Underrated Hitters in MLB
Written by Kerri Senno, Tuesday July 07 2009
On Saturday as I was trying to watch the Mets lose to the Phillies (again), I was rudely interrupted by Manny Ramirez at-bats. At first, I was confused because I thought that Manny was suspended for violating MLB Policy for the past 50 days, not saving children from burning buildings; I did not think Manny was on the verge of breaking any records; nor did I care about his 2nd inning at bat against the Padres in July. This got me to thinking about the value of players in the eyes of the media.
At the beginning of every Fantasy Baseball league, I watch as guys like Aubrey Huff and Bobby Abreu go untouched round after round. Fantasy managers would rather take risks than take the safe approach because they are under a false impression that these guys are just not very good. There are several players that fall into these categories simply because they do not play for a big market or a winning team.
Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Huff is best known for his unparalleled Joba Chamberlain impression as he rounded the bases earlier this year. What people forget is that he has a career .285 batting average, averaging 26 HRs/Season and 93 RBI. No those are not MVP Caliber numbers, but for a guy on a losing team, this is pretty impressive. In 2008, Huff hit 32 Homeruns and 107 RBI. He has accomplished this year after year with very little protection in the lineup.
Bobby Abreu
Many people consider the 2005 Homerun derby to be the demise of Bobby Abreu. The guy sat on the market this past offseason for months until the LA Angels of Anaheim picked him up. Why? I do not know. He has a .300 career batting average, and a .405 OBP. He averages 21 homeruns a season and 98 RBI, not to mention 29 steals. He is an extremely well rounded player.
Lance Berkman
The Big Puma, or “Fat Elvis,” gets some recognition on Baseball Tonight, but his days in Houston have ironically kept him out of the light. Berkman averages 34 Homeruns a season, 113 RBI and has a career .300 batting average, and a .412 OPB.
Aramis Ramirez
Aramis Ramirez plays gold glove third base, yet is constantly being pushed behind other NL Third Baseman like David Wright and Chipper Jones. He averages 30 HRs a year, 108 RBI with a .284 batting average. He has only been an All-Star once in his 11 year career.
Underrated Second Basemen
Second base is typically not considered an exciting position. It accounts for slap hitters lacking power and arm strength. Since they are one of the least fan friendly positions, guys can often go unnoticed. While some second basemen are extremely valuable in fantasy leagues such as Utley, Pedroia and Kinsler, others are forgotten even though their numbers are similar.
Brian Roberts
Roberts has played for a losing Baltimore team his whole career. He averages 37 stolen bases a year with a career .354 OBP. Not too shabby for a 2b.
Aaron Hill
Hill has gotten off to a fast start this year with 20 HR and 59 RBI. In 2007, he had 17 HRs and 78 RBI. Hill made the all-star team this year, but as a reserve behind Pedroia, whose numbers frankly cannot light a candle to Hill’s this year.
Jose Lopez
Lopez is only 25, and his three complete Major League seasons he has improved each year. Last year, he finished with 17 HRs and 89 RBI. This year, he is on pace for over 20 HRs and over 90 RBI. He is not given credit for the young star he is.
Underrated Winners
Despite being World Champions, the Phillies hoard underrated stars such as Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino. These guys are the type of players who run out ground balls, and make diving catches to save ball games.
Jayson Werth was bounced around before being picked up by the Phillies. He was, in a sense, given up on. He is yet to play a complete season, but this year he is on pace for over 30 HRs and over 100 RBI.
Shane Victorino is a thorn in everyone’s side. He plays a platinum glove Center Field, steals over 30 bases, hits double digit homeruns, and has an OPB over .350.
Orlando Hudson always seems to be on winning ball clubs. Is this a coincidence? Hudson is another guy who plays gold glove defense. He has a career .347 OBP and is a great team leader.
Honorable Mentions for underrated Hitters in 2009: Nick Greene (BOS), Brad Hawpe (COL), Mark Teahen (KC), and Brandon Inge .(DET)
Stay tuned for underrated pitchers in the game.
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6 comments
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I would put Beltran on the list as well only because while he gets credit for being a good player he doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for being arguably the best overall CF in baseball. I also think Beltre is underrated because people view him as a disappointment since his one monster year.
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Good points Mychal. I toyed with putting Figgins on the list. However, I think this year Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Morneau have been pretty well regarded. Plus Morneau has an MVP under his belt.
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I think Adrian Gonzalez should be added on the list only because he, like Huff, is on a crappy team too but puts up good numbers. No one talks about Justin Morneau either. Homerun champ, a monster in the north. The most underrated player in the majors however is Chone Figgins, this kid may not have the best power but he hits gaps, has blur speed, and a cannon over there at third.
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I also think James Loney is a very underrated player. He is a great 1st baseman with a good amount of RBI, but since he isn't a Homerun guy (yet), he is often overlooked.
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Congrats on another feature!!!
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Nice job. next you should write an article about guys who's crappiness is underrated like david wright, and the phillie phanatic.