Comments on: World Baseball Classic!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:52:52 +0000

“Not to start something, but Santo was the best 3B of his generation” – Yeah way to not stir the pot Monts.

Santo may have been a great third baseman, but he will never be in the Hall of Fame.

The WBC is nice but I also cringe when a MLB player dives for a ball or fouls one off his foot, it is still an exhibition and “appetizer” before the real MLB season begins. I do feel bad for the Cuban players who have a great amount of talent but will never see the Major Leagues, due to stupid politics. The WBC is now their only International stage, baseball is no longer an Olympic sport, that they can play on and show off their talent.

By: Hot News » World Baseball Classic

Hot News » World Baseball Classic — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:30:45 +0000

[...] America Prospects Blog » Blog Archive » World Baseball Classic Second Round Preview…//re:generate » Blog Archive » World Baseball Classic!…World Baseball Classic 2009 – Round Two Preview…China to Play Opener in World Baseball [...]

By: rags

rags — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:05:03 +0000

Jim Rice is in but Santo isn’t?! Give me a break. The veteran’s committee is a joke. Guys like Santo are punished because they played on mediocre, bad, or underachieving teams.

As for the WBC, I love it. Why does ESPN broadcast the Professional Bowler’s Tour but not the WBC? It is easy to explain why American fans don’t respond the same way as international fans. One explanation is cultural. White Americans just are not as bombastic as Latino fans. Also, American fans just don’t cheer for baseball in the same way that they cheer for other sports like football. Baseball has almost a calming vibe for the American sports fan. Culturally, Asian and Latin fans cheer for baseball in a different way. Another explanation is that most American baseball fans, while they enjoy the WBC, are more concerned that their favorite players escape without injury. For us, what really matters is September/October – not March. The MLB season trumps the WBC. You don’t get excited for appetizers in the same way you get excited for the main course.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:10:01 +0000

Again, Im not saying everyone in should be in either. Im saying the bar should be career 300+ avg, tons of gold gloves, top 10 in rbi, etc, etc. .277 is mediocre to me. My point is simply the bar is too low, and either you are in or you are out. He has had what like 30 different votes whether he should be in or out and still hasnt made it. Enough is enough, he isnt worthy.

By: monts

monts — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:29:57 +0000

Santo is one of the best 3B in the history of baseball according to the numbers… in fact, his stats are better than many 3B’s already in the HoF. In fact, for 3B he ranks 3rd in HR’s, if you want to use that stat. He was a 9-time All Star, a 5-tim Gold Glove winner and had more than 1,000 RBI’s in the pitching era of the 60′s.

No one disputes Brooks Robinson’s election to the Hall, but in the same era Ron Santo has better career numbers… especially if you consider Santo played 8 less years.

Santo has more HR’s: 342 v. 268 (in 8 less years)
Santo trails Robinson in RBI’s: 1331 v. 1357 (in 8 less years)
Santo trails Robinson in Hits: 2254 v. 2848 (in 8 less years)
Santo has a better career BA: .277 v .267

The list could go on. Santo is one of the best 3B in the history of the game.

Check out some of the stat comparisons in this link with other players…
http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=1919