One of the quickest ways to start a baseball argument is to simply say, this guy was the greatest of all time. Football and basketball fans make that debate all of the time. And the opinions vary so much from state to state. Most pundits hand the crown to Michael Jordan, his six titles, and numerous MVP awards. Football is a little trickier since you need to add not only the greatest offensive player, but usually, they pick them by position, such as the greatest QB or linebacker.
I think in baseball, with all the changes in how players prepare, the rules, addition in the late ’40s of players of color, it is probably best to rate them by era. You can try every 10 years, or if in your eyes the player had a great 20-year career, you could do it that way. I have seen numerous stories over the years about players of a certain decade. I myself try to think of the player’s impact on the game, and the period in which he played.
1900-1920.
Please understand that these are simply my choices of the players I felt shaped the game and had such a dominance that they still are high on the all-time lists. Ty Cobb began playing in the majors in 1905. He played until 1928. His career batting average is .366, far and away the highest career BA of any player. The era he played in was not one where the HR was considered prevalent. Thus he had a career total of 117, But he was a hitting machine. He finished with 4,189 hits, a record he held until Pete Rose broke it on September 11th, 1985. They are the only two players in MLB history with 4000 or more hits. Cobb won the AL batting title 12 times, including 9 in a row from 1907 to 1915. He also hit over .400 twice in that span. There were other great hitters in that era, Tris Speaker, who broke Cobb’s 9 win streak for batting titles in 1916, and Honus Wagner in the NL who had 8 batting titles to his name between 1900 and 1912. But Cobb ruled the roost. Although he continued to be effective in the ’20s, he would be replaced as the best in the league by a power-hitting outfielder with a huge appetite for life and its better things. A guy who literally saved the game from a gambling scandal. His career WAR is 151.5
1920-1933
He started out as a left-handed pitcher for the Baltimore franchise of the International League. He was sold to the Red Sox on July 4th, 1914, and pitched in 5 games for the Red Sox that season. His name was George Herman Ruth. He would prove over the next few seasons to be a very proficient pitcher. He won 18 games his first full season in the rotation, then 23 and 22. His ERA was below 2 in his 23 victory season, and 2.01 the next. He also had a string of 29 consecutive scoreless innings in the 1916 and 1918 World Series. But in addition to that, he was showing some serious batting skills at the same time. So Boston had the youngster playing the outfield when he was not pitching. And the more he did it, the better he got. His last full season as a pitcher was 1917. Coincidentally he hit .325 that season. The next year, 1918, he hit an even.300, but he hit 11 home runs. That total led the league. So the next season he played in 130 games and hit the unheard-of total of 29 home runs. A major league record and he won his second home run title.
He was sold to the Yankees in the winter of 1919, just as the scandal was beginning to be a huge story. And for Boston, it would become known as the curse of the Bambino. Ruth raised the bar in 1920. He pounded 54 home runs and drove in 135 runs. Both league highs. He also hit .376, which did not lead the league. He was walked 150 times, and despite the reputation for striking out a lot, he struck out only 80 times in 458 at-bats. In fact, Babe never struck out more than 93 times in his entire career. And only struck out 90 or more times twice. We all know the career record. 714 HR’s, 2873 hits, .342 career BA. 12 HR titles, and a career WAR of 183.1. Amazingly he won what was considered the MVP award only once, 1923. He was bigger than life, a media darling of his day. He set records for slugging that would last for decades. His outlandish lifestyle would eventually catch up with him and the playing of the game he loved became a chore. He hit .300 for the last time in 1933. 34 was his last season as a Yankee and he was sold to the Braves. He wanted to manage but would never get that chance.
Babes’ impact on the youth of America was huge. The big guy just loved kids. In contrast to today’s athletes, Babe reveled in being surrounded by adoring fans. He would also stop when he would see kids playing a game and give pointers and sometimes even play catch. You won’t see that today. Babe was known to indulge in a hot dog or 6 before a game. The man was bigger than life.
