Maybe it is because I simply more familiar with the NL Central, but I am struck by the number of quality starters it features despite apparently mediocre clubs (or maybe the starters look so good because they are pitching to NL Central lineups):
Carp
Oswalt
Zambrano
Sheets
Capuano
Harang
Arroyo
throw in very promising youngsters
Snell
Reyes
Hill
AW
and you have a nice collection of talent.
+ Gorzelanny, Maholm, Guzman, Gallardo, Bailey, and so on.
This division is going to be very competitive for a while, even if the overall strength isn't high.
Is Albert Pujols the best hitter you’ve seen since you started scouting?
I’d say Manny Ramirez. The guy’s unbelievable. Everything Manny does in the field and away from the field overshadows his hitting – but he’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen. He has a plan he takes to the plate every single time – this guy will purposely swing and miss at a curveball in spring training just so he can get that same curveball during a more important game in August. He’s constantly setting up pitchers. ... But obviously Pujols is right there. When you see someone who has that much strength with that efficient a swing – that’s a rare combination.
I mean Manny is great...but really? I dont' think so.
Believe it.
TFG wrote:
The Secret Scout wrote:Is Albert Pujols the best hitter you’ve seen since you started scouting?
I’d say Manny Ramirez. The guy’s unbelievable. Everything Manny does in the field and away from the field overshadows his hitting – but he’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen. He has a plan he takes to the plate every single time – this guy will purposely swing and miss at a curveball in spring training just so he can get that same curveball during a more important game in August. He’s constantly setting up pitchers. ... But obviously Pujols is right there. When you see someone who has that much strength with that efficient a swing – that’s a rare combination.
It's all pretty subjective on who is the best between Manny and Albert.
Pujols has him beat in career numbers and strikes out half of what ManRam does. There's just no one that compares to Pujols right now. To me anyway. He can slap singles, line drive doubles, hit home runs the opposite way and also hit them 450 feet to left field.
And this scout's reasoning for picking Manny as the best is really silly. "He has a plan for every AB." I'd venture to say every MLB player has a plan for every AB. I could say that Pujols is the best because he spends ridiculous amounts of time studying in the video room.
It's Soriano, who this scout claims is "the real deal." Yes, well you'll have to pardon me, because I'm not buying that his walk rate is going to continue being doubled up from his career norms.
Hitting wise it's pretty close between Albert and Manny in their peaks. Pujols has yet to match Manny's best year (2000), but right now I'd take Pujols.
But Pujols value with his glove and baserunning makes him the better ballplayer of the two, even comparing peak years.
the only thing i didn't like about what he said was that carp's success was all due to coming to the national league. how does he explain the two great american league starters tim hudson and mark mulder coming to the national league and pitching terrible? i will be very interested to see how zito does this year after that big deal.
fewgoodcards wrote:the only thing i didn't like about what he said was that carp's success was all due to coming to the national league. how does he explain the two great american league starters tim hudson and mark mulder coming to the national league and pitching terrible? i will be very interested to see how zito does this year after that big deal.
This is a good point. I just kind of scowled when I read that part of the article and moved on, but is it just the health issues with Mulder/Hudson or what? I know they're only two examples (and the only ones I can think of at the moment) but what's to account for that? That's why I don't always buy the projection that people use if a pitcher moves to the national league that his ERA will go half a point lower or whatever it is. Usually, but not always.
Maybe it is because I simply more familiar with the NL Central, but I am struck by the number of quality starters it features despite apparently mediocre clubs (or maybe the starters look so good because they are pitching to NL Central lineups):
Carp
Oswalt
Zambrano
Sheets
Capuano
Harang
Arroyo
throw in very promising youngsters
Snell
Reyes
Hill
AW
and you have a nice collection of talent.
+ Gorzelanny, Maholm, Guzman, Gallardo, Bailey, and so on.
This division is going to be very competitive for a while, even if the overall strength isn't high.
