2003 American League Left Field Rankings

BOSTON - Manny Ramirez 31 R/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	CLE	118	439	154	34	2	38	92	122	86	117	351	457	697	1	1
2001	BOS	142	529	162	33	2	41	93	125	81	147	306	405	609	0	1
2002	BOS	120	436	152	31	0	33	84	107	73	85	349	450	647	0	0

Ramirez was leading the MVP race in May when he broke a bone in his hand. When he was in the lineup he was the best hitter in the American League. A great hitter, still young, could easily win the Triple Crown if he could ever play 150 games in a season.
Ramirez also dramatically cut down his strikeouts last season, after five years of growing strikeout rates. As Ramirez' strikeout rates have steadily increased, so has his productivity at the plate. Last year, they dropped back down to 1996 levels, but all of Ramirez' other numbers remained consistent with what he has done in recent years. Did Ramirez focus on cutting his strikeouts? Was it just a fluke? And, most importantly, will it have any effect on what he'll do in 2003?

ANAHEIM - Garret Anderson 31 L/L

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	ANA	159	647	185	40	3	35	92	117	24	87	286	307	519	7	6
2001	ANA	161	672	194	39	2	28	83	123	27	100	289	314	478	13	6
2002	ANA	158	638	195	56	3	29	93	123	30	80	306	332	539	6	4

      Anderson had the best season of his career, and was the cleanup hitter on the World Series champions. He is very durable and consistent, and puts up identical numbers across the board; against left-handers and righties, at home and on the road, with runners on base and the bases empty, he's pretty much the same in all situations. He hits the same numbers of ground balls as fly balls. Defensively, he's as good as left-fielders get.
      I confess that I've never been a huge Anderson fan; he's a fine player but I've never seen him as an MVP candidate. I hold to the philosophy that the best hitters in the league are the ones who produce the most runs while making the fewest outs. Anderson drives in runs, but he makes a huge number of outs. Also, he now has six straight seasons with over 600 at bats, but has still never scored 100 runs in a season.
      In many ways, and I admit I am reluctant to make this comparison, he is the Steve Garvey of his generation. Always in the lineup, has good-almost-great numbers at the plate, is very good with the glove, popular with the fans and a team leader. An invaluable part of a good team but not an MVP candidate.

TORONTO - Shannon Stewart 29 R/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	TOR	136	583	186	43	5	21	107	69	37	79	319	363	518	20	5
2001	TOR	155	640	202	44	7	12	103	60	46	72	316	371	462	27	10
2002	TOR	141	577	175	38	6	10	103	45	54	60	303	371	442	14	2

Stewart gives the Blue Jays ultra-consistent performance in left field, hitting .300 and scoring 100 runs a year like clockwork. He's a good player, doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well, but also doesn't have any major weaknesses (except for a poor throwing arm — that's why he's in left, eh?).

NEW YORK YANKEES - Hideki Matsui 29 L/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

1993-2002	PLAYED IN JAPAN

      After starring for the Yomiuri Giants for ten years, Matsui is jumping over to America to make some big bucks and help the Yankees win another championship. He was a three-time MVP in Japan; last year he hit .334 with 50 home runs. He has led the league in homers and RBI three times, has also led the league in runs scored five times and has won a batting title. He has a reputation for being a patient hitter, and has played in over 1,250 consecutive games.
      Roberto Petagine played in the major leagues from 1994 to 1998. He had a great career in the minors, but his major league career never got on track. He played 193 games over five years, was a .225 hitter. In two years with the New York Mets, he hit just .211.
      From what I have heard, Petagine is not fondly remembered by Mets fans. If the Yankees had signed him this winter and made a big fuss over the deal, my guess is that Yankees fans would have scratched their heads, while Mets fans would have laughed. Petagine, however, has played the past two years in the Central League in Japan, along with Hideki Matstui.


2002     AVG OBA SLG HR RBI  
Matsui   334 461 692 50 107  
Petagine 322 438 649 41  94  

2001     AVG OBA SLG HR RBI  
Matsui   333 463 617 36 104 
Petagine 322 466 633 39 127

Both years, Petagine and Matsui were the league leaders in almost everything. But rejects from North America who go to star in Japan (like Petagine and Tuffy Rhodes and Alex Cabrera) are treated as just that — rejects — while Matsui is treated as the second coming of Babe Ruth.
I know that one of two things is true. Either Matsui is overrated, or Petagine is underrated. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle; I'm sure that Matsui is a fine ballplayer, but I'm a little skeptical of the hype. To expect every player who comes over from Japan to have the same impact on the game that Ichiro has had is probably unrealistic.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Carlos Lee 27 R/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	CHW	152	572	172	29	2	24	107	92	38	94	301	345	484	13	4
2001	CHW	150	558	150	33	3	24	75	84	38	85	269	321	468	17	7
2002	CHW	140	492	130	26	2	26	82	80	75	73	264	359	484	1	4

Lee's Triple Crown stats — batting average, homers, RBI — didn't improve much last year. But he dramatically improved his K/BB ratio, walking more often than he struck out. I have to rate Lee ahead of Jacques Jones, even though Jones got more attention last year with the Twins; Lee has a better on-base percentage and matches Jones' power. Lee is a year younger and has much better plate discipline; I think it's highly likely that Lee will be a much better player than Jones in 2003.