1932-1940
Ruth’s teammate, Lou Gehrig, was one of the premier players in the American League. They were arguably the most dangerous 1-2 punch in the game’s history. But over in Philadelphia, they had a power-hitting first baseman of their own who would end up with more HRs than Gehrig, 3 MVP awards, 4 HR crowns, 2 batting titles, and 9 consecutive selections to the AL’s All-Star team, Jimmy Foxx. Foxx would end up with 534 HR’s, a .325 career BA, 2546 hits, and a WAR of 93.1. Gehrig’s WAR is higher, but he did much of his damage at the same time Ruth did. There were some very good players who were around in that period, Greenburg, Klein, Gehringer, DiMaggio, Ott. But Foxx was rated #1. Foxx came from a little town in Maryland called Sudlersville. I actually drove through there a couple of times heading to Dover to pick up a load. There is a small park as you come into town with a plaque dedicating the town as the birthplace of Jimmy Foxx.
1940-49
The ’40s would be marred by 4 years of War. Many of baseballs best went off to join the service. Some saw combat, others played baseball on service teams that kept the troops entertained. So saying there was a dominant player in the ’40s means you have to consider they might have only played maybe 7 years at most. Three players are at the top of the list, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Stan Musial. Williams played 7 seasons in the ’40s. 40-42, 46-49. Over those 7 years, he won 4 batting titles, 3 RBI titles, 4 HR titles, and 2 MVP awards. He also recorded the last .400 season and was an All-Star all seven years. His BA over that time, .344, .406, .356, .342, .343, .369, .343. He also led the league in OPS and slugging 6 of those 7 seasons.
DiMaggio also played 7 seasons during the ’40s. He won two MVP awards and two batting titles. His best BA came in 1941 when he hit .357. He beat out Williams for the MVP that year despite Ted hitting .400. He was one of the most graceful outfielders who ever played the game. And he was as clutch a hitter as one could ever see. He was 4 years older than Williams and slowing down some due to injuries as the decade ended.
Stan Musial was a 20-year-old rookie in 1940. He played in 12 games for the Cardinals and hit .426. Musial would only spend one season in the military, 1945, so he had 7 full seasons also. He won his first batting title at the age of 22 in 1943. He would win 2 more in the ’40s. Stan would become a power threat later in his career and did not hit more than 20 until 1948 when he hit 39. He never hit below .300 from 1942 until 1958. He got the nickname, “The Man” from Dodger fans at Ebbets Field. He was an All-Star for 20 consecutive seasons. Musial won 3 MVP awards in the 40’s and never won another. Three great players. But my choice is Williams. Probably the best pure hitter baseball has ever seen. He just dominated the game.
1950-59
Ahh, the 50’s, which were my growing up, and began to love the game years. You go down the list of players coming into their own in the ’50s and the amount of talent emerging is amazing. And the first players of color are making their marks on the game. There is a place where you can see a list of the best players during a 10-year span, Ainsworthsports.com. # 1 on the 50’s list is Musial. Stan won 4 batting titles in the ’50s. But amazingly he never won the MVP award. He finished 2nd three times. Number two is Willie Mays. Mays made his debut in 1951 when he was the Rookie of the Year. He only played 34 games in 52 and missed 53 to being in the service, but in only his 2nd full season, 1954, he earned the MVP award in the NL for the Champion Giants and made a highlight-reel catch in the Series that is still shown on YouTube and other video outlets. He was as an exciting player as you ever will see. A genuine 5 tool player. Number three on the list, Duke Snider.
Some might say why Snider? Well, Duke was one of the more prolific sluggers of the era. He hit more HR’s in the ’50s than any other player, 326. He hit 40 or more 5 years in a row. He also had two World Series where he hit 4 in each. He was a great outfielder with a very good arm. New York in the ’50s had three of the best CF ever playing there in the ’50s, Mantle was the other. Mickey was a switch hitter with tremendous power from both sides of the plate. He hit 280 HR’s in the ’50s, won two of his 3 career MVP awards, a batting title, and 3 home run crowns. Mantle had the added plus of playing on the Yankees who won five Championships in the ’50s. Losing only to Brooklyn in 55 and the Braves in 57.
Honestly, it is hard to choose. Musial had probably the best decade as a hitter, Snider never won a major award, although some would say He should have won the MVP in 1955 when Campy won his 3rd. Mantle was a dominant force in the American League. Mays seemed to get better every year, and unlike Snider who would get injured and never be the player he had been when the Dodgers moved to LA, Willie settled in in San Francisco and had some of his best years. I am somewhat prejudiced in this because I saw him play so much, but to me, Mays is the leader. He was the most complete player I have ever seen, and no one came close until Ken Griffey Jr.
