .304 hitter. The career Ranger has also benefitted from the Ballpark in Arlington (he's a .283/.327/.410 hitter everywhere else) and is always surrounded by talented hitters.
Honorable Mention: Jesus Montero
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| A Cy Young winner? Absolutely. MVP winner? Not so fast. |
SP Josh Beckett-Too inconsistent and not durable enough; in 2006, 2008 and 2010 he fell far short of expectations, and has eclipsed 200 innings only three times in his eleven seasons. He had just one great season (his last one) in Florida, and has received Cy Young votes in only two seasons. Like Curt Schilling, his career is enhanced in the public mind by an impressive postseason track record.
SP Zack Greinke-Since winning the 2009 AL Cy Young award has gone 20-20 with an ERA over four. In fairness, last year his xFIP was 2.56 and his FIP was 2.98, so he endured his fair share of bad luck. Other than 2009, he's been a good, but not great, starting pitcher who looks like more of a number two than an ace.
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| Nova overachieved in 2011 |
SP Ubaldo Jimenez-Fell apart in the second half of 2010 and finished with some brutal numbers last year; a 4.68 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 10-13 record. Upon closer review, it seems bad luck played a part his dismal performance as his 3.67 FIP and 3.71 xFIP suggest, and his peripherals were in line with his career numbers. Nonetheless, his dominant first half of 2010 when he led the league in winning percentage and finished third in the Cy Young voting appears to be an aberration. See Greinke, Zack.
SP Francisco Liriano-Can't stay healthy and has topped 30 starts and 140 innings just once (2010) in his career. Holds a career 4.19 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 101 ERA+. Considering that he now calls Target Field home and plays in the NL Central, his numbers should be much better. The Twins need him to sustain the flashes of potential he displayed in 2006 and 2010.
Honorable Mentions: Jeremy Hellickson, Chad Billingsley, Clay Buchholz
RP Francisco Rodriguez-The man who saved 62 games in 2008 has seen his saves decline every year since, and his 1.26 WHIP since 2007 is on the high side for a closer. Then again, he's not even a closer anymore; he's John Axford's setup man. Was never as good his his eye-popping saves total suggested, though.
Honorable Mention: Aroldis Chapman
CL Chris Perez-He saved 36 games for the Indians last year, but his strikeout rate (barely better than Nova's and terrible for relievers, who should strike out a batter per inning) is half of what it was in 2009 and he's an average reliever at best. In addition, his 3.32 ERA and 1.21 WHIP aren't great, and an xFIP of 5.01 says he was extremely lucky last year.
Honorable Mention: Brian Wilson
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Baseball's All-Underrated Team
C Miguel Montero-The 28 year-old Arizona backstop has had trouble staying on the field, but as he showed last year he can be a top five catcher when totally healthy. He led all full-time catchers with 86 RBI in 2011, banged out 55 extra base hits and posted a 121 OPS+ as he set career highs across the board and sustained the potential he flashed in 2009. He's the second best hitter behind Justin Upton in the Snakes' lineup and figures to be a poor man's Brian McCann with his 20-90 potential.
Honorable Mention: Carlos Santana
1B Paul Konerko-The slugging first baseman gets a lot less ink than Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and others who make the position so deep. Nevertheless, Konk has been a fixture in Chicago's lineup for a dozen years now, and he's quietly put together a strong career. Since becoming a full time player in 1999 he's averaged a strong .284/.361/.506 line with a 123 OPS+, and can be counted on for 150 games, 30 home runs and 100 RBI every year. He's continued to improve with age by cutting down on his strikeouts, improving his walk rate and posting consecutive .300 batting averages for the first time in his career. If he can stay productive for a few more years, he's capable of making a serious run at 500 home runs (he's currently sitting on 396, tied with Joe Carter for 51st all-time).
Honorable Mention: Carlos Pena
2B Ben Zobrist-Tampa Bay's jack of all trades can do a little bit of everything; he hits for power (72 extra base hits last year), runs (19 steals with a 76 percent success rate), gets on base (averaged 87 walks and a .367 OBP over the past three years) and plays pretty good defense wherever the Rays stick him. Zorilla is also pretty durable, and has averaged 153 games played beginning in his breakout year--2009. On a team that plays in a crappy market and always seems to exceed expectations, Zobrist just seems to get lost in the shuffle. Much like J.D. Drew, he is a boring, yet effective baseball player.
