OT - Best 3B ever?

[EvilKing00]

Originally Posted by drcy

Realize that Schmidt played in a different offensive time than Jones. Schmidt won 6 home run titles while hitting under 40 home runs each. He won two titles while hitting 36. His power numbers are much more impressive compared to Jones than comparing the numbers one to one.

I'd pick Schmidt.

yea Schmidt had 80 more HR than chipper, but chipper average is 303 - compared to Schmidt 267 big difference.

Also another stat - Chipper was 3rd all time in total bases, with 4755, behind arod and brett, Schmidt right behind chipper with 4404

AND chipper had the 2de best OBP ever behind, Arod - with 401 life time OBP that's pretty awesome, Schmidt was 9th all time for 3b with 380.

Look over all the numbers its sadly really impressive, to hope one day im talking about Wright like this, lol

[colco]

To go along with what Drcy said about the era difference, ops+ attempts to account for this and Schmidt leads 147 to 141 over Jones (for those who don't know it measures your offense compared to a league average baseline of 100.)
WAR also gives an advantage to Schmidt who tops 100 on his career with Jones being at about 85 wins above replacement. Similar on offense and much better defensively, I'll take Schmidt any day of the week.

Jack

[Peter_Spaeth]

Schmidt, with Mathews and Brett also in the discussion.

[39special]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Schmidt, with Mathews and Brett also in the discussion.

Also Brooks Robinson

[Jim65]

Schmidt was the best 3B I ever saw.

[Brian Van Horn]

The best third basemen of all time is a short list:

Jimmy Collins
Pie Traynor
Brooks Robinson
Mike Schmidt

If strictly offensively, the Braves have two nominees to add:

Eddie Mathews
Chipper Jones
George Brett (one gold glove in 1985)

[dabigyankeeman]

Wade Boggs because he was the only third baseman to ride a horse around Yankee Stadium celebrating a world series victory!!

[timn1]

Intuitively I would probably agree that Schmidt outpaces Jones, Boggs, and all other 3bs, but RBI is only one measure of offensive production, not the only one.

Bill James among others have shown that RBI is EXTREMELY context-dependent (on teammates' ability, batting order, runs/game, etc.). My impression is that Jones batted third more than fourth (as Schmidt did), and certainly Boggs batted mostly leadoff. Inevitably 3 batters are gonna get fewer RBI than cleanup hitters....

When all is said and done, wouldn't OPS (adjusted for the era) be a better measure of batting accomplishments overall? Schmidt probably still wins, though.

Tim

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by dabigyankeeman

Wade Boggs because he was the only third baseman to ride a horse around Yankee Stadium celebrating a world series victory!!

Great point.


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[EvilKing00]

jones played 95 games more than Schmidt - looking at their total bases jones has 350 more - and even if you divide the number of total bases by their AB jones is still better. Basicly giving you the total bases per AB of each player though its real CLOSE - .527 - .529

given the HR difference as well as the average difference - id rather have jones.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Baseball reference rates Schmidt first and Jones fifth. And Pie Traynor 58th.

[pgellis]

Jones played 2 full seasons in LF. Schmidt played 220 more games at 3B than Chipper. To me, it's Schmidt.

[brewing]

Originally Posted by colco

I'll take Schmidt any day of the week.

And twice on Sunday, it's not even close.

[39special]

You also have to look at the defensive numbers. Schmidt was so much better.