My childhood was defined by the superstars of each major sport. As players like Roger Clemens weigh retirement, and players like Sammy Sosa return to the MLB spotlight, I began to wonder, who is the next Sosa? Randy Johnson? Mike Piazza? or Frank Thomas? Which stars of yesterday will compare to the stars of tomorrow?
I have evaluated the all-star rosters and statistics of players over the past 10-15 years at each position. I have also come up with players who could become the superstars that define this next generation.
Starting Pitchers: Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Clemens vs Santana/Liriano/Kazmir/Verlander
Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson are to pitching what Magic Johnson and John Stockton were to passing. Past stars David Wells, Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez are still in the league but will consider retirement soon. With the help of the Turner Broadcast Station, the "tomahawk chop" defined baseball. When I was young I actually thought that the National Anthem was referring to Atlanta "..and the home of the braveS". John Smoltz is all that is left from one of the best rotations that included future hall of famers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
It's hard to speculate which pitchers last as long a Tom Glavine or a Greg Maddux. The newer generation of pitchers often deal with injuries that can sometimes destroy a career. Minnesota Twins super-stud rookie Francisco Liriano has to miss this entire season due to an elbow injury. Liriano had a break-out season last year winning 12 games and throwing a 2.16 ERA. The future is bright for the Twins if Liriano can pitch as well when he returns. With Santana, Nathan and Liriano - The Twins could have this generations Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. At only 23, Scott Kazmir is another young pitcher who is primed for stardom. Kazmir has won 10 games in his first two season. Jered Weaver and Justin Verlander are both just 24 years old and could turn out to be perennial all-stars. Verlander won rookie of the year last year.
Relief Pitchers:
Trevor Hoffman/Mariano Rivera vs Huston Street/Francisco Rodriquez
At age 39 and 37 respectively, Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera are still getting it done. Since 2004, Trevor Hoffman has consistently been at the top of the MLB saves list at seasons end. These two players will be first ballot hall of famers. When you think of the word "save" you think of Hoffman and Rivera - Rivera more for clutch pitching in October. It is hard to imagine that the next generation of closers can live up to the performance of these stars.
I should mention Joe Nathan as a future star because he is the leagues most promising closer next to the two mentioned above, but he's already 32. I decided to look at the younger group of closers. Huston Street is only 23 and is already being considered the "next Hoffman". Last year his 37 saves was better than both Nathan and Rivera. Last years save leader was Francisco Rodriguez. Rodriguez isn't afraid to leave his body exposed to produce the perfect pitch and has already managed to save 92 games over the last two seasons. With 5 years of MLB experience at age 25 - He has a promising career ahead.
First Base:
Frank Thomas/Mark McGwire/Mo Vaughn vs Pujols/Ryan Howard/Justin Morneau
The Big Hurt, McGwire, and Mo Vaughn were 3 players I can remember emulating when playing baseball growing up. When it comes to the home-run, they pretty much defined the generation. It is obvious the controversy surrounding McGwire, but the last 10 years of baseball wouldn't be the same without him. Thomas and Vaughn might not be remember statistically as the best to play first base, but they helped define the generation and position.
Albert Pujols' numbers rival those of the greatest players of all time. Like Nike says for LeBron James we could say the same for Albert Pujols: "We are all witnesses". I tried to put Derrek Lee in this group, but because of his injury last year and his age being 31, he can't be next generations star. Ryan Howard burst onto the scene last year by smashing a league leading 58 home-runs. He could become this generations "big hurt". AL MVP Justin Morneau - at only 25, could silently become this generations best 1st baseman. He has a great eye at the plate and plays a leadership role on an up and coming Twins team. Morneau could use the pitching Liriano and Santana as well as the hitting Mauer to win multiple AL MVP awards and World Series titles.
Second Base:
Craig Biggio/Roberto Alomar vs Chase Utley/Robinson Cano
The second base was the hardest base to fill as far as "stars" go. The last 10 years has lacked a true star at this position. Researching past all-star games I found that Roberto Alomar won the 1998 MVP, and it's hard to ignore the influence that Roberto and Sandy had on the past generation of baseball.
