Bay Area Baseball

1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? Did anybody, while he was active, ever suggest that he was the best player in baseball?

Schilling was generally considered a top ten starting pitcher in the league – but was never the best.

2. Was he the best player on his team?

Schilling was the ace for a number of Philadelphia teams but was overshadowed by Randy Johnson, Josh Beckett and Pedro Martinez on his Arizona and Boston teams.

3. Was he the best player in baseball at his position? Was he the best player in the league at his position?

Schilling was generally considered a top ten starting pitcher in the league.

4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races?

Schilling’s postseason resume stacks up as well as any to play the game. His heroics in the 2001 World Series earned him a World Series MVP and his bloody sock performances in 2004 brought a championship to Boston for the first time in nearly a century.

5. Was he a good enough player that he could continue to play regularly after passing his prime?

Schilling was effective even after losing velocity – throwing a one hitter against Oakland with a fastball far below his norm late in his career.

6. Is he the very best player in baseball history who is not in the Hall of Fame?

No.

7. Are most players who have comparable career statistics in the Hall of Fame?

Debatable.

8. Do the player’s numbers meet Hall of Fame standards?

Yes.

9. Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?

Schilling has one of the best career strikeout to walk ratios as well as WHIP ratio. He also has a sterling postseason record.

10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in?

No.

11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close?

Schilling could have won numerous Cy Young Awards had he not been teamed with The Unit.

12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go to the Hall of Fame?

Schilling had at least ten all star caliber seasons.

13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant?

Yes.

14. What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?

The suture procedure used to enable Schilling to pitch in the 2004 ALCS and World Series was revolutionary.

15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?

Schilling has come under some fire for his media presence and bold comments but was always looked at as a gamer on the field.

Schilling doesn’t have the longevity of some hall of famers – he has less than 220 wins – but his postseason achievements are among the most memorable in recent memory and he was consistently one of the top pitchers in the game during his career.

1. Jarrod Parker - RHP - A- - No question about Parker at the top of this relatively weak list. Parker has a power fastball but a small stature. He should be a powerful force behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren in 2011 at the earliest if things work out, if not - he would be a top level relief pitcher with strong closing potential. Comp - Roy Oswalt
2. Geraldo Parra - OF - B- - Hit .286 with 28 steals but minimal power and run production. May never develop middle of the order power but he could be a useful player in a platoon role. ETA 2010 - Comp - Lastings Milledge
3. Reynaldo Navarro - SS - C - Still just 19 years old Navarro struck out more than Arizona had hoped and hit just .258 at rookie league Missoula. Comp - Clint Barmes
4. Dan Schlereth - LHP - B- - Son of former NFL player Mark is a lefty reliever with a power fastball and put together a solid career in college. He could contend for the Arizona closer job in 2009 as Arizona drafted him to move fast. Comp - BJ Ryan
5. Barry Enright - RHP - C- 143-35 K/BB rate in first full season - Enright should get a shot at a back-end of the rotation by 2011. Comp - Brad Hennessey

Braun’s powerful swing and the grand slam you see in the commercials gets him to the top of our re-draft.

Original Picks
1 Justin Upton Arizona Diamondbacks
2 Alex Gordon Kansas City Royals
3 Jeff Clement Seattle Mariners
4 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals
5 Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers

New Picks
1 Arizona Diamondbacks - Ryan Braun, OF - Arizona loves Upton’s superstar potential, but Braun is already the superstar run producer that every team wants.
2 Kansas City Royals - Justin Upton, OF - Upton still has the greatest potential of any player in this draft, and in a year or two he could be back at the top.
3 Seattle Mariners - Troy Tulowitzki, SS - Tulo is a franchise shortstop and Clement was unable to secure the job for a lousy Seattle team.
4 Washington Nationals - Matt Garza, RHP - The hard throwing Garza was 2-0 in the ALCS against Boston and would be the ace of the Nationals weak staff.
5 Milwaukee Brewers - Jay Bruce, OF - Sure losing Braun would be a huge blow to the Brewers, but Bruce, whose power is equally enticing, would be a nice consolation with the fifth overall pick.