Post by jahallstar on Aug 17, 2013 13:45:33 GMT -5
Let’s go through the league and look at the best players at each age. Of course some of them are open to debate!
Prince Fielder - A new Prince joined the Royals organization this year and at a tender age of 17 the KC fans are hoping that he will soon be king of the town for many many years to come.
Joey Votto – Joey Votto was the first pick of the past MLB draft. He is pretty much everything you look for in a prospect. He is amazing contact and gaps hitter while he shows good patience at the plate and also shows above average power. He plays great defense at 1B and it is only a matter of time before he will be in the hunt for MVP trophies.
Miguel Cabrera – Simply put Miggy has the chance to be the best offensive player ever. Great contract, great eye , great power. Triple Crown contender every year starting way sooner than later. He might be able to be an all-star this season if he were brought up to the majors.
Francisco Rodriguez – Is there a pitcher out there that has the potential to get 20Ks in a game? The answer is yes and his name is Francisco Rodriguez. He is still very young and once he works on his duration you could be talking about a pitcher who breaks some records.
C C Sabathia – At the tender age of just 21 CC Sabathia has already been in the majors for over two seasons. He already has over 40 wins as well. If all the breaks go his way we very well could have a 350-400 game winner on our hands. CC has not even reached his peak yet. In a few years he may be unhittable.
Matt Holliday – Holliday barley edges out Albert Pujoles here. Last year Holliday was 3rd in the league in hits and 2nd in the league in doubles. And he was 21! There is no slowdown in sight. Holliday should continue to rack up the offensive numbers and try to help Texas earn their first playoff berth.
Johan Santana – It is between Santana and Cust here. Cust is the reigning ROY and is going to have an amazing career. Santana is one of the game’s elite pitchers and will probably reach 100 wins before his 24th birthday. That is an amazing feat. Santana is a workhorse as well leading the league in innings pitched each of the last three seasons.
Kerry Wood – Another close one here between wood and Roy Halladay. Wood has simply been better so far though. Kerry has been top four in ERA each of the last three seasons and has helped lead the cubs to multiple playoff appearances.
Mike Kusiewicz - Kusiewicz is just starting to make a name for himself. He has been stuck with the Mets and their rebuilding since he made his debut. It’s hard to say if he can live up to all the hype but this is a huge year for him. If he can pitch like the Mets hope he can the team can be a dark horse for a playoff appearance in the tough NL East.
Vladimir Guerrero - Will this be the year that Vladdy joins the 40/40 club? He has had an amazing start to his career and he is probably the most versatile player in the league. Top 5 in doubles , triples , average , runs and stolen bases. What a combo.
Derrick Jeter – The clear cut leader of the Oakland A’s and their great success the past several years. Jeter just knows how to get on base. He has been at the top of the league in OBP for several years now and he plays amazing defense at one of the most taxing positions on the field in SS.
Todd Helton - Arguably the best player in the league. He does everything and it is a matter of time before he wins an MVP. Hopefully he won’t be forgotten playing in Cleveland though. His injury has put a big question mark on the Indians season this year. Helton has the ability to chase a .400 average. Can he do it?
Chipper Jones - Virtually a dead heat between Manny and Chipper, however Chippers past stats give him the edge. He led the Braves offense by hitting for power, average and drawing tons of walks. There have been rumors that Chipper may be on the block. If this is the case some team will be very lucky to acquire him.
Pedro Martinez - Pedro isn’t quite as dominant as he was two years ago , but he is still a monster on the mound. The last three years he compiled 75 wins and 35 complete games. Is there really any more to say besides that?
Kirt Rueter – You can’t really go wrong with the defending NL Cy Young winner here. After winning the World Series on the west coast he has now brought his talents to Chicago to help them get over the hump. With 1 walk in 5 starts I’d say he is doing his best to do just that!
Ken Griffey Jr - Three teams and Griffey continues to dominate. 43 HRs in 100 games. That surely had to be a typo right? Then follow that up with 64 in 149 games? The best strategy for opposing teams would be to walk Griffey every time he came to the plate. If you don’t? Watch out because it is a matter of time before the ball goes over the fence.
Mike Piazza - What a luxury it is to have the MVP on your team . What an even bigger luxury it must be to have a MVP catcher on your team! Piazza has carried the Astros. He has led the league in slugging percentage two straight years and really shows no signs of slowing down.
Jeff Kent – The former Met, Marlin, A , Giant, Marlin, Padre , and now Met again. Kent continues to bring very good power numbers for a 2B. He had a down season last year but is looking to bounce back this year for the resurgent Mets. Kent has 7 HRs in 21 games so he is well on his way to doing that.
Larry Walker - It was thought that Larry Walkers contract would be a real negative by this point. However he has continued to do what he has done his whole career. Produce! Who knows when he will slow down? At this rate it won’t be until the talk of 3000 hits and 500 HRs comes up. Not to many folks have hit that mark.
Greg Maddux- The crafty veteran continues to get it done. At this point of his career Maddux is striking out even fewer people than before. That doesn’t stop him from winning though. It is just a matter of time until Maddux reaches the magic 300 wins. And it will be well deserved.
Kevin Brown - Another ageless pitcher here. Kevin Brown was an amazing 22-3 for the Indians last year. Brown is still pitching at a high level and even though his K’s might drop some he has good control and keeps the ball down. If he continues to do that he may have a few years left in the tank.
Randy Johnson - The big unit is still trucking along. He is not the same guy that won 30 games two years ago , but he is still one hell of a pitcher at 38 years of age. This may be his last year in the league. If so the Marlins should try to give him one hell of a send off.