1960-69
Three hitters dominated the 60’s, and three pitchers dominated the hitters. Mays, Hank Aaron, and Frank Robinson were the hitters, Koufax, Gibson, and Marichal were the pitchers. Mantle, because of injuries did not have the same kind of numbers he had in the ’50s. He did have a spirited battle with teammate Roger Maris in 1961 when both were chasing Ruth’s 60 HR mark. But an infection in his leg after an injection kept Mantle from catching his teammate and Maris hit 61. Aaron won the MVP in 57 for the Champion Braves. He would never win another despite being one of the more consistent hitters in the game. He managed 3 HR titles in the ’60s and led the league in slugging twice. Mays would win one batting title, an MVP award, and 3 HR titles. He also led the league in slugging and OPS twice. Both Mays and Aaron were All-Stars every year in the ’60s. Robinson started the decade as a Red. He won the MVP as a Red in 1961 when they went to the World Series and lost to the Yankees.
He was traded in the winter of 1965 to the Orioles. He went on to win the triple crown and the MVP award for the Champion Orioles who won their first title ever in 1966. Pitching dominated the 60’s and Gibson had one of the best seasons ever for a pitcher in 1968. 1.12 ERA, 22-9 record, and 11 shutouts. He also had 26 complete games. Koufax had an incredible stretch from 61-66. Throwing 4 no-hitters and winning 20 plus 3 times. 3 Cy Young awards and 3 ERA titles. Marichal was just as nasty as those two. With his high leg kick, he would constantly keep hitters off base. But as good as the pitching was, I would say the decade player is likely a tie between Mays and Aaron. Both were exceptional outfielders. Robinson was mostly a great hitter.
1970-79
The ’70s would bring some major changes to baseball. Some on the field, and some off of the field. The designated hitter was installed in the American League in 1973. The DH rule was not used in the World Series until 1976. After the league had expanded by four teams in 1968, in 1976 they added two teams to the AL, the Mariners, and Blue Jays. 1976 also saw the onset of free agency. Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith played the 1975 season without signing a contract. They challenged the old system that bound a player to one team until traded or sold or released. Arbitrator Peter Sietz ruled in favor of the players in a landmark decision in 1975. The owners panicked and negotiated a clause that said players could leave as free agents if 2 criteria were met. One, their contract had expired and two, they needed 6 years of service time. That simple decision has impacted the game more than any other in the last 40 plus years.
The A’s won 3 championships in the ’70s, Yankees, Reds, and Pirates 2 each, and the Orioles once. There were many very good players in that decade. Clemente was in his last seasons and he perished in a plane crash on a mercy mission to Haiti on New Year’s eve in 1971. He had helped his Pirates win the 71 title and collected his 3000th hit. Pete Rose was still a part of the Reds Big Red Machine. Mike Schmidt was coming into prominence in Philadelphia. Johnny Bench was the best catcher in the majors and a driving force for the Reds. McGwire and Canseco powered the A’s and Reggie was the straw that stirred the Yankees drink. Nolan Ryan was the dominant pitcher of the era with Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton close behind.
But the driving force for the Reds was Joe Morgan. Morgan was a sparkplug. He ignited Red’s rallies and snuffed out the opponents with his slick glove. He had come over from the Astros in a trade after the 1971 season. Installed as the # 2 hitter in their lineup, he immediately made an impact. He led the league in OBP in 4 of his first 5 seasons with the Reds. He won the NL MVP award twice in a row, 75-76. And in both those seasons, the Reds won the Championship. The Reds won 6 MVP awards in the ’70s. Bench in 70 and 72, Rose in 73, Morgan 75-76, and George Foster in 77. No other team came close to that many. But there were so many stars in that decade who got fewer accolades, but nonetheless were vital to their teams. Stargell with the Pirates, Luzinski with the Phils, Carew with the Twins who at that time was probably the best hitter in the majors. He won 5 batting titles in the ’70s and was the MVP once. But to pick a dominant player in the ’70s is just not that easy.
80-89
The ’80s produced some very good hitters and some very good pitchers. Wade Boggs came on the scene in Boston in 1982 and established himself as one of baseball’s best hitters. He did not hit under .325 in any one season and won 5 batting titles in the ’80s. Ryan was still one of the more dominant pitchers, but he moved on from the Angels to the Astros. As good as he was, he never won a Cy Young award. Carlton won 2 in the early ’80s. Seaver, who won 3 in the ’70s was slowing down and had played with 3 other teams since being traded by the Mets in mid-season in 1977, the last year he won 20 or more games. Dale Murphy would earn two MVP awards with the Braves. Don Mattingly was making a name for himself in New York. The Orioles had switch-hitting future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray at 1st base. A player who I always thought was underrated, Dwight Evans, was Bogg’s standout teammate in Boston. Clemens became Boston’s ace and won 2 Cy Youngs. But again, other than the hitting titles, there was no clear-cut great player who stood way above the rest of the pack. A lot of great individual performances in the ’80s. But no one dominated the era.
