Favorite Swing of All Time

#126
#126
I'm lookin at the 1996 Sheffield season, and that was one of the most underrated seasons of all time.

He hit 42 homers and drove in 120. But his hitting line was ridiculous. .314/.465/.624. An OPS of 1.090 and OPS+ that led the league with 189.

Sheff's career line was .292/.393/.514. Yeah, Sheff could play.
 
#127
#127
zjcvols said:
I'm lookin at the 1996 Sheffield season, and that was one of the most underrated seasons of all time.

He hit 42 homers and drove in 120. But his hitting line was ridiculous. .314/.465/.624. An OPS of 1.090 and OPS+ that led the league with 189.

Sheff's career line was .292/.393/.514. Yeah, Sheff could play.
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Sheffield is a great example of why I use Potter Stewart's standard for obscenity in defining who I think is a Hall of Famer. The stat obsessed may say he missed certain statistical milestones needed for induction. I saw him play. He's a Hall of Famer.
 
#128
#128
hatvol96 said:
Sheffield is a great example of why I use Potter Stewart's standard for obscenity in defining who I think is a Hall of Famer. The stat obsessed may say he missed certain statistical milestones needed for induction. I saw him play. He's a Hall of Famer.
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Agree. He was as good of a right handed hitter in the 1990's as anyone else.
 
#130
#130
hatvol96 said:
Sheffield is a great example of why I use Potter Stewart's standard for obscenity in defining who I think is a Hall of Famer. The stat obsessed may say he missed certain statistical milestones needed for induction. I saw him play. He's a Hall of Famer.
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This is all kinds of true. Especially for just evaluating players. Stats matter and carry a lotta weight, but watching the games is hard to replace.
 
#131
#131
hatvol96 said:
Sheffield is a great example of why I use Potter Stewart's standard for obscenity in defining who I think is a Hall of Famer. The stat obsessed may say he missed certain statistical milestones needed for induction. I saw him play. He's a Hall of Famer.
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Sheff's biggest problem is that he isn't "nice" enough. Right, wrong or indifference it is what it is. He was never liked by the media and they will go out of their way to remember that.
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#132
#132
VolBeef88 said:
Sheff's biggest problem is that he isn't "nice" enough. Right, wrong or indifference it is what it is. He was never liked by the media and they will go out of their way to remember that.
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The "Jim Rice rule"
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#133
#133
Escape Goat said:
Eric Davis is my all-time favorite BB player. Would love to have seen his stats if he stayed healthy.
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When he rolled into the box with that quasi squint and held the bat down by his back elbow, everyone knew they could get the heater by him - except they couldn't.
 
#134
#134
BigPapaVol said:
When he rolled into the box with that quasi squint and held the bat down by his back elbow, everyone knew they could get the heater by him - except they couldn't.
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Preach it. One of my favorite players of all time (yeah, I'm a Reds homer) who sadly has been relegated to a mere footnote in baseball history. The man could play the game.
 
#136
#136
BigPapaVol said:
Anyone arguin Griffey as hads down winner hasnt seen TW or Musial or the like.
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I haven't seen Musial. I've seen Williams. I still believe Barry Bonds to have the most efficient swing of anybody in history, and I'm surprised his name hasn't been mentioned more. I equate Bonds' swing with Andre Agassi's backhand. The compactness and efficiency of the strokes/swing allowed them to bring an added element to the game. With Agassi, it allowed him to take the ball early. With Bonds, it gave him that extra split second to decide whether to lay off the pitch.
 
#138
#138
kidbourbon said:
I haven't seen Musial. I've seen Williams. I still believe Barry Bonds to have the most efficient swing of anybody in history, and I'm surprised his name hasn't been mentioned more. I equate Bonds' swing with Andre Agassi's backhand. The compactness and efficiency of the strokes/swing allowed them to bring an added element to the game. With Agassi, it allowed him to take the ball early. With Bonds, it gave him that extra split second to decide whether to lay off the pitch.
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I'd take Bonds' swing over Griffey's. Bonds was short, quick, accurate and had thump. For pure aesthetics, which appears to be the standard here, I'll take Will Clark.
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#139
#139
Rockytopman said:
Bonds lost all/any credibility with a lot of fans.
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Half the guys (at least) mentioned in this thread were juicing. And, actually, Bonds fans always supported him, he was just generally disliked.

And I think he's a complete ass. But that isn't the topic.
 
#140
#140
kidbourbon said:
Half the guys (at least) mentioned in this thread were juicing. And, actually, Bonds fans always supported him, he was just generally disliked.

And I think he's a complete ass. But that isn't the topic.
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I was just giving my 2c worth on why he hasn't been mentioned.
 
#141
#141
Rockytopman said:
I was just giving my 2c worth on why he hasn't been mentioned.
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I think he hasn't because the swing is so compact and quick they people don't see the art in it. With Griffey, it was long, with great tempo and had that uppercut, which looks pretty. If you were teaching one or picking a player, you'd take Bonds.
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#142
#142
BigPapaVol said:
I'd take Bonds' swing over Griffey's. Bonds was short, quick, accurate and had thump. For pure aesthetics, which appears to be the standard here, I'll take Will Clark.
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Right...I think people are going on pure aesthetics. And, sure, Griffey's swing looked pretty, but Bonds functionally had a better swing.

There is another guy, who's name is escaping me, who had a gorgeous looking swing a la Will Clark. A white dude. He was hitting .400 into a decent chunk of a season (this was probably 15 or more years ago) before dropping off (as always happen). Was it John Olerud? Did he have a nice swing?
 
#143
#143
Probably was Olerud. Had a great swing. I don't think you'll find any of the compact or quick guys on a list like this, but the coaches want all of em.
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#144
#144
BigPapaVol said:
I think he hasn't because the swing is so compact and quick they people don't see the art in it. With Griffey, it was long, with great tempo and had that uppercut, which looks pretty. If you were teaching one or picking a player, you'd take Bonds.
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See, I definitely always did see a great deal of art in it. Again, in the same way as Agassi's backhand. No wasted motion...just textbook.
 
#145
#145
hatvol96 said:
Sheffield is a great example of why I use Potter Stewart's standard for obscenity in defining who I think is a Hall of Famer. The stat obsessed may say he missed certain statistical milestones needed for induction. I saw him play. He's a Hall of Famer.
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Ah yes, the "Bo Jackson" argument.* I'm on board with this.

*Bo as a RB, but same idea. You saw him once, and you saw greatness.
 
#146
#146
kidbourbon said:
See, I definitely always did see a great deal of art in it. Again, in the same way as Agassi's backhand. No wasted motion...just textbook.
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I'm with you. The long, looping swing has too many holes and the strikeout numbers for Griffey vs Bonds, I'm reasonably certain, will bear that out.
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#148
#148
BigPapaVol said:
I think he hasn't because the swing is so compact and quick they people don't see the art in it. With Griffey, it was long, with great tempo and had that uppercut, which looks pretty. If you were teaching one or picking a player, you'd take Bonds.
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agreed. Why do you think mostly lefties come to mind?
 
#149
#149
Griff Jr had a compact swing but had a very pretty follow through. The follow through made his swing look "long". Coaches of all levels try to teach Griff Jr's swing. Quick compact swing and a great follow throuh with zero glitches. Watching the man bat was a thing of beauty.
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