The Noise Factor

Took in a competitive match-up between two top teams in Major League Baseball as the Los Angeles Angels took on the Detroit Tigers this afternoon (it’s actually still going in the background here).  As I watched the game I started to marvel in the team I called "fraudulent" last season, Detroit.  People predicted they would beat out established contenders like the defending champion Chicago White Sox, perennial contenders the Minnesota Twins and the up-and-coming Cleveland Indians.  I thought these people were nuts!  But what occurred last year was a hot April by Chris Shelton, unknown relievers stepping up, some kid named Justin Verlander and a few young players stepping up like Curtis Granderson, Marcus Thames, Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge.  Sometimes a team needs to come together and get hot at the same time to get it done.  They faded in September but got hot again in early October and at this point in 2007 they are the favourites to win the World Series.  After they dismantled the Boston Red Sox a couple weeks back they are the team to beat. 

So who’s the most dangerous player (non-pitcher) on that team?  Who provides the biggest impact on their team?  How about the rest of the league?  Let’s take a look, division by division…

AL East

Baltimore Orioles - Miguel Tejada

- He’s still the guy in Baltimore who will pound the ball, play adequate defense and scare opponents.  There are no other player in that lineup that will do that.

Boston Red Sox - Manny Ramirez

- Why Manny and not Ortiz?  Manny plays the field and Ortiz has not been Ortiz with this knee injury he must have inherited from his long-lost brother Mo Vaughan.   Manny is one of the best hitters of our time and he will either scare other teams with his green monster play or scare his own team and the fans with his questionable play.

New York Yankees - Alex Rodriguez

- Although some points could be given to Derek Jeter, we cannot ignore this amazing season A-Rod is having.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Carl Crawford

- Give an honourable mention to B.J. Upton who’s having a fantastic season, Crawford scares you with his all-around talent.  He is Tim Raines Jr.

Toronto Blue Jays - Alex Rios

- No doubt that Rios is the man in Toronto.  He is the best hitter and he is also the best defensive outfielder on the team despite having his gold gloves ripped away from him by teammate Vernon Wells.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox - Paul Konerko

- A year ago I would have said Jermaine Dye but there is nothing dangerous with a .220-.240 hitter.  Chicago has had a season where guys are having off-years all over the place.  They are this years’ Cleveland Indians.  Konerko gets the nod by default.

Cleveland Indians - Grady Sizemore

- 5-Tool player who has yet to play up to his hype.  That should change as maybe someday he will be a perennial .300 hitter.  Despite that, he’s still dangerous in all facets of the game.

Detroit Tigers - Magglio Ordonez

- Wanted to go with Carlos Guillen who can play 4 positions and hit the baseball, but like A-Rod you cannot ignore the MVP-type season Maggs is producing.  He crushed some rocks this afternoon on his bomb to Center.   Not to be outdone, Guillen was stealing bases like it was house league .

Kansas City Royals - Alex Gordon

- How can a guy hitting .245 make the cut?  It’s called A) Kansas City and B) hitting below .200 for the first couple months of the year.  This kid is getting better and better and his upside is scary.

Minnesota Twins - Joe Mauer

- Torii Hunter should get the nod based on this season alone but I find it interesting that he’s doing this in his walk year.  Mauer is solid behind the plate and is a hitting machine.  The team has not played well without him as of late which means his presence is being felt.

AL West

Los Angeles - Vladimir Guerrero

- Do I even need a second opinion?  The guy hits over .320, over 30 bombs and over 100 RBI’s every year and manages to keep his K’s minimal despite his free-swinging ways.

Oakland Athletics - Mark Ellis

- Could have gone with Shannon Stewart or Mike Piazza but the holes are glaring.  Ellis is an everyday player who quietly puts up solid numbers at second base for the A’s.

Seattle Mariners - Ichiro Suzuki

- If he wanted to hit home runs, he would.  But he plays a specific kind of game that suits him very well.  A .340 hitter with speed to burn and a great arm makes him very dangerous.

Texas Rangers - Michael Young

- Love Teixeira but Young is the man in Texas.  He does everything well and plays hard.  Also has shown to be clutch.  Prior to this year, the best shortstop in the majors in my mind.

NL East

Atlanta Braves - Brian McCann

- Andruw is hitting .215 and Chipper’s playing percentage is about as solid as his fielding percentage.  McCann may not be having a great year but he’s more dangerous in my mind than Jeff Francouer.  McCann is the kind of Catcher you can hang your hat on for years, just like what Joe Mauer is to Minnesota.

Florida Marlins - Miguel Cabrera

- Credit to Hanley Ramirez, but you have to go with the second coming of Albert Pujols.  Cabrera can hit with the best of them and he’s been known to play different positions as well.  He’s one of the best hitters in baseball.

New York Mets - Jose Reyes

- Beltran is great, so is Wright, but Reyes scares you everywhere.  In the field, on base or at the plate this guy can do everything.  Reyes has even shown signs of power as well.  Huge weapon.

Philadelphia Philles - Chase Utley

- This is the one I will get flack for.  Ryan Howard is a beast, but Utley can do everything.  Can I reiterate how much I love Howard?

Washington Nationals - Ryan Zimmermam

- You now see a trend; youth matters.  Zimm is the only guy with double-digit homers on the team and he is only getting better.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs - Alfonso Soriano

- He’s the guy who can hit, run and throw and at times he can even catch the baseball.  He is a bigger threat because of all that than Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. 

Cincinnati Reds - Brandon Phillips

- Move over Mr. Griffey, Phillips has taken over as the man in Cincy.  Granted, Kenny’s going to the Hall of Fame but Phillips is the guy the Reds need to lock up for many years to come.

Houston Astros - Carlos Lee

- Hunter Pence is a nice player who may be great very soon, but Lee is holding it down right now.  He is doing what he was asked to do by management - he has not been the problem with Houston’s season.

Milwaukee Brewers - Prince Fielder

- Ryan Braun nearly ripped it away from Prince.  Prince is what Magglio is to Detroit right now and needs to be on here.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Jason Bay

- He may not have the average (.252) but he is the most complete player on that team.  He actually walks too, something the rest of the team has trouble doing. 

St. Louis Cardinals - Albert Pujols

- Can you name another player on that team worthy of replacing Pujols?

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks - Eric Byrnes

- He is Mr. Everything to Arizona.  He hits, he steals, he plays hard, he leads.  Enough said.

Colorado Rockies - Matt Holliday

- Had some of the other hot-shots performed like Holliday with the bat this year, Colorado would be contending this year.  Holliday has ripped the baseball constantly this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Russell Martin

- You’d expect this spot to be occupied by a big money free agent but that is not the case.  Nobody performs better at their position than Martin does behind the plate for the Dodgers.

San Diego Padres - Adrian Gonzalez

- The big park doesn’t faze this kid as he continues to thrive at the major league level.  With the increase in power, stadiums should be more like Petco Park to truly test the great power of these players.

San Francisco Giants - Barry Bonds

- They need him in the lineup everyday because he is either a power threat or he manages to take walks and show his patience.  At 43, pitchers still don’t want any part of him.  That means he’s dangerous.

 

Took a little bit of time but this was fun.  Let the debates rage for this one….
 

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