1. Ichiro Suzuki—Don't even start to tell me that he is the greatest hitter of all time. I was at the game where he got the record tying (257th) and record breaking (258th) hits in a season...

MLB's Top Five Most Overrated Players

by Ben Brown (Analyst)

2459 reads

Rankings/List

November 03, 2008

1. Ichiro Suzuki—Don't even start to tell me that he is the greatest hitter of all time. I was at the game where he got the record tying (257th) and record breaking (258th) hits in a season.

2. K-Rod—With the starters he pitches after and the offense to back him up, Richie Sexson could have got 62 saves!

3. Kosuke Fukudome—129 hits, 10 hrs, and a .257 ba avg shouldn't be anywhere close to an all star game!

4. Justin Upton—89 hits, 15hr, and a .250 ba avg? Way too overrated. Although his brother is underrated.

5. Nick Swisher—.219 ba avg, 109 hits, and 24 home runs. Enough said.

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Steven Resnick 4 months ago

I agree with your first choice and second choice. The rest not so much. If every team relied on stats like this then you could make an argument that these players are overrated. Nick Swishwer had a bad year and was adjusting to a new team. There are more benefits to having Swisher on a team than meets the eye.

He's always having fun out there, he plays hard, and whatever position the manager puts him in defensively he's going to give 100 percent. This year was just a transition for him and expect a lot better numbers next year.

Everyone knows that Fukudome was not an all-star last year don't blame Fukudome for being there it's the voting process for Major League Baseball that got him there. Fukudome had a decent rookie year for the Cubs, nothing too special he did have the walk off homerun, but he slowed at the end of the season even with saying that I would take Fukudome over Ichiro anyday.

Justin Upton still maturing, young, raw, power potential, speed, etc....Just like his brother he has a chance at being an excellent player. Injuries curtailed his season last year look for him to have a better year next year. For Upton to be that special player like his brother BJ he needs to start being more disciplined at the plate once this happens he's a guy who could torture oppposing teams with his speed and his power.

I agree with your first choice and second choice. The rest not so much. If every team relied on stats like this then you could make an argument that these players are overrated. Nick Swishwer had a bad year and was adjusting to a new team. There are more benefits to having Swisher on a team than meets the eye. He's always having fun out there, he plays hard, and whatever position the manager puts him in defensively he's going to give 100 percent. This year was just a transition for him and expect a lot better numbers next year. Everyone knows that Fukudome was not an all-star last year don't blame Fukudome for being there it's the voting process for Major League Baseball that got him there. Fukudome had a decent rookie year for the Cubs, nothing too special he did have the walk off homerun, but he slowed at the end of the season even with saying that I would take Fukudome over Ichiro anyday. Justin Upton still maturing, young, raw, power potential, speed, etc....Just like his brother he has a chance at being an excellent player. Injuries curtailed his season last year look for him to have a better year next year. For Upton to be that special player like his brother BJ he needs to start being more disciplined at the plate once this happens he's a guy who could torture oppposing teams with his speed and his power. Edit Comment Cancel

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Ben Brown 4 months ago

ya the first two were incredubly easy to think of. the others were hard to. but i still think justin upton won't come close to matching his brother.

ya the first two were incredubly easy to think of. the others were hard to. but i still think justin upton won't come close to matching his brother. Edit Comment Cancel

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matthew offermann 4 months ago

im not doubting k rod but i was wondering how u came up with him? beside what u wrote

im not doubting k rod but i was wondering how u came up with him? beside what u wrote Edit Comment Cancel

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  Ben Brown 4 months ago
  
  I have never been a fan of K-rod. Therefore i researched him and he isn't good. He just has oppurtunitties a lot.
  
  I have never been a fan of K-rod. Therefore i researched him and he isn't good. He just has oppurtunitties a lot. Edit Comment Cancel
  
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Andy Shanks 4 months ago

Fukodome isn't overrated at all. Since the all-star break, everyone in and outside of Chicago knew he was garbage. Once pitchers got a scouting report on him, he was done.

