Who is the greatest defensive shortstop to ever play the game?

#1
L

lylsmorr

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#1
I ask this just out of curiosity to see your opinions.

My vote goes to Ozzie 'The Wizard' Smith. Of course, I'm heavily biased because growing up he was my favorite player and split that with Griffey Jr when he came along.

Your thoughts?
 
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#2
#2
Honus Wagner! He would dance a little jig after running onto the field in an incredible show of athleticism.
 
#3
#3
Oddly enough I always liked the man Ozzie was traded for....
 
#4
#4
The only guy I can think of that would be close to Ozzie Smith is probably Omar Vizquel.
 
#5
#5
cd12 said:
Oddly enough I always liked the man Ozzie was traded for....
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Tempy was damn good player. Not a whole lot of guys in the history of the game who can get 100 hits from each side of the plate in the same season.
 
#6
#6
GAVol said:
The only guy I can think of that would be close to Ozzie Smith is probably Omar Vizquel.
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Ozzie was brilliant, but he's got three Gold Gloves that should be on Barry Larkin's mantle. Lark had long since surpassed Ozzie by the time The Wizard quit getting the Lifetime Achievement vote.
 
#8
#8
hatvol96 said:
Ozzie was brilliant, but he's got three Gold Gloves that should be on Barry Larkin's mantle. Lark had long since surpassed Ozzie by the time The Wizard quit getting the Lifetime Achievement vote.
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Larkin was a hell of a SS
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#9
#9
hatvol96 said:
Ozzie was brilliant, but he's got three Gold Gloves that should be on Barry Larkin's mantle. Lark had long since surpassed Ozzie by the time The Wizard quit getting the Lifetime Achievement vote.
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Kind of like Bonds screwing Pujols out of about 3 MVP awards.

I'd have to say Ozzie is the best ss of my time. Don't really know about the pre-modern days.
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#10
#10
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#11
#11
Vol_til_I_die said:
Kind of like Bonds screwing Pujols out of about 3 MVP awards.

I'd have to say Ozzie is the best ss of my time. Don't really know about the pre-modern days.
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Bonds definitely did not screw pujols out of any mvps, but to the op ill go with smith.
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#13
#13
Ozzie was the man!

And, yes, Barry Larkin was a damn good SS too.
 
#14
#14
I don't think he was nearly the best, but I used to like watching Shawon Dunston throw people out at 1st. Dude threw laser beams.
 
#17
#17
To back even further, Joe Tinker and Hughie Jennings were said to have been amazing defensive players. Lou Boudreau was also tremendous.

Recently, I'd have to give it to Ozzie. Ripken was outstanding, although less spectacular because of how deep he played and the angles he took (which reduced the need for acrobatics).

As for the worst I've seen, that's a tossup between Jose Offerman and Derek Jeter. Jeter is a great example of a reputation pick for the Gold Glove, because for the majority of his career, he's been a butcher in the field; his best years defensively were maybe at the level of league average.
 
#18
#18
GAVol said:
I don't think he was nearly the best, but I used to like watching Shawon Dunston throw people out at 1st. Dude threw laser beams.
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I always wished the Cubs would have put him on the mound in mop up duty.
 
#19
#19
VolBuck24 said:
Bonds definitely did not screw pujols out of any mvps, but to the op ill go with smith.
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I disagree.
2003 Bonds- .341, 45, 90
Pujols- .359, 43, 124

2004 Bonds- .362, 45, 101
Pujols- .331, 46, 123

....and steroid free (that we know of).
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#20
#20
Vol_til_I_die said:
I disagree.
2003 Bonds- .341, 45, 90
Pujols- .359, 43, 124

2004 Bonds- .362, 45, 101
Pujols- .331, 46, 123

....and steroid free (that we know of).
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The only significant difference is rbis and its hard to produce runs when teams take the bat out of your hand.

2003
bonds - 148 walks (61 intentional)
Pujols- 79 walks (12 intentional)

2004
bonds- 232 walks (120 intentional)
pujols- 84 walks (12 intentional)

Pujols had great years, but I don't see how you couldn't give them to bonds. He was pretty much a one man team, and the most feared player in baseball history.
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#23
#23
VolBuck24 said:
The only significant difference is rbis and its hard to produce runs when teams take the bat out of your hand.

2003
bonds - 148 walks (61 intentional)
Pujols- 79 walks (12 intentional)

2004
bonds- 232 walks (120 intentional)
pujols- 84 walks (12 intentional)




Pujols had great years, but I don't see how you couldn't give them to bonds. He was pretty much a one man team, and the most feared player in baseball history.
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Nice point. I lose. I'm biased though. But 232 walks? That's insane. The stats I was looking at didn't show the walks. I forgot how often the bat was taken out of Bonds' hands. What's even more amazing is that his hat size nearly doubled from the early 90s to the early 00s. Roids or not, I agree, he was feared.
 
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#25
#25
Ohio Vol said:
To back even further, Joe Tinker and Hughie Jennings were said to have been amazing defensive players. Lou Boudreau was also tremendous.

Recently, I'd have to give it to Ozzie. Ripken was outstanding, although less spectacular because of how deep he played and the angles he took (which reduced the need for acrobatics).

As for the worst I've seen, that's a tossup between Jose Offerman and Derek Jeter. Jeter is a great example of a reputation pick for the Gold Glove, because for the majority of his career, he's been a butcher in the field; his best years defensively were maybe at the level of league average.
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Ripken was fun to watch. He definitely changed the standard of having to be a small ss.
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