A Few Angel Greats in the Top Fifty need ordering. Feel Free to lobby for your favorite in the comments section.
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If Mauch, Moore, and Wilfong had closed Game 5
out properly, Gary Pettis would be in the top 20 (he was voted ALCS MVP when the game appeared to be in the bag for the Angels). Instead, he’s battling Devon White (and sinking from his 2005 #36) for a spot in the top 50.
I worked with him recently on promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and he is a great guy on a personal level.
However, I voted for ole number 7, Bob Rodgers, who both was an effective manager for the team and the starting catcher for quite a while. Given his double duty, I think he should get more respect.
Does Anyone remember an early baseball Nintendo game?
I’m too young to remember Pettis in real life. However, I had this baseball nintendo game and pettis was the angels lead off. All the players are chubby and fat in the game (kinda like a snow man) and so every time i think of him I think of this 8-bit bubble player.
He was the best defensive centerfielder I've ever seen...
If he could have hit, at all, everyone might say that. I had the good fortune of talking with him a couple of times and told him that; he was humble, but not enough to mention anyone better.
The guy went into the gap like nobody ever (he was incredible, and ahead of his time, at the wall as well). Absolutely amazing.
It’s a shame that he was such a douche at the plate (.236/.332/310).
I think DSar is at the top of this list. Angels up 13 games with about a month to go. Dsar get’s hurt angles don’t make playoffs. Need I say more. … Probably but this is a good start.
I love Abbott awesome story and great person. I just think Dsar was an overall better Angel.
As bad as Pettis was at the plate, DiSarcina, somehow, was worse. Pettis stole bases, was a better defender at his position, and made Brian Downing defensively viable in left field (allowing Reggie to DH). The man won five career Gold Gloves (two for the Angels) and practically led the Angels to the WS in 1986.
As an Angel fan, I have respect for DiSar but, really, he gets way, way too much credit. It wasn’t his injury in 1995 that cost the team the Division, it was the atrocious pitching and historically bad managing. The guy had a career OBP of .292! .292! Valuing guys like DiSar is why the organzation struggled throughout the ’90’s.
He played solid, but not spectacular, defense. He didn’t hit. He was only the “leader” of those Angel teams because Finley was a pitcher and Salmon was quiet. DiSar is, at best, the fifth best shortstop in Angel history (Fregosi, Schofield, Eckstein, and OC are all ahead of him in my book). Among the above players, DiSar should be ahead of only Rodgers (and maybe, maybe Devo).
5 years in the bullpen with an above average ERA in all 5. His rookie year was great, and his 91 season was sensational. I’d much rather have guys like him ranked higher than guys like Disar who as mentioned were actually causing the team harm.
Harvey did most as an Angel. Abbott’s is a great story, but great stories don’t necessarily make great Angels and his crowning moment was in pinstripes. Pettis is ahead of White (who was a much better all round player) only because Devon had his best years elsewhere. DiSarcina and Rodgers distinguish themselves only through length of service with this club. They were both rubbish.
Then you mentioned Schofield .. Disar’s career average is .258 schofield never hit over .251 for a full season. Never saw Fregosi play, OC didn’t play long enough as an Angel and it is tough still for me to see Eck as a shortstop. (just a personal thing). As for Pettis great talent, wonderful outfielder, but struck out 3 x’s as much as Disarcina. That is a point deduction on my scorecard. Plus didn’t Disarcina get into a pretty good brawl in K.C? bonus point for me.
like DiSar should have been on base a lot more than Pettis or Schoey. But he wasn’t. Not even close.
That’s my point, essentially. If DiSar was a worse offensive player than Pettis or Schoey, who were both known as beeing offensively inept, how can he be the better player? When you factor in defense (Pettis was the best at his position, Schoey was better than DiSar), it’s a no-brainer.
DiSarcina was awful offensively and only average defensively. He was purprotedly a good teammate. Should being a good teammate really mask how terrible a player he was?
The love for DiSar is completely irrational. He wasn’t just “not good,” he was actively bad. I still don’t even understand how he’s even a top 100 Angel, to be perfectly honest. The man had a career .OBP of .292 (that’s just so atrociousl that it’s almost unbelievable) and played league average defense (at best). In what universe is that even good passable?
If Mauch, Moore, and Wilfong had closed Game 5
out properly, Gary Pettis would be in the top 20 (he was voted ALCS MVP when the game appeared to be in the bag for the Angels). Instead, he’s battling Devon White (and sinking from his 2005 #36) for a spot in the top 50.
GarretSaysSuckIt - January 8, 2009
great point
Downing Rules - January 8, 2009
Jim Abbott is a big favorite of mine
I worked with him recently on promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and he is a great guy on a personal level.
However, I voted for ole number 7, Bob Rodgers, who both was an effective manager for the team and the starting catcher for quite a while. Given his double duty, I think he should get more respect.
SC81 - January 8, 2009
Abbot was probably a better hitter than Pettis, too,
which doesn’t help Pettis’ cause.
