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Some players you might not have noticed

Everyone here is aware of the fine seasons had by many Cardinals; I'm not going to talk about that here-in my first ever fan post.  Most fans are aware of the fine seasons had by Lance Berkman, Chipper Jones, Brad Lidge, Cliff Lee, and Tim Lincecum.  I'd like to give praise to some players who performance has been overlooked because of who they play for or because their team has bigger stars that have eclipsed them.  So, here goes.

The hitters:

Grady Sizemore, Aubrey Huff, Kevin Youkilis, Nick Markakis, Adrian Gonzales, Andre Eithier, Carlos Beltran, Shin Choo, Stephen Drew, Jermaine Dye, Mark DeRosa,    J. J. Hardy, Nate McLouth, Mike Aviles, Randy Winn, and the entire Marlins infield for their obscene  home run totals.

The pitchers:

Jamie Moyer, Mike Mussina, Roy Oswalt, Chad Billingsly, Paul Maholm, Jeremy Guthrie, Cole Hamels, John Grabow, Rickie Nolasco, K. Matsuzaka, James Shields, Scott Baker,  and Gil Meche.

 

There are also some young starting pitchers who seem to have made the necessary adjustments to get their careers back on track.   Kudos to them.  They include Ervin Santana, who started trusting his stuff again, Joe Saunders who figured out how to pitch, Edwin Jackson,  who finally stopped walking so many. Scott Olson, who avoided trouble in his personal life, and has stats that would look better with a reasonable defense behind him.  Jorge Campillo, old for this list, but knows how to make his soft junk work for him.  Mike Pelfrey,  who almost got run out of N. Y., for finally being able to locate his 2-seam and 4-seam fastball, Jonathan Sanchez and Scott Feldman, who both made great strides in their overall pitching.  Gavin Floyd,  who finally looks like the guy who throws 4 pitches.  Zack Grienke,  who makes you wonder how good he can really be.  Anthony Reyes, yep, it's a small sample, but he quit giving up home runs and started stranding runners.  John Lannan, who just looks like a pitcher out there.  I also have to include two other young pitchers from Tampa:  Matt Garza and Andrew Sonnanstine-they both had seasons they can feel proud of.

Now you all add your overlooked players this season.  I'm sure I missed some.....

0 recs  |  Comment 15 comments

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How about Cardinal killer

Ryan Doumit of the dreaded Pirates and lb’s suggested Milton Bradley?

by vinniefromjersey on Sep 28, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Absolutely. He had a great season for the Pirates.

I never mentioned Jayson Werth. He’s been pretty great too.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Sep 28, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

if there's a Cardinal killer on the bucks, it's Jason Michaels

nice first fanpost jill. although your list included wayyyy too many sawx. :-)

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!

by gdm426 on Sep 28, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was worried I might have too many Greeks.....

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Sep 28, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Youk isn't Greek

he’s romanian

The NL Central Blog.com

by dunc4life on Sep 28, 2008 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

so what you are saying is

hes the Greek God of misnomers….?

www.GriffinandtheGargoyles.com
www.myspace.com/GriffinandtheGargoyles

Dont take me seriously :-D

by jealousblues on Sep 29, 2008 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was being trying to be funny. It never works for me. Go figure.
  As far as I know, Nick Markakis is the only Greek on my list.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Sep 29, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Geesh....

should read: I was trying to be funny.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Sep 29, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

fugeddaboutit

oh wait, that’s italian… nevermind.

by mattybobo on Sep 29, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

speaking of marlins,

cody ross is the 14th most valuable player in the league, according to Sky Kalkman.

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/9/17/616646/the-big-nl-mvp-post

(ryan howard comes in at #54, and Rick Ankiel and Jim Edmonds had exactly the same value, which is pretty astonishing from several different angles)

"All I am saying is give Freese a chance!" -- nmstar

by SleepyCA on Sep 28, 2008 1:54 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I should have put Jim Edmonds on my list too.

He was terrific in a limited role. But I was looking at players that don’t immediately come to mind. Edmonds has been pretty high profile.

Cody Ross has been good for the Marlins. I missed that one.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Sep 28, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was going to cite Cody Ross and Nate McLouth

Those two guys have gotten the least attention while having elite years, in my opinion.

But anyway, they’ve been covered, so I guess I’ll just leave.

by mojowo11 on Sep 28, 2008 4:34 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I feel like McLouth has gotten a ton of press

and he’s been a poor fielder and his power’s fallen off a cliff in the second half. if anything, I might call his season a bit overrated.

Cody Ross, though, where did that come from? dude’s awesome.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 28, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Congrats to the Moose

Who’d’ve guessed, after watching him get so close in 95 and 96, or after watching him miss by so much in 2007, that he’d get 20 wins in 2008?

Michael Phelps:Albert Pujols::Josh Phelps:??

by DanUpBaby on Sep 28, 2008 6:07 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, an old guy who made the necessary adjustments.

Moose was solid all year for the Yankees.

She isn't crazy, she's just not impressed.

by jillsinmo on Sep 28, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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