90-99
The PED era was upon us full force. There would be many accusations and little proof. The era was dominated by two hitters. Barry Bonds and Frank Thomas. The Big Hurt came on the AL scene in 1990 for a couple of games and then became one of the game’s most feared sluggers. While Thomas was terrorizing AL pitchers, Bonds was doing the same kind of damage in the NL. He moved to the Giants after winning two MVP awards with the Pirates in 1990 and 92, to win one with the Giants in his first season there in 1993. Randy Johnson and Clemens were the dominant AL pitchers, and Greg Maddux was a model of consistency with his buddy and teammate, Tommy Glavine. Pedro Martinez was beginning to make his mark in Montreal.
There were many great hitters in the ’90s. Belle, Griffey Jr., Belle, Bagwell, Piazza, Molitor, Edgar Martinez, Palmeiro. Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire would have a spirited home run race as they both chased Maris’s 71 mark in 1996. Virtually saving the game after a prolonged strike in 94 that wiped out the World Series and stretched into the 1995 season, shortening it and literally shaking the fan’s love of the game. Most of the PED stuff would come later as the commissioner would try and clean the game up. Causing a lot of confusion, and seriously damaging the Hall of Fame chances for those accused. Bonds would be one of them, but he and Thomas dominated the 90’s.
2000-2010
The first decade of the new century would have two dominant players. One who would pass Hank Aarons’s career HR mark and set the record for the most HR’s in a season, winning MVP awards four years in a row starting in 2001. Losing the 2000 award to his teammate, Jeff Kent. And a player who would simply be known as “The Machine. Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols. Pujols would garner 3 MVP awards from 2005 until 2010. Helping the Cardinals to two World Series and the Championship in 2006. The AL had its own 3-time winner in Alex Rodriguez, who did to the AL what Pujols and Bonds were doing in the National League. Both Bonds and Rodriguez would later be suspected of using PED’s. While he did not break any records, Rodriguez did a lot of damage playing for the Mariners, Rangers and Yankees. His contribution was two huge contracts that would impact once again how players would get paid. Pujols would leave the Cardinals after the 2011 season on one of those massive 10-year deals signing with the Angels. But he was never the same hitter in Anaheim that he was in St. Louis.
2010-2020
Bonds was gone after the 2007 season, Rodriguez retired after 2016. Griffey Jr’s career was over by 2010. Hampered by injuries, his last few seasons were mediocre. Those injuries probably cost him a shot at 700 HRs. Same with Rodriguez. His HR production tailed off considerably after 2007 and he finished 4 homers short. But new blood was arriving in the form of some very exciting kids. Miguel Cabrera arrived in Miami with the Marlins and was traded to Detroit in 2007 in the winter. It took him a couple of years to really get comfortable in Detroit, but then he went off. He won his first MVP in 2002 when he won the AL Triple Crown and then won again in 2003. He won four batting titles until injuries started to slow him down in 2017. Also in the AL, the Angels had an exciting young player of their own. Mike Trout came on the scene in 2011 for a cup of coffee and then went on to win the ROY the following year. He would win 3 MVP awards in the decade and has been considered as the best player in the game. That might not be the case now, but it sure was in the last decade.
Many young stars surfaced in the NL too. Joey Votto, Paul Goldschmidt, Buster Posey, The top pitcher of the era is Kershaw. 3 Cy Youngs and an MVP award. ERA titles. Right on his heels, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Al also got its first glimpse of Mookie Betts and he did not disappoint earning an MVP in the Red Sox 2018 title year. Trout is my pick simply because he sustained his excellence for almost all of the decade while Cabrera fell off the last couple of seasons.
Well, there you have it. Some of the best the game has ever seen. Some you will not agree with and that’s cool. This is more about how hard it is to say this player or that player is the greatest of all time. And not all were solid citizens either. And just think, I have not even mentioned guys like Rogers Hornsby, Paul Waner, Mel Ott. All of those players were great hitters. Ivan Rodriguez was probably the best catcher of his era. And he was a pretty good hitter too. But, he missed the cut.
