Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

**st0rmb11** · 10-20-2010, 04:06 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by lilbiggio

Alright now that we got somethings to go off of now (and those articles were crazy on both sides), I have to agree with you there's no way you can compare Hamilton to Mickey Mantle. That's going a little far right now..

While Hamilton and Mantle are both 5 tool players that roam the outfield, there are lots of players through the history of the game that have done that. The fact which makes Mantle standout over all of them is that he could get the job done from both sides of the plate, and for what it's worth Josh Hamilton can only get it done on the left.

The only guy in the current day MLB that's even close to being in the same breath of Mickey Mantle, is an extremely healthy Carlos Beltran, and I'm only saying him because he plays a good outfield too. There are plenty of situational switch hitters who probably strike fear in people a lot more than Beltran did this past year.

so are you calling Mickey Mantle the best centerfielder ever? (I know, I know, I read too much into what you said.)

but on this topic - no, Hamilton isn't Mickey Mantle. I feel that Hamilton is either in his prime now, or is about to enter it (if he stays healthy). But, I honestly don't see him ever hitting 50+ home runs, as Mick did twice. and second, as great as Hamilton is in the field, he's not as good an outfielder as Mantle.
but the main thing that separates them (apart from Mickey doing it from both sides of the plate), is the speed. Hamilton has some speed, but not world class speed like Mantle did.

Really, this comparison is an apples and oranges one. Two completely different players.

Verducci mentioned Larry Walker in his article, and I think that's a more fitting comparison to Hamilton.

**ImTellinTim** · 10-20-2010, 05:43 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Absolutely not.

**Dog** · 10-21-2010, 01:51 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

No.

Spoiler

**NotoriousReignz** · 10-21-2010, 09:19 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

No.

I give Josh Hamilton his props but c'mon now, he's played what 4 seasons now and is already 29?

Also, please don't ever put Carlos Beltran in the same sentence with any legend.

**ZB9** · 10-21-2010, 09:31 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

and I dont think Hamilton has ever compared himself to Mantle...

what is the point of this thread

**steelcurtain311** · 10-23-2010, 10:54 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by NotoriousReignz

No.

I give Josh Hamilton his props but c'mon now, he's played what 4 seasons now and is already 29?

Also, please don't ever put Carlos Beltran in the same sentence with any legend.

^^^This. Especially the part about Beltran, who shouldn't even be mentioned anywhere, here.

I don't even know if I'd call Hamilton a top 5 player in baseball, let alone compare him to one of the definitive players in baseball history. From the CF position, he's an awesome player, I agree. But he's not Joe Mauer. He's not Albert Pujols. He's not Miggy Cabrera. I've never liked his K numbers, and the fact that he's older and can't seem to play a full season doesn't help matters.

**moemoe24** · 10-23-2010, 03:27 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Hamilton is already almost 30.....no way he will ever come close to Mantle statistically. Mantle was able to play while he was drinking, Hamilton was out of baseball during his addiction so the only way they are comparable is both players cut their careers short and you really can't say with certainty that Mantle's wild life cut his career short. His body may have broke down regardless. I really see no comparison.

**moemoe24** · 10-23-2010, 03:31 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by steelcurtain311

^^^This. Especially the part about Beltran, who shouldn't even be mentioned anywhere, here.

I don't even know if I'd call Hamilton a top 5 player in baseball, let alone compare him to one of the definitive players in baseball history. From the CF position, he's an awesome player, I agree. But he's not Joe Mauer. He's not Albert Pujols. He's not Miggy Cabrera. I've never liked his K numbers, and the fact that he's older and can't seem to play a full season doesn't help matters.

I read you post after I posted and saw where you said you wouldn't consider Hamilton a top 5 player. That's ludicrous. As of right now Hamilton is THE best player is baseball. Cano is right behind him but No one in baseball is better if you are talking about an all around player. I mean, have you seen him play CF? The guy reads the ball off the bat better than anyone. There's nothing he can't do.

**Dog** · 10-23-2010, 03:45 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by moemoe24

I read you post after I posted and saw where you said you wouldn't consider Hamilton a top 5 player. That's ludicrous. As of right now Hamilton is THE best player is baseball. Cano is right behind him but No one in baseball is better if you are talking about an all around player. I mean, have you seen him play CF? The guy reads the ball off the bat better than anyone. There's nothing he can't do.

Albert Pujols says hi

**dickey1331** · 10-23-2010, 03:57 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by moemoe24

I read you post after I posted and saw where you said you wouldn't consider Hamilton a top 5 player. That's ludicrous. As of right now Hamilton is THE best player is baseball. Cano is right behind him but No one in baseball is better if you are talking about an all around player. I mean, have you seen him play CF? The guy reads the ball off the bat better than anyone. There's nothing he can't do.

Im a Rangers fan and I think calling him THE best player in baseball is a little bit of a stretch.

**Gibbz** · 10-23-2010, 07:04 PM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by dickey1331

Im a Rangers fan and I think calling him THE best player in baseball is a little bit of a stretch.

I'd say he's the best player in the American League.

**jgarcia** · 10-25-2010, 02:37 AM

When this guys healthy he is the best player in the majors. Secondly this guy puts up stats he is obviously a great player you cant simply ignore his reg season numbers and post season numbers.

**Dog** · 10-25-2010, 02:58 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by jgarcia

When this guys healthy he is the best player in the majors. Secondly this guy puts up stats he is obviously a great player you cant simply ignore his reg season numbers and post season numbers.

So lets see. Since Albert Pujols has been in the league much longer than Hamilton, I'm going to use numbers based on a 162 game average. So, for every 162 games:

Pujols averages:

.331 AVG
.426 OBP
.624 SLG
1.050 OPS
42 HR
128 RBI

While Hamilton averages:

.311 AVG
.371 OBP
.544 SLG
.916 OPS
32 HR
115 RBI

Okay, so you say what about postseason?

Pujols:

.322 AVG
.431 OBP
.578 SLG
1.009 OPS

Hamilton:

.237 AVG
.396 OBP
.579 SLG
.975 OPS

What about fielding?

Pujols: .992 Fielding %
Hamilton: .985 Fielding %

So yea, numbers don't lie. Calling Hamilton the best in the Majors baffles me

**snepp** · 10-25-2010, 04:22 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Here's another way to look at Pujols/Hamilton, by using Fangraphs wOBA.

First by year:

Then by age:

If it were possible to commit cyber arson I would burn this thread to the ground.

**Dog** · 10-25-2010, 10:21 AM

Re: Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

Originally posted by snepp

If it were possible to commit cyber arson I would burn this thread to the ground.

I concur

Can Josh Hamilton and Mickey Mantle be compared to one another?

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