BA Best Tools List

[Kobalt]

Spoiler

NATIONAL LEAGUE
BEST HITTER
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2. Joey Votto, Reds
3. Jose Reyes, Mets
BEST POWER
1. Prince Fielder, Brewers
2. Mike Stanton, Marlins
3. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
BEST BUNTER
1. Michael Bourn, Astros/Braves
2. Jose Reyes, Mets
3. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT
1. Joey Votto, Reds
2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
3. Prince Fielder, Brewers
BEST Hit-AND-RUN ARTIST
1. Placido Polanco, Phillies
2. Martin Prado, Braves
3. Freddy Sanchez, Giants
BEST BASERUNNER
1. Michael Bourn, Astros
2. Jose Reyes, Mets
3. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
FASTEST BASERUNNER
1. Michael Bourn, Astros/Braves
2. Jose Reyes, Mets
3. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
MOST EXCITING PLAYER
1. Jose Reyes, Mets
2 (tie). Matt Kemp, Dodgers
2 (tie). Albert Pujols, Cardinals
BEST PITCHER
1. Roy Halladay, Phillies
2. Jair Jurrjens, Braves
3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
BEST FASTBALL
1. Aroldis Chapman, Reds
2. Craig Kimbrel, Braves
3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
BEST CURVEBALL
1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
2. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals
3. Tommy Hanson, Braves
BEST SLIDER
1. Carlos Marmol, Cubs
2 (tie). Roy Halladay, Phillies
2 (tie). Sergio Romo, Giants
BEST CHANGEUP
1. Cole Hamels, Phillies
2. Tim Lincecum, Giants
2. Shaun Marcum, Brewers
BEST CONTROL
1. Roy Halladay, Phillies
2. Cliff Lee, Phillies
3. Jeff Karstens, Pirates
BEST PICKOFF MOVE
1. Clayton Richard, Padres
2. Chris Capuano, Brewers
3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
BEST RELIEVER
1. Brian Wilson, Giants
2 (tie). Joel Hanrahan, Pirates
2 (tie). Craig Kimbrel, Braves
BEST DEFENSIVE CATCHER
1. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
2. Carlos Ruiz, Phillies
3. Brian McCann, Braves
BEST DEFENSiVE 1B
1. Joey Votto, Reds
2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
3. Todd Helton, Rockies
BEST DEFENSiVE 2B
1. Brandon Phillips, Reds
2 (tie). Omar Infante, Marlins
2 (tie). Neil Walker, Pirates
BEST DEFENSIVE 3B
1. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
2. Placido Polanco, Phillies
3. Scott Rolen, Reds
BEST DEFENSIVE SS
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
2. Jose Reyes, Mets
3. Alex Gonzalez, Braves
BEST INFIELD ARM
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
2. Jose Reyes, Mets
3. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers/Cardinals
BEST DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER
1. Michael Bourn, Astros/Braves
2. Shane Victorino, Phillies
3. Chris Young, Diamondbacks
BEST OUTFIELD ARM
1. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
2. Rick Ankiel, Nationals
3. Jay Bruce, Reds
BEST MANAGER
1. Bruce Bochy, Giants
2. Tony La Russa, Cardinals
3. Clint Hurdle, Pirates

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/best-tools/2011/2612212.html

