Tagged: Anthony Rendon
MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now Entering 2015
As I did last year, and the year before, and the year before that, I’ll be keeping a running list of the Top 100 Players Right Now as they are revealed on MLB Network, eventually compiling the entire list.
They will have revealed all 100 by the end of Friday, February 27th. I’ll update this same space as they reveal the remaining entries.
As always, I will understandably highlight the Brewers players on the list. The Brewers had six players on the list entering 2012. Rickie Weeks was 83, John Axford was 77, Yovani Gallardo was 72, Aramis Ramirez was 66, Zack Greinke was 64, and Ryan Braun was too low at number 9. Entering 2013, the Brewers only had three players featured on the list (at the time it was revealed). Yovani Gallardo repeated his position at 72, Aramis Ramirez jumped all the way up to 32, and Braun settled in at 6. Kyle Lohse made last year’s list as well. As for 2014, just three players once again. Jean Segura checked in at 60, Carlos Gomez debuted at 44, and Ryan Braun dipped to 24.
The criteria for the list remains the same:
- Emphasized stats from the last three (3) seasons, weighting 2014
- Projected 2015 performance
- Defensive position
- Accolades
- Intangibles
Here now are the Top 100-1* Players as listed by MLB Network:
100. Joe Mauer – 1B – Minnesota Twins
99. Albert Pujols – 1B – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
98. Justin Verlander – SP – Detroit Tigers
97. Prince Fielder – 1B – Texas Rangers
96. Yordano Ventura – RP – Kansas City Royals
95. Pablo Sandoval – 3B – Boston Red Sox
94. Ben Zobrist – 2B – Oakland Athletics
93. Adam Eaton – OF – Chicago White Sox
92. Gerrit Cole – SP – Pittsburgh Pirates
91. Devin Mesoraco – C – Cincinnati Reds
90. Russell Martin – C – Toronto Blue Jays
89. Jake Arrieta – SP – Chicago Cubs
88. Lance Lynn – SP – St. Louis Cardinals
87. Kenley Jansen – CL – Los Angeles Dodgers
86. Jose Reyes – SS – Toronto Blue Jays
85. Andrelton Simmons – SS – Atlanta Braves
84. Nolan Arenado – 3B – Colorado Rockies
83. Chris Carter – 1B – Houston Astros
82. Jeff Samardzija – SP – Chicago White Sox
81. Starling Marte – LF – Pittsburgh Pirates
80. Jose Fernandez – SP – Miami Marlins
79. Christian Yelich – LF – Miami Marlins
78. Julio Teheran – SP – Atlanta Braves
77. Alex Cobb – SP – Tampa Bay Rays
76. Jayson Werth – LF – Washington Nationals
75. J.D. Martinez – RF – Detroit Tigers
74. Todd Frazier – 3B – Cincinnati Reds
73. Neil Walker – 2B – Pittsburgh Pirates
72. Carlos Santana – 1B – Cleveland Indians
71. Salvador Perez – C – Kansas City Royals
70. Sonny Gray – SP – Oakland Athletics
69. Stephen Strasburg – SP – Washington Nationals
68. Doug Fister – SP – Washington Nationals
67. Freddie Freeman – 1B – Atlanta Braves
66. Nelson Cruz – DH – Seattle Mariners
65. Alex Gordon – LF – Kansas City Royals
64. Josh Harrison – 3B – Pittsburgh Pirates
63. Ryan Braun – RF – Milwaukee Brewers
62. Yasiel Puig – CF – Los Angeles Dodgers
61. Aroldis Chapman – CL – Cincinnati Reds
60. Matt Harvey – SP – New York Mets
59. Masahiro Tanaka – SP – New York Yankees
58. Adrian Gonzalez – 1B – Los Angeles Dodgers
57. Kyle Seager – 3B – Seattle Mariners
56. Yan Gomes – C – Cleveland Indians
55. Matt Kemp – RF – San Diego Padres
54. Jacoby Ellsbury – CF – New York Yankees
53. Anthony Rizzo – 1B – Chicago Cubs
52. Dustin Pedroia – 2B – Boston Red Sox
51. Evan Longoria – 3B – Tampa Bay Rays
50. Cole Hamels – SP – Philadelphia Phillies
49. Edwin Encarnacion – 1B – Toronto Blue Jays
48. Hunter Pence – RF – San Francisco Giants
