TOWER GROVE — Many of the categories on the Best Tools survey are at least semi-quantifiable. Who has the best strike-zone judgment, as discussed yesterday, is somewhat of an eyeball test, but it never  hurts to check the numbers for high walks, somewhat low strikeouts and the stats on “plate discipline”.

Best reliever? Check the WHIP. Check the saves. Check the K/9. Best defensive second baseman? Check the errors. Check the Zone Rating. Check plus/minus.

And so on.

One category, however, is all about feel. And that’s the second one on today’s poll.

1. BEST HIT & RUN ARTIST
2. MOST EXCITING PLAYER

As you would expect, this tool is the land of shortstops. Two of last year’s winners were NL East shortstops — Florida’s Hanley Ramirez and, No. 1, New York Mets’ shortstop Jose Reyes. There is an easy case to make that Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins would also be a part of the list. This year, the same shortstops fit the same description. Atlanta’s Yunel Escobar would be a fine candidate, too.

Guess it all depends on how you define “exciting”.

The guys who get the votes as a the best “hit-and-run artists” are probably going to be good contact hitters, the guys who often hit No. 2 in a NL order or in the lower third. The most exciting player can hit anywhere, because what makes them exciting is what can happen at any time. Big hit. Big defensive play. Big throw. Big steal. Part of exciting is talent, to be sure, but so is the unexpected or uncanny.

In the American League, outfielder Grady Sizemore and rookie Evan Longoria are certainly ”most exciting” candidates. Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton is probably tops this year, especially in the afterglow of his Home Run Derby.

In the NL, I’m thinking some obvious candidates are:

• Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida
• Rick Ankiel, CF, Cardinals
• Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee
• or Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia

Not the standard list of shortstops, but athletes with potent bats, splashes defensive flair, and, in the case of the Cardinal, the kind of backstory that adds to the definition. There is certainly a what-is-he-going-to-do-next aspect of each player, like Carlos Beltran in the 2004 NLCS, when there was no doubt who the most exciting player in baseball was that October.

Past votes on the Best Tool ‘08 tour: Best Hitter. Best Power. Best Bunter. Best Strike-Zone Judgment.

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