4. David Wright (3B) — New York Mets
Wright was the only shiny September spot for the Mets last year. Had the team not collapsed as it did, he might have garnered at least one first place vote in the MVP balloting. And by the way, how many third basemen do you know had 30-30 seasons?
5. Curtis Granderson (CF) — Detroit Tigers
He starts the season on the disabled list, but I don’t think anyone doubts he’ll push for another seat in the 20-20-20-20 club (2B-3B-HR-SB). Here’s a scary fact, the only single digit number on his 2007 stat sheet is his CS (caught stealing)… at 1.
Honorable Mention
Jimmy Rollins (SS) — Philadelphia Phillies: The reigning National League MVP never seemed to the get the same attention for being a 20-20-20-20 player as Granderson did.
Chase Utley (2B) — Philadelphia Phillies: Had an MVP-caliber year last season despite missing the final month. Will be MVP come October.
Joe Mauer (C) — Minnesota Twins: His career high for games played is 140 in 2006. Will he ever reach that again?
Vladimir Guerrero (RF) – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: I still flinch every time he swings a bat. I couldn’t imagine pitching to him.
Jose Reyes (SS) – New York Mets: I guess you’d have to see this guy live to be as enamored as Peter Gammons is.
Grady Sizemore (CF) — Cleveland Indians: He falls in the same category as Reyes. Needs to bounce back if he wants to keep in Gammons’ good graces.
Troy Tulowitzki (SS) — Colorado Rockies: I haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, but I will if he explodes this year.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Hmm. Granderson isn't even the best Detroit Tiger.
2 - Tony
I'm sorry but this is a pretty crazy list. An .820 OPS is horrible. That doesn't even put Crawford in the top 40!
Plus, throughout this article you completely ignored .OBP which is crucial.
You're spot on with David Wright and A-Rod. Otherwise H. Ramirez was 33rd in OBP and 17th in OPS. He's going to very good but top 5? no way.
On your honerable mentions Troy isn't even the best player on the Rockies; what about Matt Holiday?
Also no Ryan Howard with his .392 OBP and .976 OPS or Prince Fielder with his 1.013 .OPS and .395 OBP.?
Even Maggs from Detroit had a .434 OBP, hit .363 and had an OPS of 1.029.
And I love Granderson. I think the kid is completely the truth and will be a star but he had one year. Albert Pujols, while injured a lot last year, still was in the top 5 in most offensive categories and you can't discount his amazing career if you're saying top five in baseball period.
I think maybe you should rethink this one but well written article. Great to be debating baseball again!
3 - Tan The Man
I ignored Troy since he's only had one full season under his belt. I let Hanley have at least two...
I guess I should have fleshed out the reasons for my picks a bit more, but I wanted to cherry pick a few that I thought were more worthy. These picks also kind of based on athleticism too, and I'm sorry but there's usually a reason why certain players are first basemen.
A quick note about Howard's stats, the .392 OBP and .976 OPS are high despite his 199 Ks. It's scary to think how much bigger those numbers would be if he worked harder on pitch recognition.
4 - Braxton
Yeah this list is nuts...maybe you mis-titled it. It could be "Who I think will be the best players in 3-5 years" That "might" work for this article. Otherwise your missing Holliday, Howard, Cabrera. Also your links are broken....
5 - enrique
you dont know what you are talking about. where is howard, fielder, beltran, ichiro, jeter, ortiz, they either gotta be in ur honorable mentions or the top 5.
6 - nyla
i like your reading and you are a rock star and just keep up with base ball nice meating you and bye
7 - Tim
Pujols is the top dog. I don't even think it can be argued against. For him not to be in the top 5 or even the honorable mention is the most ridiculus thing I've ever seen.
Although everyone mentioned on your list is a really good player, there are several who just flat out don't belong. Nothing against Troy Tulowitski, but he is out of place here. Crawford and Granderson are by no means MVP canidates and may not even make the all-star game.
Here's my top 5 list in somewhat of an order:
1.) Albert Pujols
2.) Alex Rodriguez
3.) Chase Utley
4.) Vladimir Guerrero
5.) David Wright
My honorable mentions would be something like:
Jimmy Rollins
Matt Holliday
Grady Sizemore
Jose Reyes
a few others
8 - the tan man
This is the stupidest shit i have ever seen.
9 - wud up
are you kidding me????? you know nothing aabout baseball!!! where the heck is pujos?!?!?! he is better than every one of those guys you listed. he is starting better than a-rod did in his career! i cant see how he isnt even on honorable mention. you are an idiot!!! he will break the homrun record which a-rod will prolly break and pujols will break that too!!! pujols is just amazing and its not only hitting his defense is great!!! he won a gold glove last year. wow dont write an article if you dont even have good facts!
10 - dean
without pujols on it (at the top) and some of the names you do list-it is pretty obvious you are not a baseball fan. please pick a sport to pontificate on that you actually know something about.
11 - t bone
it's pujols...if you don't know this then you know nothing about baseball
12 - mason
wow this is horrible pujols is first
13 - John
I agree with most people here...I scanned down the list to see where you had Pujols(and never saw his name).So then I thought maybe I mis read the title...this list is bull shit and totally mistaken.