Top 100 players of the decade

[White Knight]

1. Albert Pujols
2. Alex Rodriguez
3. Barry Bonds
4. Derek Jeter
5. Ichiro Suzuki
6. Carlos Beltran
7. Chipper Jones
8. Todd Helton
9. Roy Halladay
10. Johan Santana
11. Scott Rolen
12. Jim Edmonds
13. Manny Ramirez
14. Vladimir Guerrero
15. Jorge Posada
16. Bobby Abreu
17. Lance Berkman
18. Randy Johnson
19. Jason Giambi
20. Andruw Jones
21. Curt Schilling
22. J.D. Drew
23. Roy Oswalt
24. Mariano Rivera
25. CC Sabathia
26. Mark Buehrle
27. Jim Thome
28. Pedro Martinez
29. Javier Vazquez
30. Miguel Tejada
31. Tim Hudson
32. Johnny Damon
33. Jeff Kent
34. Gary Sheffield
35. Mike Mussina
36. Mike Cameron
37. Chase Utley
38. Carlos Delgado
39. Eric Chavez
40. Joe Mauer
41. Ivan Rodriguez
42. Roger Clemens
43. Mark Teixeira
44. Carlos Zambrano
45. Adrian Beltre
46. Placido Polanco
47. Troy Glaus
48. Barry Zito
49. Mike Lowell
50. Andy Pettitte
51. Grady Sizemore
52. Jimmy Rollins
53. David Ortiz
54. Brian Giles
55. Brandon Webb
56. David Wright
57. Miguel Cabrera
58. Derrek Lee
59. Magglio Ordonez
60. Rafael Furcal
61. Melvin Mora
62. Jake Peavy
63. Hanley Ramirez
64. Derek Lowe
65. Sammy Sosa
66. Larry Walker
67. John Lackey
68. Josh Beckett
69. Dan Haren
70. Torii Hunter
71. Ray Durham
72. Carlos Guillen
73. Greg Maddux
74. Edgar Renteria
75. Jarrod Washburn
76. Aramis Ramirez
77. Matt Holliday
78. Bartolo Colon
79. Adam Dunn
80. Randy Winn
81. Tom Glavine
82. Nomar Garciaparra
83. Cliff Floyd
84. Victor Martinez
85. Freddy Garcia
86. Vernon Wells
87. Michael Young
88. Jose Valentin
89. Tim Wakefield
90. Kevin Youkilis
91. Carl Crawford
92. Corey Koskie
93. Brad Radke
94. Chone Figgins
95. Jose Reyes
96. Kelvim Escobar
97. Frank Thomas
98. Carlos Lee
99. Kenny Rogers
100. Jamie Moyer

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=4740695

[ol' aches and pains]

Wow, I haven't had time to fully digest this, but my first impression-I'm no fan of Manny Ramirez, but how is he ranked behind Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds?

[kiluckzle]

Well at least we know Mark Buehrle (122 ERA+) was better than Pedro Martinez (152 ERA+)..

[nerfan]

What a silly list. Miguel Cabrera behind Jimmy Rollins? Pedro so low?

[White Knight]

Three replies so far and no one commented at Jeter being #4. A new record here.

[nerfan]

Three replies so far and no one commented at Jeter being #4. A new record here.

He's not #4, but he is a legitimately great player. Too bad the decade wasn't 1999-2007, 2009 though.

[White Knight]

Well at least we know Mark Buehrle (122 ERA+) was better than Pedro Martinez (152 ERA+)..

Apparently, they're taking away for time missed. Buehrle has innings over Pedro. Bonds is better than Pujols and A-Rod, but he missed two full years, otherwise surely he'd be #1.

[nerfan]

Apparently, they're taking away for time missed. Buehrle has innings over Pedro. Bonds is better than Pujols and A-Rod, but he missed two full years, otherwise surely he'd be #1.

2005 was also sort of a lost season.

[Blackout]

jim edmonds is about 5-10 slots too high

[ipitch]

I think Mr. Neyer forgot about a guy that won a ROY, an MVP (and came in 2nd, 3rd, and 5th). Ryan Howard.

[yamsi12]

Zito but no Lincecum?

[White Knight]

Zito but no Lincecum?

How could you justify putting someone who started in 2007 on that list? He's my favorite young pitcher, so here's hoping he makes the next POTD list.

[Zagi-CRO]

First of all, which criteria they have used?
it's essential question.

[bob]

Vlad and manny should be higher. Not too many 300HR, .320BA guys out there. Only Bonds, Pujols and Vlad in fact this decade.

[dgarza]

How could you justify putting someone who started in 2007 on that list?

I see no problem with such a young player making the list. I mean, there's 100 spots. Surely there's room for a 2x CY winner.

[yamsi12]

How could you justify putting someone who started in 2007 on that list? He's my favorite young pitcher, so here's hoping he makes the next POTD list.

Half the players on that list didnt play over the whole decade....Matt Holliday, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Mauer, Dan Haren, Kevin Youkilis....according to that list you just have to play in the decade sometime.

Lincecum deserves to be on it.

[White Knight]

Half the players on that list didnt play over the whole decade....Matt Holliday, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Mauer, Dan Haren, Kevin Youkilis....according to that list you just have to play in the decade sometime.

Lincecum deserves to be on it.

No he doesn't. If Babe Ruth himself started in 2007 and put up "1921" style numbers in '07, '08, and '09, even he should not make the list. It's like the HOF. I don't care who you are. If you play for just 5 years and retire due to injury, you're not going in. Just like here. Start in 2007 you're not on any POTD list.

The players on that list who didn't play the whole decade at least played before 2007. They all seen at least half of the decade if I'm correct.

[yamsi12]

No he doesn't. If Babe Ruth himself started in 2007 and put up "1921" style numbers in '07, '08, and '09, even he should not make the list. It's like the HOF. I don't care who you are. If you play for just 5 years and retire due to injury, you're not going in. Just like here. Start in 2007 you're not on any POTD list.

The players on that list who didn't play the whole decade at least played before 2007. They all seen at least half of the decade if I'm correct.

Hanley had 2 ABs in 2005. Didnt become an everyday player til 2006.
Youkilis had 287 ABs combined in '04 & '05.

They get on but a pitcher who started in May '07 and has amassed 2 Cy Young Awards and 2 All-Star selections in his first two full seasons doesnt? Doesnt make sense.

[White Knight]

Half the players on that list didnt play over the whole decade....Matt Holliday, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Mauer, Dan Haren, Kevin Youkilis....according to that list you just have to play in the decade sometime.

Lincecum deserves to be on it.

Hanley had 2 ABs in 2005. Didnt become an everyday player til 2006.
Youkilis had 287 ABs combined in '04 & '05.

They get on but a pitcher who started in May '07 and has amassed 2 Cy Young Awards and 2 All-Star selections in his first two full seasons doesnt? Doesnt make sense.

I know it's not fair, but '06 still triumphs '07. There just has to be a cutoff somewhere. But I do believe Tim is the best pitcher right now, and will only get better.

[DClutch]

If somebody told me there were 56 better players this decade than Miguel Cabrera, I'd call them a liar.

How do you post a career average of .315, 32 HR, 115 RBI over 7 seasons and not be one of the 56 best players?

How is Polanco, Sizemore, Lowell to name a FEW, pass him up? Those guys have hardly come to close to Cabreras worst season.

[dgarza]

No he doesn't. If Babe Ruth himself started in 2007 and put up "1921" style numbers in '07, '08, and '09, even he should not make the list. It's like the HOF. I don't care who you are. If you play for just 5 years and retire due to injury, you're not going in. Just like here. Start in 2007 you're not on any POTD list.

It's not like the HOF for 2 major reasons.

1. There were no conditions given for number of seasons.

2. The HOF does not induct 100 players from each decade.

I'd put Clemente in the Top 100 70s list, McGriff in the 80s, Koosman possibly in the 60s. I might even throw in Fidrych for the 70s!

[Francoeurstein]

Who do you think is the worst ranked on this list? I would have to go with JD Drew.

[dgarza]

Zito but no Lincecum?

On a related note (although lesser), no Braun.

[White Knight]

It's not like the HOF for 2 major reasons.

1. There were no conditions given for number of seasons.

2. The HOF does not induct 100 players from each decade.

I'd put Clemente in the Top 100 70s list, McGriff in the 80s, Koosman possibly in the 60s. I might even throw in Fidrych for the 70s!

I believe no rule is necessary. It should be common knowledge to everyone not to put anyone on a POTD list without playing in at least half of that decade.

[John Shoemaker]

I know he was hurt some but how can Ken Griffey, Jr. not make the list somewhere?