Best Players In The Game

[dgarza]

I have not seen a recent thread about this, and now that the post-season is over, it seems a good time to survey who we think are the best players in the game.

I don't think it's just who did best in 2012, but that, of course, has a large impact on who we think are among the best. Myself, I like to look at the current year as well as recent years. I like players with a strong track record, not just possible flukes (both up and down).

[dgarza]

1. Justin Verlander
2. Miguel Cabrera
These 2 are pretty definite for me. Over the last 2-3 years, these guys have been brilliant.
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3. Clayton Kershaw - The next best pitcher
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Sizable gap after Kershaw, but my next best are:
4. Johnny Cueto
5. Ryan Braun
6. Roy Halladay - despite a good start to 2012, it ended up being a disappointing season, but I think he can still be considered among the best... for now. 2013 may prove me wrong...
7. Joey Votto
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8. Buster Posey - 2012 was his 1st really full and really big season
9. Mike Trout - a helluva 2012. 2011 doesn't help his case. But we will see what we really got in 2013....
10. Jose Bautista - a little bit off in 2012, but he's still a really good slugger
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HM. Robinson Cano - perhaps he's better than HM
HM . David Price

[willshad]

1. Justin Verlander
2. Miguel Cabrera
These 2 are pretty definite for me. Over the last 2-3 years, these guys have been brilliant.
-------------------
3. Clayton Kershaw - The next best pitcher
-------------------
Sizable gap after Kershaw, but my next best are:
4. Johnny Cueto
5. Ryan Braun
6. Roy Halladay - despite a good start to 2012, it ended up being a disappointing season, but I think he can still be considered among the best... for now. 2013 may prove me wrong...
7. Joey Votto
------------------
8. Buster Posey - 2012 was his 1st really full and really big season
9. Mike Trout - a helluva 2012. 2011 doesn't help his case. But we will see what we really got in 2013....
10. Jose Bautista - a little bit off in 2012, but he's still a really good slugger
-----------------
HM. Robinson Cano - perhaps he's better than HM
HM . David Price

Not a bad list. Kemp has to be in here somewhere, however. Also to be considered: Pujols, Molina, Holliday, Fielder, Wright, Longoria, Gio Gonzalez, Mauer, Beltre, Hamilton, Hamels.

Mccutchen has to be above a guy like Trout, because he is more proven.

[Cowtipper]

I'd say Robinson Cano should be higher than honorable mention--he does have the most WAR since 2010, after all. Adrian Beltre should get some consideration due to his recent climb these past few years.

[Joltin' Joe]

I'd say Robinson Cano should be higher than honorable mention

I agree, he is one of the first guys I thought of when I saw this thread, his 2012 postseason performance notwithstanding.

[toomanyhatz]

Best current player at each position:

SP: Verlander (with lots of runners-up, including Kershaw and Price. And honestly, you still need to leave CC up there imo, since he does it year after year even if '12 was an off year)
RP: Kimbrel (but be wary of early flameout)
C: Posey
1B: it's still Pujols (but Votto not far behind)
2B: Cano
SS: Elvis, until Tulo can prove he can stay healthy. Or is it still Reyes? I have my doubts, I think he's slowing down already.
3B: David Wright, with Beltre right behind him if he can keep it up. Cabrera's not an established 3B to me.
LF: Braun
CF: It's still Kemp till further notice
RF: Bautista
DH: Cabrera ('cause you've got to put him somewhere, and that's where he's gonna end up soon enough anyway, so might as well beat the rush).

[dgarza]

I'd say Robinson Cano should be higher than honorable mention--he does have the most WAR since 2010, after all. Adrian Beltre should get some consideration due to his recent climb these past few years.

Perhaps I'm selling a few short.

Here's some WAR averages for thought...


162 Game WAR, 2010-2012
Evan Longoria - 7.8
Adrian Beltre - 7.4
Robinson Cano - 7.2
Joey Votto - 7.1
Jose Bautista - 7.1
Miguel Cabrera - 7.0
Ryan Braun - 7.0
Dustin Pedroia - 6.7
Troy Tulowitzki - 6.6
Buster Posey - 6.6
Chase Utley - 6.6
Ben Zobrist - 6.4
Josh Hamilton - 6.2
Albert Pujols - 6.0
Andrew McCutchen - 5.5

[Francoeurstein]

My best players by position First and Second Team:

First Team:
C- Buster Posey
1B- Joey Votto
2B- Robinson Cano
3B- Evan Longoria (Sorry, Miggy)
SS- Troy Tulowitzki
LF- Ryan Braun
CF- Matt Kemp (Depends how Trouty looks in '13)
RF- Jose Bautista
DH- Miguel Cabrera

SP- Verlander
SP- Kershaw
SP- Halladay

CP- Craig Kimbrel

[drdg]

similar to the baseball writers (BBWA) voting for the MVP
who is the best player in the game is open to interpretation

is the best player, the player with the top individual numbers such as winning the triple crown

or is the best player, the player that time and time again
has such an impact on the teams wins/losses that his presence in the lineup carries that team to the playoff
the one player that if he were to get hurt, the team can no longer manage to win games

your first two listed are triple crown winners
okay for personal best

but my picks are:

