Best Baseball Player?

[TedWilliams101]

Pujols is the best hitter in baseball. Period. Maybe he'll turn into the best ever. He also plays above average first. What more can you ask for? He hits for really high average, insane power, has great plate coverage and pitch selection, walks a s*** load, has one of the most rediculous walk-strike out ratios ever, gets RBI and is arguably the most clutch hitter in baseball. I would be suprised if this guy doesn't win tripple crown at least once in the next 5 years. He's that good.

[Cityofchampions33]

Pujols is the best hitter in baseball. Period. Maybe he'll turn into the best ever. He also plays above average first. What more can you ask for?

 

speed?

[TheKilo]

speed?

 

What 1B has speed?

[Cityofchampions33]

What 1B has speed?

 

We're talkin best overall player in the majors here. Not just 1B, even though Derrek Lee topped off 05 with 15 bags. But don't get me wrong, Pujols would be my first pick to build any franchise around.

[TedWilliams101]

Why is it necessary that Pujols be speedy? And sorry, but he can steal a base when he wants, as he stole 16 bases in 05. But realistically, how many opertunities do you have to steal a bag if you always slug over .600? I'm pretty sure you can't steal a bag if the pitch went over the fence or your standing at second with a double.

[ORS]

It isn't necessary that he be speedy. That said, this thread is about the best baseball player. That means every tool of a baseball player should be in the discussion. If we were just talking about the best 1B, then it's Pujols and we move on. But, due to his relative lack of speed, he can't play certain positions, and guys that can hit near his level while playing those positions earn consideration in the discussion. This isn't even a debate if it's just 1B or just at the plate. However, there is more to the game.

[TedWilliams101]

I know, but I don't think it is necessary that he is the fastest player. Thats not the type of player he is. You don't need your power hitters swiping bases. You need them driving in runs, and no one does it better than Pujols. Just look at fantasy rankings. The entire point of that is getting the best players possible. There is a reason why Pujols is the #1 ranked fantasy player.

[ORS]

I know' date=' but I don't think it is necessary that he is the fastest player. Thats not the type of player he is. You don't need your power hitters swiping bases. You need them driving in runs, and no one does it better than Pujols. Just look at fantasy rankings. The entire point of that is getting the best players possible. There is a reason why Pujols is the #1 ranked fantasy player.[/quote']

I know that's not the type of player he is, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a weakness. When discussing who is the best overall baseball player, you have to include both the strengths and weaknesses of the player in question.

 

Oh, and at the fantasy rankings as proof.

[Cityofchampions33]

I know that's not the type of player he is, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a weakness. When discussing who is the best overall baseball player, you have to include both the strengths and weaknesses of the player in question.

 

Oh, and at the fantasy rankings as proof.

 

lol, yeah, suprisingly jose reyes and ryan howard both ahd more fantasy points last year than Pujols. That said, Pujols will be perhaps the greatest hitter we have ever seen. I mean he's not even 28, and has been great since his first season.

[BudLight]

I would have to throw Miguel Cabrera into consideration. His BA, SLG and OBP continue to increase each year, he is versatile defensively (OF and 3B) and plays for a pretty lousy team.

[Cityofchampions33]

I would have to throw Miguel Cabrera into consideration. His BA' date=' SLG and OBP continue to increase each year, he is versatile defensively (OF and 3B) and plays for a pretty lousy team.[/quote']

 

Thats why I said Grady Sizemore. A lotta runs, a lotta hits, lotta doubles, lotta triples, good amount of HRs, same with SBs, decent average and OBP, and a great OPS

[Mr Crunchy]

cabrerra is outstanding and deserves some consideration

vladdy was a 5 tool superstar who may have been a 50/50 guy on a better offensive team

pujols #s are staggering

but i dont think hes a better hitter than our own manny

bonds was the best all around ball player ive ever seen

 

the best today?

ichiro is the best all around player in the game and it isnt recognized because he plays in seattle

he runs hits throws and catches and is the favorite in the home run derby every year believe it or not

 

that said

if ryan howard keeps popping 50+ a year he will get some consideration too

[TedWilliams101]

Ichiro a favorite in the homerun derby... AHAHAHAHAH. Your telling me he's a favorite over Ortiz, Howard, etc etc. Wow, thats one of the most funny things I read in a while.

[Mr Crunchy]

yes

i am telling you flat out honest to god on my childrens eyes that las vegas makes ichiro the favorite in the home run derby.

 

are you a gambling man ted?

[TheKilo]

Grady Sizemore is a good player, but he shouldn't be in this discussion.

[Mr Crunchy]

that cleveland team really had a letdown year

[Cityofchampions33]

Grady Sizemore is a good player' date=' but he shouldn't be in this discussion.[/quote']

 

I don't see why not, he is good to great in almost every category that he is involved in. He's good defensively, and a 5 tool player. I'd say Jose Reyes but he's a bit on the downside defensively.

Didn't ESPN say somehting about him as well?