In the final analysis if you go by a players WAR, the greatest of all time is Ruth, hands down. His WAR is almost 20 points higher than the 2 and 3 player’s, both pitchers, Walter Johnson and Cy Young, and He is 21 points higher than Bonds who sits in 4th position and 27 points higher than Willie Mays. He gets that edge because of his record when he was pitching. The Babe still reigns, 73 years after his death, and 86 years since he played his last game.
Call it Bear: who will be the player of the 2020’s decade?
I absolutely hate to say this, but It sure looks like it’s going to be Tatis Jr. I hate that guy.
Tatis Jr. is for sure a candidate, but Guerrero in Toronto is a monster waiting to be unleashed. Who knows what kind of player Wander Franco will turn into. He has shown some tools. It will be fun to watch.
Bear, another excellent and always controversial subject this morning.
I agree with Bear on MLB vs the players. It’s amazing to me that they seem to be just starting to negotiate from square one. I’m sure that’s not the case, but how can they be so far apart at this point. I’m leaning toward the players side. Arbitration and free agency should be granted sooner to the players being that teams are less apt to pay big contracts to older players like they have in the past. This could become messy before it’s over.
Just days after seeing Seager bolt after this age 27 season, I couldn’t disagree more. Baseball wants more fan interest. What better way than to have players stay with their own team into their prime years instead of bolting as they’re reaching their primes. Corey has already made $24M in his career prior to free agency. Very old Max Scherzer just got an additional $140M for 3 years. Less apt to pay older players? You’ve got to be kidding me. 30 year old utility guy just got $15M per year. 40 YO Justin Verlander who pitched 6 inning in the last two years just got another $50M.
Overall, I don’t care right now that they’re in a lockout. It would be nice to see them spend some serious time negotiating instead of meeting for a half an hour or so and everyone walking away without making progress. But, this is how negotiations happen. I’m be more concerned if they don’t get something done before the end of January.
I disagree with Teds’s take more because it will increase the cleavage between the haves and the have nots. The only reason the Rays are as good as they are is because they have some team control of players that they draft and develop. If they have to pay open market prices sooner for players that they scout, draft and develop, then teams like the Rays or As, like the Expos before, will be essentially a minor league stop for players wanting big contracts in big markets. There will be no way they can compete. Talk about a policy that will kill fan interest. Why would I support my favorite player in my local small market team and go watch when I know he’s just showcasing his talent to bolt ASAP?
Maybe because you just like watching the great game of baseball? Enjoy your ‘team’, not the individual players. I’ve never owned a jersey with a certain player’s name on the back but I have had plenty of Dodger shirts and caps.
Hard to enjoy your “team” when they never can compete and any talented prospect who comes up and shows promise will be gone as soon as they are on the cusp of stardom, thus perpetuating the cycle of futility.
I don’t know. When I lived in San Diego back in the 70s I would go to their games, even though they weren’t very good. Be it watching Little League, High School, the Minors, or the Majors, I just enjoy the game.
I get your reasoning behind your objections. I’m taking from the player’s point of view. It’s BS for teams keeping top prospects in the minors for a month at the start of the season to gain an additional year of control. The players obviously agreed to it so too bad so sad. That, at least, should be addressed. The owners recently don’t want to give out long contracts to 30+ year olds which I agree with. And, they don’t have to give out big contracts to players under control for the first six years. Win, win for the owners. Maybe, keep the system the same for younger players (6 years of control before FA). But, allow a guy let’s say who is a late developer at 29 to become a free agent regardless of time in the majors. There’s no correct answer. I get the point of view of allowing small market teams to keep their developed players longer. Tampa bay just extended Wander Franco for $223M (with 70 major league AB’s) so there’s that.
Again, I get everyone’s point of view on this subject. Thanks for the feedback and thoughts.
Thanks Ted, always nice to be appreciated! LOL>
Some comments here are correctly pointing out that the Dodgers primary need is starting pitching. Thing is, I don’t know if there are any impact starting pitchers to be had. Stroman is gone. Who else?
The more I think about it, the more I’m beginning to change my mind about Bauer. The Dodgers might want to move on from the Bauer headache, but the Ozuna suspension of just 20 games – even though police actually witnessed him throwing his girlfriend against a wall – is making me think he might be back. If the Pasadena DA just declines to press any charges it will give Manfred and the Dodgers cover to bring him back, perhaps even counting his administrative leave as time served.
