Would You Rather Have Manny Being Manny or Rickey Being Rickey??

by jaredprebish on Jul 26, 2009 5:42 AM CDT

With the Baseball Hall Of Fame Inductions today, I will be very curious as to what Rickey Henderson will have to say . Which leads to this burning question: who would you rather have- Manny being Manny or Rickey being Rickey? Personally, I'd take Rickey because he offered more overall. I would imagine this would be a very tough call to make. One thing we know (I think): Rickey was never busted for drugs. I'm also curious as to whether you think Jim Rice deserves to be inducted? I hope with Rice in, we see Andre Dawson next year!!

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I never thought Jim Rice deserved to get in.

While his “peak value” — i.e., his best seasons — was extremely high, he fell off the cliff rapidly after age 33, was done at 36 and has none of the usual HoF milestones.

If Rice is in, Dawson definitely deserves to be in.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 26, 2009 6:50 AM CDT reply actions

Amen

If Rice played his entire career for the Mariners, we would never have heard his name again.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 26, 2009 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Rice had some great seasons, but did not have a HOF career. As for Dawson, he had some great seasons but fell a bit short of a HOF career, too, IMO. But with Rice getting in, I can’t see how you say no to the Hawk. since he was a much better all around player.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 26, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

That's the only reason

to support Rice’s induction. With Rice in the Hall, there is no excuse for keeping Dawson out. And I thought Dawson hadn’t done enough to merit induction before Rice got elected. If the bar to entry is Rice, then Dawson has to go in.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 26, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I cant tell you

How fast I my career went downhill after age 28. If he lasted to 32, more power to him.

I'm Buck Melanoma. Moley Russell's wart. Not her wart. Not her wart! I'm... I'm the wart. She's my tumor. My... my growth. My... uh, my pimple. I'm Uncle Wart. Just old Buck "Wart" Russell. That's what they call me, or Melanoma Head. - Uncle Buck

by Andiamo Cuccioli on Jul 27, 2009 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions

No question

Rickey tried win every game he played.

Manny? Ask the Red Sox.

by rlpete on Jul 26, 2009 7:53 AM CDT reply actions

Yup

Rickey was eccentric, but he was never really disruptive. He was too much in his own world to disrupt the team.

If I’m putting together an all-time team, I’m putting Rickey Henderson in LF and leading off, even if that means moving Ted Williams to DH or pinch-hitting duties. (Can’t move him to first because Gehrig is there. Might be able to move him to RF, but he’d be a butcher out there.)

But Rickey was that good. Manny is very good, but he doesn’t even make the bench on that team.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 26, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

RF....

You forgot a burly RF named Ruth…

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Jul 26, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Williams would have been happy to DH

he never took his defensive duties very seriously, just something he had to do in between at bats.

As for Rickey in LF, he is the greatest leadoff hitter I have ever seen, but putting Rickey in LF on your all time team means no place for Henry Aaron.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 27, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Depends on the purpose of the team

Are you constructing it 1-9, starters, bench, bullpen, first, or by position first? If you’re constructing 1-9, it’s hard not to put Rickey in the leadoff spot, and let Aaron fight it out for the #4/#5 spot in the line up with Mays and Gehrig. (I’m assuming that Ruth and his 207 OPS+ hits 3rd…)

Using that construction, Aaron, Mantle, and Frank Robinson probably fight for the 4th OF spot, as you’d have to have Clemente in the 5th OF spot as a late-inning defensive replacement.

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Jul 27, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I think you could do well with either

Manny is going to go down as one of the top 5 right-handed hitters ever.

And let us not be so quick to assume that Henderson wasn’t taking anything. The man played until he was in his late 40s and looked just as cut then as he did at 20

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 26, 2009 8:22 AM CDT reply actions

One thing I've come to realize about Rickey...

…he’s one of the few players who have ever played the game, that you can look at and say “He’s the best ____ ever” and have very little argument.

In Rickey’s case, he was, without a doubt, the best leadoff hitter ever.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jul 26, 2009 8:43 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Well put, sir

That IS a rare thing.

"[Obama's] top advisors are Cub fans, so he has a chance." - Lou Piniella, 16 July 2009

by CaughtInTheVines on Jul 26, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd take Rickey.

