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Kind of a tough list to compile, some will probably disagree with my choices.  But who is the worst bench player?

I have long been an advocate of Steve Lake being the worst player in RBI, and I'm sticking to it...

Discuss...

I voted for Oquendo.  In my years of the Cards being my team of choice, I often let Oquendo bat for the pitcher, and I always immediately wondered why.

Also, in real life, his stance was just plain bizarre.

I had to go with Sulli on this one...he gets the occasional first at bat homer, but overall you're better off letting Clemens hit.  As far as Oquendo...he's money for me.  He hits a bomb probably 25% of the time...and that's not bad for a player of his caliber

So does that mean you get more production out of Lake beef?   Or Lake never sees the light of day?

I hate having to sub in Sullivan...needing a run, late in a game.  Going into the at bat, I just know that I'm screwed!!!!

CurtFlood, you're right...you are probably better off batting with Clemens or even Hurst, but then there's always that 1 out of 100 chance that Sullivan might go yard.  Man, does he suck!!

Some do hold Sullivan in high regard for his clutch dingers, even I have said as much.  But now I think he is "overrated" if that is possible.  I think with Sully you just remember his heroics for such a long time and forget the 20 other groundouts to third....

I'll still take him over Steve Lake anyday...

That was a tough call, because I think that Sully and Lake are terrible, but I went with Lake.  At least with Sullivan, he's got some people in the lineup that can pick up the pieces if he makes an out.  With Lake, if you make an out with him, you can be quite screwed!  There is lots of speed, but little power to pick up Lake's added slack.

on a side note, I'm actually a fan of Chris Spieier.  I like the entire SF bench.  They've always been solid for me.  Angels and SF don't have a weak spot on the bench as far as I'm concerned.  Sullivan is the lone weak spot.  I could see an argument that the Tigers don't have a weak spot, but I think the sentiment varies on Bergman and Heath

Both rarely play (although I used to go with Oquendo more because I'd at least heard of him), but Lake's often good for at least an occasional bloop single.  I think part of my problem with Oquendo is that I expect him to be at least somewhat fast, since he's a .286 hitter with only 1 homerun (often, decent average + no power = speed), and he's actually horribly slow, which makes him seem even worse than he actually is.

I went with Sullivan, I can't remember the last time I used Steve Lake.

I don't think Speier is terrible either, but I considered him the worst guy on San Fran.  It was tough to find other guys, most of the guys are Houston are decent but not great and I didn't want to use two all-star guys.  Probably should have put Julio Franco in for Speier...

Gantry,

How could you even put Seitzer on the list with those bums? He's friggin clutch coming off the AL bench. You should replace him on the list with Danny Heep. He blows!

I'm not a big fan of Seitzer, never does anything for me. ..

It was hard picking that list, I knew there would be some descrepancies.  And no matter who the last two guys are, I doubt many people would vote for them...

Actually almost put Mazilli on there, but he has his moments.  Terrible for a whole game, but money for a single at bat.  Nick (http://dee-nee.com/rbi/nick.shtml) plays the world's best Danny Heep, so I'm biased there.  Seriously, he absolutely crushes with heep.  Notice his favorite player...

Not long ago I probably would have gone with Lake on this one but he actually hit a walk off against me last week. I've also been playing enough with Minnesota recently to realize that Davidson is a piece of shit.  The only good thing I guess is that the MN bench is so bad that Bush is the only one I bring in at the start so I usually don't even make it to Davidson.

Davidson is probably the most "underrated" terrible bench player in RBI.  He doesn't get the Sullivan/Lake press but is right there in terms of ineffectiveness.  God does he suck...

I had a phase where I brought Davidson in at #6 for Minnesota.  He actually hit a few Tettleton (http://dee-nee.com/rbi/glossary.shtml#TETTLETON) dingers on the first day.  Man that pisses off your opponent.  Unfortunately, the rest of the month was complete nothing...

I have to say Lake is definitely the worst bench player. Sullivan is a close second but Gantry is right, you can never forget a Sully homer so he clouds your memory of his true suckiness.

Davidson is also absolutely terrible.  I mean really bad.  But no one can touch Lake.

I also think Seitzer sucks coming off the bench for AL.  He never does a damn thing except hit weak grounders and low flying flares to the outfield.  Total crap for an All-Star.

I also like Chris Speier.  I think SF has one of the best benches, along with Houston.  The team may not be the best but they are very deep.

I couldn't vote for Oquendo because he played EVERY position in his illustrious career.

I am going with Sullivan. Boston's bench is awesome, but he is a turd. No power, slow....

Quote from: fknmclane on 05/12/04, 01:28:46 PM
I couldn't vote for Oquendo because he played EVERY position in his illustrious career.

It's funny you say that, fknmclane.  I say that same thing...everytime I sub Oquendo in.  Why?  Because I saw an "Oquendo does it all"-type clip on an SI video a long, long time ago...

I can't believe Steve Lake is getting so little love...I think he's definitely the 2nd best on the Cardinal bench.  

I suspect the hatred of Lake is a product of the straight pitch theory--as lefties are always regarded so much more highly in straight pitch (meaning Oquendo/Morris are "good").

However, in curve, I think right handed hitters are generally better--just because it's advantageous to have a hitter that is the same hand as the pitcher--and there are more righty pitchers out there.

...but be that as it may, I voted for Davidson.  He's the suckiest suck that ever sucked.  ;)

QuoteI can't believe Steve Lake is getting so little love...I think he's definitely the 2nd best on the Cardinal bench.

I suspect the hatred of Lake is a product of the straight pitch theory--as lefties are always regarded so much more highly in straight pitch (meaning Oquendo/Morris are "good").

If you'll notice, Oquendo is also on my list for worst sub and has a vote.  So good is a bit of a stretch...

I freely admit to the lefty bias, but to me there is no way Lake is better than Blank Morris.  That kid has some pop in his bat...

I wish Curt Ford was a sub...that way I could vote for him.