Who will the best baseball players be this year?
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NL MVP= Pujous\nAL MVP= Vlad \nAL Rookie= Jonathan Papelbon-Red Sox Closer\nNL Rookie= Prince Fielder\nAL CY YOUNG=Curt Schilling\nNL CY YOUNG=Greg Maddux\nCOMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR= Jim Thome
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How can I pick just one? Big Papi would be the first to come to mind - along with Varitek. Wily Mo is my favorite new addition. I followed him in Cincinnati and I think he'll be a major contributor in the near future. Since he's been in the Sox lineup I think his plate discipline had improved dramatically.
1150053
C'mon. Can we tame the excitement just a hair. I like Alay too, I'm originally from Cuba. But the guy is 2-1 in 6 Starts. Please chill. Prince Fielder ( .298 BA 14 HR 40 RBI 35 R 5 SB) is out there in the NL. Hanley Ramirez (.262 BA 3 HR 20 RBI 53 R 20 SB). Ryan Zimmerman (.274 BA 10 HR 46 RBI 37 R 5 SB) Dan Uggla .313 BA 13 HR 43 RBI 49 R 4 SB). Plus they've all been starters on their teams since opening day. All or any of these guys are far more deserving of the NL Rookie of the Year.
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It is up for grabs, but the Dodgers seem to have done the most in the off season to improve themselves.  Here is my prediction.\n\nLA\nSan Diego\nArizona\nSan Fran\nColorado
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1.Alex Rodriguez  Gets edge over Pujols because of position\n2.Albert Pujols   Extremely consistent\n3.Vladimir Guerrero Hit .300 every year in his career\n4.Johan Santana    Number 1 pitcher in the draft\n5.Mark Texiera    Power machine\n6.David Ortiz     At DH all he thinks about is hitting\n7.Carl Crawford    Most underrated player \n8.Jason Bay        Should have better season than last\n9.Miguel Tejada    Should get back to great SS status\n10.Michael Young   Behind Tejada by a hair
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In no particular order!\n\n1.Jose Reyes is the best SS in the game right now\n2 Albert Pujols - the best player in the game right now\n3. Johann Santana - by far the best pitcher in baseball\n4. Ryan Howard - crazy strong and talented hitter\n5. Alex Rodriguez - had incredible numbers in his OFF year\n6. David Ortiz - even though he doesnt play the field he is one of the best today\n7. Carlos Beltran - The best CF in the game in my opinion\n8. Derek Jeter - a proven winner and the likely 2006 AL MVP\n9. Joe Mauer - the best catcher in baseball\n10. Vladimir Guerrero - great hitter, and one helluva arm\n\nhonorable mentions: Chris Carpenter, Roy Halliday Travis Hafner, and Justin Morneau
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I'd have to go with A-Rod at the moment. His stats are similer to Pujos but A-rod plays a slightly more demanding defensive posisiton. A close second is Pujos. \n\nFor the season that's close. Pujos, Berkman, Swisher, Hafner and Thome are having really good years. Nobody is really just taking the year by storm yet. Several other players with a hot streak could be right up there with this group. \n\nJose Contraras on the other hand is having a monster year so far. 5-0 with a 1.41 ERA. Webb is next closest with 6-0 2.30 ERA. \n\nSo best player this season I'd hand it to Contraras so far.
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a-rod,\nbarry bonds\nderek jeter\nroger clemens\njohnny damon
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oh dear people who resond and do not even come close to answering the question...... For the Red Sox the best player would prob be Varitek.... best hitter.. Ortiz  best pitcher.. Schilling............. For the Yankees  player Jeter... hitter Giambi....... pitcher rivera
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ryan howard\nchase utley\nbobby abreu\ntom gordon\nbrett myers\nmike liberthal\ndavid bell\njimmy rollins\npat burrell\naaron rowand
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pitchers:  matt cain of the giants if he wins a starting job.  doug davis of the brewers is having an excellent spring. scott baker of the twins is compared favorably to brad radke.  and of course everyone knows about felix hernandez (mariners) and francisco liriano (twins)... but have you heard of jon papelbon (red sox)?  for some surprise relief help, look to neal cotts (white sox), JJ putz (mariners), or jesse crain (twins).\n\nbatters:  catchers: kenji johjima (mariners) or javier valentin (reds).  1st base: casey kotchman (angels) or conor jackson (diamondbacks).  2nd base: dan uggla (marlins) or ian kinsler (rangers). shortstop:  not a real sleeper, but JJ hardy (brewers).  3rd base: ryan zimmerman (nationals) or edwin encarnacion (reds).   outfield:  jeremy hermida (marlins), jason kubel (twins), and delmon young (devil rays).\n\nhave fun and good luck!
