Who are the best players in the game?

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Don't get the love affair with Mauer (only two people mentioned him but that's two too many imo). And among MANY players that should be on a list before him, Reyes deserves mention with a lot of guys that have been put on the table.

Joe Mauer at the age of 25 has two seasons under his belt with at least a .400 OBP. In Johnny Bench's entire career, he never had one season with a .400 OBP. Neither did Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra or Ivan Rodriguez. Even though BA is misleading, he still has two batting titles to his name already as a catcher. That's absolute insane.

The only two catchers in history who can compare to Mauer in terms of hitting at the same point in their careers are Mike Piazza, the greatest hitting catcher ever, and Mickey Cochrane, the best hitting catcher until Piazza came around.

Mauer is the best catcher to come into baseball since Piazza and he's miles ahead of him when it comes to fielding and working pitchers. That's why he's so highly regarded.

[KOL]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Pujols, Teixeira, Reyes, H.Ramirez, Sabathia (sadly:wink.

[CMH]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Don't get the love affair with Mauer (only two people mentioned him but that's two too many imo). And among MANY players that should be on a list before him, Reyes deserves mention with a lot of guys that have been put on the table.

1. He's a catcher.

2. He's a catcher.

3. He's a catcher.

Look at his stats, compare him to other catchers, and it's not even close. There are less than a handful of catchers that hit like Mauer. So, he doesn't have power. He's good defensively, he hits for average, he's got an amazing eye, and he does it all while catching 140 games.

Did I mention he's a catcher?

[CMH]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Pujols, Teixeira, Reyes, H.Ramirez, Sabathia (sadly:wink.

You have Sabathia over Santana, Webb, Peavy and Halladay?

edit: Man, I even forgot Oswalt.

And no, I won't mention Lincecum or Hamels. Pitch more than three seasons before I care.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

You have Sabathia over Santana, Webb, Peavy and Halladay?

edit: Man, I even forgot Oswalt.

And no, I won't mention Lincecum or Hamels. Pitch more than three seasons before I care.

Having watch CC for many seasons, he's better than all of those, other than Santana and probably on the same level as Halladay.

[wwharton]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Joe Mauer at the age of 25 has two seasons under his belt with at least a .400 OBP. In Johnny Bench's entire career, he never had one season with a .400 OBP. Neither did Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra or Ivan Rodriguez. Even though BA is misleading, he still has two batting titles to his name already as a catcher. That's absolute insane.

The only two catchers in history who can compare to Mauer in terms of hitting at the same point in their careers are Mike Piazza, the greatest hitting catcher ever, and Mickey Cochrane, the best hitting catcher until Piazza came around.

Mauer is the best catcher to come into baseball since Piazza and he's miles ahead of him when it comes to fielding and working pitchers. That's why he's so highly regarded.

1. He's a catcher.

2. He's a catcher.

3. He's a catcher.

Look at his stats, compare him to other catchers, and it's not even close. There are less than a handful of catchers that hit like Mauer. So, he doesn't have power. He's good defensively, he hits for average, he's got an amazing eye, and he does it all while catching 140 games.

Did I mention he's a catcher?

Maybe if the question was the best "catcher" in the game. Mauer's a very good catcher but he's HARDLY among the best players. That question should erase position from the equation and he doesn't stack up when you do that. And the more detailed question by the OP which was about players worth watching, he also doesn't stack up. He'd be a great catcher if he hit .216 but instead he's Wade Boggs with catching skills. Just doesn't fit on the list.

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Maybe if the question was the best "catcher" in the game. Mauer's a very good catcher but he's HARDLY among the best players. That question should erase position from the equation and he doesn't stack up when you do that. And the more detailed question by the OP which was about players worth watching, he also doesn't stack up. He'd be a great catcher if he hit .216 but instead he's Wade Boggs with catching skills. Just doesn't fit on the list.

Joe Mauer is the best catcher in baseball, that makes him one of the best players in the game. He doesn't have much power but he gets hits for contact better than just about anyone and gets on-base with the best of them, not to mention his great fielding and working pitchers better than almost every catcher in baseball at the age of 25.

