Top 20 of the New Decade

[MartyFunkhouser]

Interesting article by Kevin Goldstein on the top 20 of the new decade. Since it is a subscription only article here are the top 20.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...articleid=9850

"As Major League Baseball gets ready to start another decade, who will be the most valuable players for the next decade? To find out, let's have a fantasy baseball draft, only this one goes by some different rules. Instead of a fantasy scoring system, we'll base the value on real baseball value, using something like our own WARP (Wins Above Replacement Player). Just as importantly, there will be no trading and no future draft. In other words, if you are one of those people who are scared off by both the inconsistency and inability to depend on the health of pitchers, you best look else where, because just like real-world baseball, you can't just ignore pitching because it's risky. You have to take some, or have none."

1. Hanley Ramirez
2. Justin Upton
3. Joe Mauer
4. Tim Lincecum
5. Zach Greinke
6. Evan Longoria
7. Ryan Braun
8. Stephen Stassburg
9. Felix Hernandez
10. Albert Pujols
11. Prince Fielder
12. Jon Lester
13. Jason Heyward
14. Adam Jones
15. Brett Anderson
16. Andrew McCutchen
17. Tommy Hanson
18. Rick Porcello
19. Matt Kemp
20. David Wright

Interesting list and I cannot say I have a lot of disagreement. I was very surprised to see how high Brett Anderson is on the list, but he was great in the 2nd half of last season.

[Hot Lunch]

Not just trying to be a homer on this one but Matt Kemp should be higher and what about Grady Sizemore?

[cougjunkie]

No list is complete without Pablo.

[DrumNFeather]

I'll throw in a vote for Ryan Zimmerman.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Zimmerman and Sizemore both made the list of players that just missed the list. I agree with leaving Sizemore off because of his bad year.

I think Kemp isn't higher because he is already 26. If you are looking at an entire decade of performance, you are looking at 4-5 more years during his peak and you can expect him to regress after that, same goes with Sizemore. A lot of the OF ahead of Kemp: Upton, Heyward, Jones, McCutchen are all younger players. The only OF older that is ahead of him is Braun, and there is no doubt that Braun should be ahead of Kemp.

[cougjunkie]

Zimmerman and Sizemore both made the list of players that just missed the list. I agree with leaving Sizemore off because of his bad year.

I think Kemp isn't higher because he is already 26. If you are looking at an entire decade of performance, you are looking at 4-5 more years during his peak and you can expect him to regress after that, same goes with Sizemore. A lot of the OF ahead of Kemp: Upton, Heyward, Jones, McCutchen are all younger players. The only OF older that is ahead of him is Braun, and there is no doubt that Braun should be ahead of Kemp.

The other problem with this list is that they are obviously including minor leaguers over the next decade he really only sees a handful of minor league players becoming superstars?

No Wieters, no David Price, No Madison Bumgarner.

[Hot Lunch]

There are some dang good young pitchers on that list.

[MartyFunkhouser]

There are some dang good young pitchers on that list.

Which is why I'm somewhat surprised to see Brett Anderson on the list. However, you look at his performance in the 2nd half and he probably deserves it. It surprises me to see him ahead of a guy like Porcello despite the better performance.

If the A's are able to rebuild the team it will all be on the strength from the Haren trade. That trade brought in Anderson and Chris Carter directly and brought in the pieces necessary to get Wallace. Right now those 3 guys are probably the 3 of top 5 under 25 in the A's organization.

Anderson is also on this list despite the fact that he is probably the 2nd best pitching prospect on the A's system. He still ranks behind Ynoa and I'm somewhat surprised that Ynoa didn't make this list.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The other problem with this list is that they are obviously including minor leaguers over the next decade he really only sees a handful of minor league players becoming superstars?

No Wieters, no David Price, No Madison Bumgarner.

Wieters made the players missing the cut, but Price and Bumgarner were not included.

"Just missed (in alphabetical order): Pedro Alvarez, Pirates; Elvis Andrus, Rangers; Gordon Beckham, White Sox; Miguel Cabrera, Tigers; Robinson Cano, Yankees; Alcides Escobar, Brewes; Neftali Feliz, Rangers; Yovani Gallardo, Brewers; Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Mat Latos, Padres; Jesus Montero, Yankees; David Price, Rays; Anthony Ranaudo, Louisiana State; Carlos Santana, Indians; Grady Sizemore, Indians; Mike Stanton, Marlins; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Justin Verlander, Tigers; Matt Wieters, Orioles; Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals."

There are some odd inclusions on the just missed list and some odd players left out.

[Hot Lunch]

He still ranks behind Ynoa and I'm somewhat surprised that Ynoa didn't make this list.

Well Ynoa hasn't done much in pro baseball yet. Great prospect but not much to go off of vs. competition yet. I always cheer for Dominicans by the way. I hope he succeeds even though he is an Oakland Athletic for the time being.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Well Ynoa hasn't done much in pro baseball yet. Great prospect but not much to go off of vs. competition yet. I always cheer for Dominicans by the way. I hope he succeeds even though he is an Oakland Athletic for the time being.

Did you ever watch the movie Sugar, if not you really should go rent it today. It is right up your alley if you are a Dominican baseball fan.

[Hot Lunch]

Did you ever watch the movie Sugar, if not you really should go rent it today. It is right up your alley if you are a Dominican baseball fan.

i haven't seen it. I need to. I spent "some time" in the Dominican Republic so I enjoy seeing anyone succeed and making it out of there.

[Hot Lunch]

Did you ever watch the movie Sugar, if not you really should go rent it today. It is right up your alley if you are a Dominican baseball fan.

This will be here tomorrow from Netflix. I am looking forward to it. Hopefully I can pull myself away from Call of Duty to watch it.

[il Padrino Ute]

i haven't seen it. I need to. I spent "some time" in the Dominican Republic so I enjoy seeing anyone succeed and making it out of there.

I would have loved to have "spent some time" in the Dominican Republic. They didn't play much baseball in Italy.

[Hot Lunch]

I would have loved to have "spent some time" in the Dominican Republic. They didn't play much baseball in Italy.

A friend of mine who spend some time in the Yankees minor league organization also "spent some time" in the DR. He would go and pitch games every P-Day. He ended up transferring to ASU after his mission. I guess pitching to major league talent while doing your tour gets you some good practice to face top notch college hitters.

Stupid soccer playing country anyways. I actually love soccer. My dad hates it and refers to it as a "communist sport".