With a better ERA than Josh Beckett, is Erik Bedard the most underrated player in the majors?
2007-07-01 12:55:20 · 8 answers · asked by matt s. 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I would say he's unquestionably the most underrated pitcher in the game. In addition to his 3.36 ERA, the guy leads the majors in strikeouts. He's only had 5 out of 17 starts in which he's had fewer than 7 strikeouts and only 4 of 17 in which he's given up more than 3 runs. The only thing he doesn't have is wins and what good are wins in an all-star game? He's definitely one of the best pitchers in the game and it's a shame he didn't make the team. Although, with the exception of Gil Meche, it's tough to take anyone of the pitchers off the team, but of course there's the childish rule that every team has to have at least one all-star.
The most underrated position player would have to be Carlos Guillen. Over the past 4 seasons his batting average is .320 and when healthy he's good for 20 HR, 100 RBI, 100 R, and 15-20 SBs, and he's a shortstop. But at least he's an all-star (although I think he should be starting.)
But yes, Erik Bedard is definitely the biggest snub.
2007-07-01 16:17:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He's not even the most underrated in his own pitching rotation this season. That honor would belong to Jeremy Guthrie who has been lights out all year. WIth that being said Bedard is great and should be a star. As far as being the most underated though, I would have to say there are others more deserving of that distinction.
To the guy before me commenting on Meche, you have to represent every team and he's the most deserving Royal. That doesn't mean he's better than anyone on any other team though....
2007-07-01 20:16:33 · answer #2 · answered by ajn4664_ksu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's tough to say whether or not he's the "most" underrated, but he definitely doesn't get the credit his numbers would deserve. More than anything else, he suffers from pitching for a fourth-place team in a mid-major market. If he was in New York or Boston, he'd likely be a star.
Real baseball fans, at least, understood how good Bedard really is. And it's not like he's a one-year wonder, either - he was equally good last season.
2007-07-01 20:12:04 · answer #3 · answered by Craig S 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He also has more strikeouts than Beckett and every other starter in the AL.
I don't think he's underrated, just not in a big market with a lot of exposure like Beckett, Lackey, or Haren.
Plus, he only has 6 wins...
Maybe if he was in the NL he'd be in. Gil Meche, are you kidding me??? What a joke!
2007-07-01 20:15:30 · answer #4 · answered by Brandon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know that I would go that far but playing in Baltimore doesn't help his visibility. Leo Mazzone is assembling quite a young starting staff there even though the middle relief and closer is Swiss cheese. I wonder if next year at this time the question will be 'Is Brian Burres underrated'.
2007-07-01 21:36:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most underrated? I don't know. But he is very underrated. He deserves to be an all star. He always impresses me when he pitches.
2007-07-01 20:00:39 · answer #6 · answered by red4tribe 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know know if he's the most underrated, but with his stats, he is underrated.
2007-07-01 20:54:16 · answer #7 · answered by Dogboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
absolutley underrated, but there are more underrated players than him.
2007-07-01 20:05:54 · answer #8 · answered by baseballfan472 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