Post by sharksrog on Feb 17, 2013 1:20:59 GMT -5
The MLB Network has put together its top 10 RIGHT NOW at 10 positions including reliever, as well as the top 10 managers. So how did the Giants fare?
They had no one mentioned as far as I know at shortstop, first base or in left field (although former Giant Melky Cabrera was ranked #8 in left). But they fared pretty well elsewhere.
As an aside, I have to admit I was impressed with how many good players there were at most positions.
They had "honorable mentions" among starting pitchers (Matt Cain), center fielders (Angel Pagan) and right field (Hunter Pence).
And they had five who placed in the top 10.
Pablo Sandoval was ranked #10 among third basemen. Had he been healthier and not seen his power sapped by two broken hamate bones in two years, he likely would have been ranked higher. And that, even though he has been heavily criticized here among Giants fans.
Marco Scutaro was ranked somewhere between #7 and #10. I can't quite remember which, although I think that, like Pablo, it was #10. Bill James ranked Marco #5, and Bill works for the Red Sox, which is about as East Coast as it gets.
In perhaps the biggest surprise, Sergio Romo was ranked #2 among all relief pitchers. Sergio has something like 15 saves in his career, so it is hard to see an anti-type bias there. It's been only two or three years since Sergio came under heavy criticism here for giving up a couple of critical late- and extra-inning home runs.
Perhaps the most criticized of all Giants aside from Brian Sabean is Bruce Bochy. All he did, for the second straight season, was get ranked the top manager in the game.
Finally, in perhaps the least surprising development of them all, Buster Posey was ranked the #1 catcher. Even Buster is criticized here on at least a weekly basis.
So out of 11 rankings, the Giants finished with two firsts and two seconds. And EACH of them has been criticized here, one heavily and one almost mercilously.
So I ask you, where was that East Coast bias? It would seem there is more bias here on this board than in the MLB rankings.
They had no one mentioned as far as I know at shortstop, first base or in left field (although former Giant Melky Cabrera was ranked #8 in left). But they fared pretty well elsewhere.
As an aside, I have to admit I was impressed with how many good players there were at most positions.
They had "honorable mentions" among starting pitchers (Matt Cain), center fielders (Angel Pagan) and right field (Hunter Pence).
And they had five who placed in the top 10.
Pablo Sandoval was ranked #10 among third basemen. Had he been healthier and not seen his power sapped by two broken hamate bones in two years, he likely would have been ranked higher. And that, even though he has been heavily criticized here among Giants fans.
Marco Scutaro was ranked somewhere between #7 and #10. I can't quite remember which, although I think that, like Pablo, it was #10. Bill James ranked Marco #5, and Bill works for the Red Sox, which is about as East Coast as it gets.
In perhaps the biggest surprise, Sergio Romo was ranked #2 among all relief pitchers. Sergio has something like 15 saves in his career, so it is hard to see an anti-type bias there. It's been only two or three years since Sergio came under heavy criticism here for giving up a couple of critical late- and extra-inning home runs.
Perhaps the most criticized of all Giants aside from Brian Sabean is Bruce Bochy. All he did, for the second straight season, was get ranked the top manager in the game.
Finally, in perhaps the least surprising development of them all, Buster Posey was ranked the #1 catcher. Even Buster is criticized here on at least a weekly basis.
So out of 11 rankings, the Giants finished with two firsts and two seconds. And EACH of them has been criticized here, one heavily and one almost mercilously.
So I ask you, where was that East Coast bias? It would seem there is more bias here on this board than in the MLB rankings.