I give up!
Cleef said:
You say you respect my opinion. Yet, this entire time I've been talking about the best catcher, and you keep bringing up the best hitting catcher, talking all offense and video highlights.
Gold Gloves are earned, but more often than not, they are earned on reputation and ESPN highlights, far more than what a player has actually done at his position that year.
In 04 Darin Erstad won a GG at 1st base having only played the position regularly once - 7 years earlier. He won a few GG's in the OF, but he got it at 1b on reputation, not play.
Rafael Palmeiro won the GG in '99 at 1st base - he played just 30 games there. He hit 324, 47 home runs and 147 RBI's. Wonder what those "baseball experts" were looking at?
In 2005 Varitek didn't do ANYTHING different defensively, in fact he had the lesser of his last 3 years from a statistical standpoint.
Offensively he had one of his best statistical years. He also just got a fat contract, won a world series and was named captain of the team.
IR had his worst offensive year, same stellar defense (statistacally and by the eye - I love watching him play).
Varitek won the GG.
Point to any award or stat you like. I have to go by what I see and understand.
I'm not saying you - or they - are wrong, I just don't agree with them. I'd take Tek over any other C. I find more value in the pitcher's opinions than I do baseball writers. I also watch a lot of baseball, and I just think Tek does more. He's a switch hitter to boot - that in itself is HUGE!
I give you "batting average" showing you what even a blind person can see, that Rodriguez is better, I show you that baseball "experts" have given Rodriguez 11 Gold Gloves compared to 1 to Varitek and you are still making excuses.
You got it, Varitek is much better than Rodriguez. Rodriguez can not even carry Varitek's dirty socks.
Worse than debating politics with someone is debating who's better in baseball when one of the debaters see things one way and is so blinded for a team that NO player in that team can do no wrong.
Let me make you aware that I am NOT a big Ivan Rodriguez fan but I give credit where credit is do and if people go to the stats, instead of going with their "hearts", they can see that Rodriguez is mentioned on the same league as the great Johnny Bench. MOST "experts" are aware that he is even much better than Johnny Bench, including this non-expert. There's not doubt in my mind that if Rodriguez was a Sucks player, you would not see any wrongs on him eaither.
Next thing you will tell me is that Jim Rice, since he was a Sucks player, was better than Hank Aaron.
Please, let's not talk about contracts since we all know that a few seasons ago, Rodriguez was making almost 10m a season and now, if I am not mistaken, he makes about the same as Varitek.
I must tell you that I know, big time, that Varitek is a good catcher, but the facts are there that Rodriguez is better.
And btw, even if Varitek were to play for my beloved Yankees, I would still think that Rodriguez is better. I do take my "Yankees blinders" every now and them.
If you think that I don't respect your opinion, you are wrong, I just refuse to debate something with someone that can not see anything other than "Sucks Red".
I just don't want to waste my time anymore since the baseball fan in me said everything that I wanted to say about Varitek and Rodriguez, the best catcher that have ever lived.
Trina:
Do you mean the "Molina" brothers?.
and
What's a "marco"?. is it the same as "maricon"?, excuse my French!.