Only Modern Era Fielding % under .900

Mr.Jones · Mar 8, 2004

I have always been intrigued by this stat and wondered how many games over the course of a season may have been lost by this one guy.

Who is the only player to play at least 100 games in a season at one position since 1916 and have a fielding % under .900. Which team and what year?

Should be an easy one.

Fishhead · Mar 8, 2004

No clue, but great question.

blueedwards · Mar 8, 2004

1985 - juan samuel?

Mr.Jones · Mar 8, 2004

Hint: Later managed same ballclub.

sherman · Mar 8, 2004

I still don't know. Great question!

blueedwards · Mar 8, 2004

pete rose?

MadCapper · Mar 8, 2004

larry bowa?

Mr.Jones · Mar 8, 2004

Hint #2. 1970's .250 BA 17 HR's. Could that have possibly offset 43 errors in 133 games at the position?

Fishhead · Mar 8, 2004

Butch Hobson?

Fishhead · Mar 8, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FISHHEAD:
Butch Hobson?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If not, that was a hell of a guess.

Mr.Jones · Mar 8, 2004

Yes Fish, Butch. Planted at third by none other than old friend Don Zimmer who needed to win only ONE MORE GAME in 1978.

jimbutorac · Mar 8, 2004

Awesome guess Fish. I remember supposedly Hobson had bone chips in his elbow. He used to wing that ball into the first base dugout about twice a week. LOL

Fishhead · Mar 8, 2004

WOW!!

Your last clue of 17 homers and 43 errors made me think he either had to be a 3b or a 1B, and the first guy that came to mind in the 70's was Butch being a Red Sox fan.

Butch was certainly a gamer........alot of those errors were throwing, as a result of bone chips in his elbow that plagued his entire career.

tuleythetout · Mar 8, 2004

Didn't see this question until too late...but my first guess before seeing the other clues would have been Steve Sax (though I guess catching the ball on popups and force outs at second would have helped his fielding percentage stay over .900).

Mr.Jones · Mar 8, 2004

Well you know Fish the Red Sox had a first baseman in the 60's who committed 53 errors in two seasons--his only two with them. This guy made Billy Buck look like Kieth Hernandez.

I'd say the Sox have first and third base locked up for the modern era "Iron Glove" award.

Fishhead · Mar 8, 2004

Tuley-

Dont know if you know or not, but Mike Ferraro is a supervisor at the Sante Fe. He used to be at Sunset Station. Great guy!!

He is a former major league player and coach for the Royals and Yankees.

He used to tell me sad stories about Steve when he was with the Yankees......how he would never practice, only when the BOSS was watching and stuff like that.

You should go out and talk to him and maybe do a story on him.

Tell him.......COACH sent you. That was the nickname he gave me cause I used to always wear a cap, carry a clipboard, and pace in front of the sportsbook for an entire NFL Sunday watching all the games.

Mr.Jones · Mar 8, 2004

True story:

Tommy LaSorda asked Pedro Guerrero, "Pedro what do you think about when the ball is hit" Answered Pedro, "First I think, I hope they don't hit it to me. Then I think I hope they don't hit it to Sax."

Maybe we got three of our "Iron Glove" infielders with Hobson, Sax, and Dick Stuart.

Igetp2s · Mar 8, 2004

I would have gone with Chuck Knoblauch a few years ago.

tuleythetout · Mar 8, 2004

Fishead: I'll definitely say hi to Mike for you.

Mr. Jones...great quote!

postaldoug · Mar 9, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Igetp2s:
I would have gone with Chuck Knoblauch a few years ago.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agree with Knoblauch, was trying to remenber the name. Is he still in baseball ?

Doug