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The Top 10 Positional Players
steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,823
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Post by steveofbradenton on Mar 1, 2015 12:28:07 GMT -5
Have you ever thought about who the best positional players are in the game currently? As funny as it may sound, when we signed Yoan Moncada, I started thinking about who if anyone we have that could be on that very short list. At one time, we had players like Nomar and Manny that may have been pretty definite, but it is a difficult list to make. Here is my Top 10 lists for the National League, the American League, and then finally the Major Leagues. I'm sure some of my selections will be questioned. Right away you will see that none of our guys make it. With respect to David Ortiz, him being a DH minimized his placement. As for Pedroia, he needs to be healthy again and put up years like he had 3 years ago.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
1) Andrew McCutchen
2) Buster Posey
3) Yadier Molina
4) Giancarlo Stanton
5) Troy Tulowitzki
6) Paul Goldschmidt
7) Ian Desmond
8) Adrian Gonzalez
9) Jonathan Lucroy
10) Joey Votto
(next and knocking on the door) Anthony Rendon and Freddie Freeman
AMERICAN LEAGUE
1) Mike Trout
2) Miguel Cabrera
3) Robinson Cano
4) Adrian Beltre
5) Jose Bautista
6) Jose Altuve
7) Adam Jones
8) Jose Abreu
9) Josh Donaldson
10) Evan Longoria
(next) Edwin Encarnacion, Michael Brantley, Manny Machado, and David Ortiz
* Victor Martinez hasn't done it year after year like Papi
** Pedy can jump in if he reverts
MAJOR LEAGUES
1) Mike Trout
2) Andrew McCutchen
3) Buster Posey
4) Yadier Molina
5) Miguel Cabrera
6) Robinson Cano
7) Adrian Beltre
8) Giancarlo Stanton
9) Troy Tulowitzki
10) Jose Altuve
In 5 years, I could see players like Xander, Moncada, Betts, and Swihart showing up. I'd love to see your lists, and maybe include what Red Sox players, in 5 years, may make the Top 10 Positional Players in the American League and maybe in the whole league
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danr
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Posts: 1,871 
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Post by danr on Mar 1, 2015 19:59:43 GMT -5
Have you ever thought about who the best positional players are in the game currently? As funny as it may sound, when we signed Yoan Moncada, I started thinking about who if anyone we have that could be on that very short list. At one time, we had players like Nomar and Manny that may have been pretty definite, but it is a difficult list to make. Here is my Top 10 lists for the National League, the American League, and then finally the Major Leagues. I'm sure some of my selections will be questioned. Right away you will see that none of our guys make it. With respect to David Ortiz, him being a DH minimized his placement. As for Pedroia, he needs to be healthy again and put up years like he had 3 years ago. NATIONAL LEAGUE1) Andrew McCutchen 2) Buster Posey 3) Yadier Molina 4) Giancarlo Stanton 5) Troy Tulowitzki 6) Paul Goldschmidt 7) Ian Desmond 8) Adrian Gonzalez 9) Jonathan Lucroy 10) Joey Votto (next and knocking on the door) Anthony Rendon and Freddie Freeman AMERICAN LEAGUE1) Mike Trout 2) Miguel Cabrera 3) Robinson Cano 4) Adrian Beltre 5) Jose Bautista 6) Jose Altuve 7) Adam Jones 8) Jose Abreu 9) Josh Donaldson 10) Evan Longoria (next) Edwin Encarnacion, Michael Brantley, Manny Machado, and David Ortiz * Victor Martinez hasn't done it year after year like Papi ** Pedy can jump in if he reverts MAJOR LEAGUES1) Mike Trout 2) Andrew McCutchen 3) Buster Posey 4) Yadier Molina 5) Miguel Cabrera 6) Robinson Cano 7) Adrian Beltre 8) Giancarlo Stanton 9) Troy Tulowitzki 10) Jose Altuve In 5 years, I could see players like Xander, Moncada, Betts, and Swihart showing up. I'd love to see your lists, and maybe include what Red Sox players, in 5 years, may make the Top 10 Positional Players in the American League and maybe in the whole league I'm not proposing an alternative because I think there are many, but Evan Longoria is not among the top 10 players in the American League. He may not be among the top 50. |
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Post by burythehammer on Mar 1, 2015 20:04:19 GMT -5
What? Are you sure you're not confusing him with Eva Longoria?