Honorable Mention: Ian Kinsler
3B Ryan Zimmerman-He's more or less the National League equivalent of Evan Longoria, but just doesn't seem to get much attention playing in D.C. Maybe it's because he's missed 142 games, nearly a full season's worth, over the past four years. But he's a great all-around player entering his age 27 season, so big things could be in store for Washington's hot corner man. A 35-110-.300 season is well within his reach.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Beltre
SS Yunel Escobar-Although his numbers don't jump off the page and he's never played in more than 141 games in a season, his .289/.366/.401 line is solid as a rock and he's a plus defender to boot. He doesn't have a ton of pop, but I'll take ten to fifteen home runs from my shortstop anyday. In addition, his strong on-base percentages and good plate discipline make him a natural table setter for Toronto's big bats, Jose Bautista and Adam Lind. He's somewhat miscast as a leadoff man because he doesn't have much speed, and I think he'd be better as a number two hitter.
Honorable Mention: Alexei Ramirez
OF Andrew McCutchen-A brutal September slump marred what was a breakout year for the Pirates centerfielder. Even though Clint Hurdle kept flip-flopping him between the leadoff spot and three hole in their weak lineup, he continued to make great strides on offense; his home runs and RBI both increased by roughly 50 percent and the first time All-Star set a career high with 89 walks (although he probably got pitched around every now and then. He imrpoved his glovework, too, and the 25 year-old probably hasn't hit his ceiling yet. He has 30/30 potential appears to be a star in the making, especially if Pedro Alvarez can develop into the middle-of-the-order threat he's projected to be. Even if McCutchen doesn't improve much more, there's nothing wrong with being an NL version of Torii Hunter.
OF Shane Victorino-It's easy to become the forgotten man on a veritable juggernaut that features Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Hunter Pence, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee, but the Flyin' Hawaiian led the team in runs and paced the NL in triples. The switch-hitting centerfielder surprised everyone by rating as the best everyday player for the Phillies last year, and his numbers would have been even more impressive if he hadn't missed 30 games and wilted down the stretch. He's comfortable anywhere in the lineup (though he'd probably be most effective in the two-hole behind J-Roll) and is a great source of speed and athleticism for a starting nine that's aging faster than Nick Nolte.
OF Michael Bourn-Has surpassed Jose Reyes as the top basestealer in the Senior Circuit by leading the league in three straight years. Last year he ranked first in the majors by swiping a dozen more than anyone else last year (Coco Crisp and Brett Gardner tied for second in the big with 49 thefts apiece). Not surprisingly, Bourn uses his speed to play a sterling centerfield. Juan Pierre is a good comp for him, since they both have tremendous speed but can't hit for power. The trade from Houston to Atlanta should boost his runs scored totals and help him get more recognition, though.
Honorable Mentions: Nick Swisher, Shin-Soo Choo, Peter Bourjos
DH Billy Butler-He's a hefty line drive machine hits for high batting averages and piles up doubles, but Kansas City would like to see more of those two-baggers clear the fences. Offensively, his statistics mirror those of Nick Markakis. The comparison is fitting, as both are perpetually on the brink of a breakout season but have yet to follow through. Butler is only 25, though, so it's very possible he hasn't reached his potential yet. Markakis, on the other hand, is 28 and seems to be regressing.
Honorable Mention: David Ortiz
SP Matt Cain-Pitches in the shadow of Tim Lincecum and a dearth of run support has wreaked havoc on his win-loss record, but he's a perfect number two starter who could probably be the ace on a different staff. The workhorse combines durability--he has started at least 32 games six years running and seems to turn in a quality start every time out--with good stuff and command. Since breaking out in 2009 he's averaged a 2.97 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 176 K's per year. He's a great hurler, but falls just short of elite. Because of his consistency, I view him as a wealthy man's Mark Buehrle.
SP Ricky Romero-Has quietly evolved into an ace north of the border. The southpaw set career bests in just about everything last year and posted a 2.92 ERA despite pitching in the AL Beast in a park conducive to the long ball. All his numbers are trending in the right direction, and I wouldn't be surprised if he forces his way into the Cy Young discussion next year.
