This sportswriter needs an atomic wedgie (1 Viewer)

[Binky The Doormat]

Just read this yahoo article about Cal Ripken Jr. and other veteran players "bullying" Greg Zahn when he was a young player. Zahn isn't complaining, and at least the article recognizes that Zahn states that it helped him and more of it needs to happen in today's game - but the writer positions it as a coming from a dinosaur.

The writer is trying to take today's sensitivities and mash it onto prior times to make Ripken and others look bad - to grab some headlines. Hey what "journalist" hasn't done this, but this is shameless.

We aren't talking about letter-jacketed meatheads picking on the helpless nerds in gym class here. These are top talented professionals in a team environment. They can handle themselves.

NOTE: Ripken should have bought Zahn a new suit though.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Ripken should beat the writers ###, just to teach him some humility. Not enough ### beating in the sports writers industry imo.

 

[Sinn Fein]

NOTE: Ripken Zahn should have bought Zahn Ripken a new suit though.

FYP

 

[Tom Servo]

Ripken should beat the writers ###, just to teach him some humility. Not enough ### beating in the sports writers industry imo.

Stop stealing the Iron Sheik's gimmick.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Ripken is at best a borderline HoF candidate without the streak

 

[pollardsvision]

The writer is essentially relaying Zaun's thoughts about how Ripken kicking his ### was such a good thing. And that current players need this treatment.

Not sure why the writer needs a wedgie. Well, unless he's rookie....

 

[Binky The Doormat]

The writer is essentially relaying Zaun's thoughts about how Ripken kicking his ### was such a good thing. And that current players need this treatment.

Not sure why the writer needs a wedgie. Well, unless he's rookie....

Pollard ...scroll down. The writer goes on to say,

"While there may be some truth to what Zaun is saying about Lawrie, there are obviously better ways to handle it than what he experienced in Baltimore. As many have pointed out, those actions outside a baseball environment are considered bullying and potentially criminal. The destruction of property just for the sake of doing it? That doesn't fly, and it shouldn't be tolerated.

Thankfully, it seems as though Zaun's old school mentality is where it belongs — in the past. While we're sure some hazing goes on, it would be difficult to keep this degree of abuse out of the media. Still, it's disappointing to hear someone as connected to the game as Zaun still is floating these ideas out there as acceptable. The game doesn't need it, and it's something children and impressionable young adults simply don't need to hear."

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

So, these kind of things don’t happen anymore, but they need to happen more often. And they need to happen with the backing of the management, all the way up to the front office, down to the field manager. You have to allow your veteran players to create the atmosphere that they want in the clubhouse, because at the end of the day, when guys get along and they know their pecking order, and they know the hierarchy, everything seems to work out just fine.

This is just weird.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Zaun is an idiot.

 

[Stinger Ray]

Ripken is at best a borderline HoF candidate without the streak

Terrible bait

 

[Prince Myshkin]

Ripken is at best a borderline HoF candidate without the streak

Terrible bait

He's got a point...career .276 hitter with 162-game averages of 23 HR's and 91 RBI. Good, not great #'s. 3-4 Really good years, a couple of good years, and a bunch of solid/borderline solid years. He was a compiler of stats based on his longevity.

If you compare him to Barry Larkin (borderline HOF'er), Larkin has a higher BA, OBP, OPS, nearly identical SLG, more gold gloves (and would have been a ton more had it not been for Ozzie Smith), more Silver Sluggers (by 1). Not saying Larkin was better (it's close, and if I had to pick a SS I would probably take him over Ripken), but "the Streak" makes Ripken seem like a much better player than he really was.

But to the OP's point, I don't have a problem at all with what the author says here. I didn't read the entire article, but the first description by Zahn is enough for me to agree with the writer that there are better ways of handling things.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Ripken is at best a borderline HoF candidate without the streak

Terrible bait

He's got a point...career .276 hitter with 162-game averages of 23 HR's and 91 RBI. Good, not great #'s. 3-4 Really good years, a couple of good years, and a bunch of solid/borderline solid years. He was a compiler of stats based on his longevity.

If you compare him to Barry Larkin (borderline HOF'er), Larkin has a higher BA, OBP, OPS, nearly identical SLG, more gold gloves (and would have been a ton more had it not been for Ozzie Smith), more Silver Sluggers (by 1). Not saying Larkin was better (it's close, and if I had to pick a SS I would probably take him over Ripken), but "the Streak" makes Ripken seem like a much better player than he really was.

But to the OP's point, I don't have a problem at all with what the author says here. I didn't read the entire article, but the first description by Zahn is enough for me to agree with the writer that there are better ways of handling things.

As a player Barry Larkin kicks the snot out of Ripken Jr.

 

[Prince Myshkin]

As a player Barry Larkin kicks the snot out of Ripken Jr.

Not sure as a clubhouse bully though...

 

[Stinger Ray]

Ripken is at best a borderline HoF candidate without the streak

Terrible bait

He's got a point...career .276 hitter with 162-game averages of 23 HR's and 91 RBI. Good, not great #'s. 3-4 Really good years, a couple of good years, and a bunch of solid/borderline solid years. He was a compiler of stats based on his longevity. If you compare him to Barry Larkin (borderline HOF'er), Larkin has a higher BA, OBP, OPS, nearly identical SLG, more gold gloves (and would have been a ton more had it not been for Ozzie Smith), more Silver Sluggers (by 1). Not saying Larkin was better (it's close, and if I had to pick a SS I would probably take him over Ripken), but "the Streak" makes Ripken seem like a much better player than he really was.

But to the OP's point, I don't have a problem at all with what the author says here. I didn't read the entire article, but the first description by Zahn is enough for me to agree with the writer that there are better ways of handling things.

How many shortstops that averaged 23 HRs and 91RBIs even over a span half as long as Ripken aren't in the HOF? Ripken had over 3,000 hits....streak or not he deserves to be in the HOF. Larkin never had more than 100 RBIs and Ripken has more MVPs. Ripken had more than 20HRs in a season 12 times. Larkin twice.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ripkeca01.shtml

 

[Prince Myshkin]

Ripken is at best a borderline HoF candidate without the streak

Terrible bait

He's got a point...career .276 hitter with 162-game averages of 23 HR's and 91 RBI. Good, not great #'s. 3-4 Really good years, a couple of good years, and a bunch of solid/borderline solid years. He was a compiler of stats based on his longevity. If you compare him to Barry Larkin (borderline HOF'er), Larkin has a higher BA, OBP, OPS, nearly identical SLG, more gold gloves (and would have been a ton more had it not been for Ozzie Smith), more Silver Sluggers (by 1). Not saying Larkin was better (it's close, and if I had to pick a SS I would probably take him over Ripken), but "the Streak" makes Ripken seem like a much better player than he really was.

But to the OP's point, I don't have a problem at all with what the author says here. I didn't read the entire article, but the first description by Zahn is enough for me to agree with the writer that there are better ways of handling things.

How many shortstops that averaged 23 HRs and 91RBIs even over a span half as long as Ripken aren't in the HOF? Ripken had over 3,000 hits....streak or not he deserves to be in the HOF.

He deserves in the Hall, but people act like he's an all-time great player and he just wasn't. It is sacrilege to talk about him as a clubhouse bully because of this pedestal he has been placed on, primarily because of the streak.

Now he does have to get some credit for his part in changing perceptions about the position. A big, strong SS wasn't the norm when he started.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Olbermann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKBuzCOVqmg