Top 5 players in the MLB (Part 1)

 For the next series, I think it would be fun to rate the best five players for each position in Major League Baseball.

  Remember this is just my opinion, so feel free to comment to discuss your favorites as well.
   So for the first part of the series, I'll rate the position that matters most; the pitcher.

Lee

5. Cliff Lee-Philadelphia Phillies (8-5, 2.87 ERA 114 Strikeouts) Lee is obviously the best number two pitcher in the game, and would be the ace for any other team in the MLB. The 2008 AL Cy Young Winner struck out 16 against the Braves in May and has looked dominant all season. I love his arsenal of pitches that include three types of fastballs, a circle changeup and a knuckle-curve. Lee is one of the few starting pitchers in the league who has more strikeouts than innings pitched (113).

Weaver

4. Jered Weaver-Los Angeles Angles (9-4, 1.97 ERA, 106 Strikeouts) Weaver has had a phenomenal season; only giving up 27 runs 123.1 innings. He also has only walked 28 batters and has given up 87 hits. Weaver was the first pitcher in the MLB this season to have a record of 6-0 (April 25) and had an ERA of 0.99 during that span. Weaver also had his career strikeouts in a game this season, striking out 15 against the Jays in April. He has a variety of pitches such as a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider. Expect Weaver to finish better in the AL Cy Young Voting than his fifth place last year.

Halladay

3. Roy Halladay-Philielphia Phillies (10-3, 2.40 ERA, 123 Strikeouts) So far into the season, "Doc" has continued the success he has had in previous years. Halladay has walked just 16 batters this year, which is the fewest in the MLB, and just 35 runs in 127.1 innings. Halladay would be higher in this list if it was not for the 115 hits he has given up, which is  extremely high for a pitching star. In April against the Padres, Halladay struck out 14. Halladay has once again showcased his unique bag of pitches this season, with his two-seam, four-seam and cutter fastball, his knuckle-curve, and changeup. Halladay is my early pick for the 2011 NL Cy Young. (Won the award in '10 as well)

Beckett

2. Josh Beckett-Boston Red Sox (6-2, 1.86 ERA, 79 Strikeouts) It was really hard not to put Beckett at one on this list. The former World Series MVP ('03) is having an amazing season. He leads the MLB in ERA has given up the fewest amount of hits this season for a starting pitcher (55).  Beckett also has three types of fastballs, a change-up, and a curveball which has allowed him walk only 30 batters and only to give up 19 runs in 92 innings. Beckett is not one on this list, simply because he is not a strike-out pitcher, who has the second lowest strikeout number in the top of five of ESPN's pitching league leaders. If Beckett struck out a few more batters, he would certainly be number one because he deserves it. Could easily be the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner.

Verlander

1. Justin Verlander-Detriot Tigers-(10-3, 2.38 ERA, 124 Strikeouts) Verlander has had his best season so far to date. He has only walked 27 batters, and has given up 81 hits. What has made Verlander look so good is that fact that he is a no-hitter machine. He threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays in May and in his next start against the Royals, he had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. On June 14, Verlander had a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians through 7.2 innings and last Sunday, Verlander struck out 14 against Arizona. Verlander has been the most exciting and consistent pitcher to watch this season and his numbers certainly show this. He has a simple pitching arsenal of a fastball, a curveball, a change-up, and a slider, and is my early pick for the 2011 AL Cy Young award.