overrated and underrated

[Touch'EmAll]

Lets hear some over/under rated opinions.

Over rated: Clemente, Emmit Smith, Namath

Under rated: Lou Brock, Ralph Kiner, Dennis Rodman, Musial

[barrysloate]

How can Clemente be overrated? He did everything well, and was a complete ballplayer.

[Touch'EmAll]

Perhaps I should have put over/under rated per their card prices into the mix - that was my original thinking.

Lets see, Clemente's card prices are nearly the same as Aaron's and May's card prices.

Clemente was once 1st in MVP voting, once was 3rd - thats it for top finishes in that category. His slugging percentage was in the top 10 for his NL (not including AL players) 6 times for his entire career (never in top couple) - compare that to Aaron/Mays. His best finishes in Runs Scored was 4th, 4th, and 9th - thats it for top finishes in that category (again NL only). And in HR's he finished 10th twice - his best finishes in that category.

Helluva fielder he was, give him credit there. And Batting average was his claim to fame - where does his lifetime B.Avg rank amongst the games greats? Not as high as you think. Just in Modern times, I think both Carew and Gwynn have more 1st's in seasons leading league in B.A.

[39special]

Over rated C.Ripken

Under rated Vada Pinson,Tony Oliva

[novakjr]

Overrated:Ozzie Smith
Underrated:Omar Vizquel

Both are easily the best defensive players at the SS position of their generations.. And their bats were very similar...The main difference being that in Omar's generation, offense took priority over defense and the SS position became flooded with 3rd Basemen(partially due to the amount of focus put on strikeout pitchers).. Luckily, I think we're starting to see the defensive SS's make a comeback, now that sinker/groundball pitchers are becoming a hot commodity... This will probably lead to less defensive focus on CF's, and we'll start to see a lot more power from that position..

[alanu]

Ouch, my 2 favorite players, Clemente & Ripken have already been mentioned as overrated.

Overrated: Pippen (not the Lord of the Rings character)

Underrated: Eddie Murray, Frank Robinson, Billy Williams

[HRBAKER]

I think that Frank Robinson may be the all-time underrated player.

[4k6]

In relation to card prices, most overrated = Mantle

I just don't get why his cards sell for several times more than a comparable (for instance) Aaron or Mays.

[daves_resale_shop]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

I think that Frank Robinson may be the all-time underrated player.

I agree with Jeff here, but from the deadball era

under rated: Cravath, Donlin, Ruelbach

Over rated: tinker, evers, chance

[Runscott]

Nice...opportunity for controversy

Overrated: Ichiro, Reggie Jackson (of course, he was doing most of the rating, so not sure that counts)

Underrated: Hank Aaron - like Jackson, trumpeted his own accomplishments, but I think while he was/is obnoxious, he deserves to be up on the same tier with Mays, Mantle, and Williams. Don Mattingly.

[Touch'EmAll]

Juan Marichal - I gave a close look at his stats yesterday - wow. Had a stretch from 1963-1969 that was outright wicked. An insane SO/BB ratio - like 200+ K's and only 40 walks. Awesome win % with most seasons well over 20 wins. ERA low low 2.'s every season. All star every single year of that stretch (plus a few more). Many, many complete games. Wonderful Shutout totals. No injury problems. Great WHIP's. Was in a lot of posts season games, great stats there also. What more could you want from a pitcher? And his baseball card prices underrated as well.

Poor Marichal - held strong against the likes of Koufax and Gibson who both seemed to have more "public appeal".

Marichal was OUTSTANDING.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by 100backstroke

lets hear some over/under rated opinions.

Over rated: Clemente, emmit smith, namath

under rated: Lou brock, ralph kiner, dennis rodman, musial

i have to completely disagree with your choice of clemente, this guy could do it all. As a kid, i saw him throw out ralph garr at the plate at atlanta fulton county stadium. He caught a fly ball hit by darrell evans on the warning track, and threw a bullet to the plate without the ball even hitting the ground! Garr at the time was probably the fastest man in the national league....