I will eat crow if Mark is right and he comes back.
Bauer coming back will involve some PR stickiness from the Woke people, but it will solve an obvious problem the Dodgers have with starting pitching depth. When we’re arguing here over whether Heaney or Mitch White are better pitching options, then that indicates that there is a problem.
San Diego just signed another back end starter who was pretty darned good in the Japanese league last year and has MLB experience. They’re quietly assembling some good starting pitching depth, especially with Clevinger coming back.
San Diego will be more of a challenge in 2022 for the Dodgers if and when baseball is played than San Francisco.
How The MLB Minimum Salary Has Changed With Each New CBA
By Tim Dierkes | December 2, 2021 at 9:02am CDT
As we enter Day 1 of the MLB lockout, one key issue in the current labor negotiations is where the players’ minimum salary will land. Given the union’s stated goal to get players paid more when they’re younger and more productive, it stands to reason that they’re seeking a more significant increase than usual. The minimum salary was set at $570,500 in 2021. It’s not known how much MLB proposed raising it in their most recent offer. Here’s a look at how the minimum salary has changed with each new CBA.
1968: Minimum salary went from $6K to $10K, a 66.7% increase
1970: $10K to $12K, a 20% increase
1973: $13.5K to $15K, an 11.1% increase
1976: $16K to $19K, an 18.8% increase
1980: $21K to $30K, a 42.9% increase
1985: $40K to $60K, a 50% increase
1990: $68K to $100K, a 47.1% increase
1997: $109K to $150K, a 37.6% increase
2003: $200K to $300K, a 50% increase
2007: $327K to $380K, a 16.2% increase
2012: $414K to $480K, a 15.9% increase
2017: $507.5K to $535K, a 5.4% increase
In the free agency era, the minimum salary had always increased by at least 15.9% until the just-expired CBA. There is historical precedent for a leap as high as 50%, which would mean $855,750 for 2022. An increase of 16% would be more in line with the ’07 and ’12 CBAs, which would set the minimum at $661,780. It should also be noted that the minimum salary typically increases each year within a CBA, with the ’20 and ’21 rates involving cost of living adjustments.
I dont ever get into the whole GOAT debate because it is ONLY an opinion based argument. Sure you can try and use stats as part of your argument but there are many variables attached to those stats. It is the same in any team sport and arguing in basketball on who was the greatest. I would simply leave it at these were the best players by stat numbers as each has their positives and negatives.
Different season, same comments: Again, the next year has not even started yet and some have already started to worry about SD.
Face it. The Dodgers are screwed. I think I might start being a San Diego fan. They know how to run an organization …and the stadium I hear is nice – good selection of local IPAs. Go Padres!!
IPA are for people who don’t like beer. Does anyone remember that the Padres were a sub 500 team last year? They’re gonna need a lot more than Clevenger to improve that rotation. Snell looks like he might be close to injury and Darvish sucks without the stickum. Tatis might as well be Muncy with that shoulder popping out and refusing to fix it.
The Giants and the Padres haven’t done crap so far this offseason and the Padres have two guys they’re desperately trying to unload in Hosmer and Myers and the Giants haven’t replaced their best pitcher and best hitter from last year.
If you look at the Dodgers, they at least already have replacements for the guys they lost and they have payroll room from where they were spending last year.
We are in a golden age of brewing. San Diego and Southern California have been at the epicenter of beer innovation, and although the hoppiness of IPAs might not be to everyone’s liking, and some of the wildcat experimentation might be a little out-there or off-putting to brewing traditionalists, you can’t deny there is a ton of creative change in beer making. Such is the beauty of free markets and personal freedom and entrepreneurship. A couple of bros in their 20s with a dream and a passion can create something unique and disrupt a stagnant market – and the American domestic beer scene dominated Bud, Miller, Coors, etc was definitely stagnant …and that beer tastes like watered down piss.
We need that same kind of disruption to target Big Tech, Big Media and Wall Street and reinvigorate small business entrepreneurship, especially in rural America.
And anyone who says what “real” beer is supposed to be probably sips their fancy pants imported Belgium ale made from natural yeasts floating around in the abbey with their pinkie tangling out.
Good idea Patch. I might move to La Jolla and join you.
Bear, very nice job on your piece today. It’s hard to argue any of those. They are heads and tails above the rest of their peers and only the steroid clouded players are not the tippy top of HOF’ers.
