As long as we've done the Braves, let's head back to their old digs, Milwaukee ... greatest Brewer?
Cecil Cooper | 0 (0.00%) |
Teddy Higuera | 1 (0.82%) |
Paul Molitor | 52 (42.62%) |
Don Money | 0 (0.00%) |
Dan Plesac | 3 (2.46%) |
George Scott | 0 (0.00%) |
Jim Slaton | 1 (0.82%) |
B.J. Surhoff | 0 (0.00%) |
Robin Yount | 64 (52.46%) |
Other (who?) | 1 (0.82%) |
And Yount's Most Similar list has Molitor at 32 (behind Craig Biggio) ... it's interesting how similar they are, but I honestly am surprised that Molitor is outpacing Yount right now (it's still early in the vote, just 29 so far) ... Yount was a Gold Glove shortstop. Molitor was -- well, fine, but not so much the Gold Glove middle infielder. Maybe it is his Jay success that's putting him over the top here so far.
If you can't tell from my comments, I voted Yount. Though I admit, due to childhood among-my-favorite-player points, I at least hovered the mouse over Jim Slaton's name for a moment.
You're right, Benjie probably deserved to be mentioned along with Gorman Thomas in the "sorry, didn't make the cut" group ... I just looked it up and didn't realize he was with MIL for nine years!
But seriously, who would he be "better than" on that list of nine? Arguably as good/deserving? No question. But "better"? The only guys on the list I could conceiveably see him bumping are Slaton, Higuera and Plesac -- the team's two best career SP and career saves leader -- and that's really comparing apples and oranges. (Or given the team name, comparing wheat and barley.)
Yount was also a two-time MVP -- once at shortstop, once in centerfield. I'm pretty sure he's the answer to the trivia question, "Who's the only player ever to win MVP awards as an infielder and as an outfielder?" Molitor was great, but Yount is pretty clearly the greatest Brewer.
Yount's 1982 season is one of the best ever recorded by a shortstop -- 160 OPS+ and a Gold Glove. Ripken's 1991 MVP campaign was extremely similar. A-Rod had three comparable seasons with the bat ('96, '00, '01), with sold defence but no Gold Gloves. Any other shortstop campaigns in that rarefied atmosphere?
I voted for Yount. I remember when there was a legitimate debate about which of the young turks (Brett, Yount and Rickey Henderson) in the AL would have the best career.