Some of the most important players in the game don't see the field for half the season- some even less. Regardless, every team needs a player that can be called on in a tight spot to steal a base, take over at shortstop, slap a single or fill the gap between your starter and your set up man. Many of these players go overlooked. Most of them aren't household names. But every player on this list does something special-- whether its to press a little harder, run a little faster or pick a groundball a little bit quicker.
1. Skip Schumaker OF, St. Louis Cardinals- Outside of having a fantastic baseball name, Schumaker is one of those rare fourth outfielders that you miss when a starter takes over. His .308 batting average in 2008, paired with his ability to out the ball in play and avoid strikeouts makes him a fantastic pinch hitter. Beyond that, Schumaker is an above average fielder, a preppy that no player could avoid sharing a laugh with, and a player that gives it his all every game. Because his starting job will probably be handed over to Colby Rasmus or a healthy Chris Duncan, Schumaker has become a premier 4th outfielder.
2. Jose Molina C, New York Yankees- When the Yankees true leader (no offense Derek), Jorge Posada, went down with an injury last year the Bronx called for a difibrillator. The trusty Molina took over and the Yankees promptly put together some very good winning streaks. Never an offensive threat, Molina still managed to hit a few out of the park and keep his average at a respectable level. Molina's true value comes with his cannon of an arm that led the MLB in percentage of baserunners thrown out and was in the top three in the amount of basestealers gunned down.--impressive considering he isn't a regular player. As a late inning defensive replacement, after Posada's rainbow-lobs to second and his reluctance to block the plate have gotten too dangerous to stomach, Molina is the guy Joe Girardi has replaced his bottle of Pepto Bismol with. He keeps singles as singles, and those greedy first-to-third runners in check. On top of his ability to slow down the game, Molina also calls a great game. Since Molina has been a Yankee, for about a season and a half now, Mike Mussina has grown to prefer him calling his games over Jorge Posada-- and Mussina pitched well with Molina during his final two seasons as a result.
3. Damion Easley, 2B/INF, New York Mets- Maybe the epitome of "unsung hero" Easley, a former Silver Slugger winner, has always stepped up whenever the Mets needed him. While Marco Scutaro has the cute name, Easley has the bat, and a glove that deserves more credit than its given. A middle infielder that slugged .466 in 2007, its puzzling that Easley wasn't handed the starting job when Castillo really started to reek. Easley can always be counted on for 5-10 homers in about 200 at bats (Equating 15-30 in 600!) a palatable batting average and the versitility only Swiss Army could rival. While the bulk of Easley's games have been at second base, he played 6 positions last year, including every position (sans catcher and pitcher) in the infield.
4. Martin Prado, INF, Atlanta Braves- Martin who? Exactly. Prado, a 25-year-old Venezuelan infielder has developed in to an impact player over his first three seasons in the Major Leagues. A career .307 batting average and a .794 OPS isn't too shabby for an infielder just getting off of formula. In 228 at bats in 2008 Prado batted .320 with 18 doubles, 33 rbi's and an .838 OPS while starting at least two games at every spot in the Brave's infielder (outside of catcher and pitcher). Kotchman, Johnson and Escobar all have a firm hold on their positions as top tier young guns, but judging by Chipper Jones' plate glass bones and his ability to look like "a child whose wondered in to the middle of a movie" (see The Big Lebowski) while playing third will keep Prado playing and in the mix to take over 3rd base.
5. Mike Fontenot, 2B, Chicago Cubs- After Fukudome's pitiful showing in the second half of the 2008 season, Fontenot will likely be in the mix to start in right field in 2009. The little cajun second baseman showed some serious pop last year slugging .514, cranking out 9 home runs, and kining 22 doubles in only 243 at bats-- not bad for a guy generously listed at 5'8" 160 lbs. The only reason Fontenot isn't at the top of the list is his fielding. While he's sure handed, and a guy you can trust in the bottom of the ninth, his range at second base was a full point below the league average--hence Pinella's interest in moving him to Left Field and leaving DeRosa at second. Regardless of his fielding, Fontenot proved invaluable last year for the Cubs, especially because he wields a left-handed stick from the bench.
