5 MLB very good, but overrated players are ……

[Dr. Jack]

In no particular order

1. Nolan Ryan – Nolan was one of the best power pitchers and his no-hitters are very impressive. He is no doubt a hall of famer, but he shouldn’t be in the best ever discussion

2. Sandy Koufax – I did not see him pitch and he had 6 phenomenal years statistically but that doesn’t put you in the best category ever.

3. Bo Jackson – Bo is one of the best athletes ever but he was an average at best baseball player. He hit more than 30 home runs once in his career and only knocked in 100 runs once in his career. He had 3 decent years.

4. Andrew Jones – When all said and done he might be number one. He came with a lot of hype, and was a decent player for a few years. He hit for decent power for a 6 year stretch but averaged .260 lifetime.

5. Nomar Garciaparra – We heard he was one of the best SS all-time. Remember Nomar, Jeter, Arod. Nomar had a couple of very good years and he was a consistent hitter in the late 90s but he probably isn’t even a top 15 SS ever. He has sucked a lot longer than he was good.

[JelloBiafra]

I agree with all except Koufax. You can't get much more dominant than that for a six year period. Two things make a great player......either good play over a long period or total domination over a decent period of time. Koufax has the last.

One thing I will say about Andrew Jones is he is not overrated defensively.....but all around, yeah.

You making an underrated list too? If you are put Orlando Hernandez on it.

[huscroft6]

Jack have to TOTALLY disagree on Bo, he could have been one of the greats at RB, a grueling position, and to also excel in baseball is amazing. He would get more of an imcomplete asthe injury derailed a great athlete. One of the best "athletes" Ive ever seen. Ill also disagree on Nomar, cause who knows what he would have became if not for all the injuries. I really dont think he is ovverated because everyone has known for years hes always hurt. But for Boston in his 1st number of years when he was healthy was was never ovverated, he was an all star player. So im not sure either of these guys are "ovverated" IMO.

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by JelloBiafra

I agree with all except Koufax. You can't get much more dominant than that for a six year period. Two things make a great player......either good play over a long period or total domination over a decent period of time. Koufax has the last.

Fair point. He was dominant but best ever over 6 years?

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by huscroft6

Jack have to TOTALLY disagree on Bo, he could have been one of the greats at RB, a grueling position, and to also excel in baseball is amazing. He would get more of an imcomplete asthe injury derailed a great athlete. One of the best "athletes" Ive ever seen. Ill also disagree on Nomar, cause who knows what he would have became if not for all the injuries. I really dont think he is ovverated because everyone has known for years hes always hurt. But for Boston in his 1st number of years when he was healthy was was never ovverated, he was an all star player. So im not sure either of these guys are "ovverated" IMO.

He is a great athlete, one of the greatest but he was an average baseball player at best. Not overrated as an athlete, just a baseball player.

As far as Nomar - the fact that "he could have been" is one of my points. He could have been should have been, but the reality is he had a few very good years but so have a lot of baseball players

[smitch124]

I agree with all 4 except Koufax, one thing as a baseball fan I love to see is a dominance to an extent I have never seen before. Being very good over a long period of time is great and should be commended, but I prefer players that inspire awe and are must see and add to the lore of the game. To do that, even for 6 years, makes you an all time great IMO.

[JelloBiafra]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

Fair point. He was dominant but best ever over 6 years?

I don't know that I would call him the best ever...or that he had the best 6 year period of any pitcher. I do think you have to put him in the discussion for top ten pitchers at least. But look at it this way...do you think if he pitched five more years his numbers would turn bad? VERY DOUBTFUL. So you have to figure he would at least have six dominant years with 5 pretty good or better years.
We will never know what his all around numbers would have been....but it seems he could never be considered overrated.

[rjb1816]

andruw jones was very good...now he's terrible

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by JelloBiafra

I don't know that I would call him the best ever...or that he had the best 6 year period of any pitcher. I do think you have to put him in the discussion for top ten pitchers at least. But look at it this way...do you think if he pitched five more years his numbers would turn bad? VERY DOUBTFUL. So you have to figure he would at least have six dominant years with 5 pretty good or better years.
We will never know what his all around numbers would have been....but it seems he could never be considered overrated.

It does sound kind of funny calling a GREAT player overrated and I am not trying to be critical of the guy because he obviously couldn’t have done anything better during that period. And I agree it’s more likely that he would have continued for another 5 years but I guess you never know what would have happened.

I think when people call him the best ever, it’s better if they say “he could have been the best ever”

I wish I would have seen him and maybe I would understand better

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by smitch124

I agree with all 4 except Koufax, one thing as a baseball fan I love to see is a dominance to an extent I have never seen before. Being very good over a long period of time is great and should be commended, but I prefer players that inspire awe and are must see and add to the lore of the game. To do that, even for 6 years, makes you an all time great IMO.

I thought I would get more challenges on Nolan Ryan. I am sure it will come once then red hot Texas boys read it. lol

[smitch124]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

I thought I would get more challenges on Nolan Ryan. I am sure it will come once then red hot Texas boys read it. lol

Sometimes the old timers are even worse...lol

[uva3021]

man jack hates those bravos

im surprised he didn't find a reason to put ron gant, chipper jones, and david justice on this list

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by Rufio

man jack hates those bravos

im surprised he didn't find a reason to put ron gant, chipper jones, and david justice on this list

Ron Gant wasn’t good enough to be on this list to be overrated.

I liked Justice as a player.

Chipper is also overrated but he is having a HUGE year so it would be a harder debate. He makes this list if it was top 20 overrated.

Actually Braves lead the league in overrated

Bob Horner was overrated, Lemke (lol), etc

But the Braves have one of the most underrated player’s ever in Dale Murphy

[uva3021]

before gant got in his motorcycle accident he was one of the top players in baseball

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by Rufio

before gant got in his motorcycle accident he was one of the top players in baseball

C'mon! Good player but not top players?