Comments on: AL East Toolbox

By: River Ave. Blues | AL East Player Rankings

River Ave. Blues | AL East Player Rankings — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:00:20 +0000

[...] of ripping off ideas from Jason Churchill at Prospect Insider. Yesterday I took a look at the best tools in the AL East, and now I’m ranking the best overall players. There’s no set formula used to determine [...]

By: Barry

Barry — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:12:32 +0000

Eh, not for nothin but I don’t agree with most of your stuff, but hey this is what makes America great.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:34:22 +0000

I haven’t read the posts before this, so maybe it has been said…but a guy CAN’T stike out 100 times and be the number one ranked “Contact Hitter”. The next two guys after him don’t even come close to the number of times Jeter made an out without making CONTACT if you add them together!

Also, it’s a little generous to rank a guys changeup and control as near tops in the league when he has never been in the league. Interesting list, although I won’t even guess as to motives concerning a couple of these choices:)

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:37:17 +0000

I think its way too early to rank Ellsbury ahead of a guy like Carl Crawford or even BJ Upton in terms of defense.

Also I know the fastball rankings were only looking at starters but c’mon someone has to be better than Edwin Jackson the guy has no control of it. Garza, Dice-K, and Hughes IMO all have a better fastball when you consider the guy has to have some control of it. I’d put Garza in his place.

Some possible considerations to add to the list: Catcher (overall defense and/or arm) and Sinker (or include this in fastball rankings, no love for CMW right now).

Overall though a great list and idea.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:39:15 +0000

I think its way, way too early to rank Ian Kennedy up there as top 3 in command/control. He had a solid BB rate in the minors last year, but nothing special, and a bad one in his tiny sample in the majors. I know, command is more than just BB rate, but its definitely early to judge his big league command too. I mean hell, you have him ranked above Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina

By: yankeesdaily.com » Blog Archive » Pride of the Yankees 3/10/08 The Bloggers

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:09:55 +0000

[...] brought down? – Yankee Stadium Insider Cervelli out 8-10 weeks – Eric Schultz – Pending Pinstripes AL East Toolbox – Mike A. – River Ave. [...]

By: E-ROC

E-ROC — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:47:40 +0000

Prospect Insider is a REALLY website. I’ve always check that website whenever I’m logged on.

Mike, you should list the criteria or formula you used for each decision.

By: TheAnalyticalYankeeFan

TheAnalyticalYankeeFan — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:46:36 +0000

I love the list all together, but I disagree on a few things here. When you talk best fastballs, Joba’s four-seamer has to get mention, as does Mariano’s cutter.

Sliders? No Joba? Joba probably has the best slider in baseball, never mind the AL East. I’ve heard people say they think Joba’s slider is better than a prime Randy Johnson’s.

Curveball, I won’t really argue, just because you put three very good, veteran pitchers on there. But honestly, Hughes curve ball is heads and shoulders above Halladay’s. Burnett’s curve is definitely a little nastier than Beckett’s.

Good job though. Love the site.

By: Mike A.

Mike A. — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:36:31 +0000

Rolen’s got one of the best arms in all of baseball, he was an easy number 1. There were a lot of interchangeable pieces for most of the categories, I could have easily had A-Rod or Jason Bartlett or Aaron Hill in the top 3.

By: Mike A.

Mike A. — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:34:10 +0000

The best fastball category applies to starters only, I considered Joba a reliever.