[Sox143]

I would say David Ortiz but you never know what will happen thsi season

[Cityofchampions33]

Here it is:

In 2006, Grady Sizemore led the American League in runs scored (134), doubles (53) and extra-base hits (92). Granted, 92 extra-base hits isn't as impressive as it once was. In 1995, Albert Belle became the first American Leaguer since 1940 to top 90 extra-base hits, but since then it's been done nine times in 11 seasons.

 

What's really impressive is the sort of player Sizemore is: powerful enough to collect 92 extra-base hits and speedy enough to bat leadoff. In fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, those 92 long hits were the highest total for a major league leadoff man since at least 1957. Also last season, Sizemore became the second player in major league history to finish with at least 50 doubles (actually 53), 10 triples (11), 20 homers (28) and 20 steals (22) in the same season. The first was Phillies outfielder Chuck Klein, who played in the 1930s, and his home ballpark was the prototypical bandbox.

[TedWilliams101]

I heard that Ichiro has been asked to join in on the homerun derby but has opted out, but I just can't take any one serious who thinks he is a homerun derby favorite. Have you seen the type of damage Abreu, Ortiz, Tejada, and Howard have done recently, just to name a few. They are power hitters with power swings. Ichiro isn't a power hitter, nor does he have enough actual power to contest with the big guys. Sure, he can hit homers, but he doesn't have the same type of strength, stamina, and pure homer swing that the others do, simply cause thats what they do. Oh, and yes, I am a gambling man. Smart gambling man, as in I play lots of poker, winning poker. I don't lose money gambling when I can't get an edge and have a positive expected value return on my money.

[Cityofchampions33]

I heard that Ichiro has been asked to join in on the homerun derby but has opted out' date=' but I just can't take any one serious who thinks he is a homerun derby favorite. Have you seen the type of damage Abreu, Ortiz, Tejada, and Howard have done recently, just to name a few. They are power hitters with power swings. Ichiro isn't a power hitter, nor does he have enough actual power to contest with the big guys. Sure, he can hit homers, but he doesn't have the same type of strength, stamina, and pure homer swing that the others do, simply cause thats what they do. Oh, and yes, I am a gambling man. Smart gambling man, as in I play lots of poker, winning poker. I don't lose money gambling when I can't get an edge and have a positive expected value return on my money.[/quote']

 

Ive actually heard about Ichiro entering. He supposedly has the power but just doens't try and use it, favoring instead to just get on base. IMO, he could knock out a few with just his great hand-eye coordination alone.

[TedWilliams101]

Yes, but I don't think he has the pure strength and stamina to hit 10 jacks, sit down, then get up hit a ton more, sit down, get up and hit more. Power hitters are bred that way, they train to build strenth and stamina to knock lots of balls out of the park. Ichiro, however, doesn't. Sure he can hit homers, but I certainly don't think he could hit more in 3 rounds than some of the big power hitters.

[Cocos Disciples]

Ive actually heard about Ichiro entering. He supposedly has the power but just doens't try and use it' date=' favoring instead to just get on base. IMO, he could knock out a few with just his great hand-eye coordination alone.[/quote']

 

Yeah, I've heard he knocks em out at will in BP.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yes' date=' but I don't think he has the pure strength and stamina to hit 10 jacks, sit down, then get up hit a ton more, sit down, get up and hit more. Power hitters are bred that way, they train to build strenth and stamina to knock lots of balls out of the park. Ichiro, however, doesn't. Sure he can hit homers, but I certainly don't think he could hit more in 3 rounds than some of the big power hitters.[/quote']

 

a hard swing is a hard swing, and the difference in endurance isn't going to be monumental. Plus Ichiro's unique swing where he uses his entire body plus his enhanched ability to see and hit the ball (eye coordination) could make up for this. I'm not saying he'll win, but I'd be very interested to see him in a HR Derby, and see how he performs.

[ORS]

The thing about the big guys in the HR derby is they aren't just trying to poke one out, they are going for the oooh/aahhh moonshots. I remember hearing something similar about Boggs, and it makes perfect sense. Those guys have such good hand-eye coordination that they can square up the ball every time, so I'd be weary of betting against them.

[BoSox34]

I would say David Ortiz but you never know what will happen thsi season

 

Thanks for the insight.

[TedWilliams101]

I wouldn't ever put my money on Iricho in a HR derby when Ortiz, Howard, etc were competing.

[Mr Crunchy]

you dont have to bet on ichiro winning the hr derby or take me seriously but im giving you the truth.

im telling you that when the odds for the hr derby came out that ichiro suzuki was favored over everyone,including abreu ortiz howard manny bonds pujols,all of em....

 

i have no clue on how they handicap batting practice homeruns but rest assured,they do

and

i understand that ichiro doesnt hit for much power during the season

 

wade boggs is a perfect analogy

he took a lot of s*** for not hitting with power despite hitting .350 every year

1 year he decided to hit for power and whacked 25? while hitting .360

the next year he went back to being a 5 hr guy while still hitting .360

 

i dont know why the odds makers made ichiro a favorite but they did none the less

[DiceK]

come on guys...we all know it's sammy sosa.

[adam123]

Best player right now gotta be big papi ... How many clutch hit does he have to get . I undestand he does not play the field but if you need a hit or homer i will take him anyday even over pujoles