Bill Madlock turned 55 on Monday

[Gantry]

Discuss...  Despite his lofty stats and general good repoire with the RBI legions out there, I just am not a fan.  Some consider him to be the best pinch hitter period, but honestly I think he's not even the best guy on his team (Sheridan).  Not trying to piss on his special day, but I'm wondering what folks think...

* This post was brought to you by the Gantry Drive to get to 200,000 posts.

[ultimate7]

He's a very good PH, not in the same league as Armas, Burks, Jones but very good.  Always bats 5th for me

[Gantry]

I think it's really an issue of my lefty bias.  To the whole dee-nee crew, its PS by a large margin.  The straight-pitch mentality blocks my ability to scout RBI talent...

So ultimate - not counting all-stars, how do you rank madlock?  4th overall pinch hitter? 

[Gantry]

I'm starting to do some actual work on the RBI Database, remember that invaluable resource?  Editing a player page on their birthday is a good way to do it without getting too worn out.

http://dee-nee.com/wiki/index.php/Bill_Madlock

Fun fact - Madlock was drafted by the Washington Senators, I wonder how many other RBI'ers have ties to that organization. 

[ultimate7]

Hard to say exactly, certainly behind the 3 I listed.  Close with Hendrick, Henderson, and Lindeman (maybe also Sheridan and Spillman) to make up the 2nd tier of non All-Star PHs.

[Gantry]

I'd say you are spot on with the pinch-hitter tiers.  I can't see Madlock over Lindeman, but I can see him as part of that general group... 

[Gantry]

Fun Fact #2 - According to fightonusc's overall player rankings, Madlock is ranked #35.  A little too high for my tastes, but pretty close.  I think the system is a little too biased to those lack a weak category but that's for another thread...

[fknmclane]

When I was a kid I always thought Madlock was the greatest pinch-hitter ever.  As I've learned more and more about the game and played many more games and gained experience, I've realized that he's a nice addition to the Detroit lineup but not much more.

He's got pretty damn good power and if anything, he's hurt by how good the rest of his team is. Compared with the power of Gibby Fistpump and DaEvans, Madlock is a middle of the order surprise.

I actually used to bat him for Brookn.  As a kid, I looked at nothing more than the stats given by the RBI gods and Madlock were better. Now I usually bat him 5th but will sometimes use Sheridan depending on the matchup with the pitcher.

Fuck, I really need to play some RBI.  It has been waaaaay too long.

[Gantry]

I agree with everything my buddy said there.  We used to be Madlock fans as kids and I even had an "I hate Tom Brookens" fad there for about 6 months in 1999 where I would use him 8th.  I have since learned, but still much prefer Sheridan at #5 and Madlock for the clutch dinger.  Perhaps if I played curve he would start over Sheridan...

[BDawk]

Not a fan. I used to start him all the time...but now PS gets the start in the herndon spot

[Gantry]

Good man BDawk, most of the Dee-Nee house members have taken the same approach...

[JoeDirt]

I think you guys have Madlock well underrated.  I'd rank him behind Burks and Armas, but slightly ahead of Jones, Henderson, Hendrick and Lindeman contingency to make him the third best PH on a non-all star team.

Note that my rankings after Madlock aren't in any order.

[Gantry]

I can see Hendrick and maybe Lindeman but I can't see Madlock over Jones.  891 power, though if you prefer righties I guess it can be doable...

[JoeDirt]

I don't necessarily prefer righties.  I prefer to be the same hand as the pitcher, righty or lefty.

[JoeDirt]

Damn, I didn't realize there's 29 right handed pitchers and 11 lefties.  I obviously realized it was more Rs, but damn, not by that much.