Top 32 tournament 1B Gehrig vs Thomas

[obxyankeefan]

Top 32 players ranked by BRWAR(as of 6/18/15).

1basemen Bracket is:

1 L Gehrig 6
32 J Giambi 0

16 J Beckley 0
17 T Helton 7

8 F Thomas 8
25 B Terry 0

9 J Thome 7
24 G Sisler 1

4 C Anson 3
29 N Cash 4

13 W McCovey 5
20 D Allen 0

5 R Connor 1
28 F McGriff 12

12 E Murray 10
21 J Olerud 3

3 J Foxx 15
30 L Berkman 0

14 M Cabrera 10
19 K Hernandez 7

6 J Bagwell 9
27 J Clark 1

11 J Mize 4
22 H Greenberg 6

2 A Pujols 12
31 M Teixeira 0

15 M McGwire 5
18 H Killebrew 17

7 D Brouthers 6
26 T Perez 2

10 R Palmeiro 9 higher seed
23 W Clark 9

1 L Gehrig 14
17 T Helton 0

8 F Thomas 9
9 J Thome 0

29 N Cash 1
13 W McCovey 8

28 F McGriff 6
12 E Murray 7

3 J Foxx 12
14 M Cabrera 1

6 J Bagwell 6
22 H Greenberg 7

2 A Pujols 12
18 H Killebrew 1

7 D Brouthers 5
10 R Palmeiro 4

1 L Gehrig
8 F Thomas

13 W McCovey
12 E Murray

3 J Foxx
22 H Greenberg

2 A Pujols
7 D Brouther

 

[obxyankeefan]

Lou Gehrig Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com
beat Jason Gaimbi and Todd Helton 20-0

Frank Thomas Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com
Beat Bill Terry and Jim Thome 17-0

 

[calsnowskier]

I am a big Frank Thomas fan, but this is a blowout on so many different levels.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

If we look at statistics and name value, it is not close Gehrig wins. But he is the clear winner in the whole first base pool.

The only question is how much of a blowout.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Lets see an actual analysis though...

Power- Gehrig wins(very close)
XBH%
Gehrig- Career=12.3, Best= 16.3, 7 better than career average, 12 seasons higher than 10, MLB average=6.8
Thomas- career=10.2,best=14.1, 9 seasons better than average,10 seasons higher than 10, mlb average= 7.7

SO- Thomas wins(only relatively since Gehrig was worse than MLB average)
SO%
Gehrig-Career=8.2,Best= 4.5, 8 seasons better than career average, MLB average=8.0
Thomas-Career=13.9, Best=8.0, 9 seasons better than careeraverage, MLB average=16.4

BB- Thomas wins(VERY CLOSE)
BB%
Gehrig-Career=15.6,Best=19.6, 6 seasons better than average, MLB average=8.2
Thomas-Career=16.6,Best=21.1,9 seasons better than average, MBL average 8.8

BA- Gehrig Wins

Gehrig- Career=.340, Best=.379, 8 seasons better than average
Thomas- Career=.301, Best=.353, 10 seasons better than average

Defensive longevity- Gehrig(NOT CLOSE) Thomas played more games as DH as 1B
Career Longevity- Thomas Wins (VERY CLOSE) less than 500 PA separates the 2
Post season- Gehrig wins (not close) but Thomas only played 16 games



The analysis shows Gehrig to be better, but it is closer than i thought...

 

[calsnowskier]

Thomas's career longevity is ONLY longer because of his use of the DH.

While I like Thomas despite his DH-ness, this is the exact reason why I HATE the DH.

If you cant withstand the rigors of the game, move aside for someone in who can.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Thomas's career longevity is ONLY longer because of his use of the DH.

While I like Thomas despite his DH-ness, this is the exact reason why I HATE the DH.

If you cant withstand the rigors of the game, move aside for someone in who can.

EH, that is not fair... Times before DH they would just put the player at a position just to get his bat in... There really is no difference... It is not like Lou Gehrig was good defensively, he only had one season above average( i consider average being a dWAR of 0)... I am sure he would have played at least some DH if it existed....

 

[calsnowskier]

EH, that is not fair... Times before DH they would just put the player at a position just to get his bat in... There really is no difference... It is not like Lou Gehrig was good defensively, he only had one season above average( i consider average being a dWAR of 0)... I am sure he would have played at least some DH if it existed....

OF COURSE he would have played some DH if it were around in his day. And his offensive numbers would have benefited from it. He would not have been worn out later in the season by the additional wear-and-tear. Also, injuries (not in Gehrig's case, obviously) are reduced by not having to play defense.

Brandon Belt this year missed a considerable amount of time in 2015 because he took a ball to the head while playing 1B. If he had been a DH that day, he would not have been hurt.

 

[Cedrique]

Yeah, 1B is easier than other positions but clearly there is some risk of injury and a cumulative toll from playing defense. Big Papi would be out of the league by now without the DH.