The top ten will be written in today's post, and the next fifteen will be in tomorrow's.
1) Justin Verlander, P, Detroit Tigers
It's rather difficult to measure pitchers against hitters when valuing players. But in 2011, he dominated the game unlike any other. When a pitcher wins the MVP Award, he deserves it. Verlander's stats last year -- 2.40 ERA, 24-5, 250 K, 251 IP -- make him unmatched by anyone else in baseball, pitcher or batter. Many of the game's greatest hitters left their at-bats against him looking dazed and confused.
2) Matt Kemp, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers
This guy is the definition of a five-tool player. He doesn't just hit for power and average, but he gets on base, too, posting an OBP of .399. And once he's on, he'll steal on you: he swiped 40 bags last year. He's become one of the best home run hitters in the game, something hardly seen out of a centerfielder. And he plays the position exceptionally. Simply put, he does it all.
3) Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers
This ranking disregards the PED allegations, as nothing has been proven yet. The 2011 NL MVP winner had what I thought was the second-best season among NL players, just slightly behind Matt Kemp. When the news came that Braun was the winner, I thought he deserved it, but Kemp's numbers were just a bit more impressive. Braun did do his damage in eleven less games than Kemp (150 to 161), which could justify Braun taking MVP honors.
4) Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels
I'm confident that Pujols' 2012 will be better than his 2011, where he batted a career-low .299. It was the first season of Pujols' career where he failed to reach 100 RBI (he had 99). A telling sign that he'll be back to his normal self is the fact that he hit .355 in September and .353 in October. The $250 million man plays exceptional first base and even steals a few bags. He was 9/10 in swipe attempts last year and has 39 in his last three seasons.
5) Clayton Kershaw, P, Los Angeles Dodgers
Looking for an eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer? If he stays healthy like former prodigy Mark Prior couldn't, Kershaw is your guy. This guy could have, like, a dozen Cy Youngs by the time his career is finished. He's simply incredible. He actually posted a lower ERA than Verlander; that being said, he faced easier hitters. But still, this 23-year-old (yes, he's only 23!) has the makings of an all-time great.
6) Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
In my mind, Miggy is the current best hitter in the game. He certainly was last year: he batted .344 with a .448 OBP. What Cabrera should really do if he wants to improve is drop weight and focus on his defense, where he is now a liability at third with Prince Fielder's arrival. Despite a far better year at the plate last year, Cabrera is ranked behind Albert because their defensive ability isn't comparable.
7) Jose Bautista, RF, Toronto Blue Jays
97 home runs in the last two seasons, and by all accounts, steroid free? Impressive. As we put the steroid era behind us, these types of numbers will be unheard of in the coming years. Bautista upped his average 42 points from 2010 last season, batting .302, and he also drew a league-leading 132 walks. As a result, he reached base 45% of the time. While he isn't the fastest guy, he possesses a cannon from right field.
8) Jacoby Ellsbury, CF, Boston Red Sox
Similarly to Jose Bautista, no one was prepared for the 32 home runs Ellsbury slammed last year. He'd he only twenty in his entire career before that, suggesting a decline for the coming season. That being said, he's a five-tooler who definitely has the ability to put up MVP-type numbers. The injuries slowed him down on the bases a bit (39 steals last year, but caught 15 times; as opposed to '09, where he swiped 70 whilst being caught just 12 times), but he can still run with the best of them. And he makes center look effortless.
9) Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees
Cano has put together a number of very good seasons up to this point in his career. But he still hasn't produced that MVP, breakout year everyone's expecting. He's been praised with having the prettiest swing out of any MLB player, and has turned himself into the most dangerous bat in the potent Yankee lineup. A 3000-hit career is certainly a possibility. He has a shortstop's arm at second base coupled with exceptional range. If there was a complaint about Cano, it would be his lackadaisical effort when running out ground balls.
10) Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Boston Red Sox
Having protection in the lineup did wonders for Gonzo last year, as he hit a career-best .338. His power numbers should be up a little this coming year from last season's 27. He fields his position well, and committed just four errors from the corner.
11-25 tomorrow. Including Troy Tulowitzki, Roy Halladay, Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Cliff Lee, Justin Upton, and others.
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