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Post by Oregon Norm on Mar 1, 2015 20:22:56 GMT -5
Longoria had a "down" year last season and was still worth over three and a half wins. He's averaged 137 games and 5.7 wins per year over his career (that's bWAR). By any measure, he's one of the best in the game. I think you're vastly underestimating the guy, Dan.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Mar 1, 2015 21:02:58 GMT -5
Yeah Longoria may be top 10 in baseball.
Also the OP may be overrating DHs, depending on your views towards them and defensive value, ect.
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Post by jmei on Mar 1, 2015 21:25:33 GMT -5
Seems high: Jose Altuve (he's a bad defender, last year's offensive production seems like a fluke), Adrian Gonzalez (he's had a sub-.820 OPS three years in a row and is just not that good).
Not mentioned and should be: Yasiel Puig (just hitting his prime, is just really good), Jason Heyward (defense matters; shouldn't rank that highly but should at least be an honorable mention), Anthony Rizzo, Bryce Harper, Kyle Seager (young players with MVP upside).
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Post by suttree on Mar 2, 2015 9:49:15 GMT -5
Trout and McCutchen are on a special tier. Then the next tier would be Posey, Gomez, Heyward, Miggy, Gordon, and Donaldson. There are a handful of others that could slot into that second tier but because of age, decline, or injury concerns I would mark them 2a like Pedroia, Cano, Zobrist, Beltre, Y. Molina, Longoria, Bautista, Votto, and Tulo. Then there are at least a dozen other players that are either just a tick below the last group like Goldy, might be a mirage like Lucroy, or haven't lived up to the hype like Harper.
And I know I'm a little bullish on Heyward, but nobody has created more value at such a young age besides Trout.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Mar 2, 2015 12:12:23 GMT -5
Well, I probably was wrong to say that Longoria might not be in the top 50, but I don't think I am wrong in saying he is not in the top ten.
He should be right at the peak of his career now, but he had a terrible season in 2014. His first four full seasons were impressive and at that point he definitely was among the elite. But he has declined in the past three seasons. I have only seen him on TV, but he doesn't look like the same hitter now as he was in the 2009-2011 period. I don't think he is scaring anyone anymore.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,823
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Post by steveofbradenton on Mar 2, 2015 14:28:32 GMT -5
Well, I probably was wrong to say that Longoria might not be in the top 50, but I don't think I am wrong in saying he is not in the top ten. He should be right at the peak of his career now, but he had a terrible season in 2014. His first four full seasons were impressive and at that point he definitely was among the elite. But he has declined in the past three seasons. I have only seen him on TV, but he doesn't look like the same hitter now as he was in the 2009-2011 period. I don't think he is scaring anyone anymore. You are totally right about Longoria's 2014 season Dan. He regressed a lot, especially at the plate. Living in this area (southwest Florida), you get to see a lot of the Rays games. I'm, of course a huge Sox fan and never root for the Rays, but Longoria is such a good all around player I have to say I enjoy watching him perform. I think we will see more of the old Longoria this year. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,823
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Post by steveofbradenton on Mar 2, 2015 14:31:29 GMT -5
I'd love to see your top 10 lists. And as I mentioned to start, get out your crystal ball and look forward to 2020. Any Sox on it?
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Post by ramireja on Mar 2, 2015 14:57:45 GMT -5
With regard to Red Sox in a top 10 AL list, I'm pretty sure my current list wouldn't include a single one. In fact, the more I think about it, I'm positive. Thats mostly a product of our proven guys (Ortiz, Pedroia) having shown some decline, and our unproven players (Betts, Castillo, Bogaerts) needing to prove more. That said, we have beautiful depth. I could see Ortiz, Hanley, OR Betts belonging to your grouping of players in an optimistic 2015. I hope Bogaerts is someday among that grouping, and I'd wager he takes a strong step in that direction this year. If Pedroia were to return to his previous offensive ways, plus his defensive value, he belongs in that conversation. The ceilings of Castillo, Napoli, Vazquez, and Sandoval are all a notch below the top 10 level guys, but still project as average to above average for their respective positions.
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Post by mgoetze on Mar 3, 2015 1:10:07 GMT -5
I prefer a "next man up" team like the New England Patriots to a "stars and scrubs" team like the Atlanta Falcons. Not having one of the top 10 position players in baseball is not something to be worried about. At all.
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Post by iakovos11 on Mar 3, 2015 8:06:33 GMT -5
I prefer a "next man up" team like the New England Patriots to a "stars and scrubs" team like the Atlanta Falcons. Not having one of the top 10 position players in baseball is not something to be worried about. At all. Not that I disagree with you. And the two sports are quite different, obviously. But Brady - easily in the top 10. At the same time he keeps restructuring for team friendlier contracts with smaller cap hits. |
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