Question regarding 5 tool players etc....?

Question

What is a 5 tool player?
What is a 6 too player?

Can you give me some examples of a 1,2,3,4,5,6, etc. tool player using modern day player examples?

If some of these dont exist, then say so!

BONUS QUESTION:
Who do you think will win the NL MVP and Cy Young award winners for this season?

I say Brad Penny for Cy Young, but i'm stuck for MVP.
Utley or Howard maybe?

Thankyou for your time.
I know its kind of a long question, so I appreciate your time and your responses!

Answer 1

There are only five tools:

hitting for average
hitting for power
throwing
running
catching

It comes from the classic things scouts looked for. There are other skills which are important, like drawing walks.

Some five tool players in today's game:
Hanley Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, David Wright
NL Cy - I agree it will probably be Penny.

Penny could even win the MVP. For Utley to have a chance, he'd have to come back soon. Howard has also missed a lot of games. I'd have to say Prince Fielder is the favorite at this time. Cabrera's probably having the best season, but he's playing on a team that's out of it.

Answer 2

A 6 tool player would have to be able to excell at:

Fielding
Have an excellent arm
Hitting for average
Hitting for power
Running the bases
Coming through in the clutch

As for NL Cy Young award: Jake Peavy
NL MVP: Matt Holliday

Answer 3

I think the first four tools generally are the ability to do these aspects of the game well:

-hitting
-fielding
-running
-throwing

However, I believe the last tool is to be a "thinking" player or a student of the game. You can have an idiot that does all these other aspects of the game, but will not know what to do in clutch situations at the plate, game saving plays on the field, or other aspects to the game that require in-depth thinking, a profound and deep knowledge and understanding of the game and all its different situations, and a mental toughness to perform at their highest ability and to seek mental perfection with imperfect abilities. This, I believe is the 5th and most important tool for not only a baseball player, but any good athlete. This sets apart a naturally gifted ATHLETE, to a smart and talented BASEBALL PLAYER. This also sets apart players that do well in high school levels of baseball, and those that excel to higher levels of the game like college and professional baseball.

Answer 4

5 tool players, have 5 perfect skills

grady sizemore is the best example

hits for power
hits for average
speed/baserunning intelligence
fielding skills
throwing skills

vladdy used to be one, before he got slow, utley is one griffey, and arod. see source for examples of past players

there is no such thing as a six tool player really, except that they have something extra, such as a love for team and the team returns that love for them, guys like big papi, everyone in and out of the team loves him.

howard has no shot at mvp, utley on the other hand is a good bet, best second baseman in the league, except is recent DL stint. the prince could pull it off, as well as any big homerun hitter because they already have the rbi's and homers down, as long as the average is there too.

cy young goes to penny or peavy, penny generally has trouble after the all star break

Answer 5

The sixth tool is strike zone discipline / pitch selection.

Bonds -- good.
Dunn -- poor.