Mammoth Blog

Alex Rodriguez may no longer be the best player in baseball, the label that accompanied him to New York five years ago, but you only had to see the look of disbelief on Joe Saunders' face Friday night to understand why A-Rod is still in the conversation.

Saunders, the Angels' lefthander, reacted with a stunned shake of his head after throwing a below-the-knees changeup that fooled A-Rod, yet wound up beyond the fence in right-center field because the Yankees' slugger managed a last-second flick of his wrists that sent the pitch some 400 feet into orbit.

It was a reminder that, for all of his issues, A-Rod still strikes fear into pitchers unlike almost anyone else in the game, and for good reason. Of course, it was also a reminder of why Yankee fans turn on him so quickly, because he has yet to deliver on all of that ability in the postseason.

But the point here is, even after his hip surgery, A-Rod still ranks among the top five players in baseball.
Albert Pujols has to get the nod as the best of the best these days as he goes about putting up huge numbers in a Cardinals' lineup that is not exactly a modern-day Murderers' Row.

Before we get into the top five, let's define the concept of best player.

Obviously, pitchers aren't included because they are, well, pitchers, not players. Beyond that, this isn't about integrity or character, as it applies to the steroids issue, but simply ability.

Specifically, for me the issue is game-changing ability. Which players do the most to change the course of ballgames, whether it be with one swing or four at-bats -- or occasionally with their glove?

There also has to be a certain level of accomplishment, as in the case of Josh Hamilton. He might be as talented as anyone, but he only emerged last year after all of his drug problems, and he has missed most of this season due to injury.

With all of that in mind, here's my Top 5:

1. Albert Pujols

He's been on the list for several years, but he's distanced himself at the top this season, hitting .332 with 32 home runs and 87 RBI. He's putting up these numbers even though teams are pitching him carefully, determined not to let him beat them. Pujols has a legitimate shot at becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, in part because he rarely strikes out, only 35 Ks in 307 at-bats.

Perhaps most significantly, Pujols is clutch, hitting .379 with runners in scoring position this season. Pitchers fear him so much that in 105 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, Pujols has been walked 39 times. 2. Manny Ramirez

Hate to put him on this list after the way he quit on the Red Sox last year, but you can't ignore the obvious. He carried a so-so Dodger team to the NLCS last year with a crazy-hot bat, and despite his 50-game suspension this season, his presence seems to have given confidence to younger players who are blossoming.

This season Manny is hitting .355 with nine home runs and 29 RBI, and he's hitting .371 with runners in scoring position.

3. Joe Mauer

The Twins' catcher looks to be the best pure hitter in the game these days, and at age 26, Mauer is developing power to go with his sweet stroke. He's hitting .373 and despite missing time with a back injury, has 15 home runs in only 241 at-bats, two more longballs than his season-best 13 in 2006.

Mauer too has been clutch, hitting .400 with runners in scoring position. The fact that he's doing all of this while catching only adds to his status.

4. Rodriguez

Still hitting only .256, but upon returning from hip surgery in May, A-Rod's presence made an obvious difference in the Yankee lineup. He seems to have made significant strides in his recovery from the hip surgery lately, looking more agile at third base and swinging the bat with more confidence.

A-Rod's 17 home runs and 50 RBI have helped the Yankees beat up on a lot of mediocre pitching lately, and he's even hit in the clutch lately. Still, you can't help but notice that his .278 average with runners in scoring position pales in comparison to the others on this list.

5. Hanley Ramirez

Tough call over the likes of Chase Utley and Evan Longoria for final Top 5 spot, but the Marlins' shortstop is living up to the hype as a rising superstar. He's hitting .349 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI, and his clutch numbers are off the charts -- .456 with runners in scoring position, .448 with RISP and two outs.

So there's the list, and while A-Rod, who turns 34 in a couple of weeks, still belongs, he needs to finally have a big October one of these years or none of it will ever matter to Yankee fans. source>>>