At only 28, Chase Utley might have a better chance of impacting this next generation than any other 2nd baseman. I left Alfonso Soriano off the list of next superstars at 2nd base because he is one of many players that falls in between what I consider the past stars and future stars. Soriano is more like Derrek Lee and Yankees Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez - they are current stars. Another Yankee could turn out to be a future star amongst current stars. Robinson Cano, at age 24, is already being relied on heavily in New York and he the 3rd highest priced 2nd baseman on PROTRADE.
Short Stop: Barry Larkin/Jimmy Rollins vs Jose Reyes/Hanley Ramirez
The short-stop has lacked stars ever since Cal Ripken moved from SS to 3rd base in the late 1990's. I almost added Cal to this list because he was named the MVP of the 2001 all-star game but decided he was too old to mention. I did decided that Barry Larkin was worthy of adding because he was a multiple all-star MVP award winner and he played his last game in 2004. It appears that the next generation might be a little more talented.
Jose Reyes has already made a huge impact in the league and he is only 23. He does everything and contributes in almost all fantasy stat categories. Reyes batted .300 and led the majors in steals last year. Another future star Marlin Hanley Ramirez. Regardless of his current hamstring injury, Ramirez has the potential to be a star for years to come - he's only 24. Over the past 4 seasons Ichiro Suzuki is the only player to have more hits than Michael Young - at age 31, Young was too old to be a future star.
Third Base:
Chipper Jones/Bobby Bonilla vs Miguel Cabrera/David Wright Chipper Jones's stance in the batter box makes him a player that will be remembered from this generation. Bobby Bonilla became the highest paid player in baseball in 1993 and was a member of the 1997 Florida Marlins world series title.
This generation is definitely more complete at the 3rd base position. I would group Alex Rodriguez in the "now" category of stars, so he didn't make this list. Miguel Cabrera is a player that definitely deserves recognition. His crazy-hot start this season (batting .500, 7 RBIs) has put his name in the headlines, but it is only a matter of time before his name is on a hall of fame ballot. David Wright is young and should participate in multiple all-star games in his career.
Catcher:
Mike Piazza/Ivan Rodriquez/Sandy Alomar vs Joe Mauer/Brian McCann
Mike Piazza can be found in outfield or at first now, but he will always be remembered as a catcher. Piazza and "Pudge" Rodriguez defined the catcher position and will be first ballot hall of famers. I include Sandy Alomar on this list because while I was researching I discovered that Sandy won the all-star MVP one year after his brother Roberto won it.
Joe Mauer and Brian McCann are already stars. They are so young that they are going to be seen as this generations Piazza and Pudge. Mauer led the majors in hitting in 2006 batting .347 - McCann batted .333. Both of these catchers are the highest priced on PROTRADE - for obvious reasons.
Out Field:
Bonds/Sosa/Griffey vs Grady Sizemore/Carl Crawford/Adam Dunn Bonds, Sosa and Griffey represent the majority of the home-run generation. Sosa and Bonds will go down in history for multiple reasons. Griffey could have broken a bunch of records had he stayed healthy and might have been up there with Bonds on the all-time home run list. He was named to the greatest players of the 90's by major league baseball and is currently tied for 10th on the all time home-run list with 563.
Grady Sizemore, Carl Crawford and Adam Dunn don't sound like they deserve to be in the same breath as Bonds, Sosa and Griffey. Adam Dunn has started this season hot, but that's not why he made this list. At age 27, he has had back-to-back season with 40 homers. Grady Sizemore has also started this season hot (3 HR), but his potential for greatness make him a candidate for next generations best outfielder. Carl Crawford has increased his home-run output in each season since entering the major league in 2002. More experience will help Crawford become a star.
The stars of yesterday are starting to fade as the stars of tomorrow shine brighter. Get to know these next generation hall of famers. There has been a changing of the *STARS* in Major League Baseball.
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