Saturday, July 14, 2007
The greatest of all time
Oh, this is good. Not only has Rickey Henderson been hired as the new Mets hitting coach, but the guy at 100% Injury Rate has compiled his twenty-five favorite Rickey stories. #13 almost made me pass out.
How long until all the Mets have .400 on-base percentages?
Since we're talking about Rickey, I figure it's worth listing his career numbers; because of all the goofiness surrounding him, I think it's easy to forget just how good he was.
.279/.401/.419 in 3081 games. 2190 walks. 1406 stolen bases. 2295 runs.
As Bill James use to say, you could cut Rickey in half and you'd have two hall of famers.
Oh, and one last thing for your Saturday: George Brett has discovered--and is raving about--baseball-reference.com. Congratulations to Sean Forman, the site's founder and proprietor.
How long until all the Mets have .400 on-base percentages?
Since we're talking about Rickey, I figure it's worth listing his career numbers; because of all the goofiness surrounding him, I think it's easy to forget just how good he was.
.279/.401/.419 in 3081 games. 2190 walks. 1406 stolen bases. 2295 runs.
As Bill James use to say, you could cut Rickey in half and you'd have two hall of famers.
Oh, and one last thing for your Saturday: George Brett has discovered--and is raving about--baseball-reference.com. Congratulations to Sean Forman, the site's founder and proprietor.
Labels: Mets, Rickey Henderson
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
To put you in a Christmas mood
Right now, this is my nominee for the best non-Cardinals-win-the-World-Series sports story of the year. Don Carman, he of the 53-54 record and the 4.11 E.R.A. over a ten-year career, is now one of my favorite players.
Close competition is Toby's excellent eve-of-the-World Series article about Carmi resident and former Tiger and Cardinal Bob Sykes. Toby, is that available online for me to link to anywhere?
And as we enter the holiday season, some baseball things I'm thankful for:
Jimmy Edmonds, and his new contract that makes him likely to retire a Cardinal.
Adam Wainwright's curveball and its ability to freeze Carlos Beltran, if for no other reason than my mom's good health. I'm not sure she would have made it had he hit the bases-clearing triple we all were clearly imagining.
Endy Chavez's catch, and the fact that it ultimately didn't matter
Manny Ramirez's swing. And his hair.
Dusty Baker's firing. Is that too mean for a holiday list?
Jackie Robinson. 'Cause you can't ever be too thankful for Jackie Robinson.
Rickey. GMs, he's ready to play. Just call.
Yadier Molina's October power surge. And his girlish smile.
Stacey's jack-o-lanterns. 10-0 in the Fall Classic and counting.
Labor peace.
J.D. Drew's silly, silly baserunning, and the fact that that play also involved Jeff Kent and his mustache.
The Big Unit, even though he's a Yankee and, apparently, past his peak. Oh, that slider, and that hair.
Mike Shannon. So long as he's broadcasting, a part of me will still be a kid.
Opening Day, and living a mile-and-a-half from a ballpark, a childhood dream unexpectedly realized.
And, finally and forever, Albert Pujols. 'Nuff said.
I know I'm forgetting dozens. Feel free, ye millions of readers, to add your own in comments.
Close competition is Toby's excellent eve-of-the-World Series article about Carmi resident and former Tiger and Cardinal Bob Sykes. Toby, is that available online for me to link to anywhere?
And as we enter the holiday season, some baseball things I'm thankful for:
Jimmy Edmonds, and his new contract that makes him likely to retire a Cardinal.
Adam Wainwright's curveball and its ability to freeze Carlos Beltran, if for no other reason than my mom's good health. I'm not sure she would have made it had he hit the bases-clearing triple we all were clearly imagining.
Endy Chavez's catch, and the fact that it ultimately didn't matter
Manny Ramirez's swing. And his hair.
Dusty Baker's firing. Is that too mean for a holiday list?
Jackie Robinson. 'Cause you can't ever be too thankful for Jackie Robinson.
Rickey. GMs, he's ready to play. Just call.
Yadier Molina's October power surge. And his girlish smile.
Stacey's jack-o-lanterns. 10-0 in the Fall Classic and counting.
Labor peace.
J.D. Drew's silly, silly baserunning, and the fact that that play also involved Jeff Kent and his mustache.
The Big Unit, even though he's a Yankee and, apparently, past his peak. Oh, that slider, and that hair.
Mike Shannon. So long as he's broadcasting, a part of me will still be a kid.
Opening Day, and living a mile-and-a-half from a ballpark, a childhood dream unexpectedly realized.
And, finally and forever, Albert Pujols. 'Nuff said.
I know I'm forgetting dozens. Feel free, ye millions of readers, to add your own in comments.
Labels: adam wainwright, bob sykes, Cardinals, carlos beltran, don carman, dusty baker, Jimmy Edmonds, Manny Ramirez, Mike Shannon, randy johnson, Rickey Henderson, yadier molina
