NEW YORK (AP) -Big Papi got a big score in baseball’s annual player rankings.
Boston designated hitter David Ortiz became the seventh player to earn a perfect 100 in the annual statistical compilation issued Wednesday by the Elias Sports Bureau, which uses a formula players and owners negotiated in 1981.
Ortiz, who helped the Red Sox sweep Colorado in the World Series, ranked first among American League DHs in plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, home runs and RBIs in 2006 and 2007 combined. Last year, Travis Hafner topped the AL DH rankings.
The only previous players to get perfect scores were New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly (1987), Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. (1991), Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas (1995), Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell (1995), Red Sox designated hitter Manny Ramirez (2002) and St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols (2006).
Minnesota’s Johan Santana (95.04) was top-rated AL starting pitcher for the third consecutive year, and Seattle’s J.J. Putz (96.041) ended a two-year streak by Mariano Rivera as the top reliever.
Yankees first baseman Jorge Posada (90.756) was the top-rated AL catcher for the first time since 2003, taking over from Victor Martinez, who led the previous two seasons.
Minnesota’s Justin Morneau (92.222) replaced Paul Konerko at first, the Yankees’ Robinson Cano (85.714) displaced Brian Roberts at second, Texas’ Michael Young (89.286) led at shortstop for the second consecutive year and Boston’s Mike Lowell (84.857) took over from the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez at third. A-Rod, who had led at shortstop or third for eight consecutive years, dropped because he was 21st in fielding.
Ramirez (89.114) was among the top three AL outfielders for the 11th time in 12 seasons – the streak was interrupted by his year as a DH. The Angels’ Vladimir Guerrero (95.063) was among the top three AL outfielders for the fourth straight year and Detroit’s Magglio Ordonez (94.937) joined the top three in place of the Yankees’ Bobby Abreu.
Pujols (96.667) was the top NL first baseman for the fourth straight season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Russell Martin (86.1) replaced Michael Barrett at catcher.
Philadelphia’s Chase Utley (90.476) repeated at second, and Phillies teammate Jimmy Rollins (86.264) led shortstops for the second time in three years, with Rafael Furcal leading in 2006. Atlanta’s Chipper Jones (85.714) replaced Miguel Cabrera at third.
Colorado’s Matt Holliday (97.079) repeated in the outfield and was joined in the top three by teammate Brad Hawpe (87.191) and Houston’s Carlos Lee (90.337), who replaced Moises Alou and Jason Bay.
Arizona’s Brandon Webb (96.394) took over from Chris Carpenter as the top NL starter, and the Dodgers’ Takashi Saito (90.734) replaced Billy Wagner as the top-rated reliever.
The formula for the rankings was determined by players and owners as part of their 1981 strike settlement.
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