Some other thoughts…
I don’t see how it’s better for the game to give players free agency earlier. It may be better for the player’s pocketbooks, but not better for the game. I don’t mind finding a way to pay players more up until free agency, but I don’t see how player movement is better for the teams that draft and develop their players, just to lose them as they’re entering their prime years…
Looking at the roster that Mark posted in the preceding post, what stands out is the lack of starting pitching. It sure looks like a trade is eminent. I think one of the first things that AF said after the season was that you never have enough pitching. I think we have enough starting pitching to start the season right now, but depth looks a little thin. I don’t think it’s out of the questions to start the season with Bueller, Urias, Bauer, Heaney and Gonsolin. If Bauer is delayed, they have depth in Jackson, White, Price and Grove which don’t look like great options and may need a little more time to bake in the minors. If the inevitable Clayton Kershaw signing happens as it should, the rotation at the beginning of the season would either Bueller, Urias, Bauer, Kershaw and Heaney or Gonsolin with the 6th man taking Bauer’s place temporarily.
I really like the idea of adding Freddie Freeman. He grew up just miles from where I live and was a Dodgers fan growing up. He’s also one of the best pure hitters in the league. I don’t feel good about Muncy handling second base. Could there be other plans?
For teams that miss out on Freddie, there’s always Anthony Rizzo.
There isn’t a lot of pitching remaining on the Free Agent market. Carlos Rodon looks like the only difference maker remaining on the FA market. Clayton Kershaw and another project?
Watching MLB Network was pretty rough yesterday. Corey Seager pretending like the Rangers are going to be contenders and the MLB broadcasters gushing over DeGrom and Scherzer in NY and how historic that one two punch will be. No mention that they’re the oldest one two punch or their lack of innings pitched last year, or the significant drop off to Taijuan Walker as their number 3. The Mets will be a hot mess again next year.
I really think we dodged a bullet with Scherzer. There’s a lot of mileage on that arm and not being to pitch in game 6 was really concerning for me. I’ll take the under on 25 starts and he won’t need to worry about pitching in the post season.
What the hell are the Giants doing? They seem to have replaced their best pitcher from last year with Alex Cobb and have done nothing to address losing their best hitter. Are they counting on a Joey Bart breakout and everyone having career years again?
As a Dodgers fan, I feel really good about the team so far. We have enough Starting Pitching right now to start the season, although we’re a little bit thin. After Ozuna getting off with 20 games, I can’t see how it would be possible to suspend Bauer much further than what he’s already received.
The bench looks much better with Taylor coming back into the fold and a healthy Z-Mack, Beaty and Rios. There’s too many 40 man spots going to not quite ready guys like Vivas, Amaya, Leonard, Outman and Raley so there’s going to be a trade at some point.
The pen is absolutely stacked with Treinen, Khanle, Hudson who are all experienced at the back end. The list of bullpen pieces is long and talented with a good mix of veterans and youth with big arms.
It sure looks like AF is willing to spend some money still and there’s a bunch of bats on the market right now.
Trade proposal that might actually work…
If you believe Twitter Idiots, the Dodgers could trade Bauer and most of his remaining salary for a good arbitration jackpot like Luis Castillo. Lets do Castillo and Gray for Bauer, Grove and Vivas. This would clear a roster spot for Freeman, Rizzo, Bryant or Correa. Offseason complete at that point. Clayton can go with Seags to the Rangers.
Hey, I have no idea, different eras and all. Hard to even pick a player of the decade or the past five years. Who was the best player on the Dodgers last year? Chris Taylor?
Maybe we should try something different. How about MOAT? Most Overpaid of All Time. I’m sure we could put together quite the list. But since most players of yesteryear weren’t paid much, it would probably have to focus on recent players. The Dodgers would have a few for the list, starting with Andruw Jones. Pretty good player for the Braves, total bust for the Dodgers. Nearly $37 million down the drain.
Set aside all the injuries and ailments, I probably liked Mickey Mantle the best. Switch hitter, who hit with amazing power from both sides. Before the injuries set in, tremendous speed. Willie Mays was certainly worthy. But no player had more impact in an era than Babe Ruth.
So I’m not surprised the Dodgers re-signed Chris Taylor. He made it clear he really wanted to stay. Some think he was the MVP for the team last year. Couldn’t argue with that.
