Top 32 tournament RF Reggie Smith vs Vlad the Impaler

[obxyankeefan]

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

Rightfield Bracket is:

1 B Ruth 9
32 J D Drew 0

16 D Winfield 10
17 G Sheffield 3

8 R Jackson 7
25 E Flick 0

9 P Waner 7
24 W Keeler 0

4 F Robinson 7
29 K Cuyler 0

13 D Evans 13
20 I Suzuki 7

5 R Clemente 11
28 B Giles 2

12 T Gwynn 9
21 S Sosa 1

3 M Ott 7
30 R Staub 1

14 R Smith
19 V Guerrero

6 A Kaline
27 S Rice

11 H Heilmann
22 B Bonds

2 H Aaron
31 H Stovey

15 A Dawson
18 B Abreu

7 S Crawford
26 H Hooper

10 L Walker
23 E Slaughter

1 B Ruth
16 D Winfield

8 R Jackson
9 P Waner

4 F Robinson
13 D Evans

5 R Clemente
12 T Gwynn

3 M Ott

 

[obxyankeefan]

Reggie Smith Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

Vladimir Guerrero Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[obxyankeefan]

This is one of the ones where WAR is not that good of a stat for a Career. How is Reggie Smith 5 seeds higher than Vlad?

 

[navamind]

Their career offensive stats:
Smith: .287/.366/.489, 137 OPS+
Vlad: .318/.379/.553, 140 OPS+

Vlad played in a much more hitter-friendly environment than Smith did. Neither of them were efficient base stealers (in Vlad's 40 steal season, he got caught a league-leading 20 times). Vlad also hit into a lot of double plays (277 career GIDP, led league twice and finished in the top 10 six times). Smith also rates as a much better defender (+78 runs to Vlad's +7).

Positional adjustments are also a factor. Smith played 879 games in right field and 808 in CF, while Vlad played 1605. Smith is penalized by 49 runs, whereas Vlad is penalized by 114 runs.

I'm not sure Smith should be included among RF. But I do think Smith was a better player.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

I got vlad here... forget about playing in the steroid ERA, His BA and OBP are better too...

 

[Villain]

Tough call. I went with Smith because of the era difference. Love Big Daddy Vladdy, though.

 

[obxyankeefan]

I'm not sure Smith should be included among RF. But I do think Smith was a better player.

The rules I did them by (other than guys like Ernie Banks) were what defensive position the player played the most games is the position they are listed at.

I think there were five exceptions:
Ernie Banks at SS
Rod Carew at 2B
and three OFers from the 1800s that BR listed as OF and once again didn't specify which OF when you looked at defensive games.

 

[Howie115]

I thought Reggie Smith was a great ballplayer when I was growing up, but I still think Vlad is better. The BA and power numbers just tilt too far in Vlad's favor to offset the differences in defense. Reggie had more range in the OF, for sure, but Vlad did have a cannon arm.

 

[HammerDown]

It's impossible for me to respect Vlad.

Sorry.

 

[obxyankeefan]

It's impossible for me to respect Vlad.

Sorry.

OK let's hear your reasons.

 

[navamind]

OK let's hear your reasons.

Former Angel.

 

[obxyankeefan]

Former Angel.

LOL

Hammer likes to troll and get people talking. every now and again I like to send it back at him just for the fun of it.