2011 MLB Regular Season: The Most Intimidating Players Of Each MLB Team
There are the good players, the okay players, and the bad players of a baseball team. Then there are these guys.
A hitter fears facing them, while pitchers are afraid throwing a ball anywhere near the middle of the strike zone against them. While some on this list may not have had the best stats on their team last season, they are still the most intimidating player on their team.
Although some of these players have yet to play a game with their new team, they still carry around a reputation. Some teams in the MLB have many intimidating players, but these are the ones that are the most potent and daunting to face.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Batter: Justin Upton
Upton has the talent to be among the best, but he has yet to hit consistently. Nonetheless, he is still a beast who has a lifetime batting average of .272 and has hit 58 HRs in his first three full years in the MLB.
He may not have hit 30 home runs in a season yet, but he certainly has the potential to, which scares pitchers. Plus, he is the best hitter on his team, which is devoid of an hitter who can hit for power and average.
Starting Pitcher: Ian Kennedy
Although he is not a dominant pitcher, he is the best on Arizona's team. They used to have both Dan Haren and Brandon Webb to rely on, but that is not the case anymore.
However, Ian Kennedy is a good pitcher who 3.80 ERA and is easily the most consistent pitcher on the team. He may not "frighten" hitters, but he is certainly capable of getting them out.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Batter: Brian McCann
This was tough decision between Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward, and McCann. But in the end, I went with the one that has a lifetime batting average of .289 and averaged 21 HRs over his 5 full years with the Braves.
He has both the pop and the patience to hit home runs and hit for average, and if he did not have the eye problem for the past two years he might have even better numbers. He has garnered a reputation as being one of the best offensive catchers in the majors and has become a fear for pitchers.
Starting Pitcher: Tim Hudson
This decision was slightly easier, even though the Braves have one of the best starting rotations in the NL. Hudson has consistently pitched well throughout his 12 years as a MLB player.
His career ERA of 3.42 and win total of 165 is amazing in any respect, especially in this day and age of power hitting. His sinker is notorious for causing double plays and can help keep balls inside the ballpark. Hudson is just a dominant pitcher.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Batter: Derrek Lee
For a team that has been awful in recent year, Derrek Lee is a welcome sight. Although he has yet to actually play for the team, he still carries with him a reputation for being a great hitter.
With a lifetime batting average of .282 and 312 career HRs, Lee is potent to any pitcher. Although he had a down year last year with both the Cubs and the Braves, he still has the stuff to hit over 30 HRs and hit for average. Lee is a dangerous hitter and a great addition to a struggling team.
Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Guthrie
Jeremy who? I know, he is not very intimidating. But he is the best that the Orioles have to offer. With a 3.83 ERA, he led all Baltimore starting pitchers last season.
The AL is not pitcher friendly, so a 3.83 ERA is not bad. Guthrie also played in the AL East, the best offensive division in baseball. Guthrie was able to hold his own against some of the best hitters in the AL, which is something many pitchers cannot say.
.png?w=256)
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Batter: Adrian Gonzalez
Now some of you may disagree on this, but you cannot argue that Gonzalez is an offensive beast. He can smoke the ball out of the stadium, yet also hit consistently. Boston certainly has many great batters, but Adrian has been the most consistent.
David Ortiz may have Gonzalez beat with pure power, he has not been as dominant in the past few years. In the past 5 season, Adrian Gonzalez has had a .288 batting average and averaging 32 HRs. These stats have made him a fearsome opponent for pitchers in the NL, and soon the AL.
Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester
Clay Buchholz was certainly a better pitcher this past season, but Jon Lester has been consistently dominant with Boston over the past 3 years. He has won an average of 17 games in those three years, which tells you that he is a winner.
Also over those 3 years he had an average ERA of 3.29 and averaged 201 strikeouts. He also pitched over 200 innings each of those seasons. Lester has made a name for himself among even the best hitters in the AL.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Batter: Aramis Ramirez
Although not as well known as Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez certainly put up numbers similar or even better than Lee's with the Cubs. He may have been injured part of the season two years ago but he still is consistent with his power and hitting.
Ramirez has a career batting average of .282 and has hit 289 HRs in his 15 years of playing in the big league. He is both a power hitter and can hit for average, a combination that pitchers are afraid of.
Starting Pitcher: Carlos Zambrano
Even his meltdowns do not prevent Zambrano from being a dominant and intimidating pitcher. He has throughout his career pitched consistently and confidently, even hitting well in the 9th spot in the batting order.
He has a lifetime ERA of 3.50 and has won a total of 116 games in his 10 years with the Cubs. His great pitching skills have garnered him a reputation among hitters everywhere.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Batter: Paul Konerko
Even with the addition of Adam Dunn, Konerko is still more intimidating. His numbers this past season are amazing, and they are not even the best of his career.
He hit 39 bombs, 111 RBIs, and had a .312 batting average last season. His career average is .280 and he has hit 365 home runs in his 14 years as a big leaguer. Pitchers, beware.
Starting Pitcher: John Danks
He may not have had a no-hitter like Mark Buerhle, but he has pitched more consistently and better. Also, even though Peavy is on the team, he has not performed well in the two years he has been with Chicago.
Danks' average ERA for the past three years has been 3.60, which in the AL translates to success. He does not have a proficient strikeout rate, but he will get you out. Danks may not be as well known as Buerhle or Peavy, but he gets the job done exceptionally.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Batter: Joey Votto
Votto won the 2010 NL MVP. Need I say more?
Starting Pitcher: Johnny Cueto
This was a tough decision between Cueto and Arroyo, but I went with Cueto because of his potential. He is only 24 and just had a season in which he had an ERA of 3.64.
Cueto has the stuff to be a dominant pitcher, as shown by his near no-hitter against Pittsburgh. He may not overwhelm hitters, only having 138 Ks last year, but he still gets them out. Cueto is a name to watch for hitters in the NL.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Batter: Grady Sizemore
Last season he was injured for most of the time, but he still is a threat and should be back this season. Shin-Soo Choo has done a nice job as Cleveland's best hitter last year, but he is not as powerful as Sizemore.
In his 5 full years, Sizemore has hit .276 and 120 home runs. Although most teams have a better overall hitter than Sizemore, his numbers are not too shabby.
Starting Pitcher: Fausto Carmona
Once again we have come to a team that does not have a true No.1 starter. But Carmona is the best they have. He has only two seasons in which he has had an ERA under 4, but one of them he won 19 games.
With Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia gone, Cleveland has not recovered and has had to rely on Carmona. But last season Carmona answered the call to the best of his ability.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Batter: Carlos Gonzalez
This player has a great future. Only 25, Gonzalez was an offensive beast last season. His numbers were comparable to Albert Pujols'.
He hit an astounding .336 and 34 HRs, as well as 117 RBIs. In many seasons those are MVP numbers, but he had strong competition this past year. Pitchers should be careful around this monster.
Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez
Even though he had a decline towards the end of the season, Jimenez still pitched lights out. He even had a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves.
His 2.88 ERA and his 19 wins show you how dominant he was last year. Like Gonzalez, he is still young. He will and is a pitcher that strikes fear into hitters everywhere.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Batter: Miguel Cabrera
How can you argue with this? He has been amazing for the past 7 seasons, in which he has hit a total of 235 HRs, 817 RBIs, and 1316 hits.
He may not be as publicized as an A-Rod or Albert Pujols, he puts up consistently great numbers every year. His lifetime .313 batting average also tells you he has been an all around great player that pitchers should be very intimidated by.
Starting Pitcher: Justin Verlander
He has been a model of consistency for the Tiger's rotation in his 5 full years with the team. He has only had one season in which he had an ERA over 4.
His lifetime ERA is 3.81, and he averages 192 Ks per year. His strikeout proficiency strikes dread in the hitters about to face him.
Florida Marlins
11 of 30
Batter: Hanley Ramirez
How can you not go with him? He has only been one of the best shortstops in baseball in the past few years.
He has a career batting average of .313 and has hit 124 home runs in his 5 full years in the Bigs. This player is only 27 and will be an offensive threat for many years to come.
Starting Pitcher: Josh Johnson
A very underrated pitcher who performs year in and year out. In fact, this past season he had the lowest ERA of all starting pitchers in MLB.
He may not be the flashiest pitcher out there, but his 2.30 ERA certainly gets the job done plus some. Josh Johnson is a player to watch out for.
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Batter: Carlos Lee
I would like to go with Hunter Pence due to his great numbers last year, but Carlos Lee is still more intimidating than Pence. He has just been too good in his career.
