In a pole of over 450 current major league players, Derek Jeter was voted as the most overrated player in the MLB, with Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez close behind.  That's a good idea, let's just keep writing about the same players because that has nothing to do with all the hype surrounding them.  I can't go one night without ESPN playing a Yankees or Mets game and flashing those horribly dimpled smiles. 

Rather than discuss the fact that Jeter can't be overrated because anyone who has won 4 World Series and 6 Gold Gloves (and it turns out he has) can't be.  It's time to talk about the other end of the spectrum, high production and no publicity guys.

There are a few ground rules that came into the process.  First is that the team has to be competitive so sorry Carl Crawford.  Also, the player has to be a guy who has been consistent for more than just the beginning of the season, awww, looks like Chris Shelton is out of the running.  Third is that the player can't be considered underrated if he's making 10 million or more a year, adios David Ortiz.  Last is that the player can't be going out with, or gone out with Alyssa Milano, which among other reasons, is why Carl Pavano isn't on the list. 

5. Brian Giles, SD(7.33 million):  Before his arrival, the Padres have been without direction, looking for a leader since Tony Gwynn left.  Brian Giles has given the team a middle of the order bat without the injury problems of Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin.  Annually he ranks among the top ten in the MLB in On-Base Percentage (OBP), posting a lifetime mark of .413.  The knock on the 35 year old Giles has been his declining power numbers, but it's hard to be a pre-eminent homerun hitter with the never-ending field known as PetCo Park. 

4. John Lackey, LAA (3.34 million):  The only pitcher on this list, Lackey is forced into the shadows by the more eccentric personalities of Bartolo Colon and Francisco Rodriguez.  It was his calming effect on the starting rotation that pushed them to the World Series in 2002 and has since been experiencing higher win and strikeout totals and averages 6.15 innings per start over his career, giving the Angels a reliable starter who can give the bullpen a rest and give owner Arte Moreno a marketing tool that doesn't involve changing the team's name.  

3. Travis Hafner, CLE (2.7 million):  Lost amongst the talk of a DH possibly winning the AL MVP is Travis Hafner, who has to deal with the constant Jim Thome comparisons.  It's his presence that has allowed for guys like Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore to develop into complimentary hitters rather than look to carry the team, which falls onto the broad shoulders of the 6'3" 240 pound Hafner.  With a career On-Base plus Slugging (OPS) approaching 1.000 (.961) and entering his prime at age 27, Big Papi might be playing second fiddle to a guy drafted in the 31st round out of Cowley County Junior College.

2. Carlos Lee, MIL (8.5 million):  Seen as an afterthought after being traded to Milwaukee for Scott Podsednik, especially after the White Sox won the World Series last year, Carlos Lee has been the steadying influence and offensive catalyst for the rest of the lineup.  Now with the rotation settling in after Chris Capuano and Doug Davis providing support for Ben Sheets, Lee is giving the Brewers their first true power hitter since Jeromy Burnitz left in 2001.  Averaging 31 homeruns over the past three years, the Brewers will be looking to ride "El Caballo" into the playoffs.

1. Vernon Wells, TOR (4.47 million):  Took leadership of Toronto after seeing Carlos Delgado succumb to injury, eventually leaving for Florida.  He has been the one constant in the lineup, especially since Eric Hinske has been stuck in a 3 year sophomore slump.  With A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan getting all the publicity during the off-season, it's Wells who is the only proven player on the roster.  As much as his bat has been valuable to the team, it is his gold-glove caliber defense (8 errors in 4+ years since moving to Center Field) that could finally allow the Blue Jays to catch the Red Sox and Yankees.