Expert: Tom Schott - 7/12/2006

Question
Hello - Hopefully this doesn't qualify as the "off-the-field" stuff you want to avoid...but a local radio station mentioned an upcoming  promotion (Johnny Bench is the national spokesman) for fans to pick the top 5 players of each MLB team.  I've done several searches on the internet, but can't find a thing.  Do you know anything more specific about this?  If you know of a website I can check out, I would really appreciate it.  Thanks!

Answer
Charlie,

There is no specific site for this, Charlie. The only way you can get at who's "best" on each team would be the laborious process of going to each team stat page. Of course, there are several good ones to use: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Sporting News. [ESPN lets you sort by whatever stat you chose.] But that aside, the word "best" is infinitely arguable. First off, how do we compare best pitchers with best hitters with best fielders with best baserunners with best power hitter? How do you go about deciding for each team? What are the criteria for this? Is this the hitter with the best average, most RBIs, best OPS? Which pitching stat are you going to weigh heaviest? ERA, wins, saves? What about a phenomenal glove man?

Really wish I could be more helpful on this one.

Tom