From The Best To What Could Have Been

Wolf Hopper · 08-04-2003, 09:42 PM

I was just watching the replay of the Rose 4192 game on ESPN Classic.

Dave Parker was the next batter after Rose got the big hit. Looking at Dave, I thought, "Man, there was a time when he was THE BEST player in the game and a lock, most thought, to be one of the all-time greats."

Then, I thought, that happens more often than not, no?

Don Mattingly had that crown of "best in the game" and he did not make it to the finish line.

What players can you think of, who for a period of at least TWO seasons were considered "the best player in the game," that ended up with careers way short of being one of the all-time greats?

GGC · 08-04-2003, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

I was just watching the replay of the Rose 4192 game on ESPN Classic.

Dave Parker was the next batter after Rose got the big hit. Looking at Dave, I thought, "Man, there was a time when he was THE BEST player in the game and a lock, most thought, to be one of the all-time greats."

Then, I thought, that happens more often than not, no?

Don Mattingly had that crown of "best in the game" and he did not make it to the finish line.

What players can you think of, who for a period of at least TWO seasons were considered "the best player in the game," that ended up with careers way short of being one of the all-time greats?

I think that Jim Rice circa 1977-1979 comes close, but that's just my opinion.

SmedIndy · 08-04-2003, 09:52 PM

Fred Lynn comes to mind.

sweaver · 08-04-2003, 09:54 PM

Strawberry. Gooden too, if you include pitchers.

Going back a bit, Pete Reiser.

TGwynn19 · 08-04-2003, 09:56 PM

Kevin Mitchell

LeGrandOrange · 08-04-2003, 09:57 PM

I have Starting Lineup figures of both of my answers, Eric Davis and Jose Canseco. I'm saying Jose's name again for a change.

Davis probably should've been among the best CF's ever. If he hadn't tailed off so quickly, he would've been on my HOF list. He's still one of my favorites but it really is a shame he didn't become better.

While in recent weeks I have had a very angry view towards Canseco, I can look at his career with the knowledge that while he was fairly good, he deserved to be MUCH better. I've thought about resuming HOF support for him even if he is a horse's ass, but he absolutely DESERVED to be one of the all-time greats. He should've been a legend. Ruined it for himself and that's a damn shame.

Wolf Hopper · 08-04-2003, 10:26 PM

In 1971-72, Bobby Murcer looked pretty good. He may qualify.

Wolf Hopper · 08-04-2003, 10:27 PM

Dare we say Ken Griffey Jr.?

pwdennis · 08-04-2003, 11:06 PM

Tommy Davis had a pair of seasons 62-63 (I think) where he looked like an immortal in the making. Then a badly broken ankle, and a career that never again hit the heights.

I also though that "Swingin', Singin' Tony C" looked to be a worldbeater until the beaning

Wolf Hopper · 08-04-2003, 11:13 PM

I was thinking about Tony C too.
Cesar Cedeno is another on my mind.

sweaver · 08-05-2003, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

Dare we say Ken Griffey Jr.?

It's hard for me to say the #6 all-time CF is a "could have been."

Of course, if you are saying he "could have been" #1, then there is some room. But most of the guys here fall far short of what Junior has accomplished.

Might as well say Frank Thomas, or Albert Belle.

nyy26wc · 08-05-2003, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

Dare we say Ken Griffey Jr.?

I won't. I've already written a column on how Bonds clearly dominated Griffey for the best player of the 1990s and I believe that Frank Thomas kicked his butt for the best player in the AL.

Very productive player, yes. Best player in baseball quality, no.

rc3000 · 08-05-2003, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

I was thinking about Tony C too.
Cesar Cedeno is another on my mind.

Since the 70's were when I followed baseball the closest Cedeno and Parker were the first names that popped in my head. Parker you always figured it was the drugs, Tony C the beaning. But with Cedeno I just don't know what happened, I don't remember was there an injury ?

TimmyB · 08-05-2003, 11:15 AM

Rice, Lynn and Tony C. sprang quickly to mind. (Alas, they'd already been mentioned).

