Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

[Will]

Please, this is the only time this should need to be said, but it is by no means acceptable to ever call Bonds the best hitter ever. That is Ted Williams' title. You may, however, call Bonds the best power hitter ever. That is within reason. But the best hitter in general is not. Not even close.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

I'll call Hank Aaron the best power hitter ever... until Bonds breaks his record, at least.

[stiffarmleft]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

I assume you base your argument on lifetime average. I agree Ted is probably the best hitter, but to say bonds is not even close does not seem to be within reason to me. If u look at the liftime stats Bonds compares rather favorably to Williams across the board. Batting avg. is not the only measure of how good a hitter is. True barry is a power hitter but if he spent his years hitting for average he would be right up there with Ted in lifetime batting average. Barry will more than likely end his carreer with a lifetime avg. over 300 and will probably break Hank Aarons homerun mark. He may not be the best hitter for average but all around I think he is on par with Ted Williams.

[HatTrick]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Calling Hank Aaron the best power hitter ever is almost as bad as calling Bonds the best hitter ever. Remember that guy from way back named Babe Ruth? And please don't give me the "but he has the most career home runs" excuse. That simply doesn't fly in this case.

[BaseballGuru]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Yeah, you're right... the guy with the most homeruns in history shouldn't even be in the running for best power hitter... what was I thinking?

Anywho, I'll stick with Hammerin' Hank.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Sorry Guru, you are not entitled to your own opinion. You have to pick someone else.

[HatTrick]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

I think this is a clear case of home team bias. Aaron is certainly good, and one of the better overall players ever, but his longevity and consistency is why he has the most overall home runs. He's not even really a power hitter anyway, and he never hit 50 is a season. You as a Braves fan should know that.

[caseyd]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Correct me if I'm wrong, but up until 2 years ago, Bonds had never hit 50 in a season either. If you put Babe or Hank in today's era of performance supplments (no, I didn't say steriods), small parks, watered down pitching, and juiced balls, they would probably be doing the same thing. And, in case you think I'm biased toward Hank, I actually think the the Babe is the greatest power hitter and greatest player ever.

And, I agree that Ted Williams is the greatest "hitter" ever. He might have been one of the few greatest power hitters too if he hadn't lost so much time to the war.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Williams is the greatest hitter of all time, but not the greatest power hitter. I think Bonds, Mcguire and Sosa are up there on the greatest power hitters. Hank Aaron too.

[cookusu]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Not sure that many people think Bonds is the greatest hitter ever, but what he has done the last two years would put him up there with some of the greatest seasons ever. Career wise, Williams lost 4 full seasons so it is hard to compare on that basis.

[Liquidrage]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

All you can do is create this category called "other".

Ruth Williams and Bonds seem to get the most respect. To me those three are in an class by themselves.
Then Mays and Aaron.
Then a few others like and Dimaggio and Musial.

Knocks can be made against all of these guys. Ruth played in white only leagues. Williams was a horrible fielder and a jerk. Bonds is a jerk and played in a livelier era.

[stiffarmleft]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

I think if Bonds was a more likeable character, say a Cal Ripken type, he would easily be hailed the best player ever.

[Lyricist_Pro]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

No. If bonds was white, he would be hailed the best hitter ever.
Mark McGuire was white, and he SUCKED i think his liftime average was .172 and he only hit 500+ home runs. I never liked Mark, he was inconsistant, and hitting impaired.

I know Barry and Ruth are in a class all by themselves....at least until i hit tha leagues.

[Will]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

I think Ruth would be absolutely nothing special if he played today. You can quote me on that and put that on my tombstone.

The problem with comparing players of different generations is the competition they had. Ruth had none. Bonds has all the competition in the world. In Ruth's day, he played against the best of white America who happened to have the hobby of playing ball. It's not a hobby nowadays. To even have a CHANCE to make the pros, you have to dedicate your life to baseball.

People say the pitching is watered down. I ask compared to what? Certainly the pitching today is light years ahead of the pitching in the 20's. It's the natural progression of talent needed as the sport has become insanely popular in the last 80 years.

I see the Babe being a guy like Jim Thome if he were to play today. He'd be good, but not that good. The Babe just happened to play way ahead of his time, and his legacy has reaped great rewards for that. Very similar to George Mikan or Wilt Chamberlain in basetball. Today's sports are just differfent.

[cookusu]

Re: Something NEEDS to be cleared up about Bonds

Comparing eras is tough, but you can't dismiss those guys based on the era they played in anymore than you can dismiss Bonds because of the era he plays in.

Also you can't really predict what Ruth would do now, because he wouldn't be Ruth, he would have grown up in a completely different era and all the advantages and disadvantages that go with it.

No definite answer here just opinions. You can mess with the stats but the factors that have been mentioned will always distort that.