TOWER GROVE — Each year at about this time, Baseball America sends out a list of “tools” and its faithful correspondents to take a poll of each manager in the majors for the top three in each league at each tool.

The totals are used for the annual “Best Tools” issue of the magazine, one of my favorites and annually one that is well-read in the clubhouse.

The survey is simple. There are 25 tools listed and the manager is asked to list his top three from his league. His top three hitters, his top three baserunners, his top three exciting players, etc., etc. While the managers fill out their ballots, thought it would be good to have the savvy readers here do the same thing, and when the issue its stands we’ll compare.

First, some resources:

• Best Tools Slideshow
• Best Tools NL 2007
• Best Tools AL 2007
• Best Tools NL 2006 (premium)
• Best Tools AL 2006 (premium)

Last year’s edition included a look at the longest active streaks of the best tools. Several had Cardinals connections. Tonight’s starter for San Diego, righthander Greg Maddux, has been in the top three for “best control” since 1995, and former Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen has been among the “best defensive 3B” since 1998. And, Albert Pujols, has ranked in the top three in the “best hitter” category since 2005.

So that’s where we’ll start.

Two tools a weekday until we get to the last one on the ballot, which deserves an entry and a vote all of it’s own. The first two are fitting because one has annually included a Cardinal — Pujols — and the other is something the Cardinals are looking to add, a trait that would only help make Pujols’ top tool that much more productive.

Vote your top three National Leaguers, by tool, in the comments below, and I’ll tally at the end of the exercise, in a couple weeks when we’ve run out of tools and the issue hits stands. Today’s tools:

1. BEST HITTER
2. BEST POWER

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Comic interlude: Saw the midnight showing of The Dark Knight … three words — In. Cred. Ible. What Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns did to reboot and restore the comic book, this movie does for the comic-book movie. Not for the squeamish. But Heath Ledger’s Joker is for the ages. A riveting movie.

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Back to baseball: Some quick Kyle Lohse statistics following his win last night against San Diego. Lohse has only two losses in his past 33 starts, a span that goes back a year. That puts him in interesting company, including an annual Cy Young contender and new addition to the NL Central:

Fewest Losses in Last 33 Starts

1.  
   1. Kyle Lohse 2
   2. Jon Lester 3
   3. Rich Harden 4
   4. Tim Lincecum 5
   5. Chien-Ming Wang 5

Best Win Pct in Last 33 Starts

1.  
   1. Kyle Lohse .889 (16-2)
   2. Chien-Ming Wang .800 (20-5)
   3. Jon Lester .800 (12-3)
   4. Brandon Webb .793 (23-6)
   5. Rich Harden .765 (13-4)

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