SP Ted Lilly-A great number two or three starter who's really taken advantage of a move from the AL Beast to the weaker National League. In his five seasons in the Senior Circuit he's averaged 32 starts per year with a 1.13 WHIP. Regressed a bit last season and at 36 is getting up there in age, but a sterling finish to the season (2.09 ERA after the calendar flipped to August) gives me hope that he'll rebound strong in 2012.
SP Shaun Marcum-In Toronto he was overshadowed by Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett, and in Milwaukee he's a step behind Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo. Marcum doesn't throw hard, but still manages to miss plenty of bats and makes up for his lack of velocity with excellent command figures. He eclipsed 200 innings for the first time last year even though he got dinged up, so he should continue to thrive in the National League. The losses of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun will make it difficult for him to win more than fifteen games, though.
SP Jordan Zimmermann-If you look past last year's mediocre 8-11 record, you'll find a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and four strikeouts for every walk. Those are some darn good numbers, and you can bet that he'll be better than Stephen Strasburg next year, because in 2011 he was basically Matt Cain. He's a key ingredient in the Nats' young, talented nucleus, and figures to play a prominent role in the franchise's revival.
Honorable Mentions: Tim Hudson, Chris Carpenter, Hiroki Kuroda, Ervin Santana, Mat Latos
RP Tyler Clippard-Another Washington National, but he's one of the best relievers in the game. The first-time All-Star finished with a microscopic 1.83 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. The Yankee Clippard also recorded more than 100 strikeouts for the second straight year, and teamed up with fireman Drew Storen to form an intimidating bullpen duo a la Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon. With a salary south of half a million dollars last year, Clippard was one of the best bargains in baseball for a team that shelled out 126 million bucks for Jayson Werth.
RP Fernando Salas-"For Sale" (my own creation--think it will catch on?) got bumped from the closer's role because of Tony LaRussa's played musical chairs with his bullpen after Ryan Franklin suffered a Trevor Hoffman-esque collapse last year, (Jason Motte won that round) but still managed to compile two dozen saves, a 2.28 ERA and sub-one WHIP for the eventual World Series champs. His struggles against Texas in the Fall Classic came on the heels of dominant performances against the Phillies and Brewers earlier in October.
Honorable Mention: Mike Adams
CL John Axford-The NL saves leader is so good that midseason import Francisco Rodriguez, a formerly elite closer affectionately known as K-Rod, immediately became his setup man as soon as he arrived in Milwaukee. One of the best closers in baseball, the Axe whiffed 86 batters in 73.2 innings and maintained a tidy 1.95 ERA. Somehow he didn't make the All-Star team, but went on to earn Cy Young and MVP votes.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Bailey
Honorable Mention: Carlos Santana
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| A modern day Fred McGriff, the steady Konerko has averaged 30 homers and 95 RBI per year since 1999 |
Honorable Mention: Carlos Pena
2B Ben Zobrist-Tampa Bay's jack of all trades can do a little bit of everything; he hits for power (72 extra base hits last year), runs (19 steals with a 76 percent success rate), gets on base (averaged 87 walks and a .367 OBP over the past three years) and plays pretty good defense wherever the Rays stick him. Zorilla is also pretty durable, and has averaged 153 games played beginning in his breakout year--2009. On a team that plays in a crappy market and always seems to exceed expectations, Zobrist just seems to get lost in the shuffle. Much like J.D. Drew, he is a boring, yet effective baseball player.
Honorable Mention: Ian Kinsler
3B Ryan Zimmerman-He's more or less the National League equivalent of Evan Longoria, but just doesn't seem to get much attention playing in D.C. Maybe it's because he's missed 142 games, nearly a full season's worth, over the past four years. But he's a great all-around player entering his age 27 season, so big things could be in store for Washington's hot corner man. A 35-110-.300 season is well within his reach.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Beltre
SS Yunel Escobar-Although his numbers don't jump off the page and he's never played in more than 141 games in a season, his .289/.366/.401 line is solid as a rock and he's a plus defender to boot. He doesn't have a ton of pop, but I'll take ten to fifteen home runs from my shortstop anyday. In addition, his strong on-base percentages and good plate discipline make him a natural table setter for Toronto's big bats, Jose Bautista and Adam Lind. He's somewhat miscast as a leadoff man because he doesn't have much speed, and I think he'd be better as a number two hitter.
