Joe Posnanski's Top 100 MLB players

2009-11-12T11:50:25-05:00

SI.com's Joe Posnanski ranked <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/07/21/top.100/index.html" target="_blank">his top 100 baseball players</a> in the game today. Here are his top 25: 1. Albert Pujols, first base 2. Joe Mauer, catcher 3. Hanley Ramirez, shortstop 4. Zack Greinke, starting pitcher 5. Chase Utley, second base 6. Alex Rodriguez, third base 7. Tim Lincecum, starting pitcher 8. Dan Haren, starting pitcher 9. Johan Santana, starting pitcher 10. Roy Halladay, starting pitcher 11. Prince Fielder, first base 12. Carlos Beltran, center field 13. Ryan Braun, corner outfield 14. Justin Morneau, first base 15. Evan Longoria, third base 16. Kevin Youkilis, first base 17. Mark Teixeira, first base 18. Miguel Cabrera, first base 19. Manny Ramirez, corner outfield 20. Ichiro Suzuki, corner outfield 21. Felix Hernandez, starting pitcher 22. Adrian Gonzalez, first base 23. Derek Jeter, shortstop 24. Josh Beckett, starting pitcher 25. Pablo Sandoval, third base For Posnanski's complete list and an explanation of his rankings, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/07/21/top.100/index.html">click here</a>. So, what do you think? Who's ranked too high? Who's ranked too low? Who was inexplicably left off the list entirely? Let your voice be heard below. Joe Posnanski's Top 100 MLB players

2009-07-22T11:21:31-04:00

469

2009-07-22T11:21:31-04:00

2009-08-26T23:39:37-04:00

worldchampions35

Cherry Hill 835960

472 Ryan Howard is way too low at 32. He has carried the Phillies on his back at times every year. He is a former rookie of the year and MVP and led the league in home runs and RBI's last year. He could do so again with his normal hot September. 6639130

2009-08-26T23:38:25-04:00

worldchampions35

Cherry Hill 835960

471 Ryan Howard at 32? There are not 31 players better than him. He has carried the Phillies on his back at times every season and is a former rookie of the year and MVP. He led the leagues in home runs and RBI's last year and could very well do so again with his usual great September. 6639177

2009-07-30T22:29:56-04:00

Ultimate Phillies Phan

Allentown 820595

472 Hanley ramirez in the top 10 above utley, manny, ichiro? C'mon. He's not that good. If it wasn't for injuries, I would be complaining that reyes wasn't top 10. And since we're talking about now, why isn't victorino in at least the top 50? I think he should be higher considering he's hitting over .300 and he has the third most hits in the national league. Also, a-rod top 10? I don't think so. He's barely batting .200! If we're talking about this season, I don't think it's fair to even put him in the top 75. In his career he's easily top 5, but not this season. 6302019

2009-07-27T17:39:35-04:00

WahoosKent

Fort Collins 819096

471 Not a bad list, but I'd take Troy Tulowitzki over Yunel Escobar. I think their offenses are similar but Tulo's defense outshines Yuni's. Their offensive numbers are similar (Tulo vs. Escobar): OPS .839 vs .847, HR 18 vs 11, RBI 46 vs 58, except for avg .256 vs .304 (edge to Escobar) and steals 13 vs 3 (edge to Tulo). But Tulo is better across the board defensively (again Tulo vs Escobar): assists 276 vs 249, errors 5 vs 11, double plays 55 vs 41, fielding pct .988 vs .970 and range factor 4.83 vs 4.53. 6249782

2009-07-27T17:31:12-04:00

WahoosKent

Fort Collins 819096

470 Not too bad a list. But I'd take Tulowitzki over Escobar. Their offensive numbers are similar (Tulo to Escobar): OPS .839 vs .847, HR 18 vs 11, RBI 46 vs 58; except for avg .256 vs .304 (edge to Escobar) and steals 13 vs 3 (edge to Tulo). But look at their defensive numbers (again Tulo to Escobar): assists 276 vs 249, errors 5 vs 11, double plays 55 vs 41, fielding pct .988 vs .970, and range factor 4.83 vs 4.53. 6249643

