This is the first in a series of articles that will compare two players who owners may have a hard time choosing between. This edition analyzes two of the three top shortstops in baseball: Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez. Who would you build your team around?
Jose Reyes: 119 R, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 78 SB, .280 BA
Hanley Ramirez: 125 R, 29 HR, 81 RBI, 51 SB, .332 BA
Why I’d Take Reyes:
The Mets speedster is the biggest stolen base threat in the league. He beat out Hanley Ramirez by more than 50% with 27 steals. Reyes plays in a much better lineup with the likes of David Wright and Carlos Beltran driving his run totals up. All Ramirez has is Dan Uggla.
Often considered the most exciting player in the league, Reyes always has the green light on the basepaths. On the other hand, Ramirez may not run as much with his new spot in the middle of the Marlins batting order. At 25, Reyes has yet to hit his prime.
Why I’d take Ramirez:
Except for stolen bases, Hanley Ramirez kicks Reyes’ butt in the four other categories. The power output of the Marlins shortstop is in a whole other league when compared to Reyes. His RBI totals could increase with a move from leadoff to the 3 hole in the Marlins lineup. Ramirez’s numbers improved from 2006 to 2007, while Reyes took a step back. Hanley is a five-category stud.
Setting my sights on:
I would have to go with Hanley Ramirez because of the power that he provides at the shortstop position. Players with the power-speed combination of Ramirez are the hardest to find in baseball. But you really can’t go wrong with either player.