Lee did not have the best year last year as shown by his .246 BA, but his career BA is .287. He also has hit 331 HRs in his storied career. Although Carlos Lee is aging, he is still a formidable opponent for pitchers.
Starting Pitcher: Wandy Rodriguez
He has some big shoes to fill with Roy Oswalt gone, but Rodriguez is capable of doing a good job. He has shown in the past three years that he can pitch with confidence.
Last season he had a 3.60 ERA, and the year before a 3.02 ERA. These two years alone show his ability to pitch well and cause problems for hitters.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Batter: Billy Butler
While Yuniesky Betancourt hit more home runs and had more RBIs last season, Butler hit more consistently and had a better OPS. Plus, Butler has been better overall for the past three years than Betancourt.
The reason why the Royals signed Butler for four more years is obvious: He hit .318 this past season and hit 15 HRs, 78 RBIs, and had a .388 OBP. He is the centerpiece of the Royals' lineup and is a formidable hitter.
Starting Pitcher: Bruce Chen
The Royals are looking pretty weak when it comes to starting pitchers. Now that Zach Greinke is gone, Kansas City's best pitcher is Chen, who had a mediocre 4.17 ERA and only 12 wins.
His career ERA is also poor, at 4.64. But out of all of the pitchers on the Royals, Chen is the most intimidating.
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Batter: Torii Hunter
I almost chose Vernon Wells, but instead I went with Hunter because he has been more reliable than Wells in the past three years. Wells has and can hit for power, but so can Hunter, who has hit the same amount of HRs as Wells in the last three seasons.
Hunter's career average is .275 and he has hit 258 HRs. His ability to hit home runs and doubles are what really make him intimidating.
Starting Pitcher: Dan Haren
Jered Weaver has been great for the Angels, but he does not command the same respect that Haren does. Haren is a great strikeout pitcher, which is something that hitters do not like.
He has pitched for over 200 innings for the past six seasons, struck out an average of 196 batters in that same period, as well as win an average of 14 games. Haren has yet to play with the Angels, but batters will still dread facing him no matter what team he is on.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Batter: Andre Ethier
While Matt Kemp hit more HRs last season for the Dodgers, Ethier is a better overall hitter. He can hit for power, he can hit for average, and he is clutch.
In his first five years in the MLB, Ethier has hit 98 HRs, 384 RBIs, and had a .291 BA. For a hitter who plays in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, these are great numbers. Ethier is a star.
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw is a great under-the-radar pitcher. He can get you out in many ways, and does it consistently.
His 3.17 ERA in three years is amazing, especially for a 22 year old. This kid will go places and make many batters respect his authority.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Batter: Ryan Braun
Another great young star! Braun has torn up NL pitchers for the past 4 season and will continue to do so.
He has not slowed down since his rookie season in which he hit .324, 34 HRs, and had an OPS of 1.004. His average has dipped slightly, but only to .307, which is great by any standards. He has hit a total of 128 HRs in his career, as well as 420 RBIs. His size does not intimidate, but his bat does.
Starting Pitcher: Zack Greinke
Generally pitchers who switch from the AL to the NL do well, and this should be the case with Greinke. This Cy Young winner has a career ERA of 3.82, and 931 Ks in 5 full years. He is a great pitcher who will no doubt succeed and frustrate hitters wherever he goes.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Batter: Joe Mauer
If you are one if not the best offensive player at your position, then you are certainly intimidating. Mauer has been consistent and powerful, especially lately.
He won the AL MVP two years ago when he hit 28 HRs, 96 RBIs, and had a .365 BA. His career BA is .327, which is one of the highest among active players. His power is not staggering, but his overall ability is, which is why pitchers should be scared of him.
Starting Pitcher: Francisco Liriano
This young pitcher has much potential that was showcase last season in which he had a 3.62 ERA and threw 201 strikeouts. He is not so to say dominant, but he should not be underestimated.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Batter: David Wright
He easily the best hitter on the Mets, and he is one of the best offensive third-baseman in the NL. He hits for power and for average, which translates into a great player.
His .283 batting average this year was below his career BA (.305), but he still hit 29 HRs and knocked in 103 RBIs. He has been to the All-Star game five years in a row and is only 28, meaning that pitchers will have to worry about him for some time longer.
