Best Player in Baseball

Many a time the question is asked, who is the best player in baseball. There's no question that in the past week+ Josh Hamilton was the best player in baseball. Less than a month, though, we were all seemingly willing to just hand Matt Kemp the MVP trophy. Now we're talking about whether he's even the best outfielder in the Nation League. Despite Albert Pujols' well documented struggles, can you really argue against his 10-year track record as the most consistent player in baseball and 3 MVP awards?

Then there is the side to the argument that has only really emerged in the past year or two: what about the pitchers? We as a society are obviously beginning to re-recognize their vast importance, evidenced by Justin Verlander's 2011 MVP. So how about Clayton Kershaw? Or Roy Halladay? Or of course Justin Verlander? In what seems to be a transition away from the offensive firepower of the 90's and early 00's and into the pitching prowess that dominated the 60's, are we finally ready to totally flip?

I will now present some leading candidates:

MATT KEMP
This Season: 34 G, 12 HR, 28 RBI, .359/.446/.726
Previous 2 Seasons: 323 G, 67 HR, 215 RBI, .286/.354/.518

JOSH HAMILTON
This Season: 32 G, 18 HR, 44 RBI, .402/.455/.866
Previous 2 Seasons: 254 G, 57 HR, 194 RBI, .330/.380/.587

ALBERT PUJOLS
This Season: 34 G, 1 HR, 12 RBI, .196/.234/.275
Previous 2 Seasons: 306 G, 79 HR, 217 RBI, .306/.391/.570

CLAYTON KERSHAW
This Season: 7 G, 2-1, 2.56 ERA, 41 K, 0.90 WHIP
Previous 2 Seasons: 65 G, 34-15, 2.58 ERA, 460 K, 1.07 WHIP

ROY HALLADAY
This Season: 8 G, 3-3, 3.20 ERA, 46 K, 1.08 WHIP
Previous 2 Seasons: 65 G, 40-16, 2.40 ERA, 439 K, 1.04 WHIP

JUSTIN VERLANDER
This Season: 8 G, 4-1, 2.47 ERA, 56 K, 0.87 WHIP
Previous 2 Seasons: 67 G, 42-14, 2.80 ERA, 469 K, 1.03 WHIP

And some sleeper candidates:

MIGUEL CABRERA
This Season: 34 G, 7 HR, 29 RBI, .294/.345/.485
Previous 2 Seasons: 311 G, 68 HR, 231 RBI, .336/.434/.603

JOSE BAUTISTA
This Season: 35 G, 8 HR, 18 RBI, .198/.325/.413
Previous 2 Seasons: 310 G, 97 HR, 227 RBI, .280/.411/.613

CLIFF LEE
This Season: 4 G, 0-1, 2.17 ERA, 24 K, 0.76 WHIP
Previous 2 Seasons: 60 G, 29-17, 2.76 ERA, 423 K, 1.02 WHIP

A few things I get from this. First, the best player is definitely a fielder. Just looking at the stats, hitters just look much more impressive when you compile stats from multiple years together. I was on board with Justin Verlander winning the MVP last year, but that was a special case. In that year, especially down the stretch in August and September, it wasn't even a conversation.

But I would never trade any of the position players on this list for Verlander; it just doesn't seem like a smart move on a day-in, day-out basis. Given that, and that Verlander is clearly the best pitcher on this list (I threw in Lee at the end because of his postseason work), it is obvious that the best player is a hitter.

So that narrows out list down to five. Knock off Bautista; honestly, all he really does is hit homers. Knock off Albert; once he returns to form, I might reconsider.

Now down to three. All three are superior middle-of-the-order threats that pound the ball and produce runs like no other. They also provide fearlessness and versatility in the field. All these things taken into consideration, my final verdict for best player in baseball RIGHT NOW is...

Matt Kemp. This is a very tough decision. Miguel Cabrera has been the most consistent of the three, which actually may have hurt him. He produces so regularly that he is rarely in the news about being on a "hot streak." Kemp and Hamilton both have had stretches of unprecedented offensive output this year. Josh Hamilton's was obviously superior, smacking nine home runs in a six game stretch. Kemp offers just a little more on the field and on the base paths than Hamilton. Also, Josh Hamilton's time in Texas, however brilliant, has been marred by some injury problems. Kemp on the other hand, going into tonight, had the longest active streak of consecutive games played.

What's Not to Love About Bryce Harper?!?!

When you think of hard-nosed, down and dirty players, who do you think of? Dustin Pedroia? Buster Posey? Josh Hamilton? How about Derek Jeter? Regardless of whether these players are on your favorite team or not, you have respect for them. When they have a bad streak, you never feel good about it, and when they are on a hot streak, you're rooting for it to keep going. These are players that one might call "fan favorites." And why? Not because they are good (but it never hurt that they are), but because they play the game hard every pitch. They play the way the game is supposed to be played.

So why doesn't everyone love Bryce Harper as much as I do?? He knows the history of the game and he knows where it is going. There is nothing stopping this kid, and it's not because it was all given to him. He earned the right to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16 by working harder than anyone his age, day in and day out.

People say he's cocky, arrogant, and self-centered. He's 19, for God's sake!! If he was on a "normal" path, he would be a FRESHMAN in college. He isn't like everyone else and he knows it. He's a once in a lifetime talent and people are going to try to take advantage of him, so for all intents and purposes, he needs to remain above it all to survive. People also say he doesn't take time to acknowledge the kids and sign autographs, which is totally not true. Granted, he doesn't spend every waking moment signing autographs, but no one does that. He is where he is to play baseball, not to provide you with free memorabilia. But even though it isn't his job, he still does sigh autographs and meets with kids and all that jazz. Rarely with the media around though, because he doesn't call them over. He has gone to hospitals just to surprise the kids there, because that's the person he is.

And even if you don't like him as a person, I mean that SWING! And that ARM! His talent is incredible and his ceiling is unlimited, so it's time to accept it. He hits 600 foot home runs! And throws 96 MPH (or maybe even higher by now)! Whatever this kid can't do now (and there isn't a lot), he will do eventually. He could actually be the first to hit 80 home runs in a season. He could actually be the first to break 1000 career home runs. He could actually have the first (dare I say) 60-60 season.

I'm not saying he will, but I'm not saying he won't.