Comments on: Venezuelan Hits Leaders

By: David in Toledo

David in Toledo — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:56:55 +0000

It's not easy to calculate, I suppose, but I'd like to know the top three players in hits while playing shortstop in the field. Wagner, Appling, Ripken, and Yount are all out of consideration because they played so many games at other positions. I'm guessing it's Aparicio, Vizquel, and Jeter, with Jeter likely to take the lead before the end of 2009. (This is one measure of the offensive value of a shortstop, agreed?)

By: JohnnyTwisto

JohnnyTwisto — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:19:35 +0000

Good question Ollie. I think they're pretty close. Aparicio of course is a HOFer. I don't think Vizquel belongs, but he'll get some support and he might get in eventually. Both considered very good fielders, though some say they're both a bit overrated in that regard. Neither had a big bat, but were solid hitters for shortstops. I think Aparicio was a bit better player. He stole more bases at a better percentage at a time when SB were a little more valuable. He actually probably deserves a lot of the credit Maury Wills gets for reintroducing the SB as a weapon. Also, in Aparicio's time I believe SS were relatively worse hitters than in Vizquel's time, so while their hitting numbers are similar Aparicio was a bit more valuable compared to an average or replacement-level SS.

By: ollie1000

ollie1000 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:27:37 +0000

err sorry for the typos...

By: ollie1000

ollie1000 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:27:18 +0000

I think I've been asleep in Vizquel. I had no idea he had that many hits... Who's better? Aparaichio or Vizquel?

By: battlekow

battlekow — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:43:45 +0000

Only 2678 to go for Alcides Escobar.