Under-the-radar NL players

August, 11, 2011

8/11/11

9:59

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By Jim Bowden | ESPN.com

It's easy to focus on the superstar players, because they are the biggest difference-makers. However, teams often win (or lose) pennants with the unheralded guys who are making a name for themselves. These under-the-radar players frequently turn into stars, solid everyday players or championship-caliber role players. Here's a look at an under-the-radar player on each NL team. (For a look at the under-the-radar AL players, click here.)

Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryan Roberts, 3B:

The Diamondbacks started the season with a plan of platooning Melvin Mora and Geoff Blum at third base. However, the 30-year-old Roberts eventually won the position. He has hit a respectable .259/.355/.447 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) with 15 homers and 14 steals. He’s played above-average defense at third base and has solidified the Diamondbacks at the hot corner. He also shows off some impressive tattoos, some of which he’s given himself. His contributions have been an important factor in Arizona’s tight pennant race with the Giants.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Jim Bowden

Bowden, who served as the senior vice president and GM for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals, is an analyst for ESPN.com. In 1992, Bowden became the youngest GM in MLB history when the Reds hired him at age 31. The Reds finished in first place twice during his 10 years as GM, and he was named MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America in 1999. After working for ESPN in 2004, Bowden became the first GM of the Washington Nationals when the franchise relocated from Montreal to Washington, D.C., in 2005, working in that role until the 2009 season. Bowden co-hosts the "Inside Pitch" radio show on Sirius XM satellite radio. Follow on Twitter: @JimBowdenESPNxm.