He’s retiring this year, right? Does he qualify for Medicare?
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Molina is great. In my lifetime, I think Bench is #1.
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Above Berra?
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I’d have no problem with him in the HoF.
But I think he’s an ass and I don’t like him at all.
Oh, goodness yes. I am talking about catching, not hitting.
I do not keep up with him enough to know he is an ass. I think he is a great catcher.
Scherzer gets more swings and misses on fastballs in the zone than anyone I’ve ever seen.
I’ve never pondered the question really, so I ask in all ignorance. I went and grabbed my copy of Bill James’ Abstract, from 2001. James goes Berra, Bench, Campanella, Cochrane, Piazza, Fisk, Dickey, Carter, Hartnett, Simmons for his top ten. I doubt if that really considers the value of catcher qua catcher, but it’s an interesting list. I’d certainly say I’d think Molina was a better catcher than Piazza, but that’s because I’m no Piazza fan.
ETA: James on the difference between Bench and Berra: "Bench was a lot more impressive defensively than Berra; Berra was a guy who got the job done. Berra could throw, he could catch the ball, he could call the game, and he knew baseball like nobody else. . . . Yogi was very good, but Bench was spectacular . . .
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We went to Busch last week, and watched the Cubs beat the Cardinals. I was thinking during the game that if the Astros were still in the same division, we would all loathe Bader.
Part of me misses that hate
Scherzer tried to walk Wainwright but he bunted for the sacrifice on a 3-2 pitch inside.
It was a good bunt
But it was an out. He could have taken the pitch and walked and still moved the runner into scoring position with 1 out rather than 2.
But he’s a pitcher
He could just as easily struck out.
Too close to take.
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Especially with Joe West behind the plate
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It’s just sad that the umpire enters the thought process of whether you need to swing or not.
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Is anybody else stunned by that Texas Rangers defensive runs saved stay? Is that similar to the whole, the team that has the most runs is most likely to also have the most double plays kind of thing?
Good point. Joe West certainly adds a level of risk.
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I don’t know about other players, but Gallo and Kinda-Favela are very good defenders
I also didn’t see that stat you’re talking about