Hall of Fame - David Wells?

Best big game pitcher of the era? This might surprise some people, but I'll go with John Smoltz.

 

I can't wait for Manky's thread on Luis Sojo next week.

"I can't think of a utility player that contributed more to the greatest team of all-time. While he was no Scott Brosius, I still think he deserves discussion for the Hall of Jeter Fame."

 

The best fat pitcher of all time:

 

Should he be paired in the wagering with Chili Davis or Shane Spencer?

 

+1.

 

"Chili Davis' home run on a cold night did not just break up Pedro Martinez's no-hitter, it propelled the Yankees toward further World Series appearances. While I know that he's no Mantle, I think he had a very similar career to Jim Rice."

 

We think alike!

 

Yeah, I'll go with the Babe as best fat pitcher.

Bob Wickman as most entertaining. Like a walrus on roller skates out there. Plus he was missing part of his finger from a dairy farming accident, which made him a little like Mordecai Three Finger Brown in my mind.

 

In fairness, Babe really became the fat man we all know and love after he gave up pitching and went to the Yankees (with a few mound appearances not withstanding).

When he was with the Red Sox, he was actually in decent shape, maybe a little pudgy at most.

Oh, and I eagerly await Manky's thoughts on Jim Bruske.

 

I loved watching Chili Davis as a kid, but c'mon...

Jim Rice - Six times in the top 5 of MVP voting... Davis - zero.
Jim Rice - Eight all-star teams... Davis 3.

The HR and RBI numbers are similar, but Rice has about 30 more HR and 80 more RBI and he played 3-4 fewer seasons.

 

I wouldn't even call him pudgy. For the first half of his career, he was just a powerful, athletic beast. Never skinny, of course. Just a muscular physical specimen.

It wasn't until the late 1920s that he started losing control of his frame. The enduring image of him as a jolly, fat slugger is a caricature, not reality. He was the best athlete in the league most years.