Who are the best players in the game?

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

That's where we stand with Howard. Sure, he can hit a bunch of bombs, but all we're saying is that the media and fans overrate his homerun ability to the point that they ignore his deficiencies which include striking out a bunch of times, not taking as many walks as he should, not hitting for .300 or close to league average, and playing terrible defense at 1B. He is, again, a one-tool player. A damn fine one-tool player, but a one-tool player nonetheless.

There are two players on his team that are better than him. I could argue all day that they are light years better, but I won't because that would go no where. I will say they are better. And instead, they get pushed to the side because they don't hit 40+ homeruns or change the game with one swing. No, all they do is change the game everytime they bat up. It's never enough because fans and the media don't pay attention to the other things that affect the final score. If it's not 400 feet, it's just another at-bat.

Oh, and my only real hope through all of this is for every Ryan Howard fan to acknowledge that Adam Dunn is at the very least his equal (really, Dunn is a better player, but again, I'm smart enough to know that going there would just be an endless argument). Until that happens, I won't stop running in here screaming it.

Howard is actually right around league average for fielding among first basemen. Other than that, I completely agree. He is a one-tool player. Dunn is a better hitter than Howard right now, absolutely.

[JBH3]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Howard is actually right around league average for fielding among first basemen. Other than that, I completely agree. He is a one-tool player. Dunn is a better hitter than Howard right now, absolutely.

Howard has come to spring training having shed about 20/25 pounds, and his knocking the cover off the ball hitting w/ 5 HRs and 13 RBIs.

2006 here we come...something that Dunn, and few are capable of.

[CMH]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Losing the weight is definitely a move in the right direction. And I have read that he is working extra hard on his fielding.

There is one thing about Howard that I do like and that's his aptitude to improve. I don't think he enjoys striking out 150 times a year. But, he knows that fielding was one of his biggest weaknesses and it's good to know that's he has worked hard to improve.

I would love to see Ryan Howard of 2006.

[P2K]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

I think the guy is an overrated player by the media and general public, when you break it down, there are quite a few better players. Including a guy on his own team.

First of all, I don't know who dkgojackets is, I signed up to get more info on MLB 09: The Show and decided to stick around after I saw more boards. On top of that, I'm not sure how you confuse using advanced statistics with being Asian, but hey, whatever makes you sleep better at night.

Huh?? Asian??? I'm lost with that one.

And can we get something straight? I agree with the OSBRSA's assessment of Howard. Are we clear on this? Okie dokie

Circling back, I just realized where you got the "Asian" thing. I said smart-ASSian wit. Not ASian. Smart-assian (as in smart-***) wit. By the way, that is a compliment in this case. All OSBRSA members are required to own this trait :wink:

[CMH]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

I am an a**hole. Glad it's becoming more obvious in OS.

[Ohpityme]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

In my opinion;

C: Russel Martin
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Chase Utley
3B: David Wright(There are players better offensively and better defensively but as a package D. Wright is the best...its not a homer pick)
SS: Jose Reyes(I consider Hanley Ramirez to be a LF...if you consider him to be a SS then feel free to put his name here)
RF: Alex Rios/Nick Markakis both are gifted fielders and only going to improve offensively.
CF: Carlos Beltran...although I concede that pretty soon if not already it will be Grady Sizemore...although I still think Beltran is better defensively.
LF: Hanley Ramirez

SP:
Roy Halladay
Brandon Webb
Johan Santana
Tim Lincecum
Cole Hamels *Ugh*

Closer: Mariano Rivera

[Brandon13]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

SS: Jose Reyes(I consider Hanley Ramirez to be a LF...if you consider him to be a SS then feel free to put his name here)

Is this rule exclusive to Hanley Ramirez or can I also consider Tim Lincecum to be the best second baseman in baseball?

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Is this rule exclusive to Hanley Ramirez or can I also consider Tim Lincecum to be the best second baseman in baseball?

Terry Francona is my favorite center fielder.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

SMH at putting Hanley Ramirez as a LF when he's never played a game there.

