Joe Posnanski's Top 100 Baseball Players (cont.)

Although his defense gets mixed reviews, Atlanta catcher Brian McCann is always a threat with the stick. Mitch Stringer/Icon SMI

1-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | REACT

76. Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies
After a down year in 2008, Helton is back to being Helton -- .324 average, .521 slugging percentage. His career numbers are awesome (.328 average, just as a starting point), but he might need two or three more solid years to confirm his Hall of Fame reservation.

77. Brandon Inge, 3B, Tigers
He didn't manage even one homer in the Derby, and many think his first half (21 homers, 51 runs, 58 RBIs) was a fluke. Maybe. But he plays good defense at third and has always been an overachieving type.

78. Kevin Millwood, SP, Rangers
Three dreadful starts to end the first half marred what had been a terrific start for Millwood. He's a key for the Rangers' championship chase in the second half.

79. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
It has been a rough time for Votto, who has dealt with anxiety and depression, but when he's playing, he's an amazing hitter: .347/.433/.584 so far this year.

80. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Cubs
Injuries have slowed him down -- and as a guy in his 12th season you might expect that -- but when healthy, he's good for 25-35 homers, 100-plus RBIs and all-around solid play. His return figures to spark the Cubs.

81. Brian McCann, C, Braves
Made the All-Star team for the fourth straight year, and he's an excellent offensive catcher. His defense, though, has sparked mixed reviews.

82. Shane Victorino, CF, Phillies
Everyone's favorite hustler, he's getting on base and scoring runs, though the numbers show his defense to be down from a year ago when he won the Gold Glove.

83. Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies
I kept going back and forth between Rollins and the ultra-solid Marco Scutaro. Rollins has had a rough year, but he's still a good defensive shortstop, and while he likely will never be the offensive threat he was in his MVP year, I think he'll bounce back.

84. Johnny Damon, LF, Yankees
It never fails to amaze me how many hits Damon has -- he's now up to 2,360, and when this year ends he will likely only be three or four full seasons away from 3,000. Damon has 16 homers this year, and he has not been caught in eight steal attempts.

85. Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Mets
This may seem hard to believe, but K-Rod's numbers are better across the board than they were last year -- better ERA (1.81), way fewer hits per inning pitched (5.6), better WHIP. But no one seems to notice because his save total -- 23 -- is a long way from his record of 62 of last season.

86. Carlos Lee, LF, Astros
He's an odd talent -- a power hitter who almost never strikes out. He has hit 28 homers and has driven in 99 runs for six straight years. It might be seven after this season.

87. Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
"Why isn't Chipper Jones here?" Zack Greinke (No. 4) asked at the All-Star Game. "He should ALWAYS be here." The power numbers are a bit down for the 37-year-old Chipper, but the future Hall of Famer remains one of the tougher outs in the game.

88. Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Astros
He has only now cracked the .500 mark for his career record at 46-45, but he has emerged this year (8-6 with a 2.81 ERA). He's also on pace to throw 200 innings for the first time.

89. James Shields, SP, Rays
Big Game James is only 6-6 -- and the Rays are 9-10 in his starts -- but he has 12 quality starts and and should be a big factor in the second half.

90. Yunel Escobar, SS, Braves
There are issues with him, sure. But last I checked, brilliant defensive shortstops who hit .307 with some power are not all that easy to find.

91. A.J. Burnett, SP, Yankees
He's 8-4, but when you watch him pitch you wonder how anyone ever gets a hit off him. Well, few do, but he leads the league in walks and wild pitches, which might explain his only so-so 3.81 ERA.

92. Carlos Zambrano, SP, Cubs
Has been overpowering since the beginning of June. The Cubs are going to have to decide if his occasional pitching brilliance is worth the price of his occasional blowups. They have time to find out -- he's signed through 2012 with a vesting option for 2013.

93. Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees
He had a nightmarish 2008, but has rebounded in '09. Hitting .305 with 13 homers and 62 runs scored. Numbers suggest his defense is back around average after a terrible defensive season last year.

94. Franklin Gutierrez, CF, Mariners
One of the best defensive players in baseball, he's hitting better than expected this year (.295, 10 homers). That Seattle trio of Gutierrez, Ichiro and Endy Chavez is one of the best defensive outfields in memory.

95. Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds
He seems to have made a conscious decision to cut down his swing -- his strikeouts are down and his walks are up. He's still hitting with some power, and he's still playing good defense.

96. Jorge Posada, C, Yankees
Another good offensive year going for Posada, who's now 37 but looked older last year. He's hitting .282 and slugging .505. As usual, there are not many good offensive catchers in the game.

97. Yovani Gallardo, SP, Brewers
Had to overcome a torn ACL -- a running back's injury, not a starting pitcher's -- but he's come back stronger than ever. At 23 he has some of the best stuff in baseball.

98. Chad Billingsley, SP, Dodgers
He keeps cruising along, solid as they come -- 9-5, 3.76 ERA, first All-Star appearance -- but at 24 you expect any time now for him to jump forward and become a Cy Young candidate.

99. Jarrod Washburn, SP, Mariners
He's 34 now and is pitching very well in Seattle after a really rough 2008. A lefty finding his groove in Seattle late in his pitching life? Jamie Moyer II?

100. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals
How can you not feel bad for Zimmerman, who continues to get better as a hitter and continues to play terrific third base for a dying Nationals team?

REACT: Give us your thoughts on the list