Much better defesinve outfielder in his prime than people give him credit for,
Always top three in the majors in range factor and zone ratings, OK, he made 19 outfield errors that one year, but Vlad covered more ground, got to most balls that other RF'ers could't reach.
Great arm, always at the top of the RF assist leader board, led the league in RF putouts twice, was second in putouts twice, relegated now to a DH, but to call him a poor outfielder is ingorant.
If you argue errors committed, I'll argue range and ground covered, assists and putouts, etc. etc.
Having said that, MONSTER offensive numbers.
Vlad's *average* season is .321-36-116 Excellent .385 OBA Excellent .568 SlPct.
Excellent .953 OBS, averaged 104 runs scored a season, and 15 steals.
.286 in postseason is fine, never won a ring, but was 2004 MVP (almost unamaous)was every bit the MVP Kent was in 2000, seven silver sluggers, eight time all star, is 35 years old, will reach 500 homers (422 now) in Texas as a DH in three years after this season if healthy, of all the players not yet eligible, only Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds, A-Rod, and Pujols have better grey-ink Hall of Fame test numbers.
As far as I am concerned, Vlad's ticket is punched, he has a ticket to ride.
Always top three in the majors in range factor and zone ratings, OK, he made 19 outfield errors that one year, but Vlad covered more ground, got to most balls that other RF'ers could't reach.
Great arm, always at the top of the RF assist leader board, led the league in RF putouts twice, was second in putouts twice, relegated now to a DH, but to call him a poor outfielder is ingorant.
If you argue errors committed, I'll argue range and ground covered, assists and putouts, etc. etc.
Having said that, MONSTER offensive numbers.
Vlad's *average* season is .321-36-116 Excellent .385 OBA Excellent .568 SlPct.
Excellent .953 OBS, averaged 104 runs scored a season, and 15 steals.
.286 in postseason is fine, never won a ring, but was 2004 MVP (almost unamaous)was every bit the MVP Kent was in 2000, seven silver sluggers, eight time all star, is 35 years old, will reach 500 homers (422 now) in Texas as a DH in three years after this season if healthy, of all the players not yet eligible, only Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds, A-Rod, and Pujols have better grey-ink Hall of Fame test numbers.
As far as I am concerned, Vlad's ticket is punched, he has a ticket to ride.