Jack Cust! I have no idea why,..probably because he toiled in the minors for so long and then got called up and hit a bunch of bombs out of nowhere. The perfect Oakland A.
He really is the embodiment of the Moneyball-era A's. For me, I would go with Dave Parker. I loved those A's teams of the late 80s when I was a kid, and Cobra was an underrated part of them. Plus, how can you not love Dave Parker?
I just can't get Gates Brown out of my head! I assume he was after the DH rule, 'cause I seem to recall he was never anything BUT a DH (nor could he play any other position.....literally)! He was huge, and just not coordinated, I guess, to play in the field!
I had to look him up. It looks like he got 3 years in with the DH rule at the end of his career. But you're right, if ever there was a guy the DH was designed for, it was him. Talk about being born roughly ten years too early! Who knows what he could have done with a full career at the position.
He was just so memorable from the fairly typical pre-DH (great bat, stick-him-in-LF-hope-for-the-best) POV. Kinda like Yordan Alvarez, but of course, Yordan is a far better athlete, from that perspective: However much you might not want him in the field, if he's there, you've got far more confidence than I'm guessing Tigers' staff had with Brown. I just looked him up myself, and what a troubled youth growing up! He's lucky he got even a chance in organized ball!
Yeah, he might be worthy of a write-up of his own. As far as Alvarez goes, obviously the Astros prefer to play him at DH, and no one is ever going to confuse him with Bo Jackson out there, but I'm always amazed by how athletic the guy actually is. But even if the guy couldn't take two steps without falling over, that bat would be worth it. Definitely a can't-miss guy when he steps up to the plate.
👍from me on a prospective Gates article! I think 'Stros mgmt want Yordan at DH not so much for any defensive deficiencies, than to just provide extra opportunities for him to NOT get hurt!
Nice refresher on Hal McRea, he was a gamer for the Royals. I had forgotten all about him and breaking his leg. As a pitcher, I loved the DH rule. After getting out of little league, I didn't want to face someone throwing in the 80's & 90's, and wasn't much of a batter. So always wanted someone else to bat for me. 😉
I totally get it. Pitching requires so much of a commitment, it's almost unfair to ask them to bat. Just not enough time in the day to adequately prepare for both. There are a few exceptions to the rule- Ohtani obviously, and Grienke and MadBum to a lesser degree, but it's a lot to ask of a pitcher.
Jack Cust! I have no idea why,..probably because he toiled in the minors for so long and then got called up and hit a bunch of bombs out of nowhere. The perfect Oakland A.
He really is the embodiment of the Moneyball-era A's. For me, I would go with Dave Parker. I loved those A's teams of the late 80s when I was a kid, and Cobra was an underrated part of them. Plus, how can you not love Dave Parker?
I just can't get Gates Brown out of my head! I assume he was after the DH rule, 'cause I seem to recall he was never anything BUT a DH (nor could he play any other position.....literally)! He was huge, and just not coordinated, I guess, to play in the field!
I had to look him up. It looks like he got 3 years in with the DH rule at the end of his career. But you're right, if ever there was a guy the DH was designed for, it was him. Talk about being born roughly ten years too early! Who knows what he could have done with a full career at the position.
He was just so memorable from the fairly typical pre-DH (great bat, stick-him-in-LF-hope-for-the-best) POV. Kinda like Yordan Alvarez, but of course, Yordan is a far better athlete, from that perspective: However much you might not want him in the field, if he's there, you've got far more confidence than I'm guessing Tigers' staff had with Brown. I just looked him up myself, and what a troubled youth growing up! He's lucky he got even a chance in organized ball!
Yeah, he might be worthy of a write-up of his own. As far as Alvarez goes, obviously the Astros prefer to play him at DH, and no one is ever going to confuse him with Bo Jackson out there, but I'm always amazed by how athletic the guy actually is. But even if the guy couldn't take two steps without falling over, that bat would be worth it. Definitely a can't-miss guy when he steps up to the plate.
👍from me on a prospective Gates article! I think 'Stros mgmt want Yordan at DH not so much for any defensive deficiencies, than to just provide extra opportunities for him to NOT get hurt!
Very true.
Nice refresher on Hal McRea, he was a gamer for the Royals. I had forgotten all about him and breaking his leg. As a pitcher, I loved the DH rule. After getting out of little league, I didn't want to face someone throwing in the 80's & 90's, and wasn't much of a batter. So always wanted someone else to bat for me. 😉
I totally get it. Pitching requires so much of a commitment, it's almost unfair to ask them to bat. Just not enough time in the day to adequately prepare for both. There are a few exceptions to the rule- Ohtani obviously, and Grienke and MadBum to a lesser degree, but it's a lot to ask of a pitcher.