6. Grant Balfour, MR, Tampa Bay Rays- Balfour came to the Rays from the Brewers as an Australian hothead with a fastball hot enough to catch fire in a blizzard. His only problem was his Rickie Vaughn-like control. Now, at age 31, Balfour has finally figured something out and he went from a guy left off the opening day roster to a candidate to close for the Rays in 2009. In '08, Balfour went 6-2 with 82 strikeouts in 58 innings, 4 saves and a thrifty--maybe downright stingy-- 1.54 ERA. Possibly Balfour's coolest moment was during the ALDS when Orlando Cabrera challenged him to trow his fastball down the pipe. Balfour did, and Cabrera was blown away. In a post-game interview, when Balfour was asked what he yelled at Cabrera after the strikeout Balfour calmly said "I told him to go sid down."
7. Coco Crisp, Outfield, The Boston Red Sox- Somehow Coco's given name, Covelli Crisp sounds even more ridiculous than his now-preferred alias, Coco Crisp. Its hard to expect much from a brand of cereal patroling your outfield, but Crisp used 2008 to completely redeem himself after a 2007 in which he lost the confidence of Terry Francona and pretty much handed his job to Jacoby Ellsbury. Crisp plays crisp defense in center field, covering almost the whole 20% of earth not covered by water. Crisp also showed that he can still wield the bat when he batted .283 with 7 homers and 18 doubles in 361 at bats. Coco's real value comes from his ability to swipe a base and pinch run for slow pokes like J.D. Drew, Manny (when he was on the Red Sox), Youkilis etc. In half a season, Crisp still stole 20 bases-- even when catchers almost expected him to swipe a base everytime he made it to first. After his good showing last year, crisp will be given an opportunity to start for the Royals in 2009.
8. Willie Harris, 2B/OF, Washington Nationals- A product of Baltimore's farm system, Harris never really found a home until he finally stuck with the Nationals last year. In half of a season playing all 3 outfield positions and some second base, Harris managed to hit 13 homeruns and steal 13 bases. Even more impressive were the 50 walks he drew. A guy that Billy Beane would love to get his dirty paws on, Harris probably comes second to Cristian Guzman for 2008 team MVP. He can steal a base, slap a single, cover some ground in center or even hit the occasional dinger. Unfortunately for Harris, The Nationals are overflowing the young outfield talent and likely won't waste the cheapest and best years of Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes and Josh Willingham for a bench warmer. The possible signing of Mark Teixeira or Adam Dunn makes his chances of starting even less likely. Even so, Harris was happy to accept his back-up role and accepted The Nationals offer to stick with the team through 2009.
9. Edwar Ramirez, MR, New York Yankees- Edwar was signed by the Yankees out of the Independent Leagues after being cut from the Angels farm system and nearly every other club's A ball teams. Luckily for the Yankees, they signed the baby-faced stick figure right after he had learned some new junk while throwing off of those shady pitching mounds as an Indy Leaguer. Now armed with a screwballing changeup, Edwar was able to strike out 63 batters in 55 innings and managed to finish the year 5-1 for the Yankees. Although he's prone to giving up the occasional long ball, Edwar has shown the ability to pitch in any inning in any situation. Possibly his most valuable trait is his ability to get out lefties well enough to compel Yankee Manager Joe Girardi to use him as a Lefty Specialist.
10. Brad Ziegler, CL, Oakland Athletics- When Huston Street pulled a Deep Throat and started blowing games left and right the A's were left with a decision to make- Who are we gonna replace Huston with? Ziegler a 29-year-old rookie in 2008 stepped up and flourished in the role collecting 11 saves and posting an eye-popping 1.06 era in 60 innings pitched. He may not be a long term answer for the A's, but at the very least he can provide Joey Devine with a helping hand every couple of days.
11. Nick Swisher, 1B/OF, New York Yankees- Eleven? Are you serious? No lists ever go to eleven...Nick Swisher was signed by the Yankees in the 2008 offseason to take over for Jason Giambia at first. Then cae Mark Teixeira. With an already stacked roster, Swisher has become a bench player sharing time in the OF and at DH. The guy can't make contact, but think of him as a baby Adam Dunn-- I'm still in wonderment why Russel Branyan does get a better look on a team while Swisher and Dunn make bank. Anyway, he gets on base, he has plenty of pop and he's not too shabby at first base-- range lacks in the outfield though. It wouldn't suprise me if Swisher took over for Hideki Matsui or Xavier Nady by season's end.
Close but no cigar- Dan Giese, Willy Aybar, Erick Aybar, Omar Infante, Greg Dobbs, Brett Gardner, Ryan Franklin.
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