ESPN.com Top 50 for Next Five Years

[BrewCrewForever]

This list is so absured it's not even funny. This Neyer guy has to be joking, just another reason ESPN sucks.

[rluzinski]

I'm not 100% endorsing this list by any means but they reason this list looks so absurd to some is because what it's trying to do is being misunderstood. People aren't used to seeing positional players values include defense. People don't sometimes consider the effects of having a lot of offensive talent at some positions (1B, COF) and little at others (C, SS). The average fan doesn't seem to realize that by the time a player hits the age of 30 or 31, their skills have often already started eroding.

 

Looking at that insidethebook link I posted earlier, it looks like many there agree that Melky shouldn't even be on the list (among some other marginal talents) and also agree that starting pitchers are underrepresented.

[homer]

I still can't believe that Cabrera is only 24.

[Nader Raider Tim]

Russell Martin has to be in the top 20. It's pretty amazing that he isn't.

[cubfan1126]

A look at the link to Top Ten catchers shows Geovany Soto at the top of the list ahead of both Russell Martin and Joe Mauer.

 

But Martin and Mauer are on the list of 50 and Soto isn't? Say What?

 

I think that gives you an idea of the subjectivity and ridiculousness of the list. This guy can't even be consistent between his own articles.

[rluzinski]

I think that gives you an idea of the subjectivity and ridiculousness of the list. This guy can't even be consistent between his own articles.

 

You need to read the introduction to the list.

[RedbirdRay]

If you sort PECOTA by upside, then combine hitters and pitchers, you will get a pretty similar list. I would suspect that's where Neyer got his "idea".

 

Other than a few adjustments he made, I guess you could say BP "agrees" with him much more than the majority of you guys.

 

FWIW, on the BP list, Longoria projects to the 7th best position player over the next 5 years and Braun 10th. Henley was number one. Wright was 3.

[Gopher74]

A look at the link to Top Ten catchers shows Geovany Soto at the top of the list ahead of both Russell Martin and Joe Mauer.

 

But Martin and Mauer are on the list of 50 and Soto isn't? Say What?

 

I think that gives you an idea of the subjectivity and ridiculousness of the list. This guy can't even be consistent between his own articles.

I think it's absolutely laughable to say that Soto is above Martin or Mauer, so whatever link said that is ridiculous in my opinion.

 

Soto has a ton to prove, namely that he can either maintain a .474 BABIP, or that he can be a vasty superior player to what he's been his entire career up till this point. Yea, he maybe solid, but almost nothing suggests he's going to be anywhere even approaching the catcher that Martin is, or Mauer is.