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Top 4 Greatest Living (Retired) Ballplayers

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by manky_jimy, Jul 14, 2015.

  1. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

    Bench's career WAR is 75, though 19 of that is defensive.

    Piazza's career WAR is 65, 64 of that offensive.

    Fisk is 65/16.

    Berra is 56/8.

    Ivan Rodriguez is 53/28.
     
  2. expendable

    expendable Well-Known Member

    I'd have to consider Nolan Ryan. Especially before Bench.
     
  3. Vombatus

    Vombatus Well-Known Member

    And the Robin Ventura beating adds to Ryan's resume'.
     
    Elliotte Friedman and expendable like this.
  4. ChrisLong

    ChrisLong Well-Known Member

    Might be too soon for Trout ... Garret Anderson should be on the Angels' list.
    They got it right with Koufax, greatest pitcher ever.
     
  5. LongTimeListener

    LongTimeListener Well-Known Member

    Garret Anderson's best season doesn't come close to Trout's worst.
     
  6. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    Garret Anderson?
     
  7. ChrisLong

    ChrisLong Well-Known Member

    Typical that the guy was underappreciated, because he didn't seem to hustle all the time. He was a helluva player for the Angels in terms of production and longevity.
     
  8. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    That and he is nowhere near what Mike Trout is now or is going to be.
     
  9. micropolitan guy

    micropolitan guy Well-Known Member

    Bench exceled at the most important defensive position on the field, 150 times a year, back when catchers called every pitch, and was a feared offensive weapon as well. Ryan played once every five days. IMHO, no pitcher is as valuable as an outstanding position player.

    Pudge threw out a lot of baserunners, hence his high defensive WAR. One supposed knock on that, though, was that he always called for fastballs to help him throw runners out, at the expense of his pitchers. Not sure what his career catching ERA was.
     
  10. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    That is just beautiful. Can there ever be just a true stat without the "but ... "

    Great defensive catcher who made innings shorter by throwing runners out ...

    ... but what a greedy bastard for calling fastballs to make that happen.
     
    heyabbott likes this.
  11. ChrisLong

    ChrisLong Well-Known Member

    Not worth arguing about. By the way, I didn't see Bryant on the Cubs' list or Harper on the Nationals' list.
     
  12. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    That's because those teams respect their Garret Andersons I guess.
     
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