still don't like the ARod pick, but I'm going to drop it at that since the players I may want to compare him to are still available.Back to Arky Vaughan if we may..this is a guy that either a) I have completely underrated or b) history has made out to be better than he really is.I don't see it..James has him as the #2 SS of all time.Career .318 avg is nice. James claims that Vaughan's three best seasons in 34-36 were better than the three best of any SS other than Wagner. Hit .351 over that period, scored a hundred runs, lead the league in walks. Had an OBP in '35 of .491 which is pretty sick. Still..I think you could easily put Banks' 3-year stretch of '57-59 up against Arky and have no problem saying that his was better. Arky was not rated an exceptional defensive player, which I personally consider important at SS. According to James, he ranks in the bottom half in terms of defensive value. Banks was no better either. I just don't see how his offense is that much better than some others that it bumps up his mediocre defense. I don't know why, but I just refuse to see Arky Vaughan ranked so high both in terms of overall greatness and where he was drafted here. Nice hitter, had a few insane OBP years but I don't think his offensive production matches up with others, and his defense wasn't special. I dunno, maybe there aren't enough good shortstops. And I also don't know why I continue to talk about this guy when nobody cares.
The arky thing has me confused too. I am not a baseball genius by any stretch, but like most here probably, it was my 'first love' in sports. I have followed baseball and its history for a long time. That said, I NEVER knew of Arky Vaughn until this draft! which is crazy. Maybe Bill James IS the reason Arky is so popular amongst the baseball "elite" - because they all seem to talk about him at baseball only forums where the guys who "saw snider play against mays" talk like we do, here.In fact, about ARod, there was a lot of talk how ARod right now is in the middle of a career where he would like to continue and end up, as he is "on pace to", be as good or even better than Arky. if Arky was as good then as Arod was in the 90's, or Banks was then, and seems to be above others not yet drafted, how the hell does no one know about him?Larry - I need to see your next two picks before commenting. I agree Frank went way to high. I like the Gehriger pick a lot however . Clemens was perhaps a little early, but I can see some thinking he is up there and others not agreeing. He was dominant often, but Im not sure he was AS dominant in ways like Pedro, or Walter Johnson, or Randy Johnson. There were picthers taken almost 2 rounds later that basically match clemens career, outside of Cy Youngs (which mean a lot, granted. but have to consider the competition as well etc.). Matty was a great pick as you know where I stand on getting a top 3-5 overall pitcher. That is your best pick, IMO.
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