17
Prince Fielder - A new Prince joined the Royals organization this year and at a tender age of 17 the KC fans are hoping that he will soon be king of the town for many many years to come.
18
Joey Votto – Joey Votto was the first pick of the past MLB draft. He is pretty much everything you look for in a prospect. He is amazing contact and gaps hitter while he shows good patience at the plate and also shows above average power. He plays great defense at 1B and it is only a matter of time before he will be in the hunt for MVP trophies.
19
Miguel Cabrera – Simply put Miggy has the chance to be the best offensive player ever. Great contract, great eye , great power. Triple Crown contender every year starting way sooner than later. He might be able to be an all-star this season if he were brought up to the majors.
20
Francisco Rodriguez – Is there a pitcher out there that has the potential to get 20Ks in a game? The answer is yes and his name is Francisco Rodriguez. He is still very young and once he works on his duration you could be talking about a pitcher who breaks some records.
21
C C Sabathia – At the tender age of just 21 CC Sabathia has already been in the majors for over two seasons. He already has over 40 wins as well. If all the breaks go his way we very well could have a 350-400 game winner on our hands. CC has not even reached his peak yet. In a few years he may be unhittable.
22
Matt Holliday – Holliday barley edges out Albert Pujoles here. Last year Holliday was 3rd in the league in hits and 2nd in the league in doubles. And he was 21! There is no slowdown in sight. Holliday should continue to rack up the offensive numbers and try to help Texas earn their first playoff berth.
23
Johan Santana – It is between Santana and Cust here. Cust is the reigning ROY and is going to have an amazing career. Santana is one of the game’s elite pitchers and will probably reach 100 wins before his 24th birthday. That is an amazing feat. Santana is a workhorse as well leading the league in innings pitched each of the last three seasons.
24
Kerry Wood – Another close one here between wood and Roy Halladay. Wood has simply been better so far though. Kerry has been top four in ERA each of the last three seasons and has helped lead the cubs to multiple playoff appearances.
25
Mike Kusiewicz - Kusiewicz is just starting to make a name for himself. He has been stuck with the Mets and their rebuilding since he made his debut. It’s hard to say if he can live up to all the hype but this is a huge year for him. If he can pitch like the Mets hope he can the team can be a dark horse for a playoff appearance in the tough NL East.
26
Vladimir Guerrero - Will this be the year that Vladdy joins the 40/40 club? He has had an amazing start to his career and he is probably the most versatile player in the league. Top 5 in doubles , triples , average , runs and stolen bases. What a combo.
27
Derrick Jeter – The clear cut leader of the Oakland A’s and their great success the past several years. Jeter just knows how to get on base. He has been at the top of the league in OBP for several years now and he plays amazing defense at one of the most taxing positions on the field in SS.
28
Todd Helton - Arguably the best player in the league. He does everything and it is a matter of time before he wins an MVP. Hopefully he won’t be forgotten playing in Cleveland though. His injury has put a big question mark on the Indians season this year. Helton has the ability to chase a .400 average. Can he do it?
29
Chipper Jones - Virtually a dead heat between Manny and Chipper, however Chippers past stats give him the edge. He led the Braves offense by hitting for power, average and drawing tons of walks. There have been rumors that Chipper may be on the block. If this is the case some team will be very lucky to acquire him.
30
Pedro Martinez - Pedro isn’t quite as dominant as he was two years ago , but he is still a monster on the mound. The last three years he compiled 75 wins and 35 complete games. Is there really any more to say besides that?
31
Kirt Rueter – You can’t really go wrong with the defending NL Cy Young winner here. After winning the World Series on the west coast he has now brought his talents to Chicago to help them get over the hump. With 1 walk in 5 starts I’d say he is doing his best to do just that!
32
Ken Griffey Jr - Three teams and Griffey continues to dominate. 43 HRs in 100 games. That surely had to be a typo right? Then follow that up with 64 in 149 games? The best strategy for opposing teams would be to walk Griffey every time he came to the plate. If you don’t? Watch out because it is a matter of time before the ball goes over the fence.
33
Mike Piazza - What a luxury it is to have the MVP on your team . What an even bigger luxury it must be to have a MVP catcher on your team! Piazza has carried the Astros. He has led the league in slugging percentage two straight years and really shows no signs of slowing down.
34
Jeff Kent – The former Met, Marlin, A , Giant, Marlin, Padre , and now Met again. Kent continues to bring very good power numbers for a 2B. He had a down season last year but is looking to bounce back this year for the resurgent Mets. Kent has 7 HRs in 21 games so he is well on his way to doing that.
35
Larry Walker - It was thought that Larry Walkers contract would be a real negative by this point. However he has continued to do what he has done his whole career. Produce! Who knows when he will slow down? At this rate it won’t be until the talk of 3000 hits and 500 HRs comes up. Not to many folks have hit that mark.
36
Greg Maddux- The crafty veteran continues to get it done. At this point of his career Maddux is striking out even fewer people than before. That doesn’t stop him from winning though. It is just a matter of time until Maddux reaches the magic 300 wins. And it will be well deserved.
37
Kevin Brown - Another ageless pitcher here. Kevin Brown was an amazing 22-3 for the Indians last year. Brown is still pitching at a high level and even though his K’s might drop some he has good control and keeps the ball down. If he continues to do that he may have a few years left in the tank.
38
Randy Johnson - The big unit is still trucking along. He is not the same guy that won 30 games two years ago , but he is still one hell of a pitcher at 38 years of age. This may be his last year in the league. If so the Marlins should try to give him one hell of a send off.