MINNESOTA - Jacques Jones 28 L/L

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	MIN	154	523	149	26	5	19	66	76	26	111	285	319	463	7	5
2001	MIN	149	475	131	25	0	14	57	49	39	92	276	335	417	12	9
2002	MIN	149	577	173	37	2	27	96	85	37	129	300	341	511	6	7

Jones was a terrific surprise at the top of the batting order for the Twins. He was 27 years old, the most common age for fluke seasons; he still has poor command of the strike zone. Will most likely drop back to 2000-01 levels.

CLEVELAND - Matt Lawton 31 L/R or Shane Spencer 30 R/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

LAWTON
2000	MIN	156	561	171	44	2	13	84	88	91	63	305	405	460	23	7
2001	MIN-NYM	151	559	155	36	1	13	95	64	85	80	277	382	415	29	8
2002	CLE	114	416	98	19	2	15	71	57	59	34	236	342	399	8	9
SPENCER
2000	NYY	73	248	70	11	3	9	33	40	19	45	282	330	460	1	2
2001	NYY	80	283	73	14	2	10	40	46	21	58	258	315	428	4	1
2002	NYY	94	288	71	15	2	6	32	34	31	62	247	324	375	0	3

      Lawton had a dismal season. He struggled at the plate, plus he also suffered injuries to his left calf and later to his left shoulder. He had surgery in September to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder, and it remains to be seen when he will return.
      The Indians currently have six outfielders, so it's not exactly how things will end up. I think they will probably want to give Lawton a chance to play everyday; he's their best outfielder, and even in a bad year he still had a good on-base percentage. Shane Spencer could end up in right field, platooning with Karim Garcia.
      However, Spencer wants a chance to play everyday, and may get that opportunity if Lawton isn't healthy in the spring. Spencer lost his power stroke with the Yankees last season; he'll do better this year but he's still not as good as Lawton if Lawton is healthy. These two players could end up platooning in left.

SEATTLE - Randy Winn 29 S/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	TAM	51	159	40	5	0	1	28	16	26	25	252	362	302	6	7
2001	TAM	128	429	117	25	6	6	54	50	38	81	273	339	401	12	10
2002	TAM	152	607	181	39	9	14	87	75	55	109	298	360	461	27	8

Winn gave his career a shot of adrenaline with a fine season. He set a career high in everything, hitting for much more power than he had in the past, while finally learning to make use of his speed on the bases. With Winn in left, the Mariners will actually have an everyday player at each outfield position... Winn won't play as well this year. I liken his season to Doug Glanville's in 1999, a career best that won't be matched,

TAMPA BAY - Carl Crawford 22 L/L

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	A	135	564	170	21	11	6	99	57	32	102	301	342	410	55	9
2001	AA	132	537	147	24	3	4	64	51	36	90	274	323	352	36	20
2002	AAA	85	353	105	17	9	7	59	52	20	69	297	335	456	26	8
2002	TAM	63	259	67	11	6	2	23	30	9	41	259	290	371	9	5

The Devil Rays like to draft outstanding young athletes and then teach them how to play baseball. The strategy hasn't worked out too well so far, but they are hoping that Crawford will be a winner. He is very young and a super athlete, and he played well enough last year to makes us think that he might be a ballplayer. His liabilities are predictable — his plate discipline is poor, and though fast, he is not a good base stealer — and they will be difficult to overcome. But he is young enough to get better, and the Rays have all the time in the world to wait for him to improve.

OAKLAND - Terrence Long 27 L/L

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	OAK	138	584	168	34	4	18	104	80	43	77	288	336	452	5	0
2001	OAK	162	629	178	37	4	12	90	85	52	103	283	335	412	9	3
2002	OAK	162	587	141	32	4	16	71	67	48	96	240	298	390	3	6

The Athletics are a very patient organization. Long played in all 162 games, even though he was Oakland's worst player and had just a dreadful season. He didn't hit for average or power, didn't get on base and had a terrible year as a base stealer. He is still expected to be a regular in Oakland's outfield in 2003, and will certainly have a better season. However, it is likely safe to assume that we have seen the best of Terrence Long, that he won't get better than he was in his rookie year in 2000. I don't expect to see him in the league when he is 30.