"Smokey Joe" Wood comes to mind, too. Bo Jackson, while not ever quite "greatest in the game" was still quite amazing to watch (flaws and all), but, like many before him, injury-ridden and out of the game.

Tony Oliva seems like a what-coulda-been, too.

SmedIndy · 08-05-2003, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc3000

Since the 70's were when I followed baseball the closest Cedeno and Parker were the first names that popped in my head. Parker you always figured it was the drugs, Tony C the beaning. But with Cedeno I just don't know what happened, I don't remember was there an injury ?

There was the Astrodome, and then the legal issues in the Dominican. I think those two things derailed him.

08-04-2003, 10:26 PM	#7
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	In 1971-72, Bobby Murcer looked pretty good. He may qualify. __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

08-04-2003, 10:27 PM	#8
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	Dare we say Ken Griffey Jr.? __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

08-04-2003, 11:06 PM	#9
pwdennis NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 2,503	Tommy Davis had a pair of seasons 62-63 (I think) where he looked like an immortal in the making. Then a badly broken ankle, and a career that never again hit the heights. I also though that "Swingin', Singin' Tony C" looked to be a worldbeater until the beaning __________________ "I would submit that if the world survives for a million years, perhaps its finest hour may be that in the last half of the 20th century, when the power to blow up the world rested in the hands of a few men in two very unsophisticated and suspicious countries, we didn't do it, and one American, Richard Nixon, moved the cold war away from permanent confrontation toward victory. How could any wrong that he did compare with that?" - John Sears

08-04-2003, 11:13 PM	#10
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	I was thinking about Tony C too. Cesar Cedeno is another on my mind. __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

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08-04-2003, 09:42 PM	#1
Wolf Hopper NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 6,191	From The Best To What Could Have Been I was just watching the replay of the Rose 4192 game on ESPN Classic. Dave Parker was the next batter after Rose got the big hit. Looking at Dave, I thought, "Man, there was a time when he was THE BEST player in the game and a lock, most thought, to be one of the all-time greats." Then, I thought, that happens more often than not, no? Don Mattingly had that crown of "best in the game" and he did not make it to the finish line. What players can you think of, who for a period of at least TWO seasons were considered "the best player in the game," that ended up with careers way short of being one of the all-time greats? __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator POSTING TIP FOR THE DAY: When composing a post, think about what you would say if the intended recipient was an individual who was actually sitting just two feet in front of you, in person, rather than just some far away and anonymous audience who only can identify you as text on a PC screen - - and then write your post in that manner. It makes for remarkable and sincere discourse.

08-04-2003, 09:52 PM	#3
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	Fred Lynn comes to mind.

08-04-2003, 09:54 PM	#4
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Strawberry. Gooden too, if you include pitchers. Going back a bit, Pete Reiser.

08-04-2003, 09:56 PM	#5
TGwynn19 Guest Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 2,087	Kevin Mitchell

08-04-2003, 09:57 PM	#6
LeGrandOrange Membership Suspended 4/11/04 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 3,783	I have Starting Lineup figures of both of my answers, Eric Davis and Jose Canseco. I'm saying Jose's name again for a change. Davis probably should've been among the best CF's ever. If he hadn't tailed off so quickly, he would've been on my HOF list. He's still one of my favorites but it really is a shame he didn't become better. While in recent weeks I have had a very angry view towards Canseco, I can look at his career with the knowledge that while he was fairly good, he deserved to be MUCH better. I've thought about resuming HOF support for him even if he is a horse's ass, but he absolutely DESERVED to be one of the all-time greats. He should've been a legend. Ruined it for himself and that's a damn shame.

08-05-2003, 11:15 AM	#14
TimmyB NetShrine's Magic 8-Ball Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Where the cops speak slow and the air is nice Posts: 2,591	Rice, Lynn and Tony C. sprang quickly to mind. (Alas, they'd already been mentioned). "Smokey Joe" Wood comes to mind, too. Bo Jackson, while not ever quite "greatest in the game" was still quite amazing to watch (flaws and all), but, like many before him, injury-ridden and out of the game. Tony Oliva seems like a what-coulda-been, too.

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