INSIDE BASEBALL: List of best shortstops reflects changes in strategy
Friday, July 10 | 11:53 p.m.
BY GREG JAYNE
The legacy of Robin Yount and Cal Ripken can be found in the list of the best shortstops in major-league history.
It’s not just that Yount ranks fourth and Ripken ranks fifth. It’s that they reminded baseball executives that you can, indeed, find a shortstop with the ability to hit while adequately fielding his position.
Before Yount and Ripken came along, baseball had suffered through generations of good-field, no-hit shortstops. The result was that Ed Brinkman was allowed to play 1,845 major-league games despite hitting .224 with an OPS of .580, and Dal Maxvill played 1,423 games while batting .217 with six home runs.
But Yount and Ripken helped spawn a new breed of shortstop, and baseball people realized that an adequate fielder who is a good hitter is more valuable than any .224 hitter could possibly be.
That is reflected in the list of the best shortstops in history.
You’ll have to go to columbian.com/section/GregJayne to see the list of the Top 100 shortstops in major-league history, but here are the numerous active players who made the cut:
No. 2 Alex Rodriguez
Rodriguez probably will end up playing more games at third base than at shortstop. When that happens, he’ll rank as the best third baseman in history. But for now, he’s No. 2 at shortstop, with little hope of passing Honus Wagner for No. 1.
No. 12 Derek Jeter
Jeter has flaws. Namely, that he has been a lousy fielder for the better part of a decade. But he has more than 2,600 hits, more than 200 homers, and a .317 batting average. He likely will get to 3,000 hits, and he could score 2,000 runs.
No. 28 Miguel Tejada
Per 162 games, Tejada has averaged 97 runs, 36 doubles, 25 homers, and 103 RBI while batting .289. Ed Brinkman is jealous.
No. 40 Nomar Garciaparra
The dangers of assessing a player too early in his career: Through the age of 26, the most similar players to Garciaparra included Ernie Banks, Tony Lazzeri, Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, and Joe Gordon. They’re all in the Hall of Fame; Garciaparra will not be joining them.
No. 48 Omar Vizquel
A throwback to the days of good-field, no-hit shortstops, Vizquel is actually a great fielder and an OK hitter.
Baseball historian Bill James thinks Vizquel will go into the Hall of Fame. With nearly 2,700 hits, 11 Gold Gloves, more games at shortstop than anybody in history, and a generation of other players tainted by steroids, that might not be far-fetched.
No. 50 Jimmy Rollins
In 2007, Rollins scored 139 runs, hitting 38 doubles, 20 triples and 30 homers. He won the MVP award, which was hard to argue with, even if David Wright was the best player in the league.
No. 53 Edgar Renteria
The 10 most similar players to Renteria through the age of 32 include Alan Trammell, Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Billy Herman, Ryne Sandberg, Chuck Knoblauch, Lou Whitaker, and Derek Jeter. That’s good company.
And none of the other guys had a walk-off 11th-inning hit to win a World Series.
No. 64 Michael Young
Young once had five consecutive seasons with 200 hits, he has a bit of power, and he won a Gold Glove last year. Terrific player who is completely overlooked on the national stage.
No. 69 Rafael Furcal
Furcal has not turned into the superstar he appeared destined to be. But he has been a good player for nearly a decade.
In 2003, Furcal scored 130 runs. Dal Maxvill once scored 136 runs in 661 games over five seasons.
No. 71 Rich Aurilia
Yes, this is the same Rich Aurilia who once batted .241 with four homers in a half-season after signing with the Mariners. In 2001, he batted .324 with 37 doubles and 37 homers, a year that is completely out of context with the rest of his career.
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That means we have 10 active players among the Top 100 shortstops, ranking no lower than No. 71. In addition, Jose Reyes and Carlos Guillen just missed the Top 100 and probably will crack the list by the end of this season.
That’s a far cry from 1968, when the 10 starting National League shortstops combined for a .282 on-base percentage and a .280 slugging percentage. And it’s a vast improvement in the quality of the game.
Question or comment for By the Numbers? You can reach Greg Jayne, Sports editor of The Columbian, at 360-735-4531 or by e-mail at greg.jaynecolumbian..com. To read his blog, go to columbian.com/section/GregJayne
