The most OVERATED baseball player goes into the Hall today

[Boxslayer]

Ripken's a HOF'er, but a bit overrated.

Stats are the result of a long career, playing every game in that span.

He did have some great years, but he didnt sustain his great years over time, and built up outstanding career numbers behind a long above average career.

Also heard quite a few stories of him being a dick. But he was a media darling so he was portrayed a bit differently.

The streak is not pointless though. Sure, once you get to a certain point, maybe he needed a rest. But when you work your entire career and you realize you could realistically break something, it became his legacy. Nobody works their whole life to achieve something and then turns their back on it. Nobody throws their life's work down the drain. You wouldnt do it in your career. Working 19 years for something and then just stop. To break a streak like that you need to have will power, he never took a day off, you need luck, you need to maintain responsibility of not going out every night and getting shitfaced. A lot to be admired about Ripken for that streak.

 

[FairWarning]

Ripken's a HOF'er, but a bit overrated.

Stats are the result of a long career, playing every game in that span.

He did have some great years, but he didnt sustain his great years over time, and built up outstanding career numbers behind a long above average career.

Also heard quite a few stories of him being a dick. But he was a media darling so he was portrayed a bit differently.

Wow. I disagree with every point you just made.

 

[TomBrady#1]

Ripken's a HOF'er, but a bit overrated.

Stats are the result of a long career, playing every game in that span.

He did have some great years, but he didnt sustain his great years over time, and built up outstanding career numbers behind a long above average career.

Also heard quite a few stories of him being a dick. But he was a media darling so he was portrayed a bit differently.

The streak is not pointless though. Sure, once you get to a certain point, maybe he needed a rest. But when you work your entire career and you realize you could realistically break something, it became his legacy. Nobody works their whole life to achieve something and then turns their back on it. Nobody throws their life's work down the drain. You wouldnt do it in your career. Working 19 years for something and then just stop. To break a streak like that you need to have will power, he never took a day off, you need luck, you need to maintain responsibility of not going out every night and getting shitfaced. A lot to be admired about Ripken for that streak.

Nobody throws their life's work down the drain!?

Why because some feel a few days rest to better himself and his team is throwing his life's work down the drain?:think2:

 

[trytrytry]

Yes yes that would be Cal Ripken.


.

ummm ummm ummmm :WTF:

 

[PokerKingJim]

No doubt he should be a hall of famer, but like with many other HOF guys, it's more about longevity. He was a fine ball player but he's nowhere near an all time MLB team even at SS

 

[levistep]

Wow. I disagree with every point you just made.

Boxslayer has been off his game lately. He didn't call out themanej for lying about how much he could lift and now this.

 

[Addict101]

It is meaningless. It bears no relation to productivity. If Ripken had taken 10 days off during his 15+ years of consecutive play, would that have made anything he did on the field less or more important or valuable? Would that have made him any less durable? I don't know if it would have had any impact on his or the team's productivity, but the streak is meaningless to whether or not the team wins and/or he plays well. No one gives a shit about AC Green's streak and it is no different than Ripken's.

Playing in that many games straight doesn't show the stamina and determination that Cal showed? Call that unbeatable record overrated if you want, but don't say it's meaningless.

 

[billhill999]

In his numbers-driven 2001 Abstract, Bill James rated Honus Wagner as the #1 SS, Arky Vaughan #2, Ripken #3, Yount #4 and Banks #5, followed by Larkin, Ozzie, Cronin, Trammell and Reese, in that order. He said that he was as surprised as anyone by Vaughan's winding up at #2, but that Vaughan came in second to Wagner in every numerical criterion he used to rate the SS's. Then he said this:

"The distance betwwen the number one SS (Wagner) and the number two SS (whoever he is), is about the same as the distance between the number two SS and the number 30 SS."

I agree with that statement. Having given the matter a lot of thought, I've decided Ripken is my #2 all-time SS, but I know a lot of people who disagree, some vehemently, and I have no problem with Vaughan, Yount, Banks or Ozzie as the #2 man. And if A-Rod has more games at SS than at 3B when he retires, as I hope will be true, he'll either become the #2 SS or he'll do the unthinkable and surpass Wagner for #1, because there's no way any of those other guys can carry his jock. (Neither can Jeter.)

But until the Yankees' two great current SS's retire, I think it's true there's a real logjam in the battle for second-best SS of all time. Ripken's offense fell off precipitously after his 30th birthday, and for that reason, he's wound up being perceived as a compiler who had a sprawling careered. That's unfair, in that he did have some fine offensive seasons when young, but his 112 career OPS+ is an unavoidable truth. Then again, that number blows away Ozzie's number, and loses narrowly to Yount and Larkin, with Banks not all that tremendously far ahead.

