Best hitter? The fucking babe! He was the greatest PLAYER ever. He could run with speed, pitch with effectivness and hit with power AND consistancy. Yea sure, the Era thing might play a little factor, but if anything baseball was harder back then...because the players didn't take enchancement drugs/steriods. And not only that, but I think the distance between home and the mound was actually shorter then. Also, players are more 'in shape' now. Harder workout routines. My point is, that today's players have it easier, AND are in better shape.
Maybe Ichiro could make a vote for the best hitter in the last decade or so, but even that's tough, because he's only been hot for a couple of years now. I think it's really too early in his career to compare him to GREAT hitters, like Williams, Boggs, and Mays. Nomar is no where in this league.
Back to bonds. Best power hitter? I'm sorry, but the steriod, or..."PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS" really get to me. Guys like Rose, Mattingly, Mays, Winfield....they accomplished great feats without that crap. IT (the steriods thing) all started with Mcgwire, who I think was just a notch below Bonds.
Now, Vlad Guererro (on the Angels). Now THAT'S a real power hitter. In two years this guy will be Bonds re-incarnated.
I'm not saying that Bonds is a shitty player...or even an average player. He is definately above average, but this drug things makes him the "Barry Bonds" of the last two years. Overated. I bet you he'll be like Giambi in a couple of years. Or like McGwire. Retired, with the side effects of excessive 'drug' use. And, of course we no Giambis deal. Big power hitter last year. Came through in the clutch many times for the yanks. he comes back this season, he's like 100lbs less than what he was before, and next thing you know he misses the whole season due to being 'weak'. Something's wrong with that, eh?
Ricky Henderson:
Best leadoff man ever?: Probably. He did hit alot of lead off hr's. And probably was one of the best base stealers ever.
Best player ever?: No, but one of the best. Top 10.
And whilke we're comparing...Am I the only one that thinks that Buck Showalter is an AMAZING manager.?
He turned around the yanks, by managing them for a few years, rebuidling the team, and STARTING what Torre gets to inherit and finish. (Though I'm not putting down the Torre-Stottlemeyer combination. Legendary, and equally as effective. But I don't think Buck shoud've been fired)
(Buck) Did a damn good job with the Diamonbacks Expansion team. Got fired. Took time off and did ESPN. Then gets right back in the game and does ANOTHER AMAZING JOB with the TExas Rangers, putting them in the pennat race for a good part of this season Though they'll probably JUST miss the playoffs, it's AMAZING what this man has done. He's very young, but he deserves to be in the playoffs.
Yup. My sudden baseball rant of the day.