Scouts: Tigers Justin Verlander has best fastball in majors | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander has the best fastball in baseball, just ahead of todays spring foe, the Yankees Joba Chamberlain, according to a polling of scouts by mlb.com.
The results:
|
Best by position |
First place |
Second place |
|
Catcher |
Russell Martin |
Joe Mauer |
|
First baseman |
Albert Pujols |
Tie: Mark Teixeira/Derrek Lee |
|
Second baseman |
Chase Utley |
Robinson Cano |
|
Shortstop |
Jimmy Rollins |
Tie: |
|
Third baseman |
Alex Rodriguez |
David Wright |
|
Left fielder |
Matt Holliday |
Manny Ramirez |
|
Center fielder |
Carlos Beltran |
Ichiro Suzuki |
|
Right fielder |
Vladimir Guerrero |
Tie: Ichiro Suzuki/Magglio Ordonez |
|
Starting pitcher |
Tie: Josh Beckett/Johan Santana |
|
|
Setup man |
Jonathan Broxton |
Joba Chamberlain |
|
Closer |
Jonathan Papelbon |
Mariano Rivera |
|
Batting |
First place |
Second place |
|
Best hitter |
Ichiro Suzuki |
Alex Rodriguez |
|
Best clutch hitter |
David Ortiz |
Albert Pujols |
|
Best power hitter |
Ryan Howard |
Alex Rodriguez |
|
Best bunter |
Juan Pierre |
Ichiro Suzuki |
|
Best bat control |
Ichiro Suzuki |
Placido Polanco |
|
Pitching |
First place |
Second place |
|
Best fastball |
Justin Verlander |
Joba Chamberlain |
|
Best curve |
Josh Beckett |
Four players tied |
|
Best splitter |
Jonathan Papelbon |
John Smoltz |
|
Best command |
Greg Maddux |
Tom Glavine |
|
Best competitor |
Jake Peavy |
Tie: Josh Beckett/Roy Oswalt |
|
Baserunning |
First place |
Second place |
|
Fastest runner |
Carl Crawford |
Ichiro Suzuki |
|
Best basestealer |
Jose Reyes |
Ichiro Suzuki |
|
Best baserunner |
Ichiro Suzuki |
Jose Reyes |
|
Best at breaking up DP |
Tie: |
|