Didn’t get that same vibe from Corey. Oh, he said, of course he wanted to return, but not with the same conviction that Taylor did. Maybe, as some have suggested that Corey thought the Dodgers were always looking for an upgrade at short. His wife even expressed concern about all the Lindor rumors and talk. Then the Dodgers, after Seager rejected a massive extension, made the trade for Trea Turner. Did Seager see that as writing on the wall. Smart move by Andrew Friedman as it stands now. Or in the end was it just about money? Often the case in baseball.
So the Dodgers need a left handed bat. Would the Dodgers actually pursue Freddie Freeman? Might make some sense. Can’t imagine him leaving the Braves. But money talks. So does a sixth year. Will Max Muncy return to form or will the injury hurt his swing?
The Dodgers seem to need pitching more than anything. If Clayton Kershaw returns and is healthy, that might change the equation somewhat. Maybe there is a trade to be made. Oakland? Cincy? Maybe a couple of rehab projects.
At this point the Dodgers seem to be better off than the Giants. Losing Kevin Gausman is certainly a blow. Had a pretty good season, arguably one of the major reasons they won.
Probably won’t take a 105 or 107 wins to take the NL West. San Diego could be a challenge. Probably depends on the rotation, which was somewhere between derailing and total meltdown.
No one starts with a better one-two in the NL West than Walker Buehler and Julio Urias.
Good write-up, Bear.
Thanks Buff. You could throw Strawberry on the overpaid list. And a couple others. Going by decade was the easiest way because in some decades there was a clearcut standout player. In others it was harder because there were so many great players, especially in the 40’s and 50’s.
As in politics, it is hard to get agreement when talking about proposals instead of problems. A well defined problem or opportunity that can get agreement that it actually exists from a large majority has to come before discussing solutions.
Five year free agency instead of 6–what problem does that solve or does it expand a problem. It is by itself a solution in search of a problem.
We hear about the 2% of the population that owns 80% of the wealth and it looks like 2% of the players will earn 80 of total payroll (a guess). Is that a problem? Why?
Black Philip is GGOAT
A simple way to view CT3’s versatility value:
If there’s a DH, he could play 3B instead of Justin Turner.
If Bellinger moves to 1B to replace Muncy, he could play CF.
If Lux isn’t ready to play 2B full-time, he could play there.
If Pollock pulls his hamstring, he could play LF.
If Trea Turner stays at 2B, he could play SS.
What’s best is none of things needs to be decided before the season starts. He’s just an on-call indemnity policy with a great attitude and infinite hustle.
Love the guy.
100%
I read Manfred’s message to the fans and almost puked. He talked about the MLBPA being confrontational and unwilling to compromise, but I had read a couple of their counter offers. Neither seemed outrageous like he claimed they were. What pissed me off was that their last meeting lasted exactly 7 minutes before everyone walked out. They just seem a lot further apart than everyone said they were. I don’t have the answers. I would like to see a little more compromise from both sides, but I flat out do not trust Manfred. Here it is December, and still no ruling on Bauer. Both Manfred and Clark blamed the other side. Sorry, in my opinion this is going to get even uglier. Verlander’s contract was not finalized before the lockout, so he is not an Astro yet. Neuse and a couple of other guys are in DFA limbo since there is a freeze on player movement. Teams can sign players to minor league deals. Reds signed 5 of those.
Mookie got married the other day. A lot of the players attended his wedding. Looking good in those tuxes. Belli is now a dad, his baby daughter was born the other day. Turner said he has spoken to Kelly and Jansen about their free agency. AF is said to have interest in bringing both back. Corey did not look very happy at his presser for the Rangers the other day. One poster on facebook had a nice rip saying Corey has 325 million reasons to smile, a new truck, beautiful wife, and his new employer makes him work one month less for his money.
….”and his new employer makes him work one month less for his money.” That is funny.
I thought it was pretty good.
Probably alot less scrutiny on mediocre defense in Arlington then at Chavez Ravine
Probably considering how bad the Rangers have been the last few years. But we know Seager likes hitting there. His playoff performance in 2020 proves that. Olney was saying yesterday that when the lockout does end, the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox are going to strike the free agent market hard.
From reading here I must be in the minority, but to me $535K is not a bad salary. It’s was more than I have ever made. If salaries were not so high & the owners were not greedy, prices to go to a game could be made it reasonable
I doubt you are in the minority. I suspect anyone on the site making $535K a year is pretty much the minority.