Did MLB The Show 17 Diss The Cubs!?!?
By far the best baseball game MLB The Show 17, is set to release on March 28th (at midnight tonight or tomorrow morning). With the game set to release, a lot of fans are clamoring to find out how high their favorite player and teams are rated. I know this because I do a rating article every year, and people are still clicking on previous year’s articles to find out player rankings.
For the 2017 game, there seems to be some confusion at the Sony Interactive Studios. You see, they seem to think that the Cleveland Indians are better than the Chicago Cubs.
WHAT!?!?
This is a bit skewed (obviously). The Indians have the most 85 and more rated players on their roster.
Here are the top 18 at each position.
Player Ratings
First Base
Miguel Cabrera (DET) 92
Paul Goldschmidt (ARI) 91
Joey Votto (CIN) 91
Anthony Rizzo (CHC) 89
Freddie Freeman (ATL) 88
Edwin Encarnacion (CLE) 86
Matt Carpenter (STL) 85
Wil Myers (SD) 84
Brandon Belt (SF) 84
Albert Pujols (LAA) 83
Jose Abreu (CHW) 83
Victor Martinez (DET) 83
Eric Hosmer (KC) 83
Steve Pearce (TOR) 81
Carlos Santana (CLE) 81
Hanley Ramirez (BOS) 81
Ian Desmond (COL) 80
Adrian Gonzalez (LAD) 80
Second Base
Jose Altuve (HOU) 97
Robinson Cano (SEA) 91
Ian Kinsler (DET) 89
Daniel Murphy (WAS) 88
Dustin Pedroia (BOS) 88
Jason Kipnis (CLE) 87
Brian Dozier (MIN) 87
D.J. LeMahieu (COL) 85
Ben Zobrist (CHC) 85
Roughned Odor (TEX) 84
Dee Gordon (MIA) 84
Devon Travis (TOR) 83
Neil Walker (NYM) 81
Cesar Hernandez (PHI) 81
Javier Baez (CHC) 81
Brandon Phillips (ATL) 81
Starlin Castro (NYY) 81
Josh Harrison (PIT) 81
Third Base
Josh Donaldson (TOR) 94
Kris Bryant (CHC) 94
Nolan Arenado (COL) 93
Manny Machado (BAL) 93
Adrian Beltre (TEX) 89
Kyle Seager (SEA) 88
Justin Turner (LAD) 87
Evan Longoria (TB) 87
Anthony Rendon (WAS) 83
Todd Frazier (CHW) 83
Jose Ramirez (CLE) 82
Maikel Franco (PHI) 81
Miguel Sano (MIN) 81
Mike Moustakas (KC) 80
Eduardo Nunez (SF) 80
Alex Bregman (HOU) 79
Jake Lamb (ARI) 77
Martin Prado (MIA) 77
Shortstop
Francisco Lindor (CLE) 90
Corey Seager (LAD) 90
Trea Turner (WAS) 88
Brandon Crawford (SF) 88
Carlos Correa (HOU) 85
Xander Bogaerts (BOS) 85
Jonathan Villar (MIL) 85
Troy Tulowitzki (TOR) 83
Jean Segura (SEA) 83
Jose Iglesias (DET) 83
Andrelton Simmons (LAA) 81
Elvis Andrus (TEX) 81
Jose Reyes (NYM) 80
Alcides Escobar (KC) 80
Aledmys Diaz (STL) 79
Didi Gregorius (NYY) 79
Jung Ho Kang (PIT) 79
Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM) 78
Left Field
Yoenis Cespedes (NYM) 90
Ryan Braun (MIL) 87
Michael Brantley (CLE) 86
Alex Gordon (KC) 83
Gregory Polanco (PIT) 83
Justin Upton (DET) 82
Khris Davis (OAK) 81
Brett Gardner (NYY) 81
Marcell Ozuna (MIA) 81
Jayson Werth (WAS) 80
Melky Cabrera (CWS) 80
Corey Dickerson (TB) 79
Randal Grichuk (STL) 79
Carl Crawford (LAD) 79
Melvin Upton Jr. (TOR) 78
Michael Conforto (NYM) 77
Nori Aoki (HOU) 77
Andrew Benintendi (BOS) 77
Center Field
Mike Trout (LAA) 99
Starling Marte (PIT) 87
A.J. Pollock (ARI) 86
Lorenzo Cain (KC) 85
Christian Yelich (MIA) 85
Charlie Blackmon (COL) 84
George Springer (HOU) 84
Kevin Kiermaier (TB) 84
Odubel Herrera (PHI) 82
Carlos Gomez (TEX) 82
Adam Jones (BAL) 82
Billy Hamilton (CIN) 82
Jackie Bradley Jr. (BOS) 82
Ender Inciarte (ATL) 82
Adam Eaton (WAS) 81
Jarrod Dyson (SEA) 81
Dexter Fowler (STL) 80
Kevin Pillar (TOR) 80
Right Field
Mookie Betts (BOS) 93
Bryce Harper (WAS) 90
Nelson Cruz (SEA) 88
Giancarlo Stanton (MIA) 88
Andrew McCutchen (PIT) 85
Carlos Gonzalez (COL) 84