47. Hisashi Iwakuma – SP – Seattle Mariners
46. Matt Holliday – LF – St. Louis Cardinals
45. Yu Darvish – SP – Texas Rangers
44. Jason Heyward – RF – St. Louis Cardinals
43. Jon Lester – SP – Chicago Cubs
42. Carlos Gonzalez – RF – Colorado Rockies
41. Jhonny Peralta – SS – St. Louis Cardinals
40. Greg Holland – CL – Kansas City Royals
39. Wade Davis – RP – Kansas City Royals
38. Carlos Gomez – CF – Milwaukee Brewers
37. Justin Upton – LF – San Diego Padres
36. David Ortiz – DH – Boston Red Sox
35. Jordan Zimmermann – SP – Washington Nationals
34. Craig Kimbrel – CL – Atlanta Braves
33. Victor Martinez – DH – Detroit Tigers
32. Joey Votto – 1B – Cincinnati Reds
31. Anthony Rendon – 3B – Washington Nationals
30. Jose Altuve – 2B – Houston Astros
29. Ian Desmond – SS – Washington Nationals
28. Zack Greinke – SP – Los Angeles Dodgers
27. Hanley Ramirez – LF – Boston Red Sox
26. Madison Bumgarner – SP – San Francisco Giants
25. David Price – SP – Detroit Tigers
24. Bryce Harper – RF – Washington Nationals
23. Jonathan Lucroy – C – Milwaukee Brewers
22. Adam Jones – CF – Baltimore Orioles
21. Michael Brantley – LF – Cleveland Indians
20. Adrian Beltre – 3B – Texas Rangers
19. Yadier Molina – C – St. Louis Cardinals
18. Josh Donaldson – 3B – Toronto Blue Jays
17. Troy Tulowitzki – SS – Colorado Rockies
16. Johnny Cueto – SP – Cincinnati Reds
15. Corey Kluber – SP – Cleveland Indians
14. Adam Wainwright – SP – St. Louis Cardinals
13. Paul Goldschmidt – 1B – Arizona Diamondbacks
12. Jose Bautista – RF – Toronto Blue Jays
11. Max Scherzer – SP – Washington Nationals
10. Robinson Cano – 2B – Seattle Mariners
9. Jose Abreu – 1B – Chicago White Sox
8. Buster Posey – C/1B – San Francisco Giants
7. Miguel Cabrera – 1B – Detroit Tigers
6. Andrew McCutchen – CF – Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Chris Sale – SP – Chicago White Sox
4. Giancarlo Stanton – RF – Miami Marlins
3. Felix Hernandez – SP – Seattle Mariners
2. Mike Trout – CF – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
1. Clayton Kershaw – SP – Los Angeles Dodgers
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Ryan Braun has been revealed as the 63rd best player in Major League Baseball “Right Now” entering 2015. As the criteria for the rankings weights 2014 the most and pretty much only relies on the last three years of stats at all, this is an understandable position for Braun right now. I have a feeling though that at this time next year Braun will have rebounded a bit.
Carlos Gomez moves up six spots from 44 last year to check in at 38. I’d rather have Gomez than Justin Upton at 37.
And due to a Twitter tease, we know (or at least Brewers fans do) that Jonathan Lucroy will be number 23 when they get there.
I’ll update more once I see who is around the Brewers, but that’s the only three I expect to make the list.
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now” Rankings Entering 2015
Each year I compile MLB Network’s “Top 100 Players Right Now” which airs annually before the regular season begins.
Beginning last year, I decided to supplement those rankings by giving you a place to find all of the Top 10 Right Now positional rankings as well.
I’ll add to this post as the episodes air on MLB Network over the next few weeks.
On Thursday, January 15, 2015 the rankings for both Centerfielders and Shortstops were revealed. January 22nd had both Right Fielders and Left Fielders. Starting Pitchers and First Basemen will be revealed on January 29th. Lists for Relief Pitchers and Second Basemen came on February 5. Catchers and Third Baseman round things out on February 12.