Starting Pitcher: Johan Santana
Santana has been one of the last decade's best pitchers, and he has garnered two Cy Young awards. He has dominated wherever he has played, and he has consistently performed.
His career ERA is a miniscule 3.10, and his ERA last season was 2.98. He was won 133 games, as well as pitched eight shutouts. Santana is one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball today.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Batter: Alex Rodriguez
Who else but one of the greatest power hitters of all time? He may have admitted to taking PEDs from 2001 to 2003, but even if you take away those three years he has still performed amazingly.
He has won the AL MVP three times, he has hit 613 HRs, 1831 RBIs, and 2672 hits. Those numbers do not lie; A-Rod is one of the most feared hitters of all time.
Starting Pitcher: CC Sabathia
Since this is the Yankees, they are filled with dominant players, both pitchers and batters. Sabathia is one of the best pitchers in the AL, and is at his prime.
He has won 157 games in his career, with 21 of them coming last year. He has a lifetime ERA of 3.57, and has not had a season in which he had an ERA over 4.00 for five years. He is consistent and tough, and batters fear him.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Batter: Hideki Matsui
He may be aging, but he is still intimidating at the plate. He has had a great American career, and is still not done.
Matsui hits for power and for average, and has helped the Yankees win the World Series in 2009. His .290 average in MLB is great, along with his 161 HRs. Matsui is a great addition to an offense that has been below par in recent years.
Starting Pitcher: Trevor Cahill
Sure Dallas Braden had a no-hitter last season, but Cahill had an ERA of 2.97. He had 18 wins and only 8 losses, boosting a team that had only 75 wins in 2009 to .500 in 2010.
Also, he is only 22 years old, adding to his value. If can replicate what he did last season, then he should become a name that hitters will not forget.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Batter: Ryan Howard
How can you not be intimidated by this guy? He only has been an offensive fiend, both in the regular season and in the playoffs.
He was the 2005 ROY and the 2006 NL MVP, and has hit 253 HRs and 748 RBIs. He does not hit .300 every year, but he has not hit below .250 either. Ryan Howard is the epitome of intimidating.
Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay
As with Howard, Halladay is probably one of the most intimidating players in the NL. He just won the Cy Young Award, as well as win 21 games and pitch two no-hitters, one of which was in the postseason.
He has a career ERA of 3.21, and last season he had an ERA of 2.44. He has had three straight season in which he has had over 200 Ks and five straight seasons in which he pitched over 200 innings. He is probably the best pitcher in the game today.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Batter: Andrew McCutchen
The only bright spot on the worst team in MLB, McCutchen has done a fine job as center fielder for the Pirates. In his two years as starter, he has hit .286 with 28 HRs and 110 RBIs, which is exemplary for Pittsburgh. If he can continue doing what he has done, then Pirates have one less thing to worry about.
Starting Pitcher: Ross Ohlendorf
Speaking of worrying, Ohlendorf is someone that the Pirates do need to worry about. In fact, the Pirates need to worry about the entire pitching staff. Ohlendorf was Pittsburgh's best starting pitcher last year with a 4.07 ERA, something that they shouldn't be proud of. Ohlendorf is not intimidating, but the Pirates have no one that is.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Batter: Brad Hawpe
With Adrian Gonzalez gone, the Padres now have to rely on Hawpe to provide some stability to their lineup. Although he did not play a full season last year due to injuries, he is still known as a good power hitter.
In four full season Brad Hawpe has hit 99 home runs, as well as had 577 hits. He may have played his career in hitter friendly Coors Field, he still has the ability hit it out of the ball park, which is why he is intimidating.
Starting Pitcher: Mat Latos
When he is on, he is on. At times he is almost unstoppable and can pitch anyone out.
He had a WHIP last season of 1.08 and an ERA of 2.92, both great numbers. At 6'6", Latos's size is also intimidating. This 23 year old pitcher has a bright future of being a dominant and menacing pitcher.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Batter: Aubrey Huff
Sure Buster Posey broke into the scene with his spectacular rookie season. But did he have a better OBP, slugging %, or OPS than Huff? No he did not.
Huff has proven to be a reliable power, as shown by his 20+ HRs seven out of the past nine seasons. Last season he had a .290 BA and hit 26 HRs, as well as 86 RBIs. Even at 34 years old Huff is still a formidable player.
