Best player missing from the game???

[RedBarron]

Paul Noce can thank RBI Legend Jack Clark for his call to the big leagues.

[JoeDirt]

I still think Bonds changed the way the game is played...you look at Pujols, and they're now starting it IBB him a shitload more.  DLee was starting to see it...Just because Brad Hawpe isn't an extreme power hitter and thus doesn't see a ton more IBBs than Ps used to pitch, doesn't mean that Bonds didn't change the game in the regard that now super hot, extreme power hitters get IBBs a ton more often.  And just because Jamie Moyer is a lefty who gets lefties out more than righties doesn't mean that Bonds didn't change the game.  You can say pick two players from the 20s, one who had zero power and one who didn't give up many HRs and claim that Ruth didn't affect them so therefore he didn't change the game...

[Dryden]

Let's find the flaw in this theory.

2004, Intentional walks, national league.
Bonds-SFG   120
Thome-PHI   26
Helton-COL   19
Berkman-HOU   14
Piazza-NYM   14
Edmonds-STL   12
Pujols-STL   12

2005
Pujols-STL   27
Lee-CHC   23
Helton-COL   22
Delgado-FLA   20
Abreu-PHI   15
Dunn-CIN   14
Lieberthal-PHI   14

2006
Bonds    31
Cabrera  16
Pujols 15
Helton  9
Soriano  9
Berkman  9


Hank Aaron, IBB
1957   15
1958   16
1959   17
1960   13
1961   20
1962   14
1963   18
1964   9
1965   10
1966   15
1967   19
1968   23
1969   19
1970   15
1971   21
1972   15
1973   13

[Dryden]

The only player out of line with the intentional walk patterns given to batters over the last 50 years is Barry Bonds.

Willie McCovey
1966   10
1967   17
1968   20
1969   45
1970   40
1971   21
1972   5
1973   25
   
George Brett   
1979   14
1980   16
1981   7
1982   14
1983   13
1984   6
1985   31
1986   18
1987   14
1988   15
1989   14
1990   14
1991   10

[Dryden]

Oh, and the reason for Pujols' spike in walks last year probably has more to do with the decline of Jim Edmonds (and Rolen's being injured) than it has anything to do with him.  Giambi, ARod - these guys don't get walked much, mostly because the Yankees lineup is too good.  No one walks David Ortiz, because Manny Ramirez is usually hitting behind him.

[JoeDirt]

I hope you realize you can intentionally walk a batter without having your catcher stand up with his arm out to the side...

[Clambutt]

I hope you realize you can intentionally walk a batter without having your catcher stand up with his arm out to the side...

Not Vlad, he'll swing at anything

[Big Hath]

I hope you realize you can intentionally walk a batter without having your catcher stand up with his arm out to the side...

sometimes even this doesn't work

[Attezz]

I hope you realize you can intentionally walk a batter without having your catcher stand up with his arm out to the side...

I hope you realize that there's never been a time in baseball where the best home run hitters were pitched to identically to the worst hitters.

(Well, other than 1998)

[JoeDirt]

Uh, yeah, duh...

[RedBarron]

I hope you realize you can intentionally walk a batter without having your catcher stand up with his arm out to the side...

I hope you realize that there's never been a time in baseball where the best home run hitters were pitched to identically to the worst hitters.

(Well, other than 1998)

lima time?

[Attezz]

Uh, yeah, duh...

So your argument is that because of Bonds, pitchers don't groove pitches to power hitters?

[JoeDirt]

no, that sounds stupid. 

[Darky]

its just not played the same anymore, manufacturing runs and all,

Go watch some high school baseball for that. Or go back to 1903 to watch that kind of ball.

[Dryden]

Or just wait a few years, things will come back around.

[RedBarron]

When pitchers catch up to the hitters, small ball will make a come back.

[Clambutt]

When pitchers catch up to the hitters, small ball will make a come back.

HGH doesn't seem to help pitchers,  look at Grimsley he sucked.

[JoeDirt]

...for 17 (or whatever) years...

[fightonusc]

Back on topic.

I would go with either Danny Tartabull or Joe Carter for offensive players, and Teddy Higuera for a pitcher.

[fightonusc]

Also, I think it's fair to say that Jose Canseco changed the way that players inject massive amounts of steroids into their bodies in order to get an advantage.