[BirdWatcher]

As I've mentioned before, I like to keep track of some reputation trends in the WPK twice a season- once on Opening Day and again during the All-Star break.

This is to document things like team Captain status, Fan Favorites, and Disruptive players but even more importantly to capture who are the current players considered the best in the business overall and by position.

(Simply put, I see overall star ratings as a current reputation indicator and I compare the OSA view of this with my own scouting staff's view to find some sort of possible consensus.)

Looking at the 5-star players in the league as we begin the 1976 season we find 7 players, a few more than at this time last year but a few less than at the AS break 1975.

A couple have been on this list for some time: veteran future HOF reliever Jamel McNeil and the oft-injured but terrific San Antonio shortstop Bud Lindsay. The youngest member of the group is Columbus 22-year old closer Jamar Clay, a real fan favorite as well. Another veteran reliever, the 32-year old Kee Han, now with Milwaukee also qualifies. It shouldn't surprise that the SJL ROY of 1975, Philadelphia's Xiao-mei Mah, is now on the list. And the last two are both Brewers- Joe McPhillips and Bobby Erbakan.

As far as positional ratings go, the top two starting pitchers (according to both the OSA and the Brewers scouts) are Aaron McNally (naturally) and Denver's own Sadahige Kawasaki. (The future HOF'ers, Jake Harris and Cheol-han Lee, both heading into the twilight of their careers, are still not far behind in the next level.) Obviously the three relievers listed above (Clay, Han, McNeil) dominate that position.
Both the OSA and Brewers scouts agree that the top catchers in the game are L.A.'s Greg Foster and Boston's young (23) Elvis Iniguez. But Denver scouts believe that our own Zacarias Martell belongs in the mix too. Interestingly, the long-time consensus best in the business at this position, Erik Buonopane, while still being up among the best, has a lot of competition and has lost his status as the class of the WPK as a backstop.
With Bobby Erbakan having moved to second base, the best at first base are now veteran slugger Nate Bennett of Philly and Brooklyn's talented 27-year old, Danny Salvador.
Bobby Erbakan does share the honor as top second baseman in the WPK with Xiao-mei Mah.
Jesus Hernandez, the ageless L.A. Spinner, is the consensus best third baseman in the WPK at the age of 35.
Left field is a bit more crowded as there is no consensus truly elite player there. Among the contenders are Joe Brodeur (San Antonio), Curtis Horah (Boston), and Eric Taylor (Washington). The OSA also sees the 24-year old Matt Buelvas of Washington as joining this group. (Not quite sure how you have two of the best in the business at one position on one team. Something would seem to have to give there.)
Center field isn't crowded. Joe McPhillips. End of list. (Now if we can just keep him healthy for a full season again.)
And there can be only one in right field too. Two time MVP Justin Vargas of Boston.