There will definitely be no A-Rod World Series opt out announcement and it is unlikely that a near $100M deal will be hashed out at a fast food restaurant, but the free agent class for 2009 contains a whole host of current All-Stars, former All-Stars, salvage cases and at least one future Hall of Famer.
The Red Sox didn't have the best regular season record in 2008, but using our metrics for overall quality, they were the best team in baseball, followed by the Cubs. How did the other 28 teams do?
The story of Albert Belle can be summed up in one word: controversy. His talent on the field was matched by very few, and his propensity to deal with the media the way he did, made national headlines.
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By Christopher Reina
At RealGM, we use the Field Impact Counter (FIC) to objectively measure how effective players are performing and then use the Reina Value to evaluate their financial worth.
The player with the highest FIC for the season, therefore, ‘deserves’ the highest salary, which is Alex Rodriguez’s $28 million contract for 2008. The player with the 10th highest FIC 'deserves' Carlos Zambrano's $16 million salary.
Pujols has followed his 1.236 August with one homer and two walks in five plate appearances.
2. CC Sabathia, MIL: 287 (+113%)
I was in Pittsburgh for his one-hitter and immediately after Sabathia was unable to make a play on the squibbler from Andy LaRoche, I wondered if there has ever been a retroactive no-hitter. Bob Webb spent the rest of the game hoping for a clean hit that never came from the Pirates’ embarrassingly anemic offense. The outfield trio of Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, and Nate McLouth had some real teeth, and they have very little to show for it after their dealings with the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees.
3. Lance Berkman, HOU: 276 (+49%)
After a horrible July, Berkman bounced back in August with a .963 OPS.
4. Cliff Lee, CLE: 269 (+373%)
Lee won his 20th game on Monday, the first member of the Indians to win 20 since 1974. He has a 2.32 ERA and 1.05 WHIP to narrowly lead the AL Cy Young chase over the next man on this list.
5. Roy Halladay, TOR: 266 (+96%)
Halladay’s eight complete games and a 7.59 K/9 rate, both are better than Lee’s four CGs and 6.90 K/9 rate.
6. Tim Lincecum, SF: 250 (+4,123%)
The Giants rescued Lincecum from his fourth loss on Tuesday by coming back late after he exited yielding five earned runs in five innings.
7. Carlos Quentin, CWS: 249 (+4,146%)
Quentin is suffering from a sore left forearm and could weaken his chances of winning the AL MVP if he misses time in September.
8. Dustin Pedroia, BOS: 246 (+3,532%)
Pedroia had a .775 OPS in April and .669 in May but has been on a tear since June. In August he hit .374/.425/.635 with six homers to help get the Red Sox out in front in the Wildcard and put himself into the MVP talk.
9. Matt Holliday, COL: 246 (+74%)
Holliday has always been a strong finisher, having a career OPS 49 points higher in the second half.
10. Cole Hamels, PHI: 243 (+3,100%)
Hamels gave the Phillies 7.1 scoreless innings in Washington on Tuesday.
11. Brandon Webb, ARI: 243 (+191%)
Webb has given up six runs in each of his last two starts (Dodgers and Padres) but will have a chance for redemption at Chavez Ravine on Saturday.
12. Francisco Rodriguez, LAA: 239 (+60%)
Rodriguez’s save total record clearly belongs to the team as much as it does himself. He was far more dominant in 2004 and 2006 while also striking out fewer batters this season.
13. Grady Sizemore, CLE: 238 (+405%)
Sizemore’s OPS is 1.034 at Progressive Field and just .777 on the road. For his career the split is 53 points (.894 vs. .841).
14. Mark Teixeira, LAA: 237 (+28%)
Teixiera has batted .366/.463/.616 since joining the Angels.
