Best Catcher of All Time...

[Chewbaccer]

so because everyone else says it I have to conform... Again, I can only base it on numbers, and through my metrics Carter is better... But I am also the first to admit, that I am heavily medicated...

You don't have to agree. Everyone has a right to be wrong now and then.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

You don't have to agree. Everyone has a right to be wrong now and then.

But how am I wrong if the numbers back me up???

 

[StanMarsh51]

Does nobody read the first comment? You know from the guy that created the poll, sometimes they contain pertinent information to the poll.

In all fairness, it would've been better to call the title '2nd Best Catcher of All Time," given that both the title and the first post pose different questions.

 

[StanMarsh51]

10 rings in 14 World Series appearances for Yogi.

Those were such good Yankee teams that they won a number of those rings when Yogi wasn't a full-time player or wasn't a catcher.

 

[Bmurph]

Yogi without much question, followed by Pudge cause he was a fantastic all around catcher and I'm a homer. Loved Gary Carter though as well

 

[Wazmankg]

Unfortunately since I was too young or not around to see Bench Carter and some other greats, I have to base it on the numbers that I have... And for defense, the best metric I have found is dWAR from baseball references... And according to dWAR Carter is better than Bench, and is the best defensive catcher... And he had more seasons of being better than good...

Isn't dWAR an accumulative stat ? Carter caught about 300 more games than Bench. WAR is sketchy enough as an offensive stat. I don't know how much stock I'd put into it as a defensive stat. I saw them both play... obviously not enough to be an expert on either. But they had identical fielding % and Bench threw out a much higher % of base runners trying to steal. Of course Carter's extended career, comparatively speaking, contributed to that rate stat decline. But he gave up nearly 1500 SBs to Bench's 610, which would seem to indicate a greater reluctance to challenge Bench.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Isn't dWAR an accumulative stat ? Carter caught about 300 more games than Bench. WAR is sketchy enough as an offensive stat. I don't know how much stock I'd put into it as a defensive stat. I saw them both play... obviously not enough to be an expert on either. But they had identical fielding % and Bench threw out a much higher % of base runners trying to steal. Of course Carter's extended career, comparatively speaking, contributed to that rate stat decline. But he gave up nearly 1500 SBs to Bench's 610, which would seem to indicate a greater reluctance to challenge Bench.

Your avatar inspired me to throw in Straight, No Chaser. Thank you.

 

[Nosferatu]

In all fairness, it would've been better to call the title '2nd Best Catcher of All Time," given that both the title and the first post pose different questions.

Can't please everyone...

 

[Wazmankg]

When was that?

Perhaps I should say when things got very hot for players suspected of using... around the time Big Mac, Sosa and Raffy lied their asses off in front of Congress. 05-06... I don't remember the exact year. Pudge came to camp looking like someone had let some of the air out. The difference was quite dramatic.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Isn't dWAR an accumulative stat ? Carter caught about 300 more games than Bench. WAR is sketchy enough as an offensive stat. I don't know how much stock I'd put into it as a defensive stat. I saw them both play... obviously not enough to be an expert on either. But they had identical fielding % and Bench threw out a much higher % of base runners trying to steal. Of course Carter's extended career, comparatively speaking, contributed to that rate stat decline. But he gave up nearly 1500 SBs to Bench's 610, which would seem to indicate a greater reluctance to challenge Bench.

Yes dWAR is an accumulative stat, that's why I also mentioned earlier that Carter had 6 seasons of 2 or better dWAR compared to Bench only having 3... Plus Carter played for only 2 more seasons, and had over 6 more points in dWAR, and Bench's best defensive season was a 2.4, so Bench would not have gotten those 6 more points in those 2 seasons...

 

[StanMarsh51]

Perhaps I should say when things got very hot for players suspected of using... around the time Big Mac, Sosa and Raffy lied their asses off in front of Congress. 05-06... I don't remember the exact year. Pudge came to camp looking like someone had let some of the air out. The difference was quite dramatic.

Yep, 2004 the testing was implemented and in 2005 he dropped a about 30 lbs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/sports/baseball/25pudge.html?_r=0

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Perhaps I should say when things got very hot for players suspected of using... around the time Big Mac, Sosa and Raffy lied their asses off in front of Congress. 05-06... I don't remember the exact year. Pudge came to camp looking like someone had let some of the air out. The difference was quite dramatic.

I was just being a smart ass, and implying that they still are not "serious" about the testing - which I do not think they are.

I know what you meant, though - for a while the MLB was like the wild west, and players were likely sitting in the clubhouses mainlining stem cells freshly squoze from aborted baby feti while the coaches, media, owners, fans and players union all twiddled their thumbs and looked around. I think when that ended, they had to be a little more discrete about it and it probably took the players a year or so to realize they could get around the testing.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Sucky poll that doesn't mention Bob Uecker sucks

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Sucky poll that doesn't mention Bob Uecker sucks

Wait, that don't read right...aww, screw it, it's fine.

 

[Mondo Jay]

Berra was my answer, but I gotta admit, there was something special about Carter. Gotta love the "Kid!"

 

[navamind]

Does nobody read the first comment? You know from the guy that created the poll, sometimes they contain pertinent information to the poll.

I opened the thread on the last page. I saw the poll itself right after I made the post and immediately edited my post.

 

[navamind]

Stan is a Red Sox fan. They only discuss Red Sox, and if you're not discussing Red Sox, they just pretend you're discussing Red Sox.

LOL

 

[Nosferatu]

Sucky poll that doesn't mention Bob Uecker sucks

Come on man he wasn't that bad.

 

[Nosferatu]

Still a bit miffed two people voted other...

 

[UK Cowboy]

Gary Carter was my all time favorite until Pudge came along. Really, it depends on what you are looking for, but if you are talking defensively, Pudge might be the best ever, not 2nd best. All around, Bench was clearly the best