Top 50 most Valuable Players
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:02 pm
from Nate Silver - SI/BP for those that still don't know him.
The Pirates landed 4 of the games most 50 valuable, a nice 8%, including 15% of the top 20.
#49. John Lackey, P, Angels, Age 29 (--). Lackey has that sort of Chuck Knoblauch thing going on, where he's been called 'underrated' so many times that he may now be overrated. He's been an exceptionally consistent and exceptionally durable pitcher; the triceps injury that kept him out of action in April represented the first time that Lackey had ever been on the DL.
#17. Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers, Age 24 (--). One of the hazards of being a baseball writer is that youÃll not infrequently get e-mails from friends, family, wives, and coaches of players when you have something critical to say about them. I got one such e-mail from a very close relative of Ryan Braun last year after IÃd bashed his defense at third base, which rated at 21 runs below average last year according to our Prospectus Fielding Runs metric. This year, the Brewers were smart enough to move him to left field, where heÃs actually become quite a good defensive player able to fully exploit his athleticism. That really resolves the only outstanding question we had about Ryan Braun, who is going to have a 50-HR season or two once he reaches his peak.
15. Tim Lincecum, P, Giants, Age 24 (41). When I circulated a draft copy of this list to the Baseball Prospectus internal mailing list, I had several people tell me that LincecumÃs rating was low. But IÃm hedging just a little bit because, while I understand all of the biomechanical perfection behind his unorthodox-looking delivery, I want to see him get another complete, injury-free season under his belt before IÃm completely ready to sign off on it. Pound-for-pound, certainly, heÃs already the best pitcher in baseball.
11. Brian McCann, C, Braves, Age 24 (9). Catchers who hit like this donÃt grow on trees. Since World War II, in fact, just seven catchers aged 24 or younger have hit .300 or better in a season in which they also hit 20 home runs. Those are Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, Mike Piazza, Joe Torreóand McCann, who did so in 2006 and has a chance to do so again this year.
Is McCann elite yet?
The Pirates landed 4 of the games most 50 valuable, a nice 8%, including 15% of the top 20.
#49. John Lackey, P, Angels, Age 29 (--). Lackey has that sort of Chuck Knoblauch thing going on, where he's been called 'underrated' so many times that he may now be overrated. He's been an exceptionally consistent and exceptionally durable pitcher; the triceps injury that kept him out of action in April represented the first time that Lackey had ever been on the DL.
#17. Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers, Age 24 (--). One of the hazards of being a baseball writer is that youÃll not infrequently get e-mails from friends, family, wives, and coaches of players when you have something critical to say about them. I got one such e-mail from a very close relative of Ryan Braun last year after IÃd bashed his defense at third base, which rated at 21 runs below average last year according to our Prospectus Fielding Runs metric. This year, the Brewers were smart enough to move him to left field, where heÃs actually become quite a good defensive player able to fully exploit his athleticism. That really resolves the only outstanding question we had about Ryan Braun, who is going to have a 50-HR season or two once he reaches his peak.
15. Tim Lincecum, P, Giants, Age 24 (41). When I circulated a draft copy of this list to the Baseball Prospectus internal mailing list, I had several people tell me that LincecumÃs rating was low. But IÃm hedging just a little bit because, while I understand all of the biomechanical perfection behind his unorthodox-looking delivery, I want to see him get another complete, injury-free season under his belt before IÃm completely ready to sign off on it. Pound-for-pound, certainly, heÃs already the best pitcher in baseball.
11. Brian McCann, C, Braves, Age 24 (9). Catchers who hit like this donÃt grow on trees. Since World War II, in fact, just seven catchers aged 24 or younger have hit .300 or better in a season in which they also hit 20 home runs. Those are Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, Mike Piazza, Joe Torreóand McCann, who did so in 2006 and has a chance to do so again this year.
Is McCann elite yet?