ESPN confused

[200tang]

I already conceded. But hell. You are using pure stats. If you want to go with WAR, check out Jorge Posada at the beginning of his career. I am talking real baseball.

http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/p/posaj001.htm

Posada's best WAR to date - 6.1

Clearly, Posada is way better than Mauer.

[etothep]

I already conceded. But hell. You are using pure stats. If you want to go with WAR, check out Jorge Posada at the beginning of his career. I am talking real baseball.

Nobody can carry on a logical conversation with someone who says such nonsense

[200tang]

nice quote, LOL! Learn to close your brackets, noob

[grasshopper]

Nobody can carry on a logical conversation with someone who says such nonsense

Really?

[free2131]

Get out of HGM's basement and watch some baseball, tang.

[gRYFYN1]

During the last 2 days, I have been told that Joe Mauer is the best since Fisk

Well, I don't take that to mean they are refering to his entire career, they are talking about right now, maybe the next two, three or four years.

Over that Span Mauer is the best since Fisk. Even talking real baseball.

[HoustonGM]

Mauer has not had a more valuable overall career than Fisk. Mauer is, clearly, at his peak, a better player than Fisk was at his peak. He is the best catcher in the game and nobody is close.

Same goes for Chase Utley. He is the best second basemen in the game and nobody is particularly close. Utley provides superb defense with a 135 OPS+. Pedroia is a very good defender, but not close to the same caliber hitter. Cano isn't close to the same caliber defense or hitting.

[kellys11]

During the last 2 days, I have been told that Joe Mauer is the best since Fisk and that Chase Utley is a 2b without any comparison. Wow!

First, Mauer is good. I dont deny that. Is he 20 million a year good? Yankees wont bite and neither will Mets, Sox, Giants, Dodgers, plus....

Second, they called Utley the best 2b in baseball without anyone coming close. What about Pedroia? What about Cano?

Maurer is quite a bit ahead of the 2nd guy ... McCann and V.Martinez are the only 2 hitters close, but their defense is nowhere near Maurer.

At 2nd there are quite a few close to Utley...I may even rank Kinsler or A.Hill ahead of him cause of defense.

In total I would say Pedrioa, Kinsler, B.Philips, B.Roberts, R.Cano and A.Hill are all close in my opinion.

Utley is a stud hitter at 2nd, but his defense is at best average.

In answer to the question, Maurer is worth $20mm (in baseball contract terms) he's more important than outfielders that get that kind of money.

[HoustonGM]

At 2nd there are quite a few close to Utley...I may even rank Kinsler or A.Hill ahead of him cause of defense.

Utley is better than both of them defensively...

Utley is a stud hitter at 2nd, but his defense is at best average.

No...

Utley's TotalZone scores:
2003: +1
2004: +3
2005: +15
2006: +4
2007: +9
2008: +9
2009: +8

Utley's UZR:
2003: +1
2004: +4.6
2005: +17.8
2006: +9.3
2007: +15.7
2008: +20.2
2009: +10.8

Utley's FRAA:
2003: +3
2004: +4
2005: +7
2006: -4
2007: +7
2008: +9
2009: +10

Utley is a premium defender. Brandon Phillips, Mark Ellis, and Dustin Pedroia are all close or comparable defensively. Of course, their bats don't compare.