GarretSaysSuckIt - January 8, 2009
Gotta be Abbott
Uber-inspirational guy for me and a lot of other people…
Clutch - January 9, 2009
Yeah, well these guys are great...
but Jim Abbott pitched with ONE HAND.
Game, set, match.
Angel Hawker - January 9, 2009
Doesn't everybody pitch with one hand?
=)
Chone's Chonies - January 10, 2009
Does Anyone remember an early baseball Nintendo game?
I’m too young to remember Pettis in real life. However, I had this baseball nintendo game and pettis was the angels lead off. All the players are chubby and fat in the game (kinda like a snow man) and so every time i think of him I think of this 8-bit bubble player.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 9, 2009
He was the best defensive centerfielder I've ever seen...
If he could have hit, at all, everyone might say that. I had the good fortune of talking with him a couple of times and told him that; he was humble, but not enough to mention anyone better.
The guy went into the gap like nobody ever (he was incredible, and ahead of his time, at the wall as well). Absolutely amazing.
It’s a shame that he was such a douche at the plate (.236/.332/310).
GarretSaysSuckIt - January 9, 2009
Seconded
He hit a bit in 1986; one of the reasons why the Angels won. Never seen a better center fielder. Terrific baserunner, too.
mattwelch - January 10, 2009
Emotions aside
I think DSar is at the top of this list. Angels up 13 games with about a month to go. Dsar get’s hurt angles don’t make playoffs. Need I say more. … Probably but this is a good start.
I love Abbott awesome story and great person. I just think Dsar was an overall better Angel.
Dfresh - January 9, 2009
Hmmm.
As bad as Pettis was at the plate, DiSarcina, somehow, was worse. Pettis stole bases, was a better defender at his position, and made Brian Downing defensively viable in left field (allowing Reggie to DH). The man won five career Gold Gloves (two for the Angels) and practically led the Angels to the WS in 1986.
As an Angel fan, I have respect for DiSar but, really, he gets way, way too much credit. It wasn’t his injury in 1995 that cost the team the Division, it was the atrocious pitching and historically bad managing. The guy had a career OBP of .292! .292! Valuing guys like DiSar is why the organzation struggled throughout the ’90’s.
He played solid, but not spectacular, defense. He didn’t hit. He was only the “leader” of those Angel teams because Finley was a pitcher and Salmon was quiet. DiSar is, at best, the fifth best shortstop in Angel history (Fregosi, Schofield, Eckstein, and OC are all ahead of him in my book). Among the above players, DiSar should be ahead of only Rodgers (and maybe, maybe Devo).
Just an aging Angel fan’s $.02.
GarretSaysSuckIt - January 9, 2009
well put
Gruesome Gary is loved and yet did more damage to the team than any player this side of Mo Vaughn.
Rev Halofan - January 9, 2009
I voted for Harvey
5 years in the bullpen with an above average ERA in all 5. His rookie year was great, and his 91 season was sensational. I’d much rather have guys like him ranked higher than guys like Disar who as mentioned were actually causing the team harm.
MH252525 - January 10, 2009
As follows...
Harvey
Abbott
Pettis
White
DiSarcina
Rodgers
Harvey did most as an Angel. Abbott’s is a great story, but great stories don’t necessarily make great Angels and his crowning moment was in pinstripes. Pettis is ahead of White (who was a much better all round player) only because Devon had his best years elsewhere. DiSarcina and Rodgers distinguish themselves only through length of service with this club. They were both rubbish.
The Limey - January 10, 2009
I was almost convinced
Then you mentioned Schofield .. Disar’s career average is .258 schofield never hit over .251 for a full season. Never saw Fregosi play, OC didn’t play long enough as an Angel and it is tough still for me to see Eck as a shortstop. (just a personal thing). As for Pettis great talent, wonderful outfielder, but struck out 3 x’s as much as Disarcina. That is a point deduction on my scorecard. Plus didn’t Disarcina get into a pretty good brawl in K.C? bonus point for me.
Dfresh - January 10, 2009
Given those points, it certainly seems
like DiSar should have been on base a lot more than Pettis or Schoey. But he wasn’t. Not even close.
That’s my point, essentially. If DiSar was a worse offensive player than Pettis or Schoey, who were both known as beeing offensively inept, how can he be the better player? When you factor in defense (Pettis was the best at his position, Schoey was better than DiSar), it’s a no-brainer.
DiSarcina was awful offensively and only average defensively. He was purprotedly a good teammate. Should being a good teammate really mask how terrible a player he was?
The love for DiSar is completely irrational. He wasn’t just “not good,” he was actively bad. I still don’t even understand how he’s even a top 100 Angel, to be perfectly honest. The man had a career .OBP of .292 (that’s just so atrociousl that it’s almost unbelievable) and played league average defense (at best). In what universe is that even
goodpassable?GarretSaysSuckIt - January 10, 2009
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