[CMH]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

In my opinion;

C: Russel Martin
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Chase Utley
3B: David Wright(There are players better offensively and better defensively but as a package D. Wright is the best...its not a homer pick)
SS: Jose Reyes(I consider Hanley Ramirez to be a LF...if you consider him to be a SS then feel free to put his name here)
RF: Alex Rios/Nick Markakis both are gifted fielders and only going to improve offensively.
CF: Carlos Beltran...although I concede that pretty soon if not already it will be Grady Sizemore...although I still think Beltran is better defensively.
LF: Hanley Ramirez

SP:
Roy Halladay
Brandon Webb
Johan Santana
Tim Lincecum
Cole Hamels *Ugh*

Closer: Mariano Rivera

Your reasoning for putting Reyes over Ramirez just says homer pick. I know you say that it isn't, but it just does.

Also, I can't understand saying that there are better 3B offensively and defensively than Wright, but then he's the complete package. ??? Alex Rodriguez is already better offensively and defensively than Wright at 3B, and is more the complete player than Wright will ever be. Sorry.

[Ewing]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Also, I can't understand saying that there are better 3B offensively and defensively than Wright, but then he's the complete package. ??? Alex Rodriguez is already better offensively and defensively than Wright at 3B, and is more the complete player than Wright will ever be. Sorry.

I'd take Longoria over both just because of potential. A-Rod and Wright are superior as of today though.

[Misfit]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

I'd have to say, the normally tiresome topic of "best in the game" is actually pretty fun right now because there's a lot of guys with different skill sets.

If we're looking at potential, and just position players, obviously number 1 goes to Hanley Ramirez. The guy can run, has a great arm, and has actually improved defensively each year to the point where he was average in 2008. He has all of the tools to be a good defensive player, though he may or may not ever put it together. He only has to be average though because his swing and power potential are off the charts. A future 40-40 season seems like a sure thing, and 50-50 isn't completely out of the realm of possibility.

That's the future of course, right now its Pujols. ARod was and had a strong argument for a number of years, but Pujols has almost quietly put together the greatest start to a career ever. When I have some downtime at work and peruse stats online I sometimes go to Pujols and each time am in awe of what the guy has accomplished. The batting average statistic has been over valued since the game's inception, but we've reached an age where some are under valuing it. Guys who see spike and lows from year to year can attribute that to luck, be it good or bad. When someone maintains a career average of .334 that isn't luck, that's incredible bat control and knowledge of the strike zone. And to carry that kind of average while slugging .624 and averaging 42 homeruns per 162 games just shouldn't be possible in the post integration era. I just hope he keeps it up for a number of years so we can start talking about him as the greatest of all time. And I didn't even mention his stellar defense.

And there are a number of other players who are joy to watch for various reasons. I really like the duo in New York of Wright and Reyes, though Reyes needs to take a step forward this year if he wants to achieve greatness. Halladay is probably my favorite pitcher to watch as he just carves of lineups with surgical precision, every pitch has plus movement. Santana is also a marvel to behold when he has his stuff working. Watching him is the closest one can get to watching Pedro from the late 90's early 2000's. Sizemore is something special, and no one controls the strike zone better than Mauer and no one makes you shake your head in disbelief quite like Vlad Guerrero. Manny is still the best pure hitter in baseball, and watching him set-up a pitcher just makes you smile (unless its your pitcher he just burned). And as a Red Sox fan I'm obligated to mention that there isn't a more exciting at-bat in baseball than David Ortiz with the game on the line, though if he doesn't have a bounce-back year in '09 he'll fall off this list.

There's many other guys, but those are just my random thoughts on the subject.

[wwharton]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Great post, Misfit. That's the kind of stuff I was thinking the OP was looking for. No doubt the guys splitting hairs over stats have points for an overall discussion, but when I sit down to watch a game, THIS is the stuff I'm focused on... and I agree with all your choices there.

[jetercanoturn2]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Phil Plantier

[GOS79]

Re: Who are the best players in the game?

Hanley Ramirez !