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Centerfielders Right Now”
- Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Yasiel Puig – Los Angeles Dodgers
- CARLOS GOMEZ – MILWAUKE BREWERS
- Adam Jones – Baltimore Orioles
- Jacoby Ellsbury – New York Yankees
- Adam Eaton – Chicago White Sox
- A.J. Pollock – Arizona Diamondbacks
- Lorenzo Cain – Kansas City Royals
- Denard Span – Washington Nationals
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Centerfielders was Darryl Hamilton. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Trout, McCutchen, Puig, 4. GOMEZ, Jones, Ellsbury, Cain, Pollock, Eaton, Leonys Martin (TEX)
Hamilton: McCutchen, Trout, 3. GOMEZ, Puig, Jones, Ellsbury, Eaton, Cain, Marcell Ozuna (MIA), Span
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Shortstops Right Now”
- Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado Rockies
- Jhonny Peralta – St. Louis Cardinals
- Ian Desmond – Washington Nationals
- Jose Reyes – Toronto Blue Jays
- J.J. Hardy – Baltimore Orioles
- Jordy Mercer – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Erick Aybar – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Alexei Ramirez – Chicago White Sox
- Jed Lowrie – Houston Astros
- Andrelton Simmons – Atlanta Braves
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Shortstops is Bill Ripken. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Tulowitzki, Peralta, Reyes, Simmons, Desmond, Brandon Crawford (SF), Hardy, Jimmy Rollins (LAD), Starlin Castro (CHC), Aybar
Ripken: Tulowitzki, Desmond, Hardy, Simmons, Castro, Crawford, Peralta, Ramirez, Aybar, Rollins
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Fielders Right Now”
- Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins
- Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays
- Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals
- Jason Heyward – St. Louis Cardinals
- Michael Cuddyer – New York Mets
- Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies
- Hunter Pence – San Francisco Giants
- Brandon Moss – Cleveland Indians
- Matt Kemp – San Diego Padres
- J.D. Martinez – Detroit Tigers
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Right Fielders is Cliff Floyd Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Stanton, Bautista, Harper, Heyward, Kemp, 6. RYAN BRAUN (MIL), Shin-Soo Choo (TEX), Pence, George Springer (HOU), Gonzalez
Floyd: Stanton, Bautista, Kemp, Harper, Moss, Martinez, Pence, Kole Calhoun (LAA), Heyward, 10. BRAUN
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Left Fielders Right Now”
- Hanley Ramirez – Boston Red Sox
- Jayson Werth – Washington Nationals
- Michael Brantley – Cleveland Indians
- Starling Marte – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Alex Gordon – Kansas City Royals
- Nelson Cruz – Seattle Mariners
- Matt Holliday – St. Louis Cardinals
- Corey Dickerson – Colorado Rockies
- Justin Upton – San Diego Padres
- Christian Yelich – Miami Marlins
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Left Fielders is Eric Byrnes Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Gordon, Marte, Brantley, Werth, Upton, Ramirez, Holliday, Brett Gardner (NYY), Cruz, Melky Cabrera (CHW)
Byrnes: Brantley, Upton, Werth, Gordon, Holliday, Marte, Cruz, Dickerson, Ramirez, Yoenis Cespedes (DET)
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Staring Pitchers Right Now”
- Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers
- Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners
- Chris Sale – Chicago White Sox
- Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals
- Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals
- Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds
- Corey Kluber – Cleveland Indians
- David Price – Detroit Tigers
- Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants
- Jordan Zimmermann – Washington Nationals
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Starting Pitchers is John Smoltz Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Kershaw, Hernandez, Sale, Scherzer, Wainwright, Kluber, Cueto, Yu Darvish (TEX), Jon Lester (CHC), Anibal Sanchez (DET)
Smoltz: Kershaw, Sale, Bumgarner, Scherzer, Hernandez, Cueto, Lester, Wainwright, Price, Kluber
MLB Network’s “Top 10 First Basemen Right Now”
- Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers
- Paul Goldschmidt – Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jose Abreu – Chicago White Sox
- Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds
- Freddie Freeman – Atlanta Braves
- Edwin Encarnacion – Toronto Blue Jays
- Anthony Rizzo – Chicago Cubs
- Mike Napoli – Boston Red Sox
- Adrian Gonzalez – Los Angeles Dodgers
- Carlos Santana – Cleveland Indians
