by John Scanlan
Torosian, in this week’s edition of his award winning Fanview, floated the idea that Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox might be the most underrated player from this decade.
Dye certainly can make a case for that “honor”. The problem is he has mixed in his solid seasons with some real stinkers. His OPS’s from 2002-2004 were .792, .514 (!) and .793. He has mixed in seasons of 1.006, .885 and .846, so he’s definitely had some loud years as well. Being underrated, though, is probably a product of those 3 seasons where he wasn’t an upper echelon player. He may also have the stigma of his current run of great seasons being a product of his ballpark, as new Comiskey is definitely a hitter’s haven.
So who can be considered underrated? The first name that always pops in my head is Bobby Abreu, currently of the Angels. He’s 8th among all active players with an OBP of .404 while also OPSing above .840 every season this decade but one. He got some pub for going off in the Home Run Derby a few years ago, but for a guy who has played in big markets like Philadelphia, New York and Southern California, he sure has remained an anonymous figure.
Houston’s Lance Berkman also doesn’t get credit for being one of the game’s best hitters. His average OPS is around .980 in the 2000s, a rarified air that is only shared by the likes of Albert Pujols, Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez. He has done it while also showing the versatility to play all three outfield positions and first base. Last year, he even decided to start stealing bases, swiping 18 bags. Even during the Astros’ World Series run of ’05, the focus was more on veterans Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.
It’s hard to believe that a catcher with an OPS in the upper .800s while playing in the biggest media market in the country can be underrated, but Jorge Posada has somehow slipped under the radar while playing for the Yankees. In every full season he has played in this decade but one, he has posted an OPS above .835. Defensively, he’s somewhere in the neighborhood of average, but it’s never been considered a hindrance.
Who do you think has been an overrated hitter this decade? Leave your comments below. Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at some of the pitchers that have been underrated this decade.
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