Could Ozzie Smith in his heyday start for over half the teams in MLB currently

Iceman · Apr 2, 2007

Ozzie Smith the man who hit more than 2 HR's in only 5 of his 19 seasons and with a .262 career batting average and 1st ballot hall of famer (not sure may need to check that).

Could the 1980's version of Ozzie Smith start in the current MLB with such importance on offense nowadays? Remember he is a hall of famer and played as late as 1996 in MLB.

Iceman · Apr 2, 2007

My point is look how much the shortstop posistion has changed in the past 15 years. Almost unbelievable. Has to be the biggest change in all of baseball. These guys were almost automatic outs in the 80's.

Timetopay · Apr 2, 2007

He would be on roids and hit 20 homers so all would be right with the world.

mike0187 · Apr 2, 2007

I think he would start for about half the teams in the Naional League, not sure about AL

Iceman · Apr 2, 2007

mike0187 said:
I think he would start for about half the teams in the Naional League, not sure about AL

sad but true. I agree with you.

themanej2001 · Apr 2, 2007

Think he would start over every single short stop with the exception of...

Jeter, Tejada, Young, and Reyes.

Ask yourself this question do you think Omar Vizquel would start for half the teams... IMO the answer is yet to him, and Ozzie is better then Omar. Ozzie Smith was the greatest defensive player to play the sports of baseball IMO... When you are that great at a defensive position, you can hit .260

RobFunk · Apr 2, 2007

Jesus Dsethi, what the hell is wrong with the audio on that.

Good highlights though.

Iceman · Apr 2, 2007

With the way the game has changed and the importance of stats by general managers nowadays, a .262 hitter with almost a zero percent chance to hit a HR or even an extra base hit is highly unprobable, would not play over guys like a Carlos Guillen (who is around #8 in leagues for SS) and he hit .320 with 20 HR's. No way.

He just doesn't have enough chances to save as many runs per season, as much as his bat would kill him. The dropoff offensively is just way too much.

You won't see another player that bad play as much as he did in the fututre. EVER!!!!!!!!!

Iceman · Apr 2, 2007

Does anyone have any offensive highlights?

Maybe him hitting a few foul balls hard or something? Anyone? (LOL)!!!!!!!!

Highdaddy · Apr 2, 2007

he is basically the best shortstop ever....i have NO problem with him being

a first ballot HOF'er. He could start for ANY team in the league right now

ProPokerPlayer · Apr 2, 2007

doesnt matter that he wouldnt hit when he drops your entire teams E.R.A. a full point....he would start over anyone..

Journeyman · Apr 2, 2007

Are you kidding me???? this