Comments on: Baseball’s Greatest Winner http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/ Curiously Long Posts Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:36:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Stark Truth » Blog Archive » Three Things to Read http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-54692 The Stark Truth » Blog Archive » Three Things to Read Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:12:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-54692 [...] one thing you can say about Manny is that he’s a winner. At least the teams he plays on wins. Check out Joe Posnanski’s blog here. And while you’re at, you might as well bookmark Joe’s blog. It’s always full of [...] [...] one thing you can say about Manny is that he’s a winner. At least the teams he plays on wins. Check out Joe Posnanski’s blog here. And while you’re at, you might as well bookmark Joe’s blog. It’s always full of [...]

]]> By: Phew! Manny Being Happy « The Discursionists http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-53554 Phew! Manny Being Happy « The Discursionists Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:45:15 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-53554 [...] Is Manny the biggest villain in baseball now for taking months to haggle over a $45 million contract in the midst of a national recession, and after supposedly “quitting” on his Red Sox the middle of last year?  Oh probably.  But he’s my favorite baseball player of all-time, for better or worse, and what’s more– he’s probably worth the $45 million, given that at 36 last year for the Dodgers, he enjoyed one of the finest half-seasons offensively in baseball’s last 50 years (.396/17 HR/53 RBI in 53 games), and that he’s baseball’s biggest winner. [...] [...] Is Manny the biggest villain in baseball now for taking months to haggle over a $45 million contract in the midst of a national recession, and after supposedly “quitting” on his Red Sox the middle of last year?  Oh probably.  But he’s my favorite baseball player of all-time, for better or worse, and what’s more– he’s probably worth the $45 million, given that at 36 last year for the Dodgers, he enjoyed one of the finest half-seasons offensively in baseball’s last 50 years (.396/17 HR/53 RBI in 53 games), and that he’s baseball’s biggest winner. [...]

]]> By: Hot Offseason Action: New York Mets | umpbump.com http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-52285 Hot Offseason Action: New York Mets | umpbump.com Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:59:46 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-52285 [...] sit well with me is #2. Clearly, Manny did not prevent the Red Sox from winning two championships. Joe Posnanski thinks he’s a winner. And that’s good enough for me. While his defense in left may be comedic, how much worse is [...] [...] sit well with me is #2. Clearly, Manny did not prevent the Red Sox from winning two championships. Joe Posnanski thinks he’s a winner. And that’s good enough for me. While his defense in left may be comedic, how much worse is [...]

]]> By: Baseball’s Greatest Winner » Joe Posnanski | backpackingshoes.com http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51752 Baseball’s Greatest Winner » Joe Posnanski | backpackingshoes.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:39:28 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51752 [...] Baseball’s Greatest Winner » Joe Posnanski [...] [...] Baseball’s Greatest Winner » Joe Posnanski [...]

]]> By: Jay Levin http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51473 Jay Levin Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:59:57 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51473 MannyB’s core numbers with the bases empty: .299/.386/.568 MannyB’s core numbers with runners in scoring position: .329/.454/.607 Hey, Joe. I did a similar breakdown about Manny's clutch stats at LetsGoTribe, but I came to the opposite conclusion -- mostly because I left out those two specific splits above. Why did I leave them out? Because they're dramatically skewed by intentional walks -- I think it's something like 170 with RISP, compared with two with the bases empty. I think you basically need to take those plate appearances out in order to run this comparison right. Now, it's still a 30-point difference in batting average (with a corresponding slugging difference), and that's not nothing. It's just not the same as a 107-point difference in OPS. MannyB’s core numbers with the bases empty: .299/.386/.568
MannyB’s core numbers with runners in scoring position: .329/.454/.607

Hey, Joe. I did a similar breakdown about Manny’s clutch stats at LetsGoTribe, but I came to the opposite conclusion — mostly because I left out those two specific splits above.

Why did I leave them out? Because they’re dramatically skewed by intentional walks — I think it’s something like 170 with RISP, compared with two with the bases empty. I think you basically need to take those plate appearances out in order to run this comparison right.

