Historically Underrated: John Olerud

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

When the Hall of Fame ballots come out I love to look at the names that are included for the first time. To simply be named on the Hall of Fame ballot is an honor even if you know that player will not get a single vote.

As I started looking at the first-time names on this year’s ballot there really weren’t any that stuck out to me and made me think they would be missed if they fell off the ballot after one year. Javy Lopez may have been the closest name to do that since he did have a fantastic offensive career as a catcher but after taking a long look at him I don’t think I will ever wonder if it was sad that his name came and went in one year. Bernie Williams was another name but I actually think he will have a small support group that will keep him on the ballot for at least another year.

Last year’s ballot had two names that, like Lou Whitaker, came and went in one year and left me wondering if they maybe should have hung on a little bit longer. One was Kevin Brown and the other was John Olerud.

Olerud always intrigued me. From the helmet he wore both on the field and at the plate to the fact he did not play in his first minor league game until he was 36 years old. Olerud had a sweet swing, smooth glove, and knack for getting on base. In fact, there are only 17 retired players in history that have reached base more than Olerud’s 3602 times and are not in the HOF. Here they are (in order of times on base):

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The 4000 Times on Base Club

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

There is a lot of attention on Derek Jeter and his quest for 3000 hits. He currently sits at 2981 and needs just 19 hits to become only the 28th member of the 3000 hit club. The attention is warranted but what most people don’t realize is that Jeter is, and has been, more than a slap-happy swinging batter, and became the 41st member of the 4000 Times on Base club last year. Also joining him last year was as the 42nd member was Manny Ramirez.

There was no press made when Alex Rodriguez became just the 43rd member of the exclusive 4000 Times on Base club back on May 18th against the Baltimore Orioles. But mark my words, there will be at least 6 months of press in 2013 when he is approaching 3000 hits.

This coming week we will more than likely see the newest member of the 4000 TOB club and most people won’t pay attention because he has done it with “only” 2233 hits so far. That man’s name is Jim Thome and he needs only to reach base 4 more times to join this exclusive club. Not far behind him we will see Chipper Jones join the club in the month of June, having to reach base only 16 times to be part of the exclusive club. Oh, Chipper Jones will be only the 4th switch hitter to join the club. Again, no major press will pick up on this.

This is pretty big news because looking down the line the next closest people to join this club are the 44 year old part-timer Omar Vizquel (116 more), the 37 year old Bobby Abreu (276 more), the 37 year old Johnny Damon (385 more), and the soon-to-be 38 year old Todd Helton (449 more). After that the next best possible member will be Albert Pujols who has reached base 2966 times. I find it hard to see Vizquel, Helton, and even Damon joining the club.

The 4000 Times on Base club may not be as exclusive as the 3000 hit club but it is still very exclusive. Every eligible member of the 4000 TOB club is in the Hall of Fame except Rusty Staub, and those with an asterisks next to their name: Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and Rafael Palmeiro. Recent retirees such as Craig Biggio (one of only 17 player to reach base 4500 times), Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas, and Ken Griffey Jr. all have HOF credentials. Now, I don’t mind the hoopla that surrounds the 3000 hit club but some of it needs to go to the 4000 Time on Base club because they have been neglected far too long.

-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and you can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert

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Brian Giles is Historically Underrated

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Jonathan C. Mitchell

Hi, my name is Brian Giles and I am historically underrated. You may not have realized how good I was during my playing career. Probably because I didn’t reach 450 plate appearances until I was 26 years old. Or because I didn’t reach 600 PAs until I was 28 years of age. Or because I played my entire career with the Indians, Pirates, and Padres and only had 90 postseason PAs. Whatever the reason may have been it left me vastly underrated.

This is a very true statement. Over Giles’ 15 year career he hit 287 homeruns, 411 doubles, 55 triples, stole 109 bases, and had 1183 walks against just 835 strikeouts compiled over 7800 plate appearances for an fWAR of 57.8, good for 59th all-time among outfielders and a higher total than both Hall of Famers Jim Rice and Kirby Puckett. Take a look at their totals by nth season:

Giles’ best season was bested by Rice and Puckett’s best season but Giles’ 2nd through 10th best seasons were all better than any of Rice or Puckett’s 2nd through 10th best seasons. Am I saying Giles is a Hall of Famer? No, I am just saying he is historically underrated. I am also saying that he was probably better than Rice and Puckett but that’s for another time.

Giles compiled an impressive triple-slash line of .291/.400/.502 in his career. Only 11 other outfielders with at least 7800 plate appearances have a triple-slash of .290/.400/.500 or better. Eight of those 11 outfielders are Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Mel Ott, Ed Delahanty, and Harry Heilmann, each in the Hall of Fame. The other three are Barry Bonds, Larry Walker, and Manny Ramirez, each deserving of the Hall of Fame. Am I saying Brian Giles belongs in the Hall of Fame? No, I am just saying he is historically underrated.

In fact, there are only 20 other players in the history of the game with at least 7800 PAs and a .290/.400/.500. I mentioned 11 above, the other nine are Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Chipper Jones, Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas, Edgar Martinez, and Todd Helton. Four of those nine are in the Hall of Fame and the other five all have legitimate cases. Am I saying Brian Giles belongs in the Hall of Fame? No, I am just saying he is historically underrated.

Now, I could cherry pick the stats more to the tune of .290/.400/.500 with 280+ homeruns, 50+ triples, 100+ stolen bases, and with more walks than strikeouts if I want but cherry picking… oh, what the heck, I think I will anyways. There are only 6 players in history that meet these criteria: Ruth, Bonds, Hornsby, Mantle, Gehrig, and Mr. Brian Giles. You want to talk about being in the company of legends, this is it. Of course, Giles does not hold a candle to these legends but either way, Giles is in the company of greats.

Am I saying Brian Giles belongs in the Hall of Fame? No, I am just saying he is historically underrated.

-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and you can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert

Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis, Hall of Fame | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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