2009-07-27T16:02:21-04:00

SoxArmy

Orland Park 621685

469 Didn't have much of a problem with the list until I saw Javier Vazquez on it. When has that guy pitched well when it really mattered? Yes, he's having a statistically superlative year, and yes, he has always had some of the best stuff in the game. But we're talking about a guy with a roughly .500 career record and a lifetime ERA well over 4.00. His performance last year down the stretch nearly cost the White Sox the AL Central, and despite massive run support in 2006, he couldn't even manage a .500 record. The one year with the Sox he did well? 2007, when they were completely out of contention and there was no pressure to perform. The "Silent Assassin" kills nothing but the hopes and dreams of contending teams and their fans. 6248002

2009-07-26T19:33:24-04:00

scottb10

No City 818609

468 this is the most irresponsible sports journalism I've ever seen....Halladay as the fifth best pitcher in the game isnt close. he's maybe #2 (i'd say 1b) at worst (Lincecum 1a). And Cole Hamels not on the list?? I assume you forgot about him but if so than you shouldnt be putting a list like this together.....I'd be ambarrassed. 6237064

2009-07-26T19:31:51-04:00

scottb10

No City 818609

467 Halladay the fifth best pitcher in the game based on what?? That is absolutely outlandish and irresponsible of you. The guy has been the best pitcher and continues to be the best pitcher in the game with the possible exception of Lincecum....Grienke and Johan ahead of Doc is absurd.....and no Cole Hamels?? I assume that you just forgot about him but if that's the case than you need not put together a list like this....this is the most irresponsible professional writing I've ever witnessed bar none. 6237061

2009-07-26T15:23:52-04:00

mforshee8625

Minneapolis 818508

466 Muaer #2...he's not even the best player on his own team. Morneau is the MVP of the twins and is a gem defensively. Morneau is top 5 or ten in every hitting statistic in MLB. Mauer is having a great year and he's FINALLY showing he can hit more than a single but he doesn't scare anyone like Morneau does. 6235190

2009-07-24T16:25:51-04:00

twentysecs

No City 817627

456 I agree this list is something to desired and I am phillies fan and you have a lot on there. Jason Werth over Cole Hammels really. Really my argument is Matt Cain over Hammels the guy was the mvp of the series. If you are giving Johan a break on the first half I think Hammels has to be at least on the list. 6222761

2009-07-25T16:23:02-04:00

1075

kook58

Hoboken 420222

I agree this list is something to desired and I am phillies fan and you have a lot on there. Jason Werth over Cole Hammels really. Really my argument is Matt Cain over Hammels the guy was the mvp of the series. If you are giving Johan a break on the first half I think Hammels has to be at least on the list.

465 i find it very funny that you are defending a guy, but you cant even spell his last name correctly. its "hamels" with one m. not hammels. some phillies fan you are. 6229415

469

SI.com's Joe Posnanski ranked <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/07/21/top.100/index.html" target="_blank">his top 100 baseball players</a> in the game today. Here are his top 25: 1. Albert Pujols, first base 2. Joe Mauer, catcher 3. Hanley Ramirez, shortstop 4. Zack Greinke, starting pitcher 5. Chase Utley, second base 6. Alex Rodriguez, third base 7. Tim Lincecum, starting pitcher 8. Dan Haren, starting pitcher 9. Johan Santana, starting pitcher 10. Roy Halladay, starting pitcher 11. Prince Fielder, first base 12. Carlos Beltran, center field 13. Ryan Braun, corner outfield 14. Justin Morneau, first base 15. Evan Longoria, third base 16. Kevin Youkilis, first base 17. Mark Teixeira, first base 18. Miguel Cabrera, first base 19. Manny Ramirez, corner outfield 20. Ichiro Suzuki, corner outfield 21. Felix Hernandez, starting pitcher 22. Adrian Gonzalez, first base 23. Derek Jeter, shortstop 24. Josh Beckett, starting pitcher 25. Pablo Sandoval, third base For Posnanski's complete list and an explanation of his rankings, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/07/21/top.100/index.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. So, what do you think? Who's ranked too high? Who's ranked too low? Who was inexplicably left off the list entirely? Let your voice be heard below. 71021

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