Now, it’s still a 30-point difference in batting average (with a corresponding slugging difference), and that’s not nothing. It’s just not the same as a 107-point difference in OPS.

]]> By: Joe D http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51228 Joe D Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:09:23 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51228 If Manny is a winner then we all are losers. Yes he might break Gehrigs record for grand slams but he will never be 1% of the man that Lou Gehrig was. I would rather my team lose than win with Manny. I hate the red sox but I have a lot of respect for what they did.He cost them the WS last year. If Manny is a winner then we all are losers.
Yes he might break Gehrigs record for grand slams but he will never be 1% of the man that Lou Gehrig was.
I would rather my team lose than win with Manny.
I hate the red sox but I have a lot of respect for what they did.He cost them the WS last year.

]]> By: I Think I’m Losing My Mind This Time/Link it Up, Suck-a-ducks « zilla rocca’s CLAP COWARDS http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51114 I Think I’m Losing My Mind This Time/Link it Up, Suck-a-ducks « zilla rocca’s CLAP COWARDS Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:03:03 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51114 [...] favorite sportswriter, Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star, examines the most winning player in baseball history.  This player has a better winning percentage than Bobby Cox, Sparky Anderson, Tony LaRussa, and [...] [...] favorite sportswriter, Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star, examines the most winning player in baseball history.  This player has a better winning percentage than Bobby Cox, Sparky Anderson, Tony LaRussa, and [...]

]]> By: VanderBirch http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51064 VanderBirch Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:49:20 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51064 As for the Manny at-bat, I guess it shows the power of media discourse. I don't think you can tell anything definitive in that at-bat, but if you've been speculation to a lot of speculation from the media that Manny tanked that at-bat, maybe it looks a lot worse. As for the Manny at-bat, I guess it shows the power of media discourse. I don’t think you can tell anything definitive in that at-bat, but if you’ve been speculation to a lot of speculation from the media that Manny tanked that at-bat, maybe it looks a lot worse.

]]> By: VanderBirch http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51063 VanderBirch Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:46:49 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-51063 BAM, I call BS. Even if Manny possessed pristine character I doubt he would have signed by now. Any team would take him, but its just that no one wants to pay him $20+ million. Nor should they; he's is his late 30's and he plays mediocre defense at a corner spot. He's worth $15 million or so, nothing more. Maybe $20 for a season. If you want to crucify the guy based on one at-bat, you are a fool. People can argue over whether Manny 'cares' all they want, but the guy has provided incredible and consistent value to his teams for a long time. That really dwarfs everything else. The real reason Manny was run out of town was the concern that he wouldn't play. The Red Sox have been turning the other cheek with Manny for a long time because they know he is a great player. His pouting and loafing didn't really hurt the team- it was him sitting out games. BAM, I call BS. Even if Manny possessed pristine character I doubt he would have signed by now. Any team would take him, but its just that no one wants to pay him $20+ million. Nor should they; he’s is his late 30’s and he plays mediocre defense at a corner spot. He’s worth $15 million or so, nothing more. Maybe $20 for a season.

If you want to crucify the guy based on one at-bat, you are a fool. People can argue over whether Manny ‘cares’ all they want, but the guy has provided incredible and consistent value to his teams for a long time. That really dwarfs everything else.

The real reason Manny was run out of town was the concern that he wouldn’t play. The Red Sox have been turning the other cheek with Manny for a long time because they know he is a great player. His pouting and loafing didn’t really hurt the team- it was him sitting out games.

]]> By: Wednesday Links: Super Bowl Props, Ferentz, Bob Knight, Manny Ramirez and more « PLAY OR GET PLAYED http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-50827 Wednesday Links: Super Bowl Props, Ferentz, Bob Knight, Manny Ramirez and more « PLAY OR GET PLAYED Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:15:21 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/03/baseballs-greatest-winner/#comment-50827 [...] Bill Simmons has hit on this several times but since I am not a huge fan of the guy anymore, here is JoPos take on how good Manny Ramirez is. [...] [...] Bill Simmons has hit on this several times but since I am not a huge fan of the guy anymore, here is JoPos take on how good Manny Ramirez is. [...]

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