Ranking the MLB Lifers: Part One
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by user Timothy Moreland(Bball3345)
The following list contains all of the MLB players who have spent their entire careers with one organization and have ten or more years of major league experience. They are ranked by years with the team.
Stats are as of July 5, 2006
| NAME | TEAM | YEARS | BRAR | BRAA | FRAA | WARP |
| Craig Biggio | Houston Astros | 18 | 728 | 386 | -131 | 121.9 |
| Bernie Williams | New York Yankees | 15 | 656 | 403 | -60 | 99.9 |
| Tim Salmon | Los Angeles Angels | 13 | 539 | 343 | 40 | 81.7 |
| Chipper Jones | Atlanta Braves | 12 | 657 | 454 | -179 | 79.5 |
| Mike Lieberthal | Philadelphia Phillies | 12 | 176 | 41 | 6 | 44.9 |
| Garret Anderson | Los Angeles Angels | 12 | 317 | 96 | 24 | 59.9 |
| Mike Sweeney | Kansas City Royals | 11 | 310 | 171 | -8 | 41.1 |
| Derek Jeter | New York Yankees | 11 | 540 | 332 | -132 | 85.9 |
| Jorge Posada | New York Yankees | 11 | 330 | 192 | 24 | 66.8 |
| Andruw Jones | Atlanta Braves | 10 | 357 | 166 | 138 | 82.6 |
| Darin Erstad | Los Angeles Angels | 10 | 221 | 45 | 106 | 51.4 |
All of the stats come from Baseball Prospectus.
In total, there are eleven players on this list. There are also three pitchers, John Smoltz, Brad Radke, and Mariano Rivera, but this series will only deal with batters. BRAR and BRAA are batting runs above replacement and batting runs above average. BRAR is a better indicator of long-term success, while BRAA indicates a higher peak. FRAA is fielding runs above average. WARP is Wins Above Replacement Player and takes into account every aspect of the game (i.e. baserunning, hitting, fielding).
This series of articles will attempt to rank these players careers by looking at a few of the batters each week. Part one will examine the three weakest players, Mike Lieberthal, Mike Sweeney, and Darin Erstad.
Mike Lieberthal
Lieberthal is in his thirteenth year as a Philadelphia Phillie. Offensively, Lieberthal is about average for a hitter and above average for a catcher. His best offensive, and overall, year was in 1999 at the age of 27. Lieby hit 31 HRs with a .300/.363/.551 line. Behind the plate, Lieberthal has thrown out less than 30% of runners. Overall, his defense rates about average, like his hitting. Lieberthal missed a large portion of 1998 and almost all of 2001 with injuries.
Best Years(WARP over 6.0)
1999, 2002, 2003
Awards
All-Star: 1999, 2000
Gold Glove: 1999
Mike Sweeney
As expected, Sweeney brings more talent to the batter's box than Lieberthal. From 1999-2005, Sweeney hit well above average and was a borderline star. His subpar range at first base, however, hurts his total value. Also, Sweeney played at DH and 1B, both positions where offense is expected. Due to minor injuries, Sweeney has not started more than 140 games since 2001. Sweeney's best season was in 2000, when he scored 105 runs and drove in 144. These numbers were combined with an impressive .333/.407/.523. This was his healthiest year, and subsequently, his best in the field and at bat.
Best Years
2000, 2002
Awards
All-Star: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
Darin Erstad
Erstad's 2000 campaign ranks above any of the other two players' seasons in total value, by far. At 26-years-old, the Angel's leftfielder crushed 25 home runs, scored 121 runs, and stole 28 bases with a .355/.409/.541 line. This was the season in which Erstad accumulated an Ichiro-esque 240 hits. Unfortunately, Erstad was a one-year wonder for the most part. His '97 and '98 years were above average but not extraordinary, and his 2002 year was tremendous defensively but mediocore offensively.
Best Years
2000, 2002
Awards
All-Star: 1998, 2000
Gold Gloves: 2000, 2002, 2004
Silver Slugger: 2000
Final Verdict
9. Darin Erstad: In his prime, Erstad was a Gold-Glove outfielder at centerfield and helped the team on the basepaths. As well, he put up an MVP caliber season in 2000.
10. Mike Sweeney: Sweeney has the best offense of the three, but it came at first base and DH. His defense and baserunning both hurt his overall value.
11. Mike Lieberthal: Erstad has the defensive value and stolen bases, while Sweeney has the bat. This leaves Lieberthal on the short end.
Interestingly, all three hitters are in their early-30's and none of the three have accumulated 100 at bats this season.
Next article, I will take a look at Jorge Posada and Garret Anderson to decide where they rank on this list.
Date
Fri 07/07/06, 4:15 am EST
