One batter for one huge at-bat in the bottom of the 9th (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

Situation- Bottom of the 9th. Your team is losing 4-3. Bases are loaded and there are two outs.

A walk or hit gets the job done, and you can choose (almost) any batter in the history of the game.

I won't pin the reliever down to one specific person, so we'll categorize him as a "Top 20 All-Time" right-handed closer.

TWO CONDITIONS:

1) You can't choose Ted Williams. I suspect that's who most folks would pick, so he's the only one off limits.

2) This is to save your life (indulge me here). If he doesn't reach base safely, you sleep with the fishes.



I'm going with Rod Carew. I patterned my stance in Little League after his, even though I was a right-handed, pudgy white kid. Loved the guy. I see him slicing a line drive base hit into the left-center gap on a 2-2 pitch to keep me alive!

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Barry Bonds. He would probably get walked intentionally.

 

[Raider Nation]

Barry Bonds. He would probably get walked intentionally.

Or lean that ridiculously large elbow pad out over the plate to get hit.

 

[madhatter]

If I can't take Williams, Ruth seems like a no brainer to me. I think his career OBP was 475 or something.

 

[Raider Nation]

If I can't take Williams, Ruth seems like a no brainer to me. I think his career OBP was 475 or something.

But he only played against whitey.

 

[scoobus]

An in his prime, juiced Bonds

 

[Kenny Powers]

Josh MF Gibson, I dont care if I never saw him play

 

[sports_fan]

If I can't take Williams, Ruth seems like a no brainer to me. I think his career OBP was 475 or something.

Greatest all-time AB/RBI ratio and 2nd highest career OBPI'd take Gehrig after him. Williams would be my #3.

 

[Michael Brown]

Donnie Baseball

 

[urbanhack]

Frank Thomas (as long as it's not the playoffs)

 

[Annyong]

Has to be Beroid Bonds. Then prolly Ruth

 

[Doctor Detroit]

By position:

C Piazza

1B Gehrig

2B Hornsby

3B Mel Ott

SS Honus

LF Bonds

CF Cobb

RF Williams

By era:

Pre ML: Pete Browning

Deadball: Cobb

Golden Age: Ruth

WWII: Musial

Post war: Mantle

High mound: Frankrob

Disco era: Reggie

Steroid: Bonds

Today: Miggy

 

[Raider Nation]

By position:C Piazza1B Gehrig2B Hornsby3B Mel OttSS HonusLF BondsCF CobbRF WilliamsBy erare ML: Pete BrowningDeadball: Cobb Golden Age: RuthWWII: MusialPost war: MantleHigh mound: FrankrobDisco era: ReggieSteroid: BondsToday: Miggy

:(I was hoping to get just one choice out of you. I would have bet a dime you'd select Tyrus Raymond.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

By position:C Piazza1B Gehrig2B Hornsby3B Mel OttSS HonusLF BondsCF CobbRF WilliamsBy erare ML: Pete BrowningDeadball: Cobb Golden Age: RuthWWII: MusialPost war: MantleHigh mound: FrankrobDisco era: ReggieSteroid: BondsToday: Miggy

:(I was hoping to get just one choice out of you. I would have bet a dime you'd select Tyrus Raymond.

Based on career numbers, Ruth. Based on one season, 2004 Bonds.

 

[Eephus]

By erare ML: Pete Browning

...only when sober

 

[Doctor Detroit]

By erare ML: Pete Browning

...only when sober

and properly mustached.

 

[Greco]

Pete Rose. For some reason I feel as if he had a few at bats where sleeping with the fishes may have been a real possibilty for him if he didn't come through. I'd like that experience atthe plate for me.

 

[boubucarow]

Not that I believe in clutch but I believe Mark Grace was the most "clutch" person at least in recent baseball history in Baseball Between the Numbers.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Bryce harper

 

[Smack Tripper]

Jeter in his prime.

Then Paul Molitor.

Wade Boggs circa 1986 pretty good for this type thing too, but he's tied with 1995 Ken Griffey Jr.

 

[PIK95]

Ricky Henderson and his eight inch strike zone for a clutch walk. Ichiro would be on my radar too. 1988? Mike Greenwell won a few games like that. R.I.P. Game winning R.B.I.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Not that I believe in clutch but I believe Mark Grace was the most "clutch" person at least in recent baseball history in Baseball Between the Numbers.

Not sure what the Baseball Between the Numbers criteria / definition of 'clutch' is, but I have to say that this sounds ridiculous.This isn't just because he's a Cub. It's because one would think that, for someone to be considered clutch, they would have found a way to crack the NL top 10 in RBIs at least once in their career. Especially considering he spent the majority that career hitting 3rd or 4th.

 

[beaux]

Francisco Cabrera

 

[boubucarow]

Not that I believe in clutch but I believe Mark Grace was the most "clutch" person at least in recent baseball history in Baseball Between the Numbers.

Not sure what the Baseball Between the Numbers criteria / definition of 'clutch' is, but I have to say that this sounds ridiculous.This isn't just because he's a Cub. It's because one would think that, for someone to be considered clutch, they would have found a way to crack the NL top 10 in RBIs at least once in their career. Especially considering he spent the majority that career hitting 3rd or 4th.

The book attempted to kill the notion of "clutch" in one of its chapters. What it found was that performance in clutch situations varied tremendously from year to year. But it also printed its results on whose performances were better in clutch situations than in all other situations and I believe Grace was at the top of the list for recent careers. Not sure if it was a AVG or OPS thing.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

George Brett was the first player I thought of.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

Lou Gehrig all-time, modern era probably Pujols (this year notwithstanding).

 

[Leroy Hoard]

That midget Bill Veeck used as a pinch-hitter.

 

[beaux]

That midget Bill Veeck used as a pinch-hitter.

Eddie Gaedel

 

[Leroy Hoard]

That midget Bill Veeck used as a pinch-hitter.

Eddie Gaedel

By now his strike zone must be almost nonexistent.

 

[Raider Nation]

That midget Bill Veeck used as a pinch-hitter.

Eddie Gaedel

By now his strike zone must be almost nonexistent.

How is it still legal to not allow midgets to play MLB? They have rights too, dammit!

 

[tri-man 47]

How is it still legal to not allow midgets to play MLB? They have rights too, dammit!

They actually stood up for their rights some years back. Wait for it...But no one saw them.