Top 50 Players Per Sporting News

An interesting list in the Sporting News of the top 50 players in the game, voted by Hall of Famers, etc. Grady at 12, Cliff at 43 and Victor at 45.

over 2 years ago odradek 11 comments 0 recs |

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I hate lists. They are such a lame way to generate controversy and "discussion’.

I mean, Jeter at 8 and Miggy Cabrera at 28. SHOCK/OUTRAGE

by Toxicadam on May 21, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

terrible list. I don’t see how you can take a closer over someone like Grady or David Wright (I know Rivera is all kinds of awesome, but he’s still a reliever).

also, Mauer at 39? When will people realize he’s one of the best players in baseball?

by JP_Frost on May 21, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

When he signs a free agent deal with the Yankees.

by FredOx on May 21, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I think injuries and a lack of definitive power keep people from putting Mauer in the elite category.

Juan Salas: Smartest man in baseball?

by emd2k3 on May 21, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Bingo.

419 days until the USS Choo is deployed to fight Communism.

by USSChoo on May 21, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Mauer isn’t ranked higher because people don’t know how to properly value players at different positions. Mauer hitting like he does at catcher makes him much more valuable than Morneau hitting like he does at first base (for example). Rob Neyer and other sabremetric writers constantly mention Mauer as one of the top 5-10 players in the game because they understand how to properly measure value.

by Buckeye Brad on May 21, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

depending on what criteria they are using, i can see it. . .

i mean, if they’re asking who is the best right now, or going forward, then it makes no sense

but mo was so instrumental to those yankees’ world championships. . . and has been the best reliever in baseball for more than a decade. it kind of makes sense.

by Cap'n Snegiryov on May 21, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

50 greatest players in baseball today

I think it’s pretty clear they mean the 50 best players in baseball right now. And Rivera is a Hall of Famer for sure, but no closer can ever be called one of the 10 best players in baseball. They just don’t pitch enough innings to be that valuable. A great starting pitcher is always, always, always better than a great closer.

by Buckeye Brad on May 21, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions