EXPANSION (1967-1998) Catcher & 1b--IMPROVEMENT Edition
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:23 pm
Many have said that we don't know what we are getting when we nominate cards, so I've taken some time to put some stats together from some cards, using Diamond Dope and Veterans 1975 for the park, since it's kind of neutral (10,10,10,10). I asked Bill for his permission/blessing to do this. So I'll be posting some card add ideas, thoughts, etc to hopefully keep interest up and give folks some stuff to actually discuss on the boards.
My Goals on IMPROVEMENTS:
1--Provide a card that is more representative of a player's career than their current card(s)
2--Provide a card that is fundamentally different than their current cards
1987 Will Clark, SF, Bats-L, E Balance, 1b-2e16
LH—13.4 2b, 1.6 3b, 6.3 HR, 0 BB 389/398/720, 1.118 OPS
RH—1.8 2b, 0.8 3b, 13.2 HR, 9 BB 340/407/782, 1.189 OPS
This card is different than his 8.01 card. This card has much more power than that current 8.01 card. The 8.01 card is better as far as average and OBP, but this 1987 card shows off more HR power, especially vs RHP (and the doubles vs LHP are pretty nice too). Finished 5th in the MVP Voting this season.
1973 George Scott, MIL, Bats-R, 3L Balance, 1b-1e10
LH—6.4 2b, 2 3b, 7.7 HR, 10 BB 406/467/752, 1.218 OPS
RH—9.3 2b, 0 3b, 5.2 HR, 9 BB 322/365/577, .962 OPS
Here’s a Boomer card with more power than the current ones. His 1975 card is when he led the League in HRs. It is opposite of this card as far as Balance. 1975 is a 4R card, but its LH side is weaker than 1973’s RH side. This 1973 card is better overall than 1975.
1977 Ted Simmons, STL, Bats-S, 1R Balance, C-3(0)e4, RF-4(+1)e16
LH—1.5 2b, 0 3b, 9.2 HR, 14 BB 346/437/659, 1.096 OPS
RH—6 2b, 0.3 3b, 5.9 HR, 11 BB 401/467/646, 1.113 OPS
1978 Ted Simmons, STL, Bats-S, 1R Balance, C-2(+1)e3, LF-4(+1)e8
LH—12.5 2b, 0 3b, 3.5 HR, 14 BB 323/417/568, .984 OPS
RH—8.5 2b, 2.3 3b, 9 HR, 14 BB 313/408/744, 1.152 OPS
Both these cards are strong, and both are balance slightly to the Right, opposite of his two current big cards. 1977 is a better hitting card, while 1978 has a little more power, especially vs RHP. The 1977 card is only a 3-game INJ. Simba should probably be in the Hall, or at least close to it. Underappreciated catching star of the 1970s, maybe the best offensive catcher of the 70s.
1977 Andre Thornton, CLE, Bats-R, 6R Balance, 1b-2e9
LH—0 2b, 0.4 3b, 3.5 HR, 21 BB 141/348/279, .626 OPS
RH—6 2b, 1.6 3b, 11.5 HR, 22 BB 332/499/860, 1.359 OPS
Want a cheaper power source in those RH Power Parks? Check out his line vs RHP. Nobody uses his current card. Here’s one that would get some use.
1975 Bob Watson, HOU, Bats-R, 3L Balance, 1b-4e11, LF-4(+3)e6, 15 Game INJ Risk
LH—13 2b, 0.7 3b, 4.6 HR, 6 BB 474/508/750, 1.258 OPS
RH—4 2b, 0 3b, 7.3 HR, 3 BB 362/385/610, .995 OPS
1977 Bob Watson, HOU, Bats-R, 2L Balance, 1b-3e10, 3 Game INJ Risk
LH—5.9 2b, 0.4 3b, 9.6 HR, 6 BB 393/444/752, 1.195 OPS
RH—9.2 2b, 1.7 3b, 5.6 HR, 9 BB 314/390/623, 1.013 OPS
Without a doubt, Watson needs an ATG upgrade. 14 year Astro in a 19 year career, it’s just a matter of which of these two cards should be the one. (Don’t worry about 1976 card, it looks good on paper, but vs LHP it is not better than 1975 vs LHP, and it’s much weaker against RHP than 75 & 77).
Both 1975 & 1977 a good and more representative of his fine career.