tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post1477095737269584836..comments2023-12-15T18:29:24.340-06:00Comments on Baseball Junk Drawer: Redistributing the Wealth, Part 2Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-1845376323482697562011-03-02T18:01:13.274-06:002011-03-02T18:01:13.274-06:00Huzzah for the Whitaker/Sandberg comparison.
As f...Huzzah for the Whitaker/Sandberg comparison.<br /><br />As for that "base-clogging" Jim Thome, he's already scored 1,534 runs and will likely break into the all-time top 50 this year; I only wish my Mets had a few guys clogging up the bases in such a fashion!John Autinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-75822431161373750732011-02-19T03:09:42.581-06:002011-02-19T03:09:42.581-06:00Hey M.C.! Good to hear from you!
Yeah, Vada Pinso...Hey M.C.! Good to hear from you!<br /><br />Yeah, Vada Pinson's an interesting player. From what I've read about him, when he first came up he was considered a superstar waiting to happen. Since he didn't become the next Willie Mays though, a lot of people saw him as a disappointment, despite the fine career he did have. I was actually surprised when I was putting this post together to learn that he only made two All-Star teams, since he had several more years that look All-Star-caliber to me.<br /><br /><a href="http://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/2011/02/messing-with-numbers.html" rel="nofollow">Joe Posnanski</a> recently made an interesting point about Whitaker. Whitaker was consistently very good, and over a long time that value adds up. Sandberg, despite providing less value over his career, had more seasons where he dominated, and he got more support because of it. When Whitaker's turn on the ballot came up the writers didn't have a mental picture of him as a great player, leaving him one-and-done. Hopefully the Veterans Committee will correct that error in Whitaker's lifetime.<br /><br />I was not aware of McClymonds High School in Oakland. It's interesting that the three baseball players you mentioned each came up with Cincinnati in the 1950's. I presume McClymonds' baseball coach must have been friends with someone in the Redlegs' scouting department.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05881613487139006347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8559396156039913829.post-52837330833849252012011-02-18T22:52:33.269-06:002011-02-18T22:52:33.269-06:00Ian: Great post. Two thoughts.
Whitaker's ...Ian: Great post. Two thoughts. <br /><br />Whitaker's first ballot dismissal was one of the great injustices of the modern era. Not only was a possible HOF'er, but he might have been a better overall player than Sandberg. Sparky Anderson, in fact, thought he was the best 2B he'd ever seen, behind Morgan. And to be dropped off the ballot after one year, just goes to show how the HOF voting is in the hands of idiots. <br /><br />Secondly, Vada Pinson, along with Tony Oliva and Thurmon Munson, are for my money the three greatest all-round players in my lifetime not in the HOF. I'm so glad you gave him some love in your post. <br /><br />And your point is well made; did Vada Pinson's across-the-board talents work against him? Probably so. I'll tell you this; he'll never get in the Hall, while the incredibly one-dimensional base-clogger Jim Thome will waltz in in his first or second year of eligibility. <br /><br />And ask someone who saw both guys play. Even in his prime, Thome couldn't shine Pinson's shoes.<br /><br />(BTW, did you know Pinson went to McClymonds High School in Oakland, which also graduated Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, Bill Russell, Paul Silas and former Oakland A's intern, MC Hammer, to name just a few?)M.C. Antilhttp://www.mcantil.comnoreply@blogger.com