J.D. Martinez (DET) 84
Jose Bautista (TOR) 83
Mark Trumbo (BAL) 81
Hunter Pence (SF) 81
Kole Calhoun (LAA) 80
Stephen Piscotty (STL) 79
Yasiel Puig (LAD) 79
Matt Kemp (ATL) 79
Nick Markakis (ATL) 79
Yasmany Tomas (ARI) 78
Jason Heyward (CHC) 78
Josh Reddick (LAD) 78
Catcher
Buster Posey (SF) 92
Jonathan Lucroy (TEX) 87
Wilson Ramos (TB) 84
Yadier Molina (STL) 84
Salvador Perez (KC) 84
Gary Sanchez (NYY) 84
Russell Martin (TOR) 83
Yasmani Grandal (LAD) 82
Devin Mesoraco (CIN) 82
Matt Wieters (WAS) 81
Stephen Vogt (OAK) 80
Wellington Castillo (BAL) 80
Brian McCann (HOU) 80
Evan Gattis (HOU) 80
J.T. Realmuto (MIA) 80
Travis d’Arnaud (NYM) 79
Nick Hundley (SF) 79
Robinson Chirinos (TEX) 79
Starting Pitcher
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) 99
Max Scherzer (WAS) 93
Chris Sale (BOS) 93
Noah Syndergaard (NYM) 92
Corey Kluber (CLE) 92
Jake Arrieta (CHC) 92
Madison Bumgarner (SF) 92
Stephen Strasburg (WAS) 90
Jon Lester (CHC) 90
Johnny Cueto (SF) 90
Jacob deGrom (NYM) 89
Felix Hernandez (SEA) 89
Yu Darvish (TEX) 89
David Price (BOS) 89
Zack Greinke (ARI) 89
Justin Verlander (DET) 88
Rich Hill (LAD) 87
Kyle Hendricks (CHC) 87
Relief Pitcher
Andrew Miller (CLE) 96
Dellin Betances (NYY) 90
Nate Jones (CHW) 85
Sean Doolittle (OAK) 84
Addison Reed (NYM) 84
Hector Rondon (CHC) 84
Pedro Strop (CHC) 84
Will Harris (HOU) 84
Carson Smith (BOS) 84
Kyle Barraclough (MIA) 84
Jerry Blevins (NYM) 84
Joe Blanton (WAS) 83
Joaquin Benoit (PHI) 83
Koji Uehara (CHC) 83
Mychal Givens (BAL) 83
Luke Gregerson (HOU) 83
Ryan Buchter (SD) 83
Carter Capps (SD) 83
Closer
Kenley Jansen (LAD) 95
Zach Britton (BAL) 92
Aroldis Chapman (NYY) 92
Wade Davis (CHC) 91
Mark Melancon (SF) 89
Seung-Hwan Oh (STL) 87
Cody Allen (CLE) 87
Roberto Osuna (TOR) 86
Craig Kimbrel (BOS) 86
Jeurys Familia (NYM) 85
Kelvin Herrera (KC) 85
Shawn Kelley (WAS) 84
David Robertson (CHW) 84
Ken Giles (HOU) 84
Edwin Diaz (SEA) 83
Tony Watson (PIT) 83
A.J. Ramos (MIA) 83
Alex Colome (TB) 83
Looking at the list, and ratings, I think they got it mostly right. I might not rate Arrieta that much higher than Lester. I’d probably put Arenado at 94 with both Bryant and Donaldson. I probably don’t rate Strop and Rondon as high as the game did either.
On the flip side, Willson Contreras is rated lower than Wellington Castillo, and that can’t happen.
Also, WHERE THE HELL IS ADDISON RUSSELL!?!?!?
I’m not going to argue that Addison should be at the top of the list, but come on! FanGraphs lists the Power Rankings of each position. According to their shortstop rankings (according to WAR), the Cubs rank fifth overall in baseball.
Russell was better than all shortstops on the list NOT named Trea Turner, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, and Carlos Correa. I will give Sony exceptions on guys like Troy Tulowitzki or Andrelton Simmons for their resumes, but Russell is better than more than half that list.
Also… WHERE THE HELL IS KYLE SCHWARBER!?!?!?
Ok… I get it. It is extremely difficult to rate Kyle. He has a herculean swing and incredible baseball IQ. But… he played in two games in 2016 and his 2015 stat line doesn’t equate to an 85 plus rating. It also doesn’t help his case that he is a man without a position.
I can’t be too mad, though. It is the greatest baseball game to of ever been made (sorry Baseball Mogul Online). I already have my copy getting shipped today, reach out to trade PSN Gamertags.
Also, here’s an Amazon link to buy the game. You’re welcome.
