Like him or not, he is the best ever

Jeff King?

Actually, I wouldn't be shocked if Gold was right and it was Rhoden. He was a hell of a hitter. Ended up serving as a DH in a game for the Yankees for a game or two (when the Yankees were really bad).

I know part of Bonds' problem was the contrast with Van Slyke and Bonilla. Of course, Van Slyke turned out to be a back-stabbing prick and Bonilla lost a bit of his sunny disposition once he went to the Mets. That was the thing with Bonds, at least then. He wasn't nearly the phony that Van Slyke and Bonilla turned out to be. He was an arrogant prick, but he was up front about it.

 

Bobby Thigpen?

Well, he did get a lot of saves one year.

But if you're going this tact, might as well go with guys like Mark Fidrych and Herb Score.

 

Yeah, that's why I didn't want those choices analyzed. There are a lot of flashes in the photographer's pan, but to do it for a 15-year career is another thing.

The winner of the homerun derby was The Caveman, Don Robinson. That was a great day. I think it was the same day we made Tony Gwynn throw his bat, but that is another story for another thread.

 

Don Robinson might have been the best hitting pitcher since the institution of the DH (Robinson played most, in not all, of his career in the National League). He pinch hit for the Pirates and the Giants, and probably hit well enough to bat as a platoon position player.

 

The fact that you are talking about what he did as a rookie shows showing he was the greatest offensive player ever makes me think that you are letting your personal feelings get in the way. I can understand that. I'm a Pittsburgh guy myself, so I know what he means to anybody who grew up on Penguins hockey.


This doesn't even make sense, particularly since I am not a Penguins fan.

So what you are saying is, if you make an argument for someone, it is automatically because you are a fan?

I don't even know how to respond to that silliness.

 

How about Doug Froebel and Joe Orsulak and while we are at it Orlando Merced and Omar Moreno......

 

Yeah, but they were not #1 draft picks, but I like your thought process.

Enrique Romo said hello and I saw Buddy Solomon talking to Larry McWilliams earlier today when I got a ride to work from John Milner. Mike "the Hitman" Easler was already there.

 

Sounded to me like you were a Pittsburgh guy, so I thought that was where it was coming from. And in the context of the entire post, I thought you would be able to realize what my reasoning was, even if you say it is inaccurate.

And honestly, I don't hear many people outside of Pittsburgh willing to put Lemieux ahead of Gretzky.

 

How about Paul Maholm -- who by the way sucks.

 

One of the first gamers I ever wrote was after my school beat up on Orsulak when he pitched for Par-Hills High School. Good times!

 

"And there is more to being a great offensive player than assists, particularly since assists are dependent as much on your ability as it is everyone else around you."

Zags...the same thing could be said about goals, so that argument isn't really relevant. How many unassisted goals did Mario have? That is the only stat that would/could make your point. Mario is the 2nd best offensive player ever.....and his teams were quite stacked, and he played his prime years when hockey was still pretty much wide-open. The clutch&grab, trap style hockey wasn't prevalent until around '97. The Devils won the Cup playing that way in '95, but the NHL didn't change to that style overnight.....it took a year plus at least.

Best player ever is Orr IMO. If you had the choice of 5 Gretzky's, Lemieux's or Orr's, the Orr's would win hands down.

The last time I checked this thread it was about Bonds. ;D

 

Ashy -- I agree with you. I am just astonished at how many of these assclowns are acting like I am way out in left field for suggesting that Mario Lemieux -- who would be no worse than number two on just about every reasonable person's list of tjhe greatest offensive players in NHL history -- is the best offensive player ever.

It isn't like I am trying to make a case for Steve Yzerman or Jaromir Jagr or Eric Lindros, I'm talking about one of the greatest players to ever play in any team sport -- ever.

It would be like Emmitt Smith fans being outraged at anyone suggesting that Jim Brown is the greatest running back ever. I mean, he didn't rush for as many yards, but ole Jimmy was pretty damn good .