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August 01, 2006

Tool Time

Baseball America just released the results of their "Best Tools" survey (of league managers) for 2006. Here's how certain Yankees did:

Best Strike-zone Judgment
#2 in the AL - Jason Giambi (behind Travis Hafner)
#1 in the NL - Bobby Abreu (ahead of Albert Pujols)

Best Hit-and-Run Artist
#1 in the AL - Derek Jeter (ahead of Michael Young)

Best Baserunner
#1 in the AL - Derek Jeter (ahead of Ichiro Suzuki)
#3 in the NL - Bobby Abreu (behind Jose Reyes and Juan Pierre)

Most Exciting Player
#2 in the AL - Derek Jeter (behind Ichiro Suzuki)

Best Curveball
#3 in the AL - Mike Mussina (behind Barry Zito and Josh Beckett)

Best Change-up
#3 in the AL - Mike Mussina (behind Johan Santana and Roy Halladay)

Best Control
#3 in the AL - Mike Mussina (behind Curt Schilling and Roy Halladay)

Best Reliever
#1 in the AL - Mariano Rivera (ahead of B.J. Ryan)

Best Defensive Shortstop
# 2 in the AL - Derek Jeter (behind Alex Gonzalez)

Best Manager
#2 in the AL - Joe Torre (behind Jim Leyland)

No other Yankees players made the top three in any of the 25 different categories. No A-Rod in "Best Power" or "Best Infield Arm." No Melky Cabrera in "Best Outfield Arm." No Kyle Farnsworth in "Best Fastball."

In the feature, players were asked questions on tools - including "If you could take a skill from an all-time legend to improve your game, what would it be?"

A-Rod's answer: "Jackie Robinson's speed, and to be a switch hitter like Mickey Mantle."

Hey, Alex, that's two all-time legends. Don't be greedy!

Posted by Steve Lombardi at August 1, 2006 11:15 PM

Comments

Interesting list. Beckett's curveball would be a lot better if he could actually throw it for strikes. Anyone who said he had the second-best curveball in baseball isn't watching him pitch. Why do they think he gives up three home runs a game? He can't get the curveball over and ends up throwing fastballs all day long.

Posted by: baileywalk [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 1, 2006 11:52 PM

Anyone who rank Jeter the second best defensive short stop is on crack....

Posted by: Yu Hsing Chen [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 2, 2006 01:14 AM

Farnsworth was hitting 101 on The Stadium's gun tonight. I'd be really interested in knowing who on this planet throws harder.

Posted by: brockdc [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 2, 2006 01:20 AM

Zumaya and Billy Wagner throws harder... other than that it's hard to really call it.

Posted by: Yu Hsing Chen [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 2, 2006 01:53 AM