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Second-ranked Alex Rodriguez, who the Phillies will see tonight, comes with baggage.
- Utley hits 499th Payoff homer; next one's worth $5,000 - or $15,000
- Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Ibanez showing he's not easily distracted
- Pennsylvania eyes Eagles and Steelers for instant lottery game
- Bombs away as Phillies head to the Bronx to face Yankees
- Sam Donnellon: Yankees' new stadium a diamond that's rough on pitchers
- Argue with Conlin about Top 50 list
- Paul Hagen: Phillies' Howard has big impact on Padres' Gonzalez
- NL East at a glance
- High Cheese
- GALLERY: 2009 Phillies
- GALLERY: 2008 World Series champs
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Bill Conlin: List of top 50 players arguable
GENTLEMEN, START your arguments.
When the Phillies take on the Yankees this weekend in the $1.5 billion House That Ruthless Built, the teams will field nine of the 50 greatest players in the game today.
Says who? A substantial number of the MLB fraternity, that's who.
They will represent 18 percent of a list compiled for The Sporting News by a blue-ribbon panel of voters that included 13 Hall of Famers, 13 Cy Young Award winners and 12 league MVPs among a jury 150 strong. The rules stressed that the "greatest" designation only applied to current stars, not players still active but in the twilight of great careers. So, if I was starting the first argument, the question would be: How the hell does Mets outpatient Carlos Delgado weigh in at No. 47? The old warhorse can still launch a fastball but has averaged just 143 games over the past five seasons.
But I'll give you Delgado and throw down a bigger mace. How does the team that plays in BrokeBank Field (thanks go to an e-mailer) lead this august assembly of living and breathing stars with six current players? I guess Choke Factor didn't make it onto the ballot. But Mets Meltdown '08 was certainly not the fault of lefthander Johan Santana, No. 3 on the list. The Mets shriveled in the stretch like George Costanza in the Seinfeld classic "Shrinkage" episode. The other Mets are David Wright (13), Jose Reyes (22), Carlos Beltran (23), Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez (34) and Delgado.
Hopefully, the blue-ribbon panel missed the Dodgers' three-game sweep of manager Jerry Manuel's Hollywood revival of the Keystone Kops. The only thing missing from the end game of the second game of the series was calliope music and a ringmaster. Players were provided by Hertz Rent-a-Clown.
The No. 1 greatest current player, of course, is Albert Pujols, the main reason Tony La Russa is still managing in St. Louis. Pujols topped 55 percent of the ballots. I guess the other 45 percent hate to bet the favorites when they go to the race track.
Ah, but confessed cheater Alex Rodriguez - A-Roid was No. 2. And ashamed and embarassed Manny Ramirez will have the No. 4 ranking to comfort him until he is reinstated from a 50-day suspension toward the end of his first trimester.
Interesting. In their heart of hearts, the pastime's elite seem to have forgiven the bloated rascals who have skewed the record book, stained the already-shaky integrity of the sport and face no harsher penalties than a crooked hedge-fund manager or Ponzi schemer. The only difference between a juiced ballplayer and a banker is the size of the golden parachute.
Three Yankees made the top 10 - A-Rod (2), Derek Jeter (8) and Mariano Rivera (9). Newcomers Mark Teixiera (17) and CC Sabathia (29) complete the strong showing of a ballclub with a $201,449,189 payroll this season. The Fab Five of A-Rod, Jeter, Sabathia, Teixeira and Rivera will earn about $105 million. Putting it another way, they will rake in nearly three times the Florida Marlins' 2009 payroll of $36.834 million.
The Phillies came close to putting two players from their potent nucleus in the top 10.
Chase Utley, voter Hank Aaron's favorite player to watch, is No. 6, between Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez (5) and Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (7). Offensive colossus Ryan Howard sits at No. 11, no doubt penalized for his defense - improved this season - and still-prolific and horrific strikeout totals. Jimmy Rollins is well-placed at No. 15, as is Cole Hamels at No. 49. The dual postseason MVP is still struggling to establish himself as a consistent and reliable No. 1.
The absence of Brad Lidge proves the Nifty 150 voted recently and has relegated his perfect 2008 save record to history's back burner. Nor was the amazing start of Raul Ibanez enough to nudge him into the elite half-hundred. The four Phils will earn about $39 million.
The Sporting News was once known as "Baseball's Bible" and the publication has rediscovered the sport that was its bread and butter during the years before the NFL became god and the NBA and NHL claimed their places in the great indoors. It is nice to see TSN edge a little closer to its roots with a hefty and arguable list of greats like this, selected by 150 demigods and icons. OK, four former Phillies managers - Jim Fregosi, Terry Francona, Lee Elia and Pat Corrales - were on the panel. Better make that "demiicons."
Meanwhile . . . Gentleman, start your arguments. *
Send e-mail to bill1chair@aol.com. For recent columns, go to http://go.philly.com/conlin.
