It’s opening day for the 2011 Major League Baseball season. If you’re not in the mood for baseball — and if you are an American and aren’t ready for Opening Day, the terrorists have won — then Joe Posnanski’s look at The 32 Best Players in Baseball for 2011 can get you there.
“Albert Pujols has a chance to be known as the greatest player in the history of baseball. There are numerous statistical measurements to make the point, including the simple point that through age 30 he has more homers than Babe Ruth, more hits than Pete Rose, more RBIs than Hank Aaron, more runs than Rickey Henderson did at the same age.
Yes, it’s OK to think about that for a moment.”
Oh I’m ready! My WS defending SF Giants kick off their season Friday in Chavez Ravine. Pretty giddy, I’ll tell you that.
And so, in the grand tradition of baseball…I feel the need to cuss and discuss this list included in that article you linked to.
Get ready for a long comment….
Mark Teixeira – overrated. I think he was great when he played with Texas but I feel like he’s not ready for the NYY pressure. Much like ARod before him, he’ll probably rally in a season or two, but I’m not sure I call him a top 30 guy… (most would disagree with me, I’m sure)
Ubaldo Jimenez – I would have put him at #1, personally. Is the East Coast bias already in effect? If he stays healthy, Ubaldo is going to mow ’em down this year.
Alex Rodriguez or Adrian Beltre at #27 – Soooo, Was Once Amazing in his prime vs Was Once Amazing in his prime? Ooh, tough call. ARod is overrated and a notorious post-season choker. Beltre used to be really good on the Dodgers and ho hum in Seattle. If I may be indelicate, it’s one suspected steroids user vs another. I guess of the two, I’d have to say ARod is better…but I seriously hope Beltre proves me wrong. I like Beltre a LOT more.
Matt Holliday – assh*le, and he lets his hot head and arrogance get in his way. He could acheive Puljos caliber, but he can’t stay out of his own way.
Kevin Youkilis – Year in and year out one of the most rock solid players in the game. I hope he has another good year in him. Plus he’s a leader on that team and I hope he can keep them focused. The BoSox seem to have lost that gritty edge since winning it all twice.
Cliff Lee – the guy is solid but he CAN be beat. I expect a lot of teams to watch tape from this year’s WS to figure out how the Giants beat him. He’s not invincible and the gap between Texas fans and Philly fans is HUGE. If he stumbles, he gets no mercy. If he pitches well, expectations increase.
(side note: I pray to the baseball gods that Philly is SEVERELY humbled this season. They need a comeuppance since Philly still claims they are the best team in baseball despite NOT bringing home the trophy…or even making it to the WS…last season)
Chase Utley – Where did Chase’s bat go last postseason? He went coooold. Though I look for him to be crazy good this season.
Evan Longoria – great player on a so-what team. The guy deserves more attention.
Adrian Gonzalez – great player, I’ve watched him humiliate SF Giants pitching for years. But I feel like his game has been tailing off lately (the numbers don’t agree). In the end of 2010 he wasn’t getting those clutch hits like usual. He wasn’t as rock solid dependable. I hope he’s ready for Boston.
Albert Pujols – can’t even argue with a #1 rating. That guy’s a machine. I’d still put Ubaldo ahead tho…
Sorry, my mistake above, SF kicked off their season tonight! With a spectacular 3-error loss.
The agony of being “defending WS champs” begins…..