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the First Basemen is Carlos Peña. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Goldschmidt, Cabrerea, Abreu, Votto, Rizzo, Freeman, Gonzalez, Encarnacion, Santana, Prince Fielder (TEX)
Peña: Cabrera, Goldschmidt, Abreu, Encarnacion, Gonzalez, Albert Pujols (LAA), Justin Morneau (COL), Votto, Freeman, Rizzo
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Relief Pitchers Right Now”
- Wade Davis – Kansas City Royals
- Greg Holland – Kansas City Royals
- Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves
- Dellin Betances – New York Yankees
- Joaquin Benoit – San Diego Padres
- Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati Reds
- Mark Melancon – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Koji Uehara – Boston Red Sox
- Zach Britton – Baltimore Orioles
- Tony Watson – Pittsburgh Pirates
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode also provides two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Relief Pitchers is Dan Plesac. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Kimbrel, Holland, Chapman, Betances, Davis, Uehara, Huston Street (LAA), Steve Cishek (MIA), Kenley Jansen (LAD), Andrew Miller (NYY)
Plesac: Kimbrel, Chapman, Betances, Davis, Holland, Jansen, David Robertson (CHW), Britton, Street, Uehara
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now”
- Robinson Cano – Seattle Mariners
- Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
- Ben Zobrist – Oakland Athletics
- Neil Walker – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ian Kinsler – Detroit Tigers
- Jose Altuve – Houston Astros
- Howie Kendrick – Los Angeles Dodgers
- Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
- Brian Dozier – Minnesota Twins
- SCOOTER GENNETT – MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode will also provide two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Second Basemen is Harold Reynolds. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Cano, Altuve, Walker, Utley, Zobrist, Kinsler, Pedroia, Kendrick, Dozier, Jason Kipnis (CLE)
Reynolds: Cano, Pedroia, Altuve, Kinsler, Kendrick, Brandon Phillips (CIN), Dozier, Dee Gordon (MIA), Omar Infante (KC) , Kolten Wong (STL)
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Third Basemen Right Now”
- Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers
- Josh Donaldson – Toronto Blue Jays
- Josh Harrison – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Anthony Rendon – Washington Nationals
- David Wright – New York Mets
- Kyle Seager – Seattle Mariners
- Matt Carpenter – St. Louis Cardinals
- Evan Longoria – Tampa Bay Rays
- Juan Uribe – Los Angeles Dodgers
- Nolan Arenado – Colorado Rockies
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode will also provide two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Third Basemen is Mike Lowell. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Beltre, Donaldson, Wright, Longoria, Rendon, Carpenter, Seager, Todd Frazier (CIN), Arenado, Manny Machado (BAL)
Lowell: Beltre, Donaldson, Rendon, Wright, Longoria, Harrison, Arenado, Seager, Carpenter, Pablo Sandoval (BOS)
MLB Network’s “Top 10 Catchers Right Now”
- Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants
- JONATHAN LUCROY – MILWAUKEE BREWERS
- Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals
- Yan Gomes – Cleveland Indians
- Russell Martin – Toronto Blue Jays
- Devin Mesoraco – Cincinnati Reds
- Salvador Perez – Kansas City Royals
- Brian McCann – New York Yankees
- Derek Norris – San Diego Padres
- Wilson Ramos – Washington Nationals
The rankings above are from MLB Network’s “Shredder” which takes into account a multitude of statistical factors with no human bias. Each episode will also provide two additional lists: One from Brian Kenny and one from an MLB Network analyst, who for the Catchers is Dave Valle. Here are their individual Top 10’s.
Kenny: Posey, Molina, Lucroy, Martin, Perez, Mesoraco, Gomez, Carlos Ruiz (PHI), McCann, Norris
Valle: Molina, Posey, Perez, Lucroy, Martin, Gomez, Mesoraco, McCann, Ramos, Mike Zunino (SEA)
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So there you have it. All 10 positions worth ranking in MLB by the Shredder and the MLB Network personalities.
There were five Brewers among the 100 names listed by The Shredder in 2014. They were: Carlos Gomez (CF, 6th), Jean Segura (SS, 5th), Ryan Braun (RF, 2nd), Aramis Ramirez (3B, 7th), and Jonathan Lucroy (C, 6th).
Which Brewers will be ranked by The Shredder heading in 2015? Turns out fans in Milwaukee get three this year. Carlos Gomez (CF, 4th), Scooter Gennett (2B, 10th), and Jonathan Lucroy (C, 2nd).