Spoiler

AMERICAN LEAGUE
BEST Hitter
1. Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
3. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
BEST POWER
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
2 (tie). Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2 (tie). Josh Hamilton, Rangers
BEST BUNTER
1. Brett Gardner, Yankees
2. Juan Pierre, White Sox
3. Erick Aybar, Angels
BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT
1. Bobby Abreu, Angels
2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
3. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST
1. Derek Jeter, Yankees
2. Erick Aybar, Angels
3. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
BEST BASERUNNER
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
2. Elvis Andrus, Rangers
3. Brett Gardner, Yankees
FASTEST BASERUNNER
1. Brett Gardner, Yankees
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
3. Peter Bourjos, Angels
MOST EXCITING PLAYER
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
2 (tie). Josh Hamilton, Rangers
2 (tie). Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
BEST PITCHER
1. Justin Verlander, Tigers
2. Jered Weaver, Angels
3. C.C. Sabathia, Yankees
BEST FASTBALL
1. Justin Verlander, Tigers
2. Felix Hernandez, Mariners
3. Daniel Bard, Red Sox
BEST CURVEBALL
1. Justin Verlander, Tigers
2. Gio Gonzalez, Athletics
3. Josh Beckett, Red Sox
BEST SLIDER
1. Felix Hernandez, Mariners
2. C.C. Sabathia, Yankees
3. Jered Weaver, Angels
BEST CHANGEUP
1. James Shields, Rays
2. Jered Weaver, Angels
3. Justin Verlander, Tigers
BEST CONTROL
1. Jered Weaver, Angels
2. Dan Haren, Angels
3. Josh Tomlin, Indians
BEST PICKOFF MOVE
1. Mark Buehrle, White Sox
2. James Shields, Rays
3. Justin Verlander, Tigers
BEST RELIEVER
1. Mariano Rivera, Yankees
2. Kyle Farnsworth, Rays
3. Daniel Bard, Red Sox
BEST DEFENSIVE CATCHER
1. Matt Wieters, Orioles
2. Joe Mauer, Twins
3. Alex Avila, Tigers
BEST DEFENSiVE 1B
1. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
2. Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
3. Casey Kotchman, Rays
BEST DEFENSiVE 2B
1. Robinson Cano, Yankees
2. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
3. Ian Kinsler, Rangers
BEST DEFENSIVE 3B
1. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
2. Evan Longoria, Rays
3. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
BEST DEFENSIVE SS
1. Elvis Andrus, Rangers
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
3. Erick Aybar, Angels
BEST INFIELD ARM
1. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
2. Erick Aybar, Angels
3. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
BEST DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER
1. Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners
2. Adam Jones, Orioles
3. Shin-Soo Choo, Indians
BEST OUTFIELD ARM
1. Shin-Soo Choo, Indians
2. Jeff Francoeur, Royals
3. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
BEST MANAGER
1. Mike Scioscia, Angels
2. Ron Gardenhire, Twins
3. Joe Maddon, Rays

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/best-tools/2011/2612213.html

Thoughts?

Spoiler

-I'll probably add Gerardo Parra as top 3 OF arms in the game. He's a LF with a RF's arm. He has a cannon and is also very accurate.
-I'll think Lincecum's changeup is better than Hamels'. It's not a knock on Hamels at all.
-I don't think Jose Bautista is the most exciting player.
-Can't find Alcides Escobar in top 3 AL SS list.
-Best relievers are Mo, Farnsworth, and Bard?
-A-Rod is top 3 defensive 3rd baseman...... ok..... never he knew had a had a high UZR.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: BA Best Tools List

Some of the picks are questionable, like Mac being the third best defensive catcher, and Jurrjens being the second best pitcher.

Interesting.

[CabreraMVP]

Re: BA Best Tools List

Is this just for this season?

[TCM]

Re: BA Best Tools List

So Kyle Farnsworth and Daniel Bard over Jose Valverde? No way.

And Kevin Youkilis 3rd best strikezone judgement... Just LOL

[snepp]

Re: BA Best Tools List

So much awfulness.

The lack of any context for the selections makes it even worse.

[55]

Re: BA Best Tools List

A few of those selections are iffy at best, but it was nice to see that GloveBot made the list of best defensive 1st basemen in the AL.

[Kruza]

Re: BA Best Tools List

So Kyle Farnsworth and Daniel Bard over Jose Valverde? No way.

The only argument that I see against Jose Valverde in not being named the best reliever for the AL is that he has given up quite a few runs in non-save situations which affects his ERA and also likely counted against his chances of Baseball America determining who they think is the best reliever. But anyone who were to look deeper into this situation to find this out would know that Valverde has clearly been the AL's best closer this season when it comes to pitching in strictly save situations.

Kruza

[jt45]

Re: BA Best Tools List

Jeff Karstens as the 3rd best pitcher in the NL???

[snepp]

Re: BA Best Tools List

The only argument that I see against Jose Valverde in not being named the best reliever for the AL is that he has given up quite a few runs in non-save situations which affects his ERA and also likely counted against his chances of Baseball America determining who they think is the best reliever. But anyone who were to look deeper into this situation to find this out would know that Valverde has clearly been the AL's best closer this season when it comes to pitching in strictly save situations.

Papelbon's "clutchy" numbers suggest he's been just as good, if not slightly better in the biggest spots.

[duke776]

Re: BA Best Tools List

Jeff Karstens as the 3rd best pitcher in the NL???

They have him as the 3rd best control in the NL. Not the 3rd best pitcher (whom they say is Clayton Kershaw). This season he is currently 3rd in BB/9 of all NL qualified pitchers with a 1.65 (just above Cole Hamel's 1.67). I'm not saying I agree, but I figured I'd just throw it out there.