Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365

I was just thinking (when I should have been working) about players in MLB since 2000 (arbitrary date) and who I will think back on with great pleasure in my dotage. Sure, Barry put up those great numbers, and the young 'uns like Harper and Trout will go on to do even greater things more than likely. Cabrera is a hitting machine, Posey is the consumate club leader. Kershaw...is just almighty. You all have wonderful candidates, I'm sure. But my vote is for Ichiro. I could just watch that guy play day after day. I feel like I am watching how baseball was probably played in the early years -- going to the opposite field, bunting, Baltimore chops, speed. But what sets him apart is that glorious defense and that arm. He's lost a couple of steps, okay. But the guy has honed his already tremendous skills into something even finer by constantly working on them. What a lesson...So, yeah, Ichiro is my 2000-2016 guy.

I would really be interested to know who yours might be.

Bill

Bonds and Bumgarner.

ichiro is/was amazing. I have seen him play in Toronto and watched a whole game with him in rf at yankee stadium playing for the mariners. a runner tried to go first to third in the game at yankee stadium. I was with my wife saying "Babe watch the -5 arm!!!" and of course he threw the runner out!! poetry in motion.

does he beat pete rose if he plays his whole career here?

Kershaw.

But since I'm already old, I enjoy telling the youngster I saw Koufax pitch

Albert Pujols

.310
572 HR
1738 RBI

Once saw him score from 2nd on a groundout to the secondbaseman vs. Rockies @ Coors Field

David Ortiz = Mr. Clutch in the postseason = Three Red Sox WS wins

I'm way too biased towards the Red Sox to be objective, so I'll exclude them from my consideration.

So "the one" from someone other than my team, for me, would have to be Ichiro. Not that in necessarily saying I think he was the greatest, but he's the one guy I'd stop doing whatever it was I was doing, just to watch - whether it was hitting, fielding, throwing, or running.

The steroids trio--Bonds, Maguire, Sosa--played the game at a level never seen before...and maybe never seen again. 500 foot homeruns, homeruns off of 100 mile per hour fastballs...just ridiculous. I am pretty sure I will be talking about those guys rather than a slap hitter (with all respect to Ichiro). Kershaw has been a play-off choker so far--sorry I live in Los Angeles. Ortiz and Bumgarner are there for their clutchness during the play-offs. Pujols for the rare combination of a slugger who also doesn't strike out (and consistent high average with power). Robinson Cano, premier hitter at 2b. Posey with big numbers from the catching position and leading his team to chsmpionships. Cabrera--high average and power. Pretty sure I will be talking about a guy who obliterated the 100 mph barrier--Chapman. Trout and Harper will be there. Pedro Martinez-- low 2s era during the steroids age. And finally...the last run of Vin Scully.

I hope ichi-san gets a chance at 3000. anyone keeping up on how he's doing there? bonds was a truly great hitter, even without the juice. he did the bulk of his work before 2000, so not a qualifier here imo. pujols has the best numbers during this span, and playoff success to boot. I believe trout will eventually surpass him in numbers, but won't ever win a title unless he gets off the angels. ship him over to Chavez ravine arte, please.

The GOAT will forever be Babe Ruth (and I hate the yanks)....nobody will ever approach him either