Tango is asking for the input of fans on the defensive capabilities of the players they watch regularly. I am sure that Bauxites will be happy to help him out. Click on the link to go to the ballot for the Jay defenders.
Clayton and Fasano really need to not be on that list any more, I think.
Because Clayton can't actually play defense any more? :)
It's always good to find a blog with passionate fans, and you guys are already doing your part (like you do every year). I typically get around 30-40 responses per team for the 6-8 weeks that the balloting is open, and I've already received 27 responses from Jays fans in just a few hours!
As for the player selection, I'm interested in hearing your evaluation of anyone that you've seen this year, regardless as to what their current roster status is.
Speaking of flashing the leather, the fans have selected an All-Time Gold Glove Team...and actually did a good job with it!
My linking isn't working properly on this computer, so here's the old-fashioned way: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2985977
The fans did a good job, except for KGJr. If you're going to choose Wes Parker instead of Keith Hernandez or Eddie Murray, you can go whole hog and take a defensive whiz in centerfield like Mike Cameron or Andruw Jones the younger or Devon White or Gary Pettis or....Or you could recognize the significant value of Jesse Barfield's arm.
I suspect that Keith Hernandez was better than Parker, but it would be close, but KGJr. was never better than average defensively.
I suspect that Keith Hernandez was better than Parker, but it would be close, but KGJr. was never better than average defensively.
I was going to make a Jeter joke, but then in the story ...
"The acrobatic Smith (56 percent) outdistanced Derek Jeter and Omar Vizquel at shortstop ..."
Yikes! Jeter's a fine defensive shortstop -- not nearly as bad as some here seem to want to believe -- but second, and ahead of Vizquel, all time? He's the second-best defensive shortstop in the Yankees' current starting lineup!
Your point is obviously well-taken, Mick, but the all-defensive team was expressly limited to the Rawlings Gold Glove era (which, at least in theory, is different from "all time"). They started awarding them in '57. Joltin' Joe would have otherwise been a nice choice as the third outfielder.
Morgan over Alomar in the ESPN all-gold glove team? Granted, I only saw Morgan at the very tail end of his career (in 1984) and Alomar all through his prime ... but was this guy really better than Alomar? I find it hard to believe that anyone could be better than Alomar was in his prime.
Morgan? For sure. Actually, Chuck Knoblauch was better than Alomar (when Chuck was in Minnesota and Robbie was here.)
And yeah, Maz was better than everybody. The Babe Ruth of second basemen.
I'm not wild about the team not having a left fielder, although Griffey would have been very, very good there. For real left fielders - it's probably Barry? Barry or Yaz.
And yeah, Maz was better than everybody. The Babe Ruth of second basemen.
I'm not wild about the team not having a left fielder, although Griffey would have been very, very good there. For real left fielders - it's probably Barry? Barry or Yaz.
I don't agree about Knoblauch being better than Alomar (in the time frame you mentioned, not when he was airmailing throws in to the stands of course)... I remember seeing them both and while I'm sure my assessment is a little coloured by being a teenage baseball during the early 90s.
Looking at the fielding stats, there does seem to be surprisingly little difference between the two though...(Alomar's 1993 season doesn't seem to be very good at all).
Looking at the fielding stats, there does seem to be surprisingly little difference between the two though...(Alomar's 1993 season doesn't seem to be very good at all).
Back in the ninties anybody on the west coast who had the privilege of watching Ken Griffey Jr. 60 times a season knows he was a completely marvelous centre fielder who perfected climbing the outfield walls to get balls. After a 30 yard dash!
Prelim results are in. 82 ballots. An overall average team, but tons of fantastic fielders and tons of horrible fielders.
Big plus: Mcdonald, Wells, Rios, Hill, Johnson.
Minus: Zaun, Lind, Stairs, Clayton, Fasano, Smith, Clark.
Big minus: Phillips
I hope that bench is there for their hitting...
Well, Stairs is. As for the rest, you may be on to one of the reasons the club sits just above .500.
I hope that bench is there for their hitting...
Cheap shot!
Cheap shot!
Fans' Scouting Report – Results
http://www.tangotiger.net/scouting/scoutResults2007.html
Thanks to all who participated.
Tango tells me that this year's balloting is still open for stragglers. Bauxites will notice that some of the AL East franchises (not Toronto) had relatively few responses, and that those of us who saw most of the games against the Jays' AL East opponents are qualified to complete a ballot for the opponents. Here is the ballot for Tampa, and here is the ballot for Baltimore.