Top 10 Shortstops

[ChrisLDuncan]

Since we're talking about shortstops, what are the top things that you believe each must do, such as a Top 10 list? How well do you believe that each SS listed here performs doing just that?

Aside from defense I really don't there think that there is a set list of things that a SS should be able to do. For example if A-Rod were still a SS you really couldn't compare him to a Jose Reyes type of player because they are completely different...all you can really compare is D. A-Rod has some speed but a lot of power...Reyes has some power but a lot of speed. You need each of the two for a good team...I think a top ten list with what you like about the SS would be a better list.

[TomtheTerrific]

Fine,make a top 10 list of the short stops in the mlb and why.

[Mattingly]

Aside from defense I really don't there think that there is a set list of things that a SS should be able to do. For example if A-Rod were still a SS you really couldn't compare him to a Jose Reyes type of player because they are completely different...all you can really compare is D. A-Rod has some speed but a lot of power...Reyes has some power but a lot of speed. You need each of the two for a good team...I think a top ten list with what you like about the SS would be a better list.
In that case, you're referring to two very good shortstops. Jose seems to be the old school with lots of speed and he definitely runs hard to beat out the infield singles, and turns doubles into triples. Alex was definitely a masher, #3 hitter, opposed to a leadoff hitter.

My defensive list off the top of my head, but in no particular order:

getting to and fielding well-hit shots between SS and 3B, or SS and 2B;
turning the 6-4-3 or 4-6-3;
being on the receiving end when nailing the base stealer;
strong throws to 1B;
good positioning, so those routine plays look routine, and the difficult ones look almost routine;
good cutoff man, positioning himself well.

That's all I could think of right now. Anyway, other than offense, what do some of these guys do that puts them at the top of the list, #2, #3, etc?

[ChrisLDuncan]

Well offense matters too...it's a little subjective as to what's more important.

[TomtheTerrific]

Both is important. My list based on overall play is:

1.tejada
2.jeter
3.reyes
4.young
5.furcal
6.guillen
7.rollins
8.renteria
9.ramirez
10.vizquel

[Mattingly]

Well offense matters too...it's a little subjective as to what's more important.
So which kind of offense would you view as more important? The leadoff hitting and speed-based type of offense that Reyes has, along with slick fielding? Or the power type that Rodriguez, Tejada and Garciaparra have/had as a SS?

I figure that Jeter's somewhere in the middle. Speed, but not much power, but hits very well, which is why he bats 2nd.

[ChrisLDuncan]

So which kind of offense would you view as more important? The leadoff hitting and speed-based type of offense that Reyes has, along with slick fielding? Or the power type that Rodriguez, Tejada and Garciaparra have/had as a SS?

I figure that Jeter's somewhere in the middle. Speed, but not much power, but hits very well, which is why he bats 2nd.

A-Rod was a slick fielder too, don't forget about that.


Here's my top ten MLB SS.

Jeter
Reyes
Tejada
Young
Guillen
Furcal
Ramirez
Rollins
Cabrera
Bill Hall

[TomtheTerrific]

Chris,i notice you don't have edgar renteria on there and i thought we agreed guillen was a wee bit below furcal overall. Orlando Cabrera in the top 10??:noidea :noidea

[ChrisLDuncan]

Chris,i notice you don't have edgar renteria on there and i thought we agreed guillen was a wee bit below furcal overall. Orlando Cabrera in the top 10??:noidea :noidea

Ehh yeah, Cabrera put up pretty good numbers this year he's good with the glove so I'd say he edges out Renteria slightly this time. Furcal v. Guillen...that's a toss up in my opinion.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Fine,make a top 10 list of the short stops in the mlb and why.
Start a separate thread for that, if you will.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Start a separate thread for that, if you will.

Can't we just rename this one?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Can't we just rename this one?
I wouldn't, since the great majority of the beginning posts were on topic for the thread title. Since thread hijacking is discouraged here, doing that would pretty much ignore the actual purpose of the thread and cater to the couple people who hijacked it.
Doesn't work here.

[KingJ]

In terms of what they bring to the table in terms of offense and defense:

1. Rafael Furcal
2. Jose Reyes
3. Michael Young
4. Derek Jeter
5. Jimmy Rollins
6. Bill Hall
7. Miguel Tejada
8. Edgar Renteria
9. Carlos Guillen
10. Hanley Ramirez

[ChrisLDuncan]

In terms of what they bring to the table in terms of offense and defense:

1. Rafael Furcal
2. Jose Reyes
3. Michael Young
4. Derek Jeter
5. Jimmy Rollins
6. Bill Hall
7. Miguel Tejada
8. Edgar Renteria
9. Carlos Guillen
10. Hanley Ramirez

Umm...yeah I'm not even going to start.

[TomtheTerrific]

Interesting list,you must reguard furcal very highly.

[KingJ]

Furcal had the best offensive season of any of the good defensive shortstops. IMO Jeter (his defense is overrated), Hall and Tejada I think are too lacking on the defensive side of the ball to be considered the best SS in the majors; at the same time Vizquel, Cabrera, Everett, Wilson, Peralta, etc. bats are too cold to be considered

Furcal adds contact, a little bit of power, speed and plays very well for a stadium that isn't known to play to a hitter's strengths.

[Edgartohof]

Now I'm not Jeter fan, but when I see a guy like Furcal above him.... I just don't know.

Now Furcal may be a very good defensive SS, and can also hit fairly well, especially for his position, but Jeter's offense, more than makes up for any of his defensive shortcomings.

Especially since Jeter had a 31 point lead in OPS+ this last season (138 - 107). Jeter was also better on the basepaths than Furcal. Furcal was 37-13 (74%), but Jeter was 34-5 (87%). And while Furcal may be better defensively, he did commit 12 more errors than Jeter (27-15).

[TomtheTerrific]

I like fucal alot but i'm not sure if furcal is better right now,but eventually he will be.

[TomtheTerrific]

Both furcal and reyes are doing that all star team thing in japan.