Comments for The Mitchell Report & Livin' La Vida Leo

Comment on Leo: Climbing to the Top by Bryan Kuhn

Bryan Kuhn — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:01:34 +0000

Matt is doing incredible this year and could not happen to a nicer man. Can you blog about the rules regarding the showing of contreversial plays on the scoreboard. I was there last night when the “faux pas” occured. What is the league rule and what are the reprecutions aound something like that. We show players errors repeatedly why should umpires have protection from their own screw ups.

Comment on Leo: The First Men Down by Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo

Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:39:16 +0000

Sorry, sprained ankle… my brain was working faster than my typing fingers…

See you soon!

Comment on Leo: The First Men Down by bryankuhn21

bryankuhn21 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:35:40 +0000

Hey Scot, what exacly is a “sprained Injury” and how does one do this? Is this a double negative situation where 2 negatives = positive, sprained injury = healthy? Just kidding, I was at the park Saturday and thinks are looking good, I am ready to go!

Comment on Mitchell: The Great Debate by Steve Campbell

Steve Campbell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:39:40 +0000

I don’t think it’s fair to compare championships (or even MVPs) as any kind of measure of greatness in baseball unless you are talking great teams, especially when comparing modern (post-Flood) era vs. old-timers. Baseball greatness, unlike in other sports, can more easily be judged on individual stats because it’s more about collective individual performances than group cooperation (a guy’s batting average is not affected by others’ hitting and his fielding pct. doesn’t go down when someone doesn’t catch his throw, but you get no assist if the guy misses the layup or open-netter you set him up for). Was Chris Chambliss better than contemporary Rod Carew who had no rings? Or better than Mattingly who suffered through the Yankee drought of the 80′s? I don’t think so. Right place, right time. Put Bench on those 50′s teams and he would have done everything if not more than Yogi did… except the alleged quotes. I’ll give you that.

Comment on Mitchell: The Great Debate by Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo

Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:26:14 +0000

A spectacular defender like Robinson and Smith doesn’t resonate for me when his offense isn’t at least All-Star worthy too. Ozzie hit .262 with a SLG lower than his OBP. Brooks is much easier to argue for. Josh Gibson’s career numbers are tremendous, but hard to quantify in the context of the Majors. I don’t know how to incorporate Negro League players into the discussion properly, so I don’t try. Clemente belongs in the discussion, and that’s why this is so much fun.

Comment on Mitchell: The Great Debate by Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo

Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:11:38 +0000

Leo will claim heresey, but I take Berra over Bench by a nose. More championships 10-2, MVP’s 3-2 (and top 3 MVP finished 6-2), All-Stars, better CS%, better OPS and he has to get points for the yogi-isms. Would I fight somebody who disagreed? No, but you have to pick one over the other. Also, as I mentioned, I didn’t consider pitcher in my list. If I did, some of the names you mentioned would definitely belong.

Comment on Mitchell: The Great Debate by Bryan Kuhn

Bryan Kuhn — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:53:00 +0000

I love this debate because you can argue so many different ways. I do feel your list is weighted to offensive stats, not complete players. I did notice that you stayed away from 2nd basemen ( Hornsby played there but just as much else where). I am not sure where you factor in defense such as Clemente’s outfield play and over all game, Brooks Robinson’s play at 3rd base, Ozzie smith at short although I do not know how good a fielder Wagner was I would keep him on this list. Shoeless Joe’s Stats don’t lie either. I would also question Berra over Bench even with his world championships.I guess you also would be remiss to leave out a player like Josh Gibson who not only had offensive stats to rival anyone, he played catcher.
This is fun stuff. I think another interesting topic could be all time flakes/characters of the game.

Comment on Mitchell: The Great Debate by Steve Campbell

Steve Campbell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:07:16 +0000

If I had to limit it to four like on Mt. Rushmore, I would choose, like Borglum did, the pioneers of the game. From left to right: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson and Walter Johnson. Maybe you could put some more modern era players on the other side of the mountain, but I think those four are the foundation of the game we love today.

If I were to edit your list of 20, I’d replace Schmidt with Brooks Robinson, Foxx with Cal Ripken, Pujols with Walter Johnson and A-Rod with Jackie Robinson, Speaker for Nolan Ryan and maybe Barroyd Bonds for Steve Carlton. If we weren’t judging on post-playing-career immorality, I’d put Rose in there for Wagner.

Do you think Berra was better than Bench?

Comment on Leo: Valentine’s Day for baseball lovers by Steve Campbell

Steve Campbell — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:56:39 +0000

Love it. How about “Sweet Lou” Whittaker?

Comment on Leo: Who’s on first? by Leo: A second look at first « The Mitchell Report & Livin' La Vida Leo

Leo: A second look at first « The Mitchell Report & Livin' La Vida Leo — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:16:53 +0000

[...] little less than a month ago, I posted an entry on the blog entitled “Who’s on first?”, essentially a comparison of Carlos Pena and Casey Kotchman, the first basemen the Indians were [...]