Honorable Mention: Alexei Ramirez
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| McCutchen is a great player for the Pirates to build around, a young five-tool stud with Matt Kemp potential |
OF Shane Victorino-It's easy to become the forgotten man on a veritable juggernaut that features Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Hunter Pence, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee, but the Flyin' Hawaiian led the team in runs and paced the NL in triples. The switch-hitting centerfielder surprised everyone by rating as the best everyday player for the Phillies last year, and his numbers would have been even more impressive if he hadn't missed 30 games and wilted down the stretch. He's comfortable anywhere in the lineup (though he'd probably be most effective in the two-hole behind J-Roll) and is a great source of speed and athleticism for a starting nine that's aging faster than Nick Nolte.
OF Michael Bourn-Has surpassed Jose Reyes as the top basestealer in the Senior Circuit by leading the league in three straight years. Last year he ranked first in the majors by swiping a dozen more than anyone else last year (Coco Crisp and Brett Gardner tied for second in the big with 49 thefts apiece). Not surprisingly, Bourn uses his speed to play a sterling centerfield. Juan Pierre is a good comp for him, since they both have tremendous speed but can't hit for power. The trade from Houston to Atlanta should boost his runs scored totals and help him get more recognition, though.
Honorable Mentions: Nick Swisher, Shin-Soo Choo, Peter Bourjos
DH Billy Butler-He's a hefty line drive machine hits for high batting averages and piles up doubles, but Kansas City would like to see more of those two-baggers clear the fences. Offensively, his statistics mirror those of Nick Markakis. The comparison is fitting, as both are perpetually on the brink of a breakout season but have yet to follow through. Butler is only 25, though, so it's very possible he hasn't reached his potential yet. Markakis, on the other hand, is 28 and seems to be regressing.
Honorable Mention: David Ortiz
 |
| Cain tossed 26 quality starts last year and 25 in 2010 |
SP Ricky Romero-Has quietly evolved into an ace north of the border. The southpaw set career bests in just about everything last year and posted a 2.92 ERA despite pitching in the AL Beast in a park conducive to the long ball. All his numbers are trending in the right direction, and I wouldn't be surprised if he forces his way into the Cy Young discussion next year.
SP Ted Lilly-A great number two or three starter who's really taken advantage of a move from the AL Beast to the weaker National League. In his five seasons in the Senior Circuit he's averaged 32 starts per year with a 1.13 WHIP. Regressed a bit last season and at 36 is getting up there in age, but a sterling finish to the season (2.09 ERA after the calendar flipped to August) gives me hope that he'll rebound strong in 2012.
SP Shaun Marcum-In Toronto he was overshadowed by Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett, and in Milwaukee he's a step behind Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo. Marcum doesn't throw hard, but still manages to miss plenty of bats and makes up for his lack of velocity with excellent command figures. He eclipsed 200 innings for the first time last year even though he got dinged up, so he should continue to thrive in the National League. The losses of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun will make it difficult for him to win more than fifteen games, though.
SP Jordan Zimmermann-If you look past last year's mediocre 8-11 record, you'll find a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and four strikeouts for every walk. Those are some darn good numbers, and you can bet that he'll be better than Stephen Strasburg next year, because in 2011 he was basically Matt Cain. He's a key ingredient in the Nats' young, talented nucleus, and figures to play a prominent role in the franchise's revival.
Honorable Mentions: Tim Hudson, Chris Carpenter, Hiroki Kuroda, Ervin Santana, Mat Latos
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| Clippard was worth 3.4 bWAR last season |
RP Fernando Salas-"For Sale" (my own creation--think it will catch on?) got bumped from the closer's role because of Tony LaRussa's played musical chairs with his bullpen after Ryan Franklin suffered a Trevor Hoffman-esque collapse last year, (Jason Motte won that round) but still managed to compile two dozen saves, a 2.28 ERA and sub-one WHIP for the eventual World Series champs. His struggles against Texas in the Fall Classic came on the heels of dominant performances against the Phillies and Brewers earlier in October.
Honorable Mention: Mike Adams
CL John Axford-The NL saves leader is so good that midseason import Francisco Rodriguez, a formerly elite closer affectionately known as K-Rod, immediately became his setup man as soon as he arrived in Milwaukee. One of the best closers in baseball, the Axe whiffed 86 batters in 73.2 innings and maintained a tidy 1.95 ERA. Somehow he didn't make the All-Star team, but went on to earn Cy Young and MVP votes.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Bailey
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