With the help of scouts and major league executives, The Post’s annual look at the best and worst of the majors:
BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYERS
1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees – Only middle-of-the diamond player (prior to moving to third base) to ever produce (minimum 5,000 ABs) a career .300 BA, .380 OBP and .580 SLG.
2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals – In MLB history (400 games minimum), three players have reached at least a .300 BA, .400 OBP and .600 SLG by age 23: Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Pujols.
3. Barry Bonds, Giants – The steroid cloud hangs over him, but so does greatness.
4. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels – Over the last three years, Guerrero has 98 HRs, 86 SBs and a .324 BA. There is not another player who has produced even a 50/50/.300 combo in the same time.
5. Carlos Beltran, Royals – The three members of the 75(HRs)/75 (SBs) club over the last three years are Guerrero, Alfonso Soriano and Beltran (79/107). Plus, Beltran is a superb center fielder and gets the nod over Todd Helton, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Tejada and Ichiro Suzuki.
BEST MANAGERS
1. Bobby Cox, Braves – As one AL assistant GM said, “consistently gets more with less.”
2. Joe Torre, Yankees – One Yankee cited last year as Torre’s greatest season, noting the confidence and serenity he imbued despite key, long-term injuries and an overbearing George Steinbrenner upon him.
3. Mike Scioscia, Angels – Even in a lost season after a title, his team always played hard for him.
4. Jack McKeon, Marlins – Remember, the Reds were contenders when he was there, then fell off the cliff. Vindicated by his title with Florida.
5. Dusty Baker, Cubs – Folks don’t like his in-game managing, but he’s right there with Torre in managing people and, thus, making his teams winners over the long season.
WORST MANAGERS
1. Larry Bowa, Phillies – His uncontrollable anger is roundly cited as what could keep the talented Phils from winning the NL East. “He shows his players up way too much,” an NL advance scout said.
2. Bob Brenly, Diamondbacks – An NL scout said the loss of bench coach Bob Melvin (who became Seattle manager last year) exposed what a terrible game tactician he is.
3. Art Howe, Mets – Uninspiring and uncommunicative. And that is just what his players think.
4. Alan Trammell, Tigers – Too nice and overmatched, according to an AL advance scout.
5. Lloyd McClendon, Pirates – Doesn’t have much to work with, but young players just don’t seem to get better with him.
BEST TEAMS
1. Red Sox – Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke addressed their biggest needs. Can talent and hunger eradicate the Curse? Will nice-guy manager Terry Francona get pushed around by his players?
2. Yankees – A roster-wide fragility – physically and mentally – that is as worrisome as their overall talent is awesome.
3. Cubs – Perhaps the majors’ best rotation.
4. Phillies – The talent base is superb. Can Larry Bowa avoid messing it up?
5. Blue Jays – Can a team finish third in its division and be the fifth best in the majors? Yes. But Houston, Anaheim, Oakland and Florida also should be excellent.
FIVE WORST TEAMS
1. Tigers – If they improve by 20 games, they will lose 99. And they will not improve by 20 games.
2. Reds – An AL exec said they could have the worst rotation of the last 20 years.
3. Rockies – Bad pitching in a home park in which bad pitching will be mauled.
4. Pirates – Lack of an impact player any place on the roster.
5. Rangers – They were horrible with A-Rod.
BEST STARTING PITCHERS
1. Mark Prior, Cubs – Only a pesky inflamed right Achilles’ could slow down the Tom Seaver of his era.
2. Pedro Martinez, Red Sox – His sixyear ERA since coming to the Red Sox is 2.26 (in the AL during a hitting era). The next best for a pitcher who has worked exclusively as an AL starter in each of those six years: Mike Mussina, 3.56.
3. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays – Has pitched more innings and won more games than anyone the last two years. Thus, a talented horse.
4. Curt Schilling, Red Sox – A devastating combination of talent, intellect and bravado.
5. Tim Hudson, A’s – The steadiest and sturdiest of Oakland’s Big Three gets the edge over Mussina, Josh Beckett, Roy Oswalt and Kerry Wood.
BEST CLOSERS
1. Mariano Rivera, Yankees – Overall AL ERA the last three years 4.50. Rivera’s 2.19. The 2.31 difference is the largest of anybody with at least 30 saves. And his 118 saves are the most since 2001, as well. Who is going to ever forget those three Game 7 innings vs. Boston?
2. John Smoltz, Braves – As many earned runs (8) as walks last year. Health is always the only question for this gutty, talented pitcher.
3. Eric Gagne, Dodgers – Stats from the last two years: 107 saves in 111 tries, 1.59 ERA, 92 hits, 36 walks and 251 strikeouts in 164 2/3 innings.
4. Billy Wagner, Phillies – Among relievers with 200 appearances from 2001- 03, Wagner has the best ERA (2.29) and the second fewest hits per nine innings (5.92)
5. Keith Foulke, Red Sox – Workhorse closer (second most innings in relief since 1998). Boston beware, though, he is susceptible to the long ball.
MOST UNDERRATED
1. Derrek Lee, Cubs – Did you know only Lee and Alfonso Soriano had at least 30 HRs and 20 SBs last year, but Lee also won a Gold Glove?
2. Edgar Renteria, Cardinals – In 2002-03, most SBs by a SS: Renteria (56); best BA by a SS: Renteria (.318); most Gold Gloves by a SS: Renteria and A-Rod (2).
3. Garret Anderson, Angels – Alex Rodriguez has reached at least 25 HRs and 110 RBIs in the last six seasons. The second- longest current streak is four . . . by Anderson.
4. Kip Wells, Pirates – His ERA the past two years (3.43) is better than that of Javier Vazquez (3.57). “On the verge of acedom,” according to one AL assistant GM.
5. Miguel Batista, Blue Jays – Switched roles regularly (pen, rotation) for Arizona, but still excelled in a hitters’ park.
MOST OVERRATED
1. Kevin Millwood, Phillies – An ace reputation and salary, a No. 3 starter’s ability and inconsistencies.
2. Rocco Baldelli, Devil Rays – There were comparisons to DiMaggio. Stop. A nice player with a chance to be an All-Star.
3. Johnny Damon, Red Sox – Has a reputation as a superb defender/leadoff man, and is merely good at both.
4. Sidney Ponson, Orioles – His name and paycheck are bigger than his game, one GM said.
5. Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles – An AL scout said, “He fills up columns on the stat sheet that make him look more valuable than he is.”