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Chicago White Sox: MLB Network got Tim Anderson rank completely wrong

By Vincent Parise

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox throws off balance to first base but not in time to get Chad Pinder #18 of the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of Game Two of the American League Wild Card Round at RingCentral Coliseum on September 30, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox throws off balance to first base but not in time to get Chad Pinder #18 of the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of Game Two of the American League Wild Card Round at RingCentral Coliseum on September 30, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago White Sox have an absolute stud playing shortstop for them. Tim Anderson is one of the best hitters in the game and his defense is getting better as the years go on. The MLB Network recognizes him as one of the ten best shortstops in the game but they have him directly at ten. That ranking is so wrong in so many ways. The things that he has accomplished over the past two seasons should have him way higher than 10th on the list.

Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox is one of the best shortstops in the world.

Anderson’s spot on the list is unfair based on some of the people ahead of him. Some people don’t like to use 2020 as a reference because each team only played 60 games but that isn’t how it works. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 60 games is what we were given and that is what we have to base their current rankings on. The last full season, 2019, is two years ago now.

For example, Bo Bichette is ahead of Anderson at number eight. That guy is a great player but he has 75 games under his belt in the Major Leagues. He literally hasn’t accomplished anything yet, including playing half a season’s worth of games. Tim Anderson should be ahead of him.

Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs is one spot ahead of Anderson at nine. Baez had one of the worst seasons of any player in the league during 2020. His batting average was .203 while Anderson was sitting at .322 and barely missed out on his second straight batting title. Some people say that Baez is better defensively, which he still might be but he committed eight errors to Anderson’s six. Baez isn’t as bad as his 2020 season but as of right now, Anderson should be ranked higher.

Some people, when comparing Baez to Anderson, don’t want to hear about errors and batting average. That is fair as the game has changed the way we evaluate players. Well, in 2020, Anderson’s WAR of 2.5 outdid Baez’s 0.9. We can also use OPS because Anderson had a .886 while Baez was at .599. This isn’t even really fair to Javier Baez who is a great player but Anderson deserves more respect.

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In 2020, Tim Anderson finished in seventh place for the American League MVP, which was won by his teammate, Jose Abreu. He is clearly one of the best players in the world and the new face of the White Sox. He doesn’t have to be ranked in the top three right now but he is definitely better than the 10th best shortstop in all of baseball and is better than many listed ahead of him by a lot.

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