Knuckle Curve » best hitters

Hottest Hitting Shortstops in 2008

Stephen Kersey — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:28:02 +0000

Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
At 24, Hanley Ramirez is already a superstar. He’s off to a fantastic start as he’s hitting .337 with eight homers, 18 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Ramirez also has nine stolen bases and an on-base percentage of over .400.

Miguel Tejada, Houston Astros
While there are controversies surrounding Tejada regarding everything from his age to his name to his steroid use, there’s no denying how well Tejada is swinging the bat this year. He’s hitting .340 with four homers and 20 RBIs.

Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers
The 30-year-old shortstop for the Dodgers is off to an amazing start to his 2008 season. Rafael Furcal is hitting .363, has an on-base percentage of .454 and has scored 22 runs. Furcal had a relatively quiet year in 2007 but this year he is playing better than ever.

Edgar Renteria, Detroit Tigers
Edgar Renteria was acquired by the Detroit Tigers in the offseason and the team has to be happy with its investment. Renteria is hitting .324 and has 16 RBIs and 14 runs.

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Albert Pujols – Most Feared Hitter

Stephen Kersey — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:51:32 +0000

With Barry Bonds out of baseball (for now at least), who is the most feared hitter in baseball? Jayson Stark of ESPN talked to all 30 managers and the overwhelming choice was Albert Pujols. The St. Louis Cardinals slugger leaves managers shaking in their boots. Here is an excerpt from the article:

It was actually Sir Albert who inspired this entire project — when a scout who had been following the Cardinals observed one day: “It’s beyond me why anybody ever pitches to that first baseman.”

Pujols has finished in the top four in the NL in intentional walks three years in a row. But this year, as the offensive cast around him thins, he’s tied for the league lead with Ryan Howard — and is on a 46-intentional-walk pace.

Just to put that in perspective, if he does get to 46, he’d be only the third player in history to get that many free journeys to first (joining only Bonds and Willie McCovey).

So Pujols was such a clear-cut pick in this poll that even his own manager (Tony La Russa) and one American League manager (Jim Leyland) voted for him.

Currently, Pujols is giving managers reason to be scared. He’s hitting .377 with four homers and 17 RBIs. In the polling, Pujols got nearly three times as many votes as any other player.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Hottest Hitting Catchers in 2008

Stephen Kersey — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:16:38 +0000

Which major league catchers are having the most early season success at the plate?

Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
With five homers and 12 RBIs, Brian McCann is becoming a force for the Braves. He has shown very good potential in the last few seasons and seems to be taking a step forward this year. He’s now cemented as one of the best catchers in the majors.

A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
This 31-year-old veteran catcher is off to a blazing start. He’s hitting .323 with three homers and 11 RBIs. While it’s unlikely that A.J. Pierzynski will be able to keep up this pace, the White Sox have been appreciative of his effort to date.

Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates
While Ryan Doumit is technically in a platoon situation with Ronny Paulino, Doumit is starting to make a push for an everyday spot in the lineup. He’s hitting .345 and has four homers and eight RBIs. If Doumit can keep hitting like this, the Pirates will be forced to find room for him.

Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
In his first full season at catcher, Geovany Soto has already surpassed expectations. The 25-year-old is hitting .353 with three dingers and 14 RBIs. Sota is one of the main reasons why the Cubs are 15-6 on the season.

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