[Speedy]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Joe Mauer is the best catcher in baseball, that makes him one of the best players in the game. He doesn't have much power but he gets hits for contact better than just about anyone and gets on-base with the best of them, not to mention his great fielding and working pitchers better than almost every catcher in baseball at the age of 25.

Joe Mauer is great b/c of Justin Morneau batting behind him.

[Sandman42]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Joe Mauer is great b/c of Justin Morneau batting behind him.

Joe Mauer is great because he is Joe Mauer. He could have Tony Pena hitting behind him and he would still be a great player.

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Joe Mauer is great b/c of Justin Morneau batting behind him.

Justin Morneau gets those ever important RBI's (according to you) because of Joe Mauer getting on-base in front of him.

[Speedy]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Justin Morneau gets those ever important RBI's (according to you) because of Joe Mauer getting on-base in front of him.

Boy are you argumentative.

[GSW]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

this is why baseball is great, and why this thread is so funny.

All this man asked is that hes trying to get into baseball and ho he should watch.

next thing you know 7 pages of semantics about why Ryan howard is not one of the best players in baseball

to the OP:

your going to want to follow these players (in no particular order)

Rollins,Howard,Hamels,Utley
Marlins are a pain to watch but Hanley Ramirez is good
A-Rod
David Ortiz
Manny
Pedroia
Fred Lewis
Magglio Ordonez
Miguel Cabrera
Josh hamilton
Ian Kinsler
David Wright
Adrian Gonzalez
Alex Rios
Prince Fielder
Justin Morneau

Pitchers
Tim Lincecum
Johan Santana

[Marino]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

1. He's a catcher.

2. He's a catcher.

3. He's a catcher.

Look at his stats, compare him to other catchers, and it's not even close. There are less than a handful of catchers that hit like Mauer. So, he doesn't have power. He's good defensively, he hits for average, he's got an amazing eye, and he does it all while catching 140 games.

Did I mention he's a catcher?

I'm a homer, but I would take Russell Martin over Joe Mauer. But that's just me.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

First Basemen:
1. Albert Pujols STL
2. Mark Teixeira NYY
3. Lance Berkman HOU
4. Ryan Howard PHI
5. Miguel Cabrera DET

Second Basemen:
1. Chase Utley PHI
2. Ian Kinsler TX
3. Brandon Phillips CIN
4. Dustin Pedroia BOS
5. Brian Roberts BAL

Third Basemen:
1. Alex Rodriguez NYY
2. David Wright NYM
3. Chipper Jones ATL
4. Aramis Ramirez CHC
5. Evan Longoria TB

Shortstop:
1. Hanley Ramirez FL
2. Jimmy Rollins PHI
3. Jose Reyes NYM
4. Troy Tulowitzki COL (I'll excuse you for last season)
5. Rafael Furcal LAD

Outfielders:
1. Grady Sizemore CLE
2. Josh Hamilton TX
3. Manny Ramirez LAD
4. Ryan Braun MIL
5. Carlos Quentin CHW
6. Torii Hunter LAA
7. Jason Bay BOS
8. Ichiro SEA
9. Curtis Granderson DET
10. Carlos Lee HOU
11. Corey Hart MIL
12. B.J. Upton TB
13. Hunter Pence HOU
14. Carlos Beltran NYM
15. Alex Rios TOR

Catchers:
1. Brian McCann ATL
2. Russell Martin LAD
3. Joe Mauer MIN
4. Victor Martinez CLE
5. Geovany Soto CHC

Starting Pitchers
1. Johan Santana NYM
2. Jake Peavy SD
3. C.C. Sabathia NYY
4. Brandon Webb AZ
5. Tim Lincecum SF
6. Cole Hamels PHI
7. Roy Oswalt HOU
8. Roy Halladay TOR
9. Scott Kazmir TB
10. Cliff Lee CLE

Closers:
1. Jonathan Papelbon BOS
2. Brad Lidge PHI
3. Francisco Rodriguez NYM
4. Joe Nathan MIN
5. Mariano Rivera NYY

Setup Men:
1. J.J. Putz NYM (Good enough to be a Top 5 closer)
2. Scot Shields LAA
3. Pat Neshek MIN
4. Takashi Saito BOS
5. Rafael Soriano ATL

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

How in the world is Torii Hunter the fifth best outfielder in baseball and Manny Ramirez not even in your top 15?