Look to the Future - Shortstop

[Zack Attack Troll]

Time for SS. And for those who don't remember the rules...this is a list of the best at the position in 2011.


Jose Reyes (NYM)


Stephen Drew (AZ)


Troy Tulowitzki (COL)


Hanley Ramirez (FLA)


Reid Brignac (TB)

Respect to...

• Elvis Andrus (ATL)
  
• Erick Aybar (LAA)
  
• Jeff Bianchi (KC)
  

Reyes is an amazing player. He's also slightly overrated. It's not that he isn't a great player...it's that some people think he's the type that can walk on water. It's the same way with Jeter. It's not a bad thing...it's called NY hype. Back to Reyes now...he'll be a 25 HR/60 SB type for years to come. I do think he's a peak early type...but 2011 he'll still be fantastic. Drew will be a great player with 30 HR seasons if he doesn't let his ego get in the way. You can't forget this guy's brother and what he has done with his career. Tulowitzki is another fantastic player, similar to Drew from the right side of the plate. I don't think Hanley's potential is quite as great as Reyes', but he should be "Reyes Lite". Brignac is a fantastic prospect in the deep D-Rays system, who has plus power and plus defense. He should become a fixture in their lineup by 2008.

Jose Tabata and Fernando Martinez get all the hype, but 17 year old Elvis Andrus is another 17 year old phenom at the SS position. He doesn't quite have the power potential of Martinez, but he has the tools to be a plus defender with plus power at the plate. Aybar is probably one of the best defenders in the minors with plus speed...a 30 SB type. Bianchi is pissing me off because he's been injured the past two years, so he'll finally get his first taste of A ball this year, yea A ball. But his all around game has been compared to Michael Young, and that makes for a fantastic SS.

And last of all, let's not turn this into a "REYES OVERRATED WTF" thread OK? If you don't agree with it, ignore it for gosh sakes.

That is all, again.

[seaver41]

So Reyes is just overrated because he plays in NY?

I think Ramirez is a question mark. He has potential to be a good player but he's had motivational issues in the past.

[Fish Troll]

Ramirez may not be the very best SS out there, but he's up there. He needs to work on his defense though but I'm sure his power # will increases over time.

[Zack Attack Troll]

seaver41 said:

So Reyes is just overrated because he plays in NY?

I think Ramirez is a question mark. He has potential to be a good player but he's had motivational issues in the past.

Yes a little bit.

And yes I agree about Ramirez. I think he has the potential to be the best SS, but I don't think he will be.

[diehardmetsfan]

doublestix said:

seaver41 said:

So Reyes is just overrated because he plays in NY?

I think Ramirez is a question mark. He has potential to be a good player but he's had motivational issues in the past.

Yes a little bit.

And yes I agree about Ramirez. I think he has the potential to be the best SS, but I don't think he will be.

i think that ramirez has the potential to be top 5, maybe 3, but i deff dont think he has the potential to be the best

[nymets0065]

REyes can be a 40/60 guy buy willie randolphs states he does not want that from him

[seaver41]

doublestix said:

Yes a little bit.

Doesn't seem like much of a reason.

[cardsfan643]

I also think Reyes is overrated. But don't take the word overrated as meaning bad. Just not as good as people make him out to be. If he keeps it up for a few seasons, I'll give him a lot more respect. But if he was putting up those numbers playing for the Pirates, he wouldn't be considered one of the top 3 players.

1) Reyes
2) Drew
3) Ramirez
4) Tulowitzki
5) Aybar

[diehardmetsfan]

cardsfan643 said:

I also think Reyes is overrated. But don't take the word overrated as meaning bad. Just not as good as people make him out to be. If he keeps it up for a few seasons, I'll give him a lot more respect. But if he was putting up those numbers playing for the Pirates, he wouldn't be considered one of the top 3 players.

1) Reyes
2) Drew
3) Ramirez
4) Tulowitzki
5) Aybar

he was the 1st person EVER to put of numbers like that last year...i'm pretty sure if he did that on the pirates, he'd get recognized

[seaver41]

He was the first person since Mays to get close to 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs, and 20 SB's.

[diehardmetsfan]

seaver41 said:

He was the first person since Mays to get close to 20 doubles, 20 singles, 20 home runs, and 20 SB's.

20 triples*

[cardsfan643]

I don't see how it's so hard to think that Reyes won't continue to be the best, but it's easy to assume that Ramirez will suck next year. They seem pretty similar to me.

Reyes is great, don't get me wrong about that. I'd take Reyes over any other shortstop right now. But some people are acting like he fields like Ozzie Smith but hits like Albert Pujols.

He's d*mn good, but he's not the second coming of Christ. Like I said, if he keeps it up for a few years, I'll give him a lot more respect.

[seaver41]

Unlike Hanley, Reyes has a great love for the game. Even Ricky Henderson sees a lot of potential in him and the only one who could break his 130 SB record. Ramirez had a lot of motivational issues when he was in the minors. It was one of the reasons why Boston traded him.

[cardsfan643]

Manny Ramirez is a piece of sh*t, so is Bonds. But they are great players. Ramirez will be a great shortstop. He now knows what it feels like to play to his full potential. I bet he'll try harder once he leaves the Marlins and cashes in.

[Fish Troll]

cardsfan643 said:

Manny Ramirez is a piece of sh*t, so is Bonds. But they are great players. Ramirez will be a great shortstop. He now knows what it feels like to play to his full potential. I bet he'll try harder once he leaves the Marlins and cashes in.

Hopefully that won't happen until he pass his prime in his late 30's ;D

Ramirez hit a .291 last season, I'm sure he can do better this season.