So Biggio retires and Da Box picks the All-Time Greatest Astro -- Nolan Ryan? Well, for heaven's sake, then, who's the All-Time Greatest Angel?
| Garret Anderson |  1 (0.82%) |
| Rod Carew | 39 (31.97%) |
| Brian Downing | 1 (0.82%) |
| Darin Erstad | 1 (0.82%) |
| Chuck Finley | 7 (5.74%) |
| Jim Fregosi | 4 (3.28%) |
| Vladimir Guerrero | 32 (26.23%) |
| Nolan Ryan | 22 (18.03%) |
| Tim Salmon | 10 (8.20%) |
| Other (who?) | 5 (4.10%) |
122 votes | 7 featured comments
The last candidate cut from the list of options was Troy Percival --
for the same reason Billy Wagner didn't make the Astro list of
candidates. I just can't see a closer as being a team's greatest
player. Any suggestions on situations where that might be the case?
I find it oddly interesting that seven of the nine Angel greats listed have last named beginning with a letter in the first seven letters of the alphabet. Weird overbalance.
I find it oddly interesting that seven of the nine Angel greats listed have last named beginning with a letter in the first seven letters of the alphabet. Weird overbalance.
" just can't see a closer as being a team's greatest player. Any suggestions on situations where that might be the case?"
Dennis Eckersley? If your gonna pick a closer he could be a good start.
I voted Other for Jeff Bagwell, which makes only slightly less sense than Nolan Ryan being voted the greatest Astro.
Apparently, people have forgotten that Rod Carew was a great Twin, not a great Angel. He was a good, but injury-prone Angel. But I guess people can vote for the best player who spent time as an Angel, which isn't totally unreasonable. Although that would make Clemens the greatest Jay in history.
Nolan Ryan makes a lot more sense here, although I went with Finley who had more IP, wins, better ERA+ in Anaheim, and 10 straight years with an ERA+ over 100. If you needed 200 innings of above average to very good pitching in the 90's, Finley was your man.
Nolan Ryan makes a lot more sense here, although I went with Finley who had more IP, wins, better ERA+ in Anaheim, and 10 straight years with an ERA+ over 100. If you needed 200 innings of above average to very good pitching in the 90's, Finley was your man.
I voted Vlad. Obviously he's only had 3 and 1/2 years in an Angel uniform, but they've been great ones, and I figure he's got another 5-6 in him. If you're looking at peak, it's Vlad. If you're looking at career to date, it's close between Ryan and Finley. There's a bit of sentimentality in my vote, having followed a career pretty closely since he was in the low minors and imagining what might have been in Montreal.
Eckersley was a great closer, but he would only be listed for the A's realistically and he wasn't even the best the A's had while he was there - I'd put Rickey Henderson above the Eck anyday.
Great closers are valuable, but the best closer is still not as valuable as the best everyday player or ace starter.
Great closers are valuable, but the best closer is still not as valuable as the best everyday player or ace starter.
I have Tim Salmon edging out Garret Anderson, with Jim Fregosi a very, very strong third.