Fukodome isn't overrated at all. Since the all-star break, everyone in and outside of Chicago knew he was garbage. Once pitchers got a scouting report on him, he was done. Edit Comment Cancel

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  Ben Brown 4 months ago
  
  I haven't heard that and none of my baseball obsessed friends have up in washington so it isn't that well known.
  
  I haven't heard that and none of my baseball obsessed friends have up in washington so it isn't that well known. Edit Comment Cancel
  
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Ricky Butts 4 months ago

Your articles have good premise, but you need to back them up.

K-Rod saved 62 games. Do you think Eric Gagne would have? Even with those opportunities? I don't. I don't think Kerry Wood would have matched that. Out of todays closers, there are only a few I think would have. Along with Rodriguez, I think that Rivera, Lidge and Nathan would have. A healthy Billy Wagner probably would too. Outside of those guys, I am not so sure.

Now, I believe that the closer role in general is over-rated, but thats a different argument.

If Ichiro played for a big market team like Boston, Chicago, New York, you wouldn't think he was over-rated. The guy is a phenomenal hitter and even as a Cubs fan, Ichiro would be my guy over Fukudome.

Who, for the most part, played great up till the All-Star game. He was among the league leaders in BA and OBP for the first half of the season. He may not have been All-Star starter quality, but he is not near the worst All-Star I have seen voted in.

About Justin, I don't like young guys on lists like this. What is he, 20? Most baseball players are in their prime between 28-32. This kid has a lot of maturing to do. He isn't over-rated, he is hyped, for good reason. The kid has the potential to be an outstanding ball player, will he pan out, I don't know. It is too early for him to be on an over-rated list.

If ARod had injuries that led to him having a bad year, say .245, 18HR, 85RBI, would you call him over-rated? I would probably wait and see what happens.

Sorry, I just do not like your list.

Your articles have good premise, but you need to back them up. K-Rod saved 62 games. Do you think Eric Gagne would have? Even with those opportunities? I don't. I don't think Kerry Wood would have matched that. Out of todays closers, there are only a few I think would have. Along with Rodriguez, I think that Rivera, Lidge and Nathan would have. A healthy Billy Wagner probably would too. Outside of those guys, I am not so sure. Now, I believe that the closer role in general is over-rated, but thats a different argument. If Ichiro played for a big market team like Boston, Chicago, New York, you wouldn't think he was over-rated. The guy is a phenomenal hitter and even as a Cubs fan, Ichiro would be my guy over Fukudome. Who, for the most part, played great up till the All-Star game. He was among the league leaders in BA and OBP for the first half of the season. He may not have been All-Star starter quality, but he is not near the worst All-Star I have seen voted in. About Justin, I don't like young guys on lists like this. What is he, 20? Most baseball players are in their prime between 28-32. This kid has a lot of maturing to do. He isn't over-rated, he is hyped, for good reason. The kid has the potential to be an outstanding ball player, will he pan out, I don't know. It is too early for him to be on an over-rated list. If ARod had injuries that led to him having a bad year, say .245, 18HR, 85RBI, would you call him over-rated? I would probably wait and see what happens. Sorry, I just do not like your list. Edit Comment Cancel

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Ben Brown 4 months ago

I live by seattle and trust me he is over rated. Second baseman jose lopez came close to matching ichiros numbers this season, same with Ibanez. For a lot of the year Lopez was ahead of ichiro in BA. You don't see Jose Lopez with a 20 million dollar contract. For 20 mil i would much rather have a little power.

I live by seattle and trust me he is over rated. Second baseman jose lopez came close to matching ichiros numbers this season, same with Ibanez. For a lot of the year Lopez was ahead of ichiro in BA. You don't see Jose Lopez with a 20 million dollar contract. For 20 mil i would much rather have a little power. Edit Comment Cancel

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