Last week, I looked at one half of the 4-6-3 (or 6-4-3) double play combo, so this week we’ll look at the other half.
First, a recap of the “rules”:
- Must have been in their prime (we’ll use making the All-Star team as a measure) when I was intently following baseball (1993-present)
- Must have played 100 games at said position in 3 seasons
- Each position will have two categories, Best Hitters and Best Fielders (except for pitchers, which will be Best Starters and Best Relievers)
- Looking for top 5 in each category
Here we go!
Best Hitters
Cal Ripken Jr. – Baltimore Orioles – Ripken pretty much changed the way we think about shortstops and their hitting. Ripken was really the guy that made it okay to be a bigger guy who hit for power and play the 6 spot on the diamond. Career: over 400HR AND 3,000 Hits. Best season (1991) – .323/.374/.566, 34 HR, 114 RBI, 99 R, 6 SB, 1 MVP Award.
Alex Rodriguez – Seattle Mariners/Texas Rangers/New York Yankees – Oh, cry all you want about Rodriguez being a “user” or “a fraud” but you know what? I don’t really give a crap. Dude could straight up mash, and is always involved in any “best player in the game” conversation. Best argument? One of four 40/40 men ever. Best season (2007) – .314/.422/.645, 54 HR, 156 RBI, 143 R, 24 SB, 1 MVP Award.
Nomar Garciaparra – Boston Red Sox/Chicago Cubs/LA Dodgers/Oakland A’s – Oh, that Nomar playing over in Oakland? Shhhh, pretend you never saw him. I’m talking about the two time batting champion, 6 time All-Star Nomar who terrorized the AL in the late 90′s. I wonder what opposing pitchers hated more: Nomar destroying their WHIP/ERA or waiting for his OCD pre-swing ritual to be over? Best season (2000) – .372/.434/.599, 21 HR, 96 RBI, 104 R, 5 SB
Barry Larkin – Cincinnati Reds – Barry often gets overlooked by people when talking about great shortstops of the 90′s. That will happen when you play in Cincinnati. But the dude made 12 All-Star teams and an MVP award. If he could do backflips, more people might give him the props he deserves. Best season (1996) – .298/.410/.567, 33 HR, 89 RBI, 117 R, 36 SB
Miguel Tejada – Oakland A’s/Baltimore Orioles/Houston Astros – Okay, now I know some people are going to bust my balls for picking a guy who got busted for ‘roids over some favorites like Jeter but juiced or not (and really, I don’t care) the dude averaged over 100 R, 29 HR, and 116 RBI all while hitting nearly .300. That gets you on my list. Best season (2004) – .311/.360/.534, 34 HR, 150 RBI, 107 R, 4 SB
Runners up: Jeter, Carlos Baerga (always a bridesmaid…)
Best Fielders
Ozzie Smith – San Diego Padres/St. Louis Cardinals – Easiest pick of this whole project most likely. 13 straight gold gloves pretty much sums it all up. Oh, and this…
Omar Vizquel – Seattle Mariners/Cleveland Indians/San Francisco Giants/Texas Rangers – Vizquel was a cornerstone of the one of the best double play combinations my generation has ever seen (with Roberto Alomar). He may not have much with the stick anymore (if he ever did) but his glove will keep him around the majors for a long time.
Jay Bell - Cleveland Indians/Pittsburgh Pirates/Kansas City Royals/Arizona Diamondbacks/New York Mets – I’ve often opined that Jay Bell would have won a ton of Gold Glove awards if Ozzie hadn’t been in the National League with him. But most people don’t hear me and just laugh at his glasses.
Barry Larkin – Consider this the most attention Barry Larkin has recieved since last Father’s Day when his kids got him a tie and took him to a very nice lunch at Coco’s.
Rey Ordonez – New York Mets/Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Chicago Cubs - Suck it, Jeter!
Runners up: Jeter, A-Rod
Disagree? Got someone I totally didn’t think of? Go ahead and let me know if the comments.