A top 10 not too many know about
Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 4:39 PM
Here are the quiet achievers. Those who are establishing themselves in the majors, some as everyday players or leaders on contending teams. These are the players -- five from each league -- who live out of the limelight. Not many casual fans know them, but in the game their accomplishments are well known.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
JEREMY ACCARDO, BLUE JAYS
A steal by Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi, Accardo is establishing himself as a closer. Given the chance to replace the injured B.J. Ryan, Accardo has 24 saves while holding lefties to an insane .141 average. Ricciardi says Accardo will be “a great eighth-inning guy” if he doesn’t remain a closer. But his electric arm and performance in Ryan’s absence make a strong case to close for the pitcher heisted from San Francisco last year for Shea Hillenbrand.
BRIAN BANNISTER, ROYALS
A case of a player finding the right place. Bannister, once a top Mets' prospect, lost his chance to stay in the bigs last year due to injury. Mets general manager Omar Minaya loves power arms so Royals general manager Dayton Moore acquired Bannister for the erratic Ambiorix Burgos. Bannister has quietly blossomed into a nine-game winner with an excellent 1.14 WHIP.
JOE SAUNDERS, ANGELS
Spot starts the last two seasons have led to a regular turn in the Angels' rotation with the injury to Bartolo Colon and demotion of Ervin Santana. This lefty, held back by the Angels' pitching depth, likely starts for most big league teams.
YUNIESKY BETANCOURT, MARINERS
A second straight year of hitting near .300 coupled with spectacular fielding elevates Betancourt in the ranks of AL shortstops. And the combination of Betancourt and second baseman Jose Lopez along with Ichiro in centerfield gives the Mariners tremendous middle defense in this era of athletic baseball.
CURTIS GRANDERSON, TIGERS
More of a known player from last year’s Tigers success, it still seems few realize the depth of his contributions. He’s a leadoff hitter who ranks seventh in the AL in slugging percentage. He will surpass 100 runs scored in the next two weeks. How important is he? Last week he went 3-for-24 in Cleveland and New York and his team went 2-4.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
HEATH BELL, PADRES
Who exactly could have seen this? A pitcher who didn’t make his high school team until senior year, went to junior college after no scholarship offers appeared, and toiled seven years in the Mets' system, has thrived with his hometown team. Bell supplanted Scott Linebrink as the setup man to Trevor Hoffman. Righties hit .348 against him last year, just .180 this year. Now you understand why so many executives comment on the unpredictability of relief pitching.
NOAH LOWRY, GIANTS
Barry Zito got the huge contract, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain get the headlines as future studs, but all the while Lowry has been the Giants' best pitcher. A lefty who doesn’t throw the ball by people, Lowry has taken full advantage of a pitcher-friendly park in San Francisco where he has an 8-2 record and 2.62 ERA.
BRAD HAWPE, ROCKIES
So Matt Holliday is gaining recognition for his hitting prowess. Meanwhile, Hawpe, the other corner outfielder, has become a Coors-Field crasher (1.092 OPS at home). A strong throwing arm makes him a defensive presence in rightfield as well. Does anyone think about Larry Walker?
KAZ MATSUI, ROCKIES
A double dip for the Rockies, whose improved athleticism is shown in their outstanding team fielding (a NL-low 53 errors). Now, Matsui is the current poster child for “Escape from New York.” Smothered by the pressure and scrutiny of his Mets contract, Matsui, a man who wise major leaguers swore could play, looked inept. Given new life in Colorado, and forced to play second base (his best position in MLB), Matsui looks like the Japanese All-Star (.288, 27 stolen bases).
BRANDON PHILLIPS, REDS
The Reds' cleanup hitter for a good portion of the schedule since the All-Star break, Phillips has shown the talent that Cleveland thought they had stolen from Montreal in the Bartolo Colon trade of 2003. Even better for the future, he has not been a hitter reliant on the Cincinnati bandbox (.304-12-41 road to .248-10-28 home).
