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I still can't believe the Cards are just going to let Albert walk after this season. You have to believe the window to sign is now and not after the season when he becomes a free agent. Granted most big market teams seem to be tied up with long contracts at first base but Cubbies will have room....
Seriously, Pirates pitcher Russ Ohlendorf just won his salary arbitration and will be paid two million dollars this year. He was 1-11 last year! If 1-11 is worth two million, what's 120 runs per year worth?I think the Cards will keep him. It's just going to hurt and they're getting prepared...
Bryan, if anyone is willing to give a team the "home team" discount, it is Albert. He is a great player (possibly the best right handed hitter I have seen). For years, I never thought I'd see a guy as good as Frank Thomas from the right side but Albert should finish his career with better numbers. A sure HOF guy and better hitter than some of the steroid cheats like A-Rod and Bagwell who are/were great hitters. Thomas' numbers suffered after his 9th year, when he was injured. Before that year, he was always a great power hitter, with great obp and high average. He's not well liked around Chicago because he had a dick personality but his talent was HOF worthy. Albert is a better all-around hitter and it pains me to say it because I was a fan of the "Big Hurt". The sight of Albert Puljols in any uni that does not have a cardinal on it would make me cringe...and I hate the Cards!
The Big Hurt was good, but I am not sure I would say that he is the best right handed hitter that this 40 year old and lifelong baseball fan had seen before Albert came around. He certainly is in the conversation, but so is Manny, Bagwell, Edgar Martinez, Albert Belle, and A-Rod. I still don't know how to evaluate the steroid era, so I am keeping Manny and A-roid in the conversation. BTW, why are you lumping Bagwell in with A-roid? There is no evidence that Bagwell used PED's.George
Hi George, I watched Frank play lots of those games in person, in his prime. When he was a young man, he was the best I have ever seen live and before he was injured one of the best. He could hit for power, average and his OBP was great because he walked a lot. It's hard to say "best" in baseball because there is such a rich history. I'd rate big Frank ahead of Edgar and Bagwell. Albert Belle was a MONSTER in Cleveland and he finished his career with the White Sox. I had a chance to see him play in person quite a bit and although he was not a fan favorite, he was a killer at the plate. I hate Manny and A-Rod but they are also in the conversation. Manny is a complicated dude because, although his numbers were great, he played when he decided to play and was pretty much classless for most of his career. He is my most hated player of all time and the ONLY guy who I watch bat just so I can hope he gets beaned in the head. When he disgraced the White Sox uni, I thought about never watching the team again. Manny is scum.If you want to include "juiced" players (or at least ones we are pretty sure were on the stuff), I would say that Barry Bonds was the most dangerous hitter to ever live. When he was juiced up and dialed in, he was almost unstoppable. He needed (and pretty much received) no help in the lineup, played in a huge park and achieved a level of dominance at the plate that I have never seen. He's my second most hated player (after Manny) but was more talented than any of the names mentioned in this thread. I'm not a fan, and it hurts me to admit this but I don't think I have ever seen a player as dangerous and dialed in as Bonds was in those crazy Balco-juice days. In fairness, we have now learned many of the pitchers were also juiced up so maybe it's just tit for tat.
I would say that Barry Bonds was the most dangerous hitter to ever live.
If we moved over to pitching, the most dominant starter I have seen for an extended period of time was Pedro from 1997-2003.
granted you young guys are talking the modern era and I fully understand it's very difficult to draw comparisons to the various eras.......live balls, mound ht, equipment changes, ballpark configurations, etc. Not to mention the evolution of the physical body itself !
I think one big difference is that in Babe's era, the overwhelming majority (OK, maybe too broad? maybe not?) of the best ballplayers weren't allowed to play the game. -Mike
really............more so than the 'Babe' ? show me a power hitter with a better life time BA....his was .342 I believe. IMO, he is still the greatest player the game has produced.granted you young guys are talking the modern era and I fully understand it's very difficult to draw comparisons to the various eras.......live balls, mound ht, equipment changes, ballpark configurations, etc. Not to mention the evolution of the physical body itself !Tough..........like trying to agree on the all-time greatest starting '9' !!