Also, Ripken would have won far more than 2 Gold Gloves, had he not been forced to compete with first Tony Fernandez, then Omar Vizquel. Despite having to go against those guys, and despite playing SS regularly until age 36, Ripken still had a fielding percentage 33% better than his average contemporary SS, and range 13.5% better... not to mention a great arm.

No disrespect to anyone who favors Yount, Vaughan, Banks or Ozzie at #2, but I think Ripken's the man. He's certainly a legitimate candidate.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Cal is a good guy and a great player

thumbs up on him :thumbsup:

 

[DonMelchor]

TRS had a good point, wrong, but a point none the less.........

 

[Boxslayer]

Nobody throws their life's work down the drain!?

Why because some feel a few days rest to better himself and his team is throwing his life's work down the drain?:think2:

Yeah!

Ripken will always be remembered for this legacy and record.

As much as I dont like Ripken, people like to take shots at him for the streak and it's ridiculous. In the beginning and middle, he wanted to play everyday. There is nothing to criticize a man for in wanting to go out everyday and not take a day off. It's the AMERICAN BLUE COLLAR WAY. It's adimiring and inspirational. At the end, of course it was about the record and he became selfish about it. Wouldnt you? Nobody works that many years and then quits when a record like that is within reach.

Why the heck would he not start everyday and try to break the record?

It became his legacy, it became his life's work, and it will be what he will be remembered for forever.

You ever worked 19 years for something and quit right before the finish line so that you can take a day off? Screw that.

It's absolutely, 100% retarded for any person to try to blaim Ripken for not wanting to go out and break that record once he realized it was within reach just so he can take a day or 2 off and "help his team".

Ripken was still a HOFer and a 75% Ripken was better than half of the SS's in that era.

I would equate this to try going to med school for 15 years, realize that if you go for 4 more years you may end up being a doctor as long as you dont take a day off. Then take a day off on year 17 so you can help your co-workers. BS.

 

[Boxslayer]

Wow. I disagree with every point you just made.

You can disagree all you want, but the last item is fact, and I have 4 stories about Ripken: 1 from current MLB, 1 from ex-MLB, 2 from friends. All extremely negative about Ripken and him being 2-faced behind closed doors.

 

[Boxslayer]

Boxslayer has been off his game lately. He didn't call out themanej for lying about how much he could lift and now this.

themanej is useless. There is no reason to pick on that loser anymore.

In regards to this, please let me know what you disagree about and I'd be happy to discuss w/ you. I have PLENTY of facts to back up all of my statements.

 

[dougstewart]

...Also heard quite a few stories of him being a dick. But he was a media darling so he was portrayed a bit differently.


...You can disagree all you want, but the last item is fact, and I have 4 stories about Ripken: 1 from current MLB, 1 from ex-MLB, 2 from friends. All extremely negative about Ripken and him being 2-faced behind closed doors.

Depends on what you consider "being a dick". I would consider someone, who posts unsubstantiated innuendo and rumor about a public figure like Ripken, like you a dick. I hope you get what's coming to you!

 

[Boxslayer]

doug

a little harsh there my friend

I have nothing coming to me. I'm just a guy passing along accurate and honest information from people who have had interactions with Ripken. I dont see the big deal. It's not some rumor....it's from not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 different circumstances that Ripken is an asshole behind closed doors or away from the cameras. I mean there is no inneundo. It's typical asshole stories. Complains about signing autographs, mocking a kid the way he asked for an autograph, refusing to sign a fellow MLB Player's bat from another team when requested, and yelling at a kid when requesting an autograph after he had a bad game.

Same old stuff that we see many athletes do. He's not some media darling saint the way he is made out to be, and he has had his share of moments - like a lot of people.

I guess I'm a bad person and have something coming to me for relaying that? Geez.

 

[dougstewart]

I guess I'm a bad person and have something coming to me for relaying that? Geez.

No, you're not a bad person, you're a dick. I don't know you and I don't know Cal Ripken, but I'll take Ripken over you any day. Like I say, I sincerely hope you get what's coming to you...KARMA.
your friend,
doug

 

[Boxslayer]

lighten up douchebag

you're wound way too tight

sincerely yours,

box

 

[WVU]

No, you're not a bad person, you're a dick. I don't know you and I don't know Cal Ripken, but I'll take Ripken over you any day. Like I say, I sincerely hope you get what's coming to you...KARMA.
your friend,
doug

You are a miserable grouch. Are you like this in real life?
:youmad:

 

[steaktartar]

this thread is pickin' up steam

 

[dougstewart]

You are a miserable grouch. Are you like this in real life?

This isn't real life? What exactly is it then? I think boxslayer, from his posts in this thread, is a dick. How that makes me a miserable grouch I don't know, but you are certainly entitled to your opinion. You of course know full well how I feel about you and your opinion about me.