Baseball America's Annual Best Tools

[CaliforniaRaisin]

NL's Best Tools

 

Here are the Cubs who made it:

 

BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST

1. Ryan Theriot, Cubs

2. Bengie Molina, Giants

3. Jack Wilson, Pirates

 

BEST PITCHER

1. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks

2. Tim Lincecum, Giants

3. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs

 

BEST RELIEVER

1. Brad Lidge, Phillies

2. Brian Wilson, Giants

3. Kerry Wood, Cubs

 

BEST DEFENSIVE THIRD BASEMAN

1. David Wright, Mets

2. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs

3. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals

 

BEST MANAGER

1. Bobby Cox, Braves

2. Tony La Russa, Cardinals

3. Lou Piniella, Cubs

 

BEST DEFENSIVE FIRST BASEMAN

1. Derrek Lee, Cubs

2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals

3. Todd Helton, Rockies

 

And a couple of categories with no Cubs:

 

BEST HITTER

1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals

2. Chipper Jones, Braves

3. Lance Berkman, Astros

 

BEST POWER

1. Ryan Howard, Phillies

2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals

3. Adam Dunn, Reds

 

AL's Best Tools

 

BEST HITTER

 

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

2. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox

3. Joe Mauer, Twins

 

BEST POWER

 

1. Josh Hamilton, Rangers

2. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

3. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox

 

BEST PITCHER

 

1. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays

2. Cliff Lee, Indians

3. Josh Beckett, Red Sox

 

And an here is an in-depth story on Derrek Lee and his defense by John Manuel with help from Bruce Miles and Phil Rogers.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/dlee8428309dw.jpg

[CuseCubFan69]

You have to be a BA guy to get that link raisin. Are there any interesting things about what Lee does defensively practice wise?

[SouthSideRyan]

2. Brian Wilson, Giants

 

GUH???

[TruffleShuffle]

can't believe dusty and ned yost couldn't crack the top 3 managers.

[Guest]

You have to be a BA guy to get that link raisin. Are there any interesting things about what Lee does defensively practice wise?

 

My bad, Cuse. There was another story they had about how defense is the easiest part of the game to improve in and they talked about what a few players (Eric Chavez, Russell Martin, Michael Young, Joe Crede) have done to improve but that too is premium content.

 

In Lee, the obvious was mentioned - his size and athleticism help him - which gives him an advantage over the Pujols and Heltons of the world. Lee says his biggest thing from the time he was with the Padres and on is hard work and repetition.

 

"He's got the ability and talent," Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell said. "But he's a worker, and he's very observant. Looking back to him, going back to his youth and having a scholarship to play basketball at North Carolina, he's just a darn good athlete.

 

"But he's attentive. He works hard, and he's got good feet. To me, good feet go hand in hand with reading the hops and things like that. He's just a professional.

 

"If you throw it over Derrek's head, you've earned an error."

[TruffleShuffle]

if power refers to raw power, no way pujols should be ahead of dunn. i'd also put braun ahead of pujols. albert is a great hitter but there are several guys around the league who have more raw power than him.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

BEST MANAGER

1. Bobby Cox, Braves

 

cough..bull***....cough...

[RammyFanny]

Beckett at #3? Every time I look he's giving up 6 runs...

[jersey cubs fan]

how are those things tools?

 

Looks like a list made for the sake of making a list.

[CuseCubFan69]

You have to be a BA guy to get that link raisin. Are there any interesting things about what Lee does defensively practice wise?

 

My bad, Cuse. There was another story they had about how defense is the easiest part of the game to improve in and they talked about what a few players (Eric Chavez, Russell Martin, Michael Young, Joe Crede) have done to improve but that too is premium content.

 

In Lee, the obvious was mentioned - his size and athleticism help him - which gives him an advantage over the Pujols and Heltons of the world. Lee says his biggest thing from the time he was with the Padres and on is hard work and repetition.

 

"He's got the ability and talent," Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell said. "But he's a worker, and he's very observant. Looking back to him, going back to his youth and having a scholarship to play basketball at North Carolina, he's just a darn good athlete.

 

"But he's attentive. He works hard, and he's got good feet. To me, good feet go hand in hand with reading the hops and things like that. He's just a professional.

 

"If you throw it over Derrek's head, you've earned an error."

 

Thanks raisin.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

how are those things tools?

 

Looks like a list made for the sake of making a list.

best items I had for lunch today:

1. burger

2. fries

[GhostRunner]

how are those things tools?

 

Looks like a list made for the sake of making a list.

best items I had for lunch today:

1. burger

2. fries

No way! All the other sports writers have Fries at #1.

 

And, as usual, no love for Strawberry Shake.

[imb]

BEST MANAGER

1. Bobby Cox, Braves

 

cough..bull***....cough...

 

maybe they thought it said BIGGEST tools

[sneakypower]

can't believe dusty and ned yost couldn't crack the top 3 managers.

 

no that was last year

[Post Count Padder]

2. Brian Wilson, Giants

 

GUH???

They probably perused the list of Saves leaders and just chose from that.

[SouthSideRyan]

BEST MANAGER

1. Bobby Cox, Braves

 

cough..bull***....cough...

 

maybe they thought it said BIGGEST tools

 

Wouldn't Fontenot be at the top?

[CubinNY]

BEST MANAGER

1. Bobby Cox, Braves

 

cough..bull***....cough...

 

maybe they thought it said BIGGEST tools

 

Wouldn't Fontenot be at the top?

That would be who has the BIGGEST tool.