Now that I've stuck an Erasure tune in many of your heads .... ESPN's Page 2 has an article about the most underrated athletes of all time. Among baseball players, Stan Musial, Arky Vaughn and Lefty Grove receive prominent mention. "Underrated" is a tricky term, of course, since everyone has a slightly different definition. Underrated by whom? Fans, media, other players? But hey, most of the fun baseball debates usually involve the phrase "that depends on your definition of..."
Anyway, this made me think: who's the most underrated Blue Jay of all time? Everyone is allowed two nominees at most, one pitcher and one hitter. Your reasons can range from the sentimental to the sabrmetric, but you have to provide those reasons.
Here are my nominees:
Hitter: John Olerud
The franchise's all-time leader in OBP, he's also a surprising 7th in team SLG, for a third-place ranking in OPS (behind only his replacements at first base, Fred McGriff and Carlos Delgado). He's in the franchise Top Ten in batting average, runs, hits, doubles and total bases, with an OPS+ over 100 in each of his seven full seasons with the team. On top of that, he became a sterling defender over time and, if this sort of thing matters, he produced a decent .267/.353/.400 line in 30 World Series ABs. Yet many fans might still rank Willie Upshaw as the better Jays first baseman. He's remembered mostly for his amazing 1993 season, his batting helmet and his quiet demeanour, but he was a very valuable player.
Pitcher: Jimmy Key
I think that the more knowledgeable fans appreciate Jimmy Key, but most fans and even many analysts overlook that Key was not only the best lefthander ever to pitch for Toronto, he was one of the best pitchers period. In fact, Key is first or second among starters in numerous career categories like ERA (2nd), W-L% (2nd), WHIP (1st), BB/IP (2nd), while being third in wins, starts and shutouts. He had 6 plus-100 ERA+ seasons, and is in the Top Ten seasonal charts in many categories. Like Olerud, he was a quiet guy whose repertoire wasn't 100-mph fastballs or high-strikeout seasons, but he was the second-best pitcher the team ever had.
Anyway, this made me think: who's the most underrated Blue Jay of all time? Everyone is allowed two nominees at most, one pitcher and one hitter. Your reasons can range from the sentimental to the sabrmetric, but you have to provide those reasons.
Here are my nominees:
Hitter: John Olerud
The franchise's all-time leader in OBP, he's also a surprising 7th in team SLG, for a third-place ranking in OPS (behind only his replacements at first base, Fred McGriff and Carlos Delgado). He's in the franchise Top Ten in batting average, runs, hits, doubles and total bases, with an OPS+ over 100 in each of his seven full seasons with the team. On top of that, he became a sterling defender over time and, if this sort of thing matters, he produced a decent .267/.353/.400 line in 30 World Series ABs. Yet many fans might still rank Willie Upshaw as the better Jays first baseman. He's remembered mostly for his amazing 1993 season, his batting helmet and his quiet demeanour, but he was a very valuable player.
Pitcher: Jimmy Key
I think that the more knowledgeable fans appreciate Jimmy Key, but most fans and even many analysts overlook that Key was not only the best lefthander ever to pitch for Toronto, he was one of the best pitchers period. In fact, Key is first or second among starters in numerous career categories like ERA (2nd), W-L% (2nd), WHIP (1st), BB/IP (2nd), while being third in wins, starts and shutouts. He had 6 plus-100 ERA+ seasons, and is in the Top Ten seasonal charts in many categories. Like Olerud, he was a quiet guy whose repertoire wasn't 100-mph fastballs or high-strikeout seasons, but he was the second-best pitcher the team ever had.