1036275
you got to say ty cobb because he is one of the top ten greatest of all time but you have to put trammell and lou whitaker al kaline gates brown hank greenbergh, and hal newhouser i would have to say the greatest now is future hall of fame catcher ivan rodriquez he has a ton of playoff experience so when they get deep into the playoffs this year he can be a good leader
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yes. he is going to back this year and make a new record for homeruns in a career.
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C - Mike Piazza - Me may not be a defensive star, but his bat can't be ignored\n\n1B - Lou Gehrig - Albert Pujols may hold down this spot one day, but he's going to have to keep it up for another 5-10 years before he does. Gehrig is a career .340 hitter with nearly 500 homers. Only Jimmy Foxx comes close. \n\n2B - Rogers Hornsby - His 1922 season when he had 250 hits and  42 homers while batting .401 is the best season ever by a second baseman. He batted .358 for his career\n\n3B - Alex Rodriguez - Mike Schmidt actually deserves the nod here, but the edge is slight. It's only a matter of time (a year or two) before A-Rod cements his place as the game's best ever third baseman. \n\nSS - Cal Ripken - The answer here probably should be Honus Wagner...but because of his ability to play every day, power, and the fact that I've actually seen him, Cal Ripken is my pick. \n\nOF - Babe Ruth - No contest. He's the best player to ever play the game, nevermind the best outfielder. \n\nOF - Ted Williams - "There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived"\n\nOF - Willie Mays - The guy could do it all...run, hit, hit for power, field...The games most well rounded player\n\nDH - Barry Bonds - Love him, hate him, steroirds or not....whatever. Quit bitching about what he may or migiht have done and watch the damn game. Then you'll see that this guy is one of the greatest of all time. He's not a DH, but I figured with his knees he could use a rest. \n\nRHP - Roger Clemens - You could say Walter Johnson...you could say Cy Young. You could even be a complete fool and go with Nolan Ryan. But in an age dominated by hitters, Clemens has dominated everyone. \n\nLHP - Randy Johnson - He was a good pitcher up until he turned 30. Then he became a great pitcher. Everything clicked for him and he dominated the game.\n\ncloser - Mariano Rivera - The closer has become the most overrated player in the game today. Gone are the days where they actually did their team good by going 2 or 3 innings, holding a lead, and dominated a team. But in this age of closers who don't do all that much, Rivera has actually managed to make a difference. He's not the typical closer who pitches an inning a game and manages to rack up 35 saves with 50 innings for the entire year. The guy shortens games. If the Yankees are leading after 8, they win the game.
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My best guess will be John Flaherty\n\nThere are three potential choices on the roster in Ken Huckaby, John Flaherty, and Josh Bard.\n\nKen Huckaby is, quite likely, the best defensive catcher of the three. He has a very good SB Caught percentage, and there has to be a reason he has stayed around as long as he has. However, he has some problems. Namely, he is a horrific hitter. The best hit he ever had was when he hurt Derek Jeter (not in a good way, but contact wise). Seriously, if he gets 120-150 plate appearences, he will hurt this team severely at the plate. \n\nJosh Bard is the second choice. He's far younger (28) then Huckaby (35) or Flaherty (38). He was received in trade from the Indians in the Crisp/Marte swap. Like Varitek, he's a switch-hitter, but he isn't nearly as competent in hitting as Flaherty. He's cheap, and I'm guessing he's not out of options, so they could send him to Pawtucket.\n\nFlaherty really has nothing over Bard. He's older (well, that may not be bad for a backup), he isn't as good defensively or offensively, and the Yankees wouldn't even take him as a backup.\n\nWhy do I say Flaherty then? They signed him to a deal, either 650k or 850k, and I don't think they'll waste that in AAA if Flaherty competes with the other two.\n\nThis is all assuming they don't use Tek there. I don't think they will, he plate is already full enough, and he took a sharp decline in September even when he got every 5th game off. Making him play every game would simply hurt him too much.
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Jason Giambi, good slugging percentage and on base percentage. gets alot of walks.
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Mike Stanton lately has not been as great pitching as in the past, but if you need someone for one or two outs, he most likely will be your man. Alex Gonzalez is a great addition. His glove is great and his batting average has gone up this year while in Boston. It's a shame the Red Sox did not resign him, because they have not a great short stop in a while, however, I think they will fit in well with the Reds orginization.