BP's Top 50 players to build a team around

[inari]

Just off the top of my head, in no particular order, I would want to build a team around any of these guys:

 

Pitchers:

Tim Lincecum

Jake Peavy

Scott Kazmir

Chad Billingsley

Cole Hamels

Felix Hernandez

Matt Cain

Brandon Webb

Johan Santana

CC Sabathia

 

Catchers:

Joe Mauer

Brian McCann

Russell Martin

Yadier Molina

 

2B:

Chase Utley

Orlando Hudson

Dustin Pedroia

Brian Roberts

 

3B:

David Wright

Aramis Ramirez

Kevin Kouzmanoff

Evan Longoria

 

SS:

Troy Tulowitzki

Jose Reyes

Hanley Ramirez

Yunel Escobar

 

CF:

Carlos Beltran

Grady Sizemore

Josh Hamilton

Curtis Granderson

Aaron Rowand

Nate McLouth

BJ Upton

 

RF:

Hunter Pence

Nick Markakis

Brad Hawpe

Corey Hart

 

Left Fielders and First Baseman can be made by any power hitter that doesnt fit anywhere, no need to build a team around a guy like that (ala the Milwaukee Brewers).

 

That is comically bad.

[Bull]

Top 25 are now out. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/22/bp.pecotatop25/index.html

 

no cubs

[UMFan83]

Top 25 are now out. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/22/bp.pecotatop25/index.html

 

no cubs

 

I didn't think so. Most of our core players are too old to be considered in the list.

[CubFanBudMan68]

Aaron Rowand?

 

One of the best defensive CF in the game, hits nicely...

 

Yadier Molina?

 

Great defensive Catcher who can also swing the bat...

 

I'm not saying either of these guys would be my first choice, but they could be very important pieces to building a team.

[ConstableRabbit]

Bueller? Ferris Bueller?

[UMFan83]

Aaron Rowand?

 

One of the best defensive CF in the game, hits nicely...

 

Yadier Molina?

 

Great defensive Catcher who can also swing the bat...

 

I'm not saying either of these guys would be my first choice, but they could be very important pieces to building a team.

 

I'm sure the Giants are just raving about how they chose to build their team around Aaron Rowand. Solid player, but not one I'd consider 'building my team around'. Your list is just players that you like and think would be a good fit on most if not all baseball teams.

[abuck1220]

i wouldn't build my beer league softball team around aaron rowand.

 

kevin kouzmanoff? really? kevin kouzmanoff?

[ConstableRabbit]

i wouldn't build my beer league softball team around aaron rowand.

 

kevin kouzmanoff? really? kevin kouzmanoff?

lol that's so untrue

[nilodnayr]

Aaron Rowand?

 

One of the best defensive CF in the game, hits nicely...

 

Yadier Molina?

 

Great defensive Catcher who can also swing the bat...

 

I'm not saying either of these guys would be my first choice, but they could be very important pieces to building a team.

 

Your avatar confuses me.

[carolinacubbie]

I realize he has had a really good career thus far, but honestly I would rather have Soto. Mauer is a great contact hitter, but I feel like Geo has a better upside honestly. I can see why they would rate Geo where he is rated this year, but if he can put up numbers like this next year or even better, I will be interested to see his status next year. For the record Soriano should be on the list somewhere.

[ELCABALLO45]

I realize he has had a really good career thus far, but honestly I would rather have Soto. Mauer is a great contact hitter, but I feel like Geo has a better upside honestly. I can see why they would rate Geo where he is rated this year, but if he can put up numbers like this next year or even better, I will be interested to see his status next year. For the record Soriano should be on the list somewhere.

 

Joe Mauer is the best catcher in baseball. Thats no knock on Soto either because Soto is also a very good catcher.

 

But Mauer, is well.. He is Joe Mauer. He has not hit for as much power as everyone thought he was going to but Mauer is a guy who goes the other way most of the time. Former batting champ in the AL. And this year he is smoking leftys as well. He is such a special player. And he has a cannon for an arm. Again, not a knock on Soto, but Mauer is amazing.

[Joe_Cub]

i'll take mauer, thanks.

[CubinNY]

IDK how Pujols wasn't #1

[TruffleShuffle]

IDK how Pujols wasn't #1

 

PECOTA has pujols producing at a value of $25-28M per year and wright/ramirez at roughly the same value (not as good offensive production, but better baserunning and they play a more valuable defensive position). I'm guessing that pujols would've been #1 if they were each the same age, but Pujols is (at least) 3 years older than wright and 4 years older than Ramirez.

[sneakypower]

well they say in the article that Pujols' elbow worries were the determining factor in him slipping out of first this year

[MPC]

Aaron Rowand?

 

One of the best defensive CF in the game, hits nicely...

 

Yadier Molina?

 

Great defensive Catcher who can also swing the bat...

 

I'm not saying either of these guys would be my first choice, but they could be very important pieces to building a team.

 

Your avatar confuses me.

 

seriously. whenever i see the avatar, i know it's a must read post. then i read the posts in the thread and checked the username. very disappointing.

[weis21]

Aaron Rowand?

I'd rather just build around Barry Zito if push came to shove though. Talk about your all-time dream team... :pig:

[inari]

For the record Soriano should be on the list somewhere.

 

He definitely shouldn't be.

[Ball And Glove]

Not much to really argue about with the Top 25. I might flip Jay Bruce and Ryan Braun, but that's about it.

[Tracer Bullet]

Damnit. Saw Bob's Keeper's avatar again and got hooked. Only took me a few seconds of reading that list to realize that it wasn't Bob's Keeper though.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Damnit. Saw Bob's Keeper's avatar again and got hooked. Only took me a few seconds of reading that list to realize that it wasn't Bob's Keeper though.

I don't see that avatar anymore. uh huh, I did it...

[Guest]

Haha, ditto on the BK avatar.

[Bote McBoteface]

No. 23. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds, Age 21 (--)

 

Like Upton, his bat cooled down a bit after an outstanding start, but also like Upton, he has virtually unlimited upside. In spite of having hit for some solid batting averages in the minor leagues, his greatest potential is really as a power hitter, along the lines of a Ryan Braun. Another thought -- it might not be the worst thing that Bruce has struggled at times in the second half if, as it might force him to learn the plate discipline that folks like Jeff Francoeur never did.

 

 

As if Dusty would allow that.

[Tracer Bullet]

Damnit. Saw Bob's Keeper's avatar again and got hooked. Only took me a few seconds of reading that list to realize that it wasn't Bob's Keeper though.

I don't see that avatar anymore. uh huh, I did it...

 

so you really will eventually go blind. Huh.

[Shilzzz]

Yadier Molina?