[BayAreaYankeeFan]

Originally Posted by W_Marone

I think there some of the guys you mentioned are underappreciated, not necessarily underrated.

Yeah I tend to agree with you on this. Many of these names are well respected amongst baseball. Everyone knows Berkman is a beast, is he underappreciated? I don't think so, he gets alot of playtime on ESPN Diamond Gems and Touch Em ALL.

I think alot has to do with the recognition of what winning a championship can do to a fans perception of a player aswell. If anyone of the aforementioned player won something they wouldn't be labeled as overrated. Some players once they get a championships, are able to skate through their career and are immune of scrutiny while being pretty mediocre. While others are blasted for not having done enough when they clearly are one of the best who ever did it *coughAcoughRcoughOcoughDcough*.

Playing in a completely different market has alot to do with it too. I can never tell just how much Ripken was appreciated in Baltimore for what he did day in and day out like a Maryland native. Or just how really good Ichiro is in Seattle. Why because I'm a Yankee fan and I resided most of my life in Yankee land. It's funny the passion there is for a hometown favorite...

[BUZZMAN2333]

I have lived in Iowa and now in SC, and I can tell you that if you live close to a pro team, the news is slanted towards that team. In Iowa it was all Sox and Cubs. In SC, we don't really have a team, unless we claim the Braves but they are still pretty far away.

In SC we get a much broader view of MLB and all the teams. Most of the time, MLB is not even brought up on the sports section of our local news. It is all college baseball.

I guess if you watch ESPN, that solves the location bias as far as tv, but not locally.

[Jim Colyer]

Jorge Posada is underrated.

[BUZZMAN2333]

A.J. Pierzinski or however you spell it is underrated.

He not only hits, but he is a great leader. The White Sox were missing a decent catcher who could call a good game behind the plate.

AJ has stepped in and provided stability to the Sox lineup.

[johnsondc]

That is ofr sure. The guy has been the best catcher in baseball over the past decade and when fans talk catchers, Posada is hardly if ever mentioned. that is under rated. Still the most over rated in the game is probably Arod. Alot of individual stats, but he has hurt every team he has been on.

[NatsNSoxFan]

Jorge Posada has not been the best catcher in baseball over the past decade. Pudge and Piazza have been better than Posada, and Varitek has been at least equal.

[johnsondc]

If I am not mistaken, Posada has helped his team to more playoffs, pennants, and WS than the three you mention combined. Isn't that what the game of baseball played for to accomplish?

[NatsNSoxFan]

Varitek and Pudge both won World Series and were in the playoffs multiple times. I don't think Piazza ever won a World Series but he went to a couple and was in the playoffs consistently.

[johnsondc]

You are correct and each catcher you named is a quality catcher that I would have no problem putting on my team. However, if I had to have one to start everyday over the past decade, it would be Posada. Now picking his backup would be very interesting.

[NatsNSoxFan]

He'll get his. It just may not be with the Phils.

Anyways, to get back on topic, i think Jhonny Peralta is a little underrated too. He is one of the better hitting shortstops in the league and a decent enough fielder. Also, Adam Everett is underrated, hes one of the top 3 defensive SS's in the game today and is an .250ish hitter, not bad considering that SS generally isn't a hitters position.