Designated Hitter

[bedraggled]

Vinny,

I've argued against the DH previously.


TennPaGa is a great contributor to this thread.

IT's getting late but I'll be contributing more in a day or2.

Looks like Xan and I are on the same page re the DH.

Cheers.

[vnatale]

Vinny,

I've argued against the DH previously.


tennpagais a great contributor to this thread.

IT's getting late but I'll be contributing more in a day or2.

Looks like Can and I are on the same page re the DH.

Cheers.

Yes, as I do in all the prior Topics I've visited I read just about all that is in them. So, have your arguments against.

Vinny

[bedraggled]

Vinny,

A post from July, 2017:

And in 1955, second year Detroit Tigers outfielder Al Kaline was being heckled by fans in the Yankee Stadium right field, field level seats

The taunt was: "Hey, Kaline, you're not half as good as Mantle."

Kaline's response was "Nobody is."

Keep in mind that Kaline hit .340 that year with 200 hits and 27 HRs- the batting average and hits were the league's best.

I saw Mantle during his decline. People who saw young Mantle said he was beyond. Must have been something to witness.

[vnatale]

Vinny,

A post from July, 2017:

And in 1955, second year Detroit Tigers outfielder Al Kaline was being heckled by fans in the Yankee Stadium right field, field level seats

The taunt was: "Hey, Kaline, you're not half as good as Mantle."

Kaline's response was "Nobody is."

Keep in mind that Kaline hit .340 that year with 200 hits and 27 HRs- the batting average and hits were the league's best.

I saw Mantle during his decline. People who saw young Mantle said he was beyond. Must have been something to witness.

Mantle is on the Yankees Mount Rushmore of all-time greatest Yankees along with DiMaggio, Ruth, and Gehrig.

His average season was comparable to Alex Rodriguez's greatest seasons.

Mike Trout is today's Mickey Mantle. Too bad he plays on the West Coast and on a team that has only made the post season once.

In the first 14 years of Mantle's career he was in the World Series every one of those years except for two. Therefore he got to play on baseball's greatest stage in all of those years. There was no other post season series so back then the World Series got the FULL attention of baseball fans.

Vinny

[bedraggled]

Vinny,

Since you profess the Yankee faith of a True Believer, you might understand my evaluation, as follows:

Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer. There was a particular great play he was involved in and my spontaneous, knee jerk reaction was "Jeter really is as good as Munson."

Since the Yankees have a legitimate history, consider that history as an atom with Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Ford and Mantle in the nucleus- and Berra. (I am now vague on the 1936-1939 World Series winners. Wanna put Bill Dickey and a couple of others in the nucleus)? Other great players are placed in the first ring of electrons around the nucleus. That first ring includes Munson, Richardson and Jeter. Include Rizzuto there. Are Guidry, Lyle and Gossage in the first ring? I'm inclined to put Elston Howard in the first ring. Whaddya think?

BTW, Mariano Rivera must get serious consideration for being in the nucleus.

That Munson is not in the Hall may be a moral offense. I can argue Guidry's absence, too. Speaking of moral offenses... the designated hitter!

[bedraggled]

Vinny,
Regarding modern baseball, I find I can let it be. Then along comes Aaron Judge and it's fun again. I feel like Michael Corleone: "Just when I think I'm out, they drag me back in again."

Imagine today's starting pitcher looking to be relieved after 5 innings. Ewwww! How pedestrian.

Did you see my post about Warren Spahn vs. Juan Marichal and the 15 inning game?

Can you arrange to trade Gary Sanchez for Mike Trout? Please.

[vnatale]

Vinny,

Since you profess the Yankee faith of a True Believer, you might understand my evaluation, as follows:

Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer. There was a particular great play he was involved in and my spontaneous, knee jerk reaction was "Jeter really is as good as Munson."

Since the Yankees have a legitimate history, consider that history as an atom with Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Ford and Mantle in the nucleus- and Berra. (I am now vague on the 1936-1939 World Series winners. Wanna put Bill Dickey and a couple of others in the nucleus)? Other great players are placed in the first ring of electrons around the nucleus. That first ring includes Munson, Richardson and Jeter. Include Rizzuto there. Are Guidry, Lyle and Gossage in the first ring? I'm inclined to put Elston Howard in the first ring. Whaddya think?

BTW, Mariano Rivera must get serious consideration for being in the nucleus.

That Munson is not in the Hall may be a moral offense. I can argue Guidry's absence, too. Speaking of moral offenses... the designated hitter!

Of those you name here is how I would arrange them...

Mantle, DiMaggio, Gehrig, Ruth
Yogi Berra
Derek Jeter
Whitey Ford
Mariano Rivera
Bill Dickey
Phil Rizzuto
Ron Guidry
Thurman Munson
Elston Howard
Goose Gossage
Sparky Lyle
Bobby Richardson

[vnatale]

Vinny,
Regarding modern baseball, I find I can let it be. Then along comes Aaron Judge and it's fun again. I feel like Michael Corleone: "Just when I think I'm out, they drag me back in again."

Imagine today's starting pitcher looking to be relieved after 5 innings. Ewwww! How pedestrian.

Did you see my post about Warren Spahn vs. Juan Marichal and the 15 inning game?

Can you arrange to trade Gary Sanchez for Mike Trout? Please.

I read everything here so I must have read it.

It is far more difficult to pitch now than then. Hitters are far more patient and realize the value of getting on base, i.e., walking and making the pitcher work. Plus, in the American League, as you know they don't have the luxury (as they still in the National League) of essentially having 22.2% of the lineup being composed of essentially non-hitters.

Vinny

[bedraggled]

Vinny,

I must digest you thoughts on pitchers. I am impressed that you mentioned 22.2% of the lineup was easy. I always said the 8th and 9th batters allowed the pitcher a chance to breathe.

Since you understand better than many, factor nutrition into pitcher breakdowns. Skittles and diet cola, anyone?

[bedraggled]

Vinny,

I'll post in the "Baseball?" thread only.

[vnatale]

Vinny,

I must digest you thoughts on pitchers. I am impressed that you mentioned 22.2% of the lineup was easy. I always said the 8th and 9th batters allowed the pitcher a chance to breathe.

Since you understand better than many, factor nutrition into pitcher breakdowns. Skittles and diet cola, anyone?

You remember the 1967 Red Sox "Impossible Dream" season and all of Carl Yastrzemski's heroics on his way to winning the MVP. Hitting 44 home runs that year? Way more than he ever had previously.

That winter got into a weight lifting program which significantly increased in strength, leading to all those home runs.

Back in those days all other player were anti-weight lifting, saying it would make them "muscle bound".

Also, players did not make that much money back then and almost all of them also had winter jobs. They did nothing to keep themselves in shape during the off-season. Therefore they did have to get back in shape during Spring Training. Now it is Headlines if ONE players comes to Spring Training NOT in shape!

Vinny