 |
| "Getty Images: Christian Petersen: August 2015" (No copyright infringement intended) |
The baseball season has begun!
And even though we are not quite at complete normalcy, it does finally have that feeling that we are inching closer and closer to our pre-COVID world. Teams are in their home ballparks (all apologies to Blue Jays fans), and fans are in the stands, even though it is still partial, but now our attention has shifted from, what was going on outside of baseball to what is actually going on, on the field. And there is a lot to talk about!
For starters, is it just me, or are we seeing a spike in the sport? MLB.tv had it’s highest viewership/membership since its creation, MLB ‘the Show’, is seeing a record numbers in sales (especially since they now made it available for Xbox users) and that’s with all of the server issues the game is currently having (what is a unhandled error?). If you are one of the thirteen people that still watch Sportscenter for ‘highlights’, baseball games are starting to be more featured as their signature stores. Most notably, when the Dodgers and Padres were squaring off last week and the week prior. For a sport that has been crucified for its lack of activity and lack of its inability to connect with younger audiences, baseball seems to have a growing interest that is reaching all ages.
Baseball’s revolution of allowing players to be charismatic, and challenge baseball’s traditional unwritten rules, is providing a more interesting brand that is just flat out, more entertaining. The sport seems to be finally realizing to allow their players to be the characters that they are, good or bad, and that generates more human interest, and even better, more rivalries. This month alone, we have already seen 4-5 different skirmishes between teams, Fernando Tatis Jr. showing up Trevor Bauer, more bat flips, pitcher celebrations and overall excitement in the most unimportant time of a baseball season. The saying always goes, the baseball season is not a sprint, but a marathon. But no one wants to watch a marathon, unless you make it entertaining.
So let’s meet the sport’s most entertaining players. Now when I started this article it was a week ago, so while the numbers may not be up to date, one week really doesn’t change my stance on their entertainment value. One revelation I had was how many players I left off of my top 10 list. It was very challenging, leaving it to ten, and it was concerning when I realized I did not have the best player in the game, Mike Trout, on my top ten list.
Don’t close out the webpage! Just read for a second! Mike Trout is unquestionably the best player in the game, and has been for the last decade. There is no debating that. However, while Mike Trout has been constructing one of the greatest careers of our generation, he’s been doing so quietly, because that’s who he is. He carries about his business, in a very professional, humble, and honorable way. It’s just not always the most entertaining way.
But, now that the Angels are off to a good start, and we can see a pathway where Trout gets to the postseason, more and more fans are going to start to appreciate what he has meant to the sport, and appreciate the way he carries himself in comparison to the way a player like Fernando Tatis Jr. carries himself. Not every player needs to wear gold chains, or launch their bat in the air, but it is this new way of behaving that is attracting more fans, especially young fans to the sport. ‘The Trout Way’, which older baseball fans adore, and ‘The Tatis Way’ will finally bring the older generations and younger generations together, which baseball has so desperately needed. It can’t survive on just one type of fan, but all.
So here are the most ENTERTAINING players in the sport:
Honorable Mentions
Alex Verdugo, Red Sox
While Verdugo may not be the best player on the Red Sox, or the second, or the third, he is definitely the most colorful. Verdugo brought his swagger from L.A. in the Mookie Betts trade and immediately cemented himself as an everyday starter for Boston, which ultimately led to the end of the Jackie Bradley Jr. tenure at Fenway. While Verdugo may never hit as well as say Manny Ramirez or play outfield as exhilarating as Jackie Bradley did, Verdugo’s all around play to company his big personality is quickly making him one of the more beloved players in Boston. Verdugo is off to a torrid start, hitting .325 with 13 RBIs on the young season, and if he continues to produce, he won’t only be one of the Red Sox fan favorites, but one of the best on the team.
Jazz Chisholm, Marlins
Typically when you think about the Marlins over the last five to ten years, you don’t think about entertainment. That is slowly beginning to change in Miami. Chisholm’s has been one of the few bright spots of the Marlins offensive attack this year, hitting .293 with 4 homers (one of which on a 100 mph fastball off of Jacob deGrom, his only earned run thus far this season). But it’s not all about the numbers. Whether it is his power hitting, crazy base running, and/or wild hair, Chisholm is not only becoming one of the best players on the Marlins but the most recognizable. If you have an opportunity to turn on a Marlins game, he will be the main attraction for quite some time.