We could use a true leadoff hitter.

Power from the corner outfield spots, with extra baggage? Got that already.

"I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said." ~William F. Buckley, Jr.

by Goodie1969 on Jul 26, 2009 8:44 AM CDT reply actions

Rickey eight days a week, and twice on Sunday.

he brought much more to the table

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 26, 2009 9:43 AM CDT reply actions

No brainer ...

Rickey over Manny. Everyday you got the best Rickey had to offer, something you cannot say about ManRam. Plus, Rickey could win a game for you in many more ways than could ManRam. Living not far from Oakland, I got to see Rickey play a lot and he is one of the most complete ballplayers I have ever seen.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 26, 2009 10:22 AM CDT reply actions

Jim Ed Rice

I saw Rice play a lot back in the ‘80s. He’s very borderline as far as HoF credentials. I think the HoF should be reserved for truly special players, but in Rice’s case, I’m glad he got elected because he was really underappreciated during his years in Boston.

The rap on him was that he wasn’t “clutch,” but I vividly recall an early Bill James piece where he was discussing whether clutch hitting was real or not, and he used Rice as an example – Rice’s numbers were phenomenally consistent under pretty much any circumstances. He was just that kind of player – very steady, not a showman, a very cool customer. He was also taking Yaz’s place in left field at Fenway, which was a tough act to follow. And honestly, being black was (alas) still a factor in Boston back then, especially in the baseball end of things. He did not have an easy situation to work in.

So, in a way, Rice getting this honor that’s marginally deserved probably makes up somewhat for him missing out on some appreciation that he richly deserved during his playing days. Not the worst HoF election by a longshot.

"[Obama's] top advisors are Cub fans, so he has a chance." - Lou Piniella, 16 July 2009

by CaughtInTheVines on Jul 26, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

This is Rickey, thanking you on behalf of Rickey. Rickey was great at baseball.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Jul 26, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star and Sports Illustrated wrote:

link

“I’m about to give you one of my all-time favorite statistics: Rickey Henderson walked 796 times in his career LEADING OFF AN INNING. Think about this again. There would be nothing, absolutely nothing, a pitcher would want to avoid more than walking Rickey Henderson to lead off an inning. And yet he walked SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY SIX times to lead off an inning.
He walked more times just leading off in an inning than Lou Brock, Roberto Clemente, Luis Aparicio, Ernie Banks, Kirby Puckett, Ryne Sandberg and more than 50 other Hall of Famers walked in their entire careers…I simply cannot imagine a baseball statistic more staggering.”

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Jul 26, 2009 11:31 AM CDT reply actions

Rickey may sound like some sort of clown

but he was a very smart baseball player

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 26, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

No question

Ricky Henderson

"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko

by DTJchris on Jul 26, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

Rickey being Rickey

By most accounts, he was a good teammate and exceptionally well prepared. Plus, he just happens to be the greatest lead off hitter in MLB history by a wide margin. There are at least a dozen other no-field sluggers like Manny, but only one Rickey.

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Jul 26, 2009 11:41 AM CDT reply actions

Jim Rice is a joke

Check out his home-roads:

Home: .320/.546/.920

Away: .277/.459/.789

Fenway Park Player – The AL Dante Bichette

Next year, Dawson gets in or the Hall should be burned to the ground

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 26, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions

Without doubt, Rickey Henderson!

Hawk for the Hall in 2010!

It’s past time for him to be in there.

by TheHawkRules on Jul 26, 2009 12:22 PM CDT reply actions

Rickey

He was NOT a selfish player and he gave his all in EVERY game.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jul 26, 2009 12:40 PM CDT reply actions

Rickey Henderson...

was one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and THE greatest leadoff hitter ever. I feel old saying this (I’m only 27) but anyone who didn’t grow up watching him play should really do themselves a favor and educate yourselves on him. Great, great player.

by kanderber on Jul 26, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

Rickey.

and can you imagine Rickey being Rickey setting the table for the 2009 Cubs? (or the 2008 Cubs?) Reinforces to me at least that perhaps the top priority for the Cubs is finding a true leadoff hitter.

by PrincetonCubs on Jul 26, 2009 5:04 PM CDT reply actions