12/21/24
February 11, 2006
The next Derrek Lee?: Michael Young? David Wright? Who will be the next baseball player to make the jump to superstar status?
posted by The Gangstinator to baseball at 12:43 PM - 33 comments
bobby crosby/ oakland A's
posted by big cat at 03:33 PM on February 11, 2006
Geoff Jenkins
posted by BullpenPro at 03:44 PM on February 11, 2006
Yadier Molina of the Cardinals.
posted by rchugh at 04:02 PM on February 11, 2006
John Papelbaum: As a starter OR a closer. That's how good he's going to be.
posted by rockamora at 04:29 PM on February 11, 2006
Correction: Jonathan Papelbon
posted by rockamora at 04:38 PM on February 11, 2006
pitcher-john patterson hitter-wily mo pena
posted by erkno11 at 05:11 PM on February 11, 2006
I could be a homer and say Papelbon, although I know he's going to be great. They mention Clemens a lot when comparing him. But I really love Carl Crawford.
posted by jerseygirl at 05:28 PM on February 11, 2006
Mark Teixeira
posted by graymatters at 05:41 PM on February 11, 2006
Beat me to it, graymatters. Teixeira is already really good, but I'm thinking he and Michael Young are going big time this season.
posted by dusted at 05:49 PM on February 11, 2006
Brandon Backe...this year he carries over his brilliant start from Game 4 of the World Series and becomes a stellar #3 for the Houston Astros (course, it could be #4 come May depending on what Clemens does)...
posted by chemwizBsquared at 06:19 PM on February 11, 2006
Mark Teixeira He is already very good. I think the Tigers have some superstars in the making (Jeremy Bonderman, Curtis Granderson) and will do very well if they realize their potential.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:22 PM on February 11, 2006
Dioner Navarro. Very young but can hit at the big league level. I'm excited to watch this kids progress.
posted by billyho72 at 06:34 PM on February 11, 2006
Miguel Cabrera - Florida Marlins.....
This kid has all the right stuff to be an elite ball player for many years to come.
posted by zippinglou at 07:31 PM on February 11, 2006
chis burke in 2 years right now carl crwford pitcher jermy bondermen oh and coco crisp will do better than damon will do this season
posted by Barry-from-H-town at 07:39 PM on February 11, 2006
A steroid shooting freak who can cheat on his drug tests.
posted by chrisly13 at 07:58 PM on February 11, 2006
The criteria (from the article) was that we were looking for a hitter (not pitcher) who met two of these three: 1. Never drove in 100 runs 2. Never made an All-Star team 3. Never finished in the top 5 in MVP voting If we stick by this, it disqualifies Texeira and Cabrera. Leadoff-type hitters like Crisp and Crawford and #8 hitters like Yadier are going to have a tough time reaching all three.
posted by BullpenPro at 08:27 PM on February 11, 2006
Kasey Kochman from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that does not even border a city that borders Los Angeles has quite a bit of upside.
posted by billyho72 at 08:53 PM on February 11, 2006
Mark Texeira Michael Young and Hank Blalock if A-Rod was still there it would be the best infield combo ever but $25.2 million a year for one player
posted by houston9388 at 08:55 PM on February 11, 2006
Ryan Howard. There is a reason that Philly dumped aged/injured Thome for a song.
posted by grum@work at 10:45 PM on February 11, 2006
PRONK... Travis Hafner
posted by herecometheirish at 10:55 PM on February 11, 2006
wiily & chris the next 1 2 punch. go astros
posted by dback2 at 11:32 PM on February 11, 2006
wiily & chris the next 1 2 punch. go astros
posted by dback2 at 11:33 PM on February 11, 2006
Prince Fielder. At least he better be for us Brew Crew Fans
posted by wisportcheese at 01:47 AM on February 12, 2006
Is Derrick Lee a superstar? I dont think so. One year does not put you in this group. The next star may be Paul Dade Jr. or Charlie Spikes III.
posted by CountDracula58 at 02:16 AM on February 12, 2006
Brian Anderson of the White Sox will be next year's AL Rookie of the year. Has good power so meets the RBI spec but it will take a couple of years before he hits for .300+
posted by sandman at 06:27 AM on February 12, 2006
connor jackson
posted by azdano at 07:54 AM on February 12, 2006
Bubba "I'm not Bobby" Crosby, A's
posted by nflhou02 at 08:38 AM on February 12, 2006
Felix Hernandez
posted by MPeter at 09:11 AM on February 12, 2006
Grady Sizemore, Tribe. Average, power, drives in runs, steals bases. One of several young Indian players who could be mentioned on this list (though, in keeping with the criteria, both Hafner and Victor Martinez have already driven in over 100 runs in a season). Gotta love the Indians!
posted by dyams at 10:34 AM on February 12, 2006
Going strictly from those mentioned in the article, I think Overbay, Nick Johnson and Crawford have the best chance. Overbay can have a break out type of year in that lineup in Toronto if he bats in the right spot. Nick Johnson is just about to become a great hitter. Health and the right guys in the order around him will help. Crawford just might be the most exciting player in the game right now. Mauer is going to have a tough time doing it from the catcher position, although he can DH on some days being in the AL. Before I go to far I need to see another couple of years like last year before I call D Lee a superstar. Great year. Do it again. Young is a very good baseball player and he has a shot as well.
posted by chuck'n'duck at 10:40 AM on February 12, 2006
It occurs to me that the divide between fantasy baseball players and baseball fans must be very wide, because none of the players in the article are really up-and-coming - they are universally fantasy starters, news of seasons past and hopefully a nice wire pickup last year or the year before (if not earlier). One player who might just stay at "really quite good" levels but who might also vault into the spotlight is Aubrey Huff, whose second half of 2004 was remarkable to say the least, but whose 2005 season was a bit disappointing.
posted by mikelbyl at 12:44 PM on February 12, 2006
Mikelbyl: the comparison is to Derrek Lee, who was a pretty well established player before last year, when he took it up a notch. I don't think this is supposed to be about up-and-coming prospects who may break out this year, although that's where the thread has gone. Huff is a good parallel. Bubba "I'm not Bobby" Crosby, A's Now that's funny.
posted by BullpenPro at 01:28 PM on February 12, 2006
coco crisp