Top 5 MLB Players (Part 8)

Sorry I have not yet posted today, just got back from the Twins-Rays game at Target Field.
   Okay so for the part of the series, it is time to look at the commander in the outfield, and my personal favorite position in baseball; center field

Victorino

5. Shane Victorino (Philadelphia Phillies)- Could have put a lot of different players in this spot. B.J. Upton (Tampa Bay Rays), Drew Stubbs (Cincinnati Reds, not being biased), and Colby Rasmus (St. Louis Cardinals) all could have been worthy picks, but when it comes to stats and team dependency, I had to give it to Victorino. He has started to develop into a big player for Philadelphia over the years, and that role will continue to grow as Victorino is on pace to have his best season of his career. He has 81 hits, (I expect him to have over 115 for the sixth year in a row) and 14 of those hits have been doubles, but even more surprising is that nine have been triples. He could possibly have 20 by the end of the year.Victorino has nine home runs and 2011 should be the first season where he has over 20, and he also has 34 RBIs. Victorino is a very patient hitter who walks (27) almost as much as he strikes out (31) which has helped him earn a stellar average of .303. He has always been a threat at stealing bases, and his 13 this season proves no different. Victorino is one of the best center fielders in the game with 148 put-outs. He has no errors and a fielding percentage of 1.000. Victorino has been one of the best all-around center fielders in the game for a few years now, and he will have to continue to be one come playoff time.

McCutchen

4. Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates)- I really feel bad for McCutchen. He is an extremely promising young player, who is the best Pittsburgh outfielder since Roberto Clemente, but because he plays for a small-market franchise, McCutchen does not get the recognition he deserves. The all-star snub is having another all-star like season and is helping the Pirates actually avoid the bottom spot of the NL Central and more importantly, snap an 18 season losing record streak. McCutchen has 92 hits with 12 home runs. I expect him to be at roughly 165 hits and 25 home runs by the end of the year, which would both be career bests. He also has 46 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases, with a solid average of .291. If McCutchen could have a couple more runs batted in here and there, the Pirates could maybe even win the NL Central. McCutchen leads all of MLB's center fielders in put-outs with 236, and also has eight assists. However, he needs to clean up that error total of his (5) which would improve his fielding percentage of.980. McCutchen is one of the most underrated players of the game and should have made the NL All-Star team with ease, hopefully he can keep these numbers of his constant to prove all the critics that he is for real.

Ellsbury

3. Jacoby Ellsbury (Boston Red Sox)- Ellsbury has been a flat out stud for the Red Sox this year, and if were not for the play of Red Sox's first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Ellsbury would be the big man around Boston. The AL All-Star Reserve (who should be a starter) is in the top three for both hitting and fielding stats out of all center fielders. Ellsbury has 104 hits (second among all CFs) with 24 of those being doubles. If Ellsbury continues to have a strong bat for the whole year, I would not be shocked if he had 200 hits. He already has tied the most home runs he has had in a single season in his career, with his nine in 2011, and I expect him to have 18 at the season's end. Ellsbury also has 42 RBIs with a great .306 batting average. If he has not been caught stealing ten times, he could have even more than stolen bases than 27. As good as his season has been, it could be even better if he improved his strikeout total (53). Defensively, Ellsbury is about as good as a center fielder can get. Ellsbury has 212 put-outs, 5 assists and a fielding percentage of 1.000. Ellsbury has had a terrific season and deserves to be in the same class as teammate Gonzalez in Boston.

Granderson

2. Curtis Granderson (New York Yankees)-Granderson was a stud while he was a Detroit Tiger (2004-09), but he was a stud then, Granderson is certainly a god now. He can already say that 2011 has been the best year in his career, and we just got into the second part of the season! He has been tearing up the competition and is a key reason why the Yankees have control of the AL East. Granderson has 87 hits, 62 RBIs (second among all center fielders), and a respectable batting average of .278. The big stat of his however, is his 25 home runs, which is in the top of all of baseball. Granderson could easily have 40 home runs this year, if not even 50 which would be an insane stat for a 185 lb hitter. He is finding success defensively as well with 210 put-outs, five assists, and a fielding percentage of .995 because of his one error. Granderson is in the same situation as Ellsbury when it comes to being in the spotlight, because Granderson derserves it. He is not only of the best center fielders in the league, but could be in strong running to win the AL MVP Award.

Kemp

1. Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)-Kemp has been the franchise player for the Dodgers for a few years now, but he has taken his role to a whole new level with his success this season. Kemp will definitely be in consideration for the 2011 NL MVP Award, and will emerge into the world of being of being one of baseball's best. He has 101 hits, 64 RBIs, and even 24 stolen bases which showcases his speed and hustle. Kemp also has 22 home runs this year, and is a strong candidate to have 45 by the end of the year. His whopping .325 average amazes me, with the year he is having, I could see it be up to .345. Kemp would be even more deadly as an offensive threat he watched his strikeout total (77). Kemp has 183 put-outs, with four errors and four assists, and a fielding a percentage of .979, which are all decent numbers. What I love most about Kemp is the fact that he has literally carried the Dodgers on his back at times and is a clutch hitter when needed. When I saw the Dodgers play the Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, in early June, Kemp had two home runs, including a grand slam in the eighth inning that tied the game at seven. He handles the pressure well and still produces. The fact that he has that clutch mentality and these season numbers makes him not only one of the best center fielders in the game, but also one of the best players in the MLB in general.