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Ted Simmons: HOF?

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Dick Whitman, Apr 11, 2016.

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  1. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    On top of that, keep in mind that I'm comparing him to someone who won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves behind the plate, not the median Hall of Famer at the position.
     
    Dick Whitman, Apr 11, 2016
    #13
  2. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Johnny Bench? It's not a worthwhile comparison. Bench was Bench.

    My first year with good memories of following baseball, the Big Red Machine swept the Yankees in the World Series. Heading into the series, someone asked Sparky Anderson to compare Thurman Munson to Bench. Munson had been the AL MVP that year. Anderson's response was, “Munson is an outstanding ballplayer and he would hit .300 in the National League, but don’t ever compare nobody to Johnny Bench; don’t never embarrass nobody by comparing them to Johnny Bench.”

    It sounds like a typical "get under the other teams' skin" response, especially how beloved Munson was. But man, was he right -- and that is coming from someone who idolized(s) Munson.

    Someone else on this thread said Simmons' numbers are comparable to Bench's except for home runs. Or something like that. I kind of shook my head. If you offered anyone in those days Johnny Bench or Ted Simmons, you would have had to throw in a ridiculous amount to sweeten the pot to get them to take Ted Simmons.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 11, 2016
    #14
  3. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    I know. I understand what he was getting at, but it reminded me of a few months ago, a friend on Facebook noted that, "The only difference between Ken Griffey, Jr., and Kenny Lofton was home runs."

    Oh, you mean those 500 more home runs that he hit?
     
    Dick Whitman, Apr 11, 2016
    #15
  4. Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!

    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! Well-Known Member

    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!, Apr 11, 2016
    #16
  5. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    His glasses bothered me.

    [​IMG]
     
    Songbird, Apr 11, 2016
    #17
  6. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    None of those catchers were as good as Simmons. It's not even that close. Porter and Lance Parrish could hit, but it was more of a, "Good hitter for a catcher" thing. Simmons was a good hitter, period. The fact that he caught is what gives him a bit of Hall of Fame cred. Bob Boone and Tony Pena were both outstanding defensive catchers. but neither were near the hitters Simmons was.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 11, 2016
    #18
    Liut likes this.
  7. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    Dick Whitman, Apr 11, 2016
    #19
  8. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    Simmons' top 10 similarity scores for career include six Hall of Famers and several borderline guys.
    1. Miguel Tejada (863)
    2. Alan Trammell (831)
    3. Joe Torre (820) *
    4. Carlton Fisk (819) *
    5. Gary Carter (817) *
    6. Lou Whitaker (817)
    7. Barry Larkin (807) *
    8. Joe Cronin (806) *
    9. Yogi Berra (803) *
    10. Jimmy Rollins (798)

    Porter most closely resembles all-non HOFers, while Parrish has a better case (compares to Carter, Hartnett and way down Bench).

    Tony Pena, meanwhile, compares most closely to Brad Ausmus...

    Simmons definitely deserves more respect than to be grouped with Porter, Parrish and Pena.
     
    CD Boogie, Apr 11, 2016
    #20
  9. TyWebb

    TyWebb Well-Known Member

    He didn't pass the eye test either.
     
    TyWebb, Apr 11, 2016
    #21
    amraeder, Donny in his element, novelist_wannabe and 1 other person like this.
  10. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

    Didn't Simmons have some drug issues at some point? During the great moral panic of the '80s and '90s, that seems like it would have been a potential factor for the writers as they pondered their ballot over a double vodka and tonic.
     
    Dick Whitman, Apr 11, 2016
    #22
  11. Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!

    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! Well-Known Member

    But Simmons also wasn't solely a catcher, when he hit Milwaukee his catching days were nearly behind him. He spent the last five years of his career as a DH, or at 1st/3rd or the OF. He was a valuable enough stick to warrant playing time.

    Simmons was a good-to-great hitter and a good catcher. But he wasn't just a catcher. It's not comparable to stick him with Bench, Fisk or Carter or even Boone or Porter.
    Put Simmons hitting stats against other hitters - regardless of position. I think he falls short.
    Hall of Very Good.
     
    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!, Apr 11, 2016
    #23
  12. Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!

    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! Well-Known Member

    You might be confusing him with Porter.

    Although in the 80s, they prolly all had drug issues.
     
    Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!, Apr 11, 2016
    #24
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