Curse Of Dale Murray

[NetShrine]

McGriff's two-out, opposite-field homer broke an eighth-inning tie on May 6th and lifted the Devil Rays over the Orioles. It was the 422nd homer of McGriff's career. He joined Mark McGwire, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Eddie Murray and Reggie Jackson as the only players to homer off 300 different pitchers when he sent a 2-1 delivery from Jose Mercedes (0-6) over the left field wall.

Should McGriff go to Cooperstown when he retires?

[nyy26wc]

Whether or not he goes to that other place doesn't interest me.

He's a sure thing for Baseball Imortals.

[NetShrine]

Based on the rings, 2 HR crowns, and the HR totals - and the .380 OBA, I would agree.

As far as Cooperstown, well, he's under the Ripkens, Hendersons, Clemens, et al - - which means he's just more of a bridge to the Baines type player - perhaps?

[nyy26wc]

McGriff also has a .512 SLG, .893 OPS, 441 RCAA, 8 years with 40+ RCAA, .661 OWP, 6 years with a .700+ OWP & was the 1989 AL Babe Ruth Award winner (my version of the MVP).

He's also far from a player who's just inflated his stats by playing in a high offfensive era.

His 7.19 RC/G are 2.19 ahead of his league's average of 4.90. Among the players who are comparable are Albert Belle (2.21), Mickey Cochrane (2.19) and George Brett (2.13).

His .893 OPS is .146 above his league's average of .748. That ranks 58th on that all time list. Among the players who are comparable are Eddie Mathews (.147), Juan Gonzalez (.146), Earl Averill (.145), Eddie Collins (.144), Joe Medwick (.141) & Billy Williams (.140).

His .512 SLG is .100 above his league's average of .412. That ranks 70th on the all time. Among the comparable players are Billy Williams & Orlando Cepeda (.104), Sammy Sosa, Reggie Jackson & Eddie Mathews (.103), Rafael Palmeiro (.102), Ernie Banks (.097) & George Brett (.094).

[NetShrine]

Billy Williams & Orlando Cepeda
without even looking at the numbers, these two are a perfect fit - - Williams, Cepeda, and McGriff all seem to get about the same media/fan attention.