Starting Pitcher: Tim Lincecum
If a player considers his 3.43 ERA last season bad, than he must either be egotistical or really good. In this case it is the latter.
The Freak has won two Cy Young awards, had an ERA under 3.00 two out of his four years with SF, and has a win-loss record of 56-27. Tim Lincecum has struck out at least 200 batters three straight year, so he knows how to get anyone out.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Batter: Ichiro Suzuki
Having at least 200 hits for 10 straight seasons is something that no player can say they have done before. Suzuki, though not a power hitter, is a player that any team would love to have.
Last season he had a .315 BA with six HRs and 43 RBIs in all 162 games, which shows his reliability. Suzuki is probably the most consistent hitter in all of MLB, and should be feared by every pitcher.
Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez
For a struggling team like the Mariners, Hernandez is a godsend. This past year he had the lowest ERA of any Major League pitcher, and if he was on a good team would probably have the most wins as well.
What makes Hernandez really special is the fact that he is only 24 years old, which means he has many years of great pitching ahead of him. Hitters will need to look out for him for years to come.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Batter: Albert Pujols
Easily the most intimidating player of the last decade, Albert Pujols is one of the best players ever. I mean, the guy has only won the MVP three times and is a eight time All-Star.
His career BA is .331, which is outstanding. He has hit a total of 408 HRs, 1230 RBIs, and 1900 hits in his 10 years as a big leaguer. If a pitcher is not intimidated by him, then there is something wrong with him.
Starting Pitcher: Adam Wainwright
I almost chose Chris Carpenter, but instead I went with Wainwright because he is six years younger than Carpenter. Wainwright has shown his mettle in the past two years with his ERA under 3.00.
This past season Wainwright had the second most wins of any pitcher in the NL, he had the second lowest ERA in the NL, and he pitched the third most innings in the NL. Wainwright sure can and will get you out.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Batter: Evan Longoria
In his three years as third baseman for the Rays, he has hit .283, 82 HRs, and 302 RBIs. He has not faltered since his ROY campaign, and has gotten better in some respects. Longoria is not going to win the batting title or hit the most home runs, but he is going to do well in both categories year in and year out.
Starting Pitcher: David Price
Price, though not too well known around the majors, has become a beast. He had a great breakout season last year in which he had an ERA of 2.72 and won 19 games.
For a pitcher playing in the AL East, these are spectacular numbers. If he continues this, he will be an intimidating pitcher for many years.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Batter: Josh Hamilton
The other 2010 MVP winner is Josh Hamilton, who certainly deserved it. He hit .359 and had 32 HRs with 100 RBIs, which are MVP numbers. He is one of the hottest hitters in the AL, and has become the Ranger's most intimidating offensive player.
Starting Pitcher: C.J. Wilson
If Brandon Webb was completely healthy, I would have chosen him. But since he has not played for a while, I have gone with C.J. Wilson
He had a great year last year, with 204 innings pitched and a 3.35 ERA. He had 15 wins, and was for the most part a pitched better than Cliff Lee did.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Batter: Jose Bautista
Although his career BA is .244, he did just hit 54 HRs this past season. I would have gone with Vernon Wells, but he was recently traded to the Los Angeles Angels.
Bautista's last season has been his best so far, with a BA of .260 and 124 RBIs. What makes him intimidating is his power, not his batting average.
Starting Pitcher: Ricky Romero
Now that Shaun Marcum is no longer with the team, Ricky Romero is the most intimidating pitcher for the Blue Jays. He had an ERA last season of 3.73 and a record of 14-9. Although those stats are nothing to be amazed by, they are solid and thus should make batters uneasy when facing him.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Batter: Ryan Zimmerman
Probably the best least talked about third baseman in the NL. He consistently hits for both power and average, especially in the past three years.
Last season he had a .307 BA and hit 25 HRs with 85 RBIs. If you do not know his name, then you should, because he is a very good hitter.
Starting Pitcher: Livan Hernandez
Since Stephen Strasburg has only pitched in 12 games, I went with veteran Livan Hernandez. He has had an okay career but had a good year last year.
He had an ERA of 3.66, which is much better than his career ERA. Although he will probably go downhill in the next few years, he is the most intimidating pitcher on the National's staff.
.png?w=480)