TEXAS - Kevin Mench 25 R/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	A	132	491	164	39	9	27	118	121	78	72	334	427	615	19	7
2001	AA	120	475	126	34	2	26	78	83	34	76	265	319	509	4	6
2002	TEX	110	366	95	20	2	15	52	60	31	83	260	327	448	1	1

Mench's numbers were almost an exact duplicate of teammate Carl Everett's... Mench is an OK young player, skipped a level to fill in for the Rangers' numerous injured outfielders. He had a tremendous June (.333 average, seven homers) that propped up his numbers. Mench has some power, but there isn't a lot else that he does well. But if he can put together another of those hot streaks he could have a career.

DETROIT - Dmitri Young 29 S/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

2000	CIN	152	548	166	37	6	18	68	88	36	80	303	346	491	0	3
2001	CIN	142	540	163	28	3	21	68	69	37	77	302	350	481	8	5
2002	DET	54	201	57	14	0	7	25	27	12	39	284	329	458	2	0

I would hate to be a left-handed pitcher with the Tigers this year. First, they're pulling the fences in left-centre field in 25 feet. Plus, the left side of the field includes Dean Palmer at third and Dmitri Young in left. Any ball that isn't hit directly at somebody is probably going to fall in.

BALTIMORE - Marty Cordova 34 R/R and Gary Matthews Jr. 29 S/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

MATTHEWS
2000	CHC	80	158	30	1	2	4	24	14	15	28	190	264	297	3	0
2001	CHC-PIT	152	405	92	15	2	14	63	44	60	100	227	328	378	8	5
2002	NYM-BAL	111	345	95	25	3	7	54	38	43	69	275	354	426	15	5
CORDOVA
2000	TOR	62	200	49	7	0	4	23	18	18	35	245	317	340	3	2
2001	CLE	122	409	123	20	2	20	61	69	23	81	301	348	506	0	3
2002	BAL	131	458	116	25	2	18	55	64	47	111	253	325	434	1	6

      Cordova played regularly for the Orioles, and had his typical, mediocre season. He also hit .188 in September, when the Orioles were losing almost every day. Cordova's career has been mostly mediocre play sustained by some well-timed hot streaks, but there isn't anything that he does really well.
      Cordova also, of course, was the Rookie Of The Year. How in the heck did he beat out Garret Anderson, Andy Pettitte, Shawn Green, Troy Percival and Ray Durham?
      Last season was the first time that you could argue that Gary Matthews Jr. had played well. Unfortunately, he didn't play at all during the September swoon, kept out by a bad wrist. Matthews played better than Cordova, plus he's five years younger and costs a lot less. But once again, he's only played well for a few months, and he's not young enough that you can build a team around him.

KANSAS CITY - Mark Quinn 29 R/R and Dee Brown 25 L/R

YEAR	TM	GM	AB	HT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBA	SLU	SB	CS

QUINN
2000	KC	135	500	147	33	2	20	76	78	35	91	294	342	488	5	2
2001	KC	118	453	122	31	2	17	57	60	12	69	269	298	459	9	5
2002	KC	23	76	18	4	0	2	9	11	5	15	237	301	368	2	1
BROWN
2000	AAA	125	479	129	25	6	23	76	70	37	112	269	324	491	20	3
2001	KC	106	380	93	19	0	7	39	40	22	81	245	286	350	5	3
2002	AAA	121	458	126	23	1	17	66	75	44	111	275	344	441	10	4

Two players who disappeared from the Royals' plans in 2002, but are now back. Quinn broke a rib (while roughhousing) before the season started, then missed the entire second half of the season with a strained hamstring. Brown was sent back to the minors after a dismal season with the Royals in 2001.
Neither player is headed in the right direction, but the departure of Chuck Knoblauch has left a hole open in left field, and the Royals don't have many other options.

LEFT FIELDERS - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Barry Bonds	11 Hideki Matsui	21 Richard Hidalgo
2 Chipper Jones	12 Brad Wilkerson	22 Geoff Jenkins
3 Albert Pujols	13 Phil Nevin	23 Reggie Sanders
4 Manny Ramirez	14 Carlos Lee	24 Jay Payton
5 Luis Gonzalez	15 Brian Jordan	25 Terrence Long
6 Pat Burrell	16 Moises Alou	26 Kevin Mench
7 Garret Anderson	17 Jacques Jones	27 Todd Hollandsworth
8 Adam Dunn	18 Matt Lawton	28 Dmitri Young
9 Cliff Floyd	19 Randy Winn	29 Marty Cordova
10 Shannon Stewart	20 Ben Grieve	30 Mark Quinn