All-No One Knows Team

Excuse me, why do we need to know this stuff?

Well, as the season winds down, stats are essentially in, standings are being confirmed, and October baseball or vacation is being planned. One thing that always gets me is how some people have these great seasons and no one knows about them. In order to correct that, I'm going to go through and point out some of those great seasons. I hope you'll join me.

C --> Chris Ianetta (COL)
.269/.396/.517, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 22 2B, 49 R

A year removed from losing his job to Yorvit Torrealba by hitting .218, Ianetta has re-taken the job with a great season (101 games) at the plate.

Honorable Mention: Bengie Molina (SF)- Does he ever get enough credit?

1B --> Adrian Gonzalez (SD)
.281/.362/.513, 36 HR, 118 RBI, 31 2B, 102 R

Playing in Petco Park, Gonzalez has put up huge numbers, and still, very few people know who he is. He wasn't even in the top 8 of All-Star voting! How?!

Honorable Mention: Joey Votto (CIN)- He'll be well known by the time his career's over.

2B --> Brandon Phillips (CIN)
.261/.312/.442, 21 HR, 78 RBI, 24 2B, 7 3B, 23 SB, 80 R

I thought about Mark DeRosa here because no one really gives him the credit, but Phillips wasn't in the top 8 of All-Star voting whereas DeRosa was no. 2. Phillips' season wasn't as good as last, but he keeps plugging away as one of the top second basemen in baseball.

Honorable Mention: Alexei Ramirez (CWS)- He could take a walk every now and then.

3B --> Jorge Cantu (FLA)
.277/.328/.484, 29 HR, 94 RBI, 40 2B, 92 R

Lost after bringing in 117 in 2004, Cantu is still only 26 and made a huge comeback this season. Too bad he plays in Florida.

Honorable Mention: Mark Reynolds (ARI)- Congratulations on setting the strikeout record!

SS --> Stephen Drew (ARI)
.290/.330/.501, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 44 2B, 11 3B, 90 R

Like Reynolds, he's lost in Arizona. Still, Drew is one of the best young shortstops in the game, and he's starting to live up to his billing.

Honorable Mention: Mike Aviles (KC)- Are you happy now Ron?

OF --> Jayson Werth (PHI)
.270/.362/.493, 23 HR, 66 RBI, 16 2B, 19 SB, 69 R

He's the reason why Pat Burrell won't be in Philly next season. He's done a great job in right, and I expect he'll move to left next season.

OF --> Nick Markakis (BAL)
.303/.404/.490, 20 HR, 87 RBI, 48 2B, 106 R

Lost in Huff's shadow ... Right. Markakis is one of those young guys you don't hear about because he's lost in the whole East Coast Bias thing. Oh, wait. That's supposed to work the other way around. Oh well.

OF --> Andre Ethier (LAD)
.303/.371/.507, 20 HR, 76 RBI, 36 2B, 90 R

Manny-mania has taken over in LA, but Ethier has killed it in September (.455/.543/.697). He's another big reason for LA's division win.

Honorable Mentions: Nate McLouth (PIT), Ryan Ludwick (STL), Corey Hart (MIL)- Few know who these guys are either, but they did better in the All-Star voting.

SP --> Ricky Nolasco (FLA)
15-7, 3.55 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 205.1 IP, 176 K, 41 BB

People really like Josh Johnson (not that I'm complaining), but why are they forgetting Nolasco?

SP --> Jeremy Guthrie (BAL)
10-11, 3.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 186.2 IP, 119 K, 57 BB

Another Oriole? Man, these guys have better players than I thought they did. Still won't matter.

Honorable Mentions: Armando Galarraga (DET), Todd Wellemeyer (STL), Paul Maholm (PIT)- No one would want this staff on name along, but it would end up being one hell of one.

RP --> Scott Downs (TOR)
24 HLD, 5 SV, 1.78 ERA, 70. 2 IP, 57 K, 27 BB

Kentucky boy! And, he's been one hell of a pitcher for the Blue Jays, and he might be a dark horse candidate for the rotation next season.

RP --> Taylor Buchholz (COL)
21 HLD, 1 SV, 2.17 ERA, 66.1 IP, 56 K, 18 BB

Not that Buchholz, Taylor has been great out of the Colorado 'pen, but Fuentes gets most of the publicity.

Honorable Mentions: Jim Johnson (BAL), Jesse Carlsson (TOR), Jesse Arendondo (LAA)- I could name a few more, but let's stop here.

CP --> Joakim Soria (KC)
41/44 SVO, 1.63 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 66 K, 17 BB

People may be starting to get to know him, but I guarantee few know how absolutely dominating this guy is.

Honorable Mention: Matt Capps (PIT)- His ERA is a little north of 3, so he loses out to Soria.