Luis Robert, White Sox
Even though ‘Lou Bob’ is off to a quiet start (.316, 1 homer), his talents are about to breakout in a big way. Luis Robet exploded onto the scene last season, and was the leading contender to win Rookie of the Year until his complete collapse last September. Since then Robert has had some moments that he was rounding back into form and it should only be a matter of time before he springboards up this list. A true five-tool player, on a contending team, Robert should be a household name by the end of the season.
Mike Trout & Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
I hope it is not a cop-out to name two players in one spot, but whatever, I’m doing it anyways, because both Trout and Arenado, two of the games best players, are more watchable now than ever. Why? Because now they are relevant. At least in terms of competition. The Angels have wasted so many years of prime Trout years with terrible pitching staffs and injured players up and down the lineup. Now with the rise of Ohtani (stay tuned) and pitching staff that looks doable, the Angels look to be in contention all year long.
The same can be said for Arenado who has rotted in Colorado and now plays for one of the most beloved franchises in the sport. Arenado and St. Louis are a perfect match, and with the beleaguered situation that is the NL Central this season, Arenado and the Cardinals may be the one hope of above mediocre play in the central.
It has been a crime for players like Trout and Arenado to miss out on the playoffs throughout their careers. Now they both have a serious chance to play in October which makes them incredibly entertaining all year long.
Byron Buxton, Twins
Finally, the moment Twins fans have been waiting for! No they did not win a series in the playoffs, but it’s the next best thing; Byron Buxton is really good! Buxton, who has always been known as a dazzling defensive center fielder, who had promise, in terms of his hitting, has finally been able to figure it out at the plate. He is crushing it this season, hitting close to .400 with 6 home runs so far. The Twins who have been one of the most disappointing playoff teams in recent memory, may finally have that missing piece to make a run in October. And even when they do lose again come postseason, Buxton will be fun to watch!
10) Juna Soto, Nationals
Even though Soto is currently on the injured list, when he comes back, every single at-bat is an event. Soto is becoming the Ted Williams of the 21st century, and only at 22 years of age, we have yet to see the best he can be. When the Nationals moved on from Bryce Harper, or vice versa, it was hard to imagine they would ever be able to find his replacement , and now it is safe to say, the Nats have someone who is even better. While he may never wear a lot of gold, have a crazy hairdo, or star on Saturday Night Live, Soto at the plate, will be one of the most reliable, compelling things to watch over, hopefully, the next 15+ seasons.
9) Francisco Lindor, Mets
The moment Lindor was traded to the Mets, and then the moment he signed the contract, instantly made Lindor one of the top ten players to watch this season. And even though he is off to an abysmal start (.203, 1 homer) even his failures are compelling. While no one expects Lindor’s struggles to continue forever (while every Met fan gasps for air) Lindor is a must see night in and night, whether his 0-4 or 4-4 (right now in New York, Mets fans will settle for 1-4). Lindor has instantly become the most important figure in Steve Cohen’s new administration, and his every move will be celebrated or scrutinized in New York.
8) Vladimir Guerrero Jr./Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
Oops, I did it again. But Vlad and Bo is a dual act in Toronto that is carrying the show north of the border. Vlad looks to be breaking out this season (.348 with 4 homers) and Bo is continuing his excellent rookie campaign (.259 with 5 homers), the Blue Jays future looks brighter than ever. Both are under the age of 25, and in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox, may have the most entertaining team. These 2nd generational talents should have the Blue Jays in Wild Card contention all year, and their numbers and flair make it an easy decision to make on MLB.tv.
7) Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Gerrit Cole is one of the best pitchers in the sport, on the most iconic team in the sport. That would be more than enough to make this list, but it is actually the current standing of the Yankees that makes him even more compelling. The Yankees are off to a slow start in 2021, and while their talent appears to be second to none, it seems every time Cole pitches is a must win game for the Yanks. With the question marks in the rest of their rotation, and their feast or famine lineup the Yankees need to make the most of every great outing Cole provides, and it seems every time he takes the hill, Cole is up to the task.
6) Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Best player, on the best team in the sport, you think would be higher on the list than the number 6 spot. But that is no knock on Mookie Betts, whose acquisition last season proved to be the determining factor the Dodgers finally breaking through and winning a World Series. Betts, already an MVP, and World Series winner, brought his winning pedigree to LA and has continued his winning ways. Betts also proved to be a fixture in this new Dodgers/Padres rivalry (that should garner UFC title bout time ratings as the year develops) with his game robbing catch last was in San Diego. While those hated Padres seem to have more shiny objects than Tamatoa’s shell (sorry, my daughter is all about Moana now), Mookie Betts is still the Dodgers main character, and will continue to propel LA to further heights...
5) Trevor Bauer, Dodger
...but the true show stopper is this guy, Trevor Bauer. Oh, you hate Trevor Bauer? That’s the biggest reason why he is so entertaining! Baseball needs villains, and this guy the Thanos of the sport right now with his one eyed pitching, his sword sheathing, and Conor McGregor strutting ways. He’s also insanely good, which makes his show all the more appealing. Off the field Bauer is just as colorful, if not infuriating with his trash talking, or his back and forth with his agent Rachel Luba (who is just as entertaining), and his criticisms of the sport and the way it is runned by commissioner Rob Manfred. This guy is more than just a lightning rod, he is one of those Tik Tok videos of a massive storm that engulfs a cruise ship or a coast line. You hate to see it, but you can’t look away.
4) Shohei Ohtani, Angels
The two way sensaston from Japan, is now ascending to the top before our eyes, and you can’t look away. Shohei Ohtani, is just incredible to watch right now, whether he striking out 10 in a game or hitting 450 foot homers, or both in the same game, you cannot say enough about what we are witnessing so far this season. This is the Ohtani we were promised, and during his injury plagued seasons, it seemed we were all beginning to believe his hype was too good to be true. But this season he seems to be surpassing anything any baseball fan could have hoped for. And while Mike Trout is still the best player in the game, no player means more to his team’s success than Ohtani.
3) Jacob deGrom, Mets
While we may have never seen the likes of Ohtani in the game, we know for a fact that Jacob deGrom is truly historic. Just when you think he can’t be any better, each of the last four seasons deGrom has elevated his game to new heights. Just recently he set a record for most strikeouts in four starts, he completed a 2 hit complete game shutout of the Nationals earlier in the week, and he has only allowed 1 earned run this season. deGrom is the clear favorite to win Cy Young, but with the Mets in contention, and his even more incredible offensive production, deGrom is going to be in contention to become the first pitcher to win the MVP award since Clayton Kershaw did it 2014. If deGrom wins the MVP, or at the very least Cy Young he will continue to pad his Hall of Fame resume, and continue to be regarded as the best pitcher on the planet.
The next two players, however, are out of this world good.
2) Ronald Acuna, Braves
When Ronald Acuna came onto the scene in 2018, baseball fans and experts were amazed by what he could do in such a short period of time. At the age of 20, in just 111 games Acuna hit 26 homers with 64 RBIs in route to winning the Rookie of the Year. But it was his 2019, that set the baseball world on fire, when he posted a ridiculous stat line with 41 homers, 101 RBIs and 37 steals. Acuna’s five tool prowess, and his flash to go with it, made baseball enthusiasts drool over what Acuna could do over a 15-20 year career. So far in 2021, Acuna is off to an even greater start hitting .371 with 7 homers, and has begun his full transformation from being one of the best talents in the game, to one of, if not the best player in the game.
Many will argue it is still Trout, and others are passing the torch to the next guy on the list. But Ronald Acuna should be part of this conversation for years to come. And that instantly makes him one of the most watchable figures in the sport.
1) Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
Do I really even need to explain? The only problem I had picking Tatis in the number one spot, is that I can’t keep up with him. Everytime I go to make note of something entertaining he does, he goes out there and does something even better from hitting two homers off a Kershaw, to then follow it up with two more off of Bauer, showing him up each time (also major props to Bauer for endorsing Tatis’s actions, hate the guy all you want, that was awesome). He’s making fantastic plays in the field, he’s nuts on the basepaths, and he smashes homers with reckless abandon. And oh yeah, he’s left shoulder is completely destroyed. Experts estimate that Tatis is playing around 85% capability, which is just mind blowing considering what he is accomplishing this season. The best case scenario is that Tatis needs offseason surgery to repair his shoulder, and we get another 162+ games (the plus being the postseason) of pure entertainment.
No comments:
Post a Comment