1) Derek Jeter
without his leadership in the game the yankees couldn't win
2) Mariano Rivera
what is there to say, simply the BEST in both the regular season and post season
3) C. C. Sabatia
he carried the brewers and yankees to the playoff
4) Cecil fielder
without him, I don't think the tigers make it to the WS
5)Albert Pujol
2006 and 2011= so powerful that pitchers were afraid to pitch to him
6) Buster Posey
with him Giants 2x WS champs, without him giants are @ a 500 team
7) David Ortiz
with him red sox=playoff team, without him red sox are so-so
he was was hurt and on the dl most of 2012 as such the red sox did not win much games

[willshad]

similar to the baseball writers (BBWA) voting for the MVP
who is the best player in the game is open to interpretation

is the best player, the player with the top individual numbers such as winning the triple crown

or is the best player, the player that time and time again
has such an impact on the teams wins/losses that his presence in the lineup carries that team to the playoff
the one player that if he were to get hurt, the team can no longer manage to win games

your first two listed are triple crown winners
okay for personal best

but my picks are:

1) Derek Jeter
without his leadership in the game the yankees couldn't win
2) Mariano Rivera
what is there to say, simply the BEST in both the regular season and post season
3) C. C. Sabatia
he carried the brewers and yankees to the playoff
4) Cecil fielder
without him, I don't think the tigers make it to the WS
5)Albert Pujol
2006 and 2011= so powerful that pitchers were afraid to pitch to him
6) Buster Posey
with him Giants 2x WS champs, without him giants are @ a 500 team
7) David Ortiz
with him red sox=playoff team, without him red sox are so-so
he was was hurt and on the dl most of 2012 as such the red sox did not win much games

Judging the best player by whose team wins is kind of silly in my opinion. You can pretty much take any playoff team and name their bast player and say 'this team would not have won it without so and so'. The fact that their team wins does not make them any more valuable than the great player on a losing team. Posey was great last year, but to say the Giants would be a .500 team without him is just wrong. He was hurt almost all of 2011 and they were 10 games over .500. he played only 2/3 a season in 2010, and they still won it all. That team lives and dies with their pitching, it's no secret.

[dgarza]

Judging the best player by whose team wins is kind of silly in my opinion. You can pretty much take any playoff team and name their bast player and say 'this team would not have won it without so and so'.

Especially when the named player is not the best player on the team. Nor is the 2nd best player. Nor is the 3rd best player. Nor is the 4th best player. Etc.

[UnderPressure]

similar to the baseball writers (BBWA) voting for the MVP
who is the best player in the game is open to interpretation

is the best player, the player with the top individual numbers such as winning the triple crown

or is the best player, the player that time and time again
has such an impact on the teams wins/losses that his presence in the lineup carries that team to the playoff
the one player that if he were to get hurt, the team can no longer manage to win games

your first two listed are triple crown winners
okay for personal best

but my picks are:

1) Derek Jeter
without his leadership in the game the yankees couldn't win
2) Mariano Rivera
what is there to say, simply the BEST in both the regular season and post season
3) C. C. Sabatia
he carried the brewers and yankees to the playoff
4) Cecil fielder
without him, I don't think the tigers make it to the WS
5)Albert Pujol
2006 and 2011= so powerful that pitchers were afraid to pitch to him
6) Buster Posey
with him Giants 2x WS champs, without him giants are @ a 500 team
7) David Ortiz
with him red sox=playoff team, without him red sox are so-so
he was was hurt and on the dl most of 2012 as such the red sox did not win much games

LMAO what the hell.

[Francoeurstein]

but my picks are:

1) Derek Jeter
without his leadership in the game the yankees couldn't win
2) Mariano Rivera
what is there to say, simply the BEST in both the regular season and post season
3) C. C. Sabatia
he carried the brewers and yankees to the playoff
4) Cecil fielder
without him, I don't think the tigers make it to the WS
5)Albert Pujol
2006 and 2011= so powerful that pitchers were afraid to pitch to him
6) Buster Posey
with him Giants 2x WS champs, without him giants are @ a 500 team
7) David Ortiz
with him red sox=playoff team, without him red sox are so-so
he was was hurt and on the dl most of 2012 as such the red sox did not win much games

Dear lord. There is definitely some homerism involved here. What about all the other players that are key to their team making the playoffs?

[White Knight]

Best current player at each position:

SP: Verlander (with lots of runners-up, including Kershaw and Price. And honestly, you still need to leave CC up there imo, since he does it year after year even if '12 was an off year)
RP: Kimbrel (but be wary of early flameout)
C: Posey
1B: it's still Pujols (but Votto not far behind)
2B: Cano
SS: Elvis, until Tulo can prove he can stay healthy. Or is it still Reyes? I have my doubts, I think he's slowing down already.
3B: David Wright, with Beltre right behind him if he can keep it up. Cabrera's not an established 3B to me.
LF: Braun
CF: It's still Kemp till further notice
RF: Bautista
DH: Cabrera ('cause you've got to put him somewhere, and that's where he's gonna end up soon enough anyway, so might as well beat the rush).

By putting Kimbrel there, are you going by 2012 alone? If that's the case, why no mention of Jeter at SS?

[ipitch]

By putting Kimbrel there, are you going by 2012 alone? If that's the case, why no mention of Jeter at SS?

Because it's 2012, not 2000. OPS+ of 101 over the past 3 years, and -2.5 dWAR. If you only look at 2012, then Ian Desmond is a far better choice. Higher OPS+, higher WAR, higher dWAR.