Gordon, Perez in MLB Network’s Top Ten Right Now

Somehow, I forgot to post about last week’s MLB Network’s Top Ten Right Now. They did an episode on left fielders and right fielders and no Jeff Francoeur did not make the list.

Alex Gordon, did however make the cut (I even had a post all written I just forgot to post it). Anyway, the KC Royals left fielder came in at number four on “The Shredder” list, along with Bill James’ list. Former big league outfielder Eric Byrnes only had him at number ten because Gordon has yet to hit for power or drive in 100 runs. Left fielders are supposed to be the big boppers in the lineup.

via MLB Network’s Twitter

Salvador Perez came in at number six on the list of catchers, with SF Giants catcher Buster Posey topping the list. I was really surprised out at how high Perez is ranked considering that in two years, he still has not played a full season’s worth of games. I have high hopes that he will be great, but I think the jury should still be out on him.

Former big league catcher Dave Valle also had him at number six. Bill James did not have Perez in his rankings.

Some of the catchers that are on the list surprised me, like AJ Ellis of the Dodgers and that Miguel Montero of Arizona was so high. I was surprised that Baltimore’s Matt Wieters was so low, at number eight.

 

Speaking of Perez, check out this article by the Kansas City Star’s Pete Grathoff.

 

*In the first baseman category, Eric Hosmer did not crack the list or even just miss the cut. They did not even mention him at all.

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No Love for Royals Bullpen

On Friday night (and then again this afternoon), MLB Network aired an episode of their Top Ten Right Now. It was based on the top Relievers right now heading into the 2013 season.

Via MLB Network’s Twitter

The one bright spot for the KC Royals over the last two seasons has been their bullpen and not one of those talented young relievers was on that list.

Not surprising, Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves was number one, as he has been nothing but lights out over his first two seasons in the big leagues (minus his collapse in September of his rookie season). He ranked number one on everyone’s list.

According to Clubhouse Confidential’s The Shredder, here are the next nine.

Sergio Romo of the SF Giants, coming off his second World Series title, was second. This is kind of a surprise, as he burst onto the closing scene last August.

The legendary Mariano Rivera of the NY Yankees came in at number three, but now one knows how he will pitch in 2013 at age 43 and coming off major knee surgery.

Koji Uehara, who is now with Boston, was fourth. I think he deserved to be on this list, as he is often overlooked (which I think he was with both Baltimore and Texas). But this high?

Fernando Rodney, who had the best season of ANY reliever in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Rays, was fifth. Can he do that again? The Rays are hoping so, as they picked up his option for 2013.

Eric O’Flaherty of the Braves came in at six. The lefty has pitched in a ton of games over the last few seasons and I always wonder when manager Fredi Gonzalez will burn him out. I was actually surprised that Jonny Venters was not on this list. He is the better of the two Braves lefty relievers.

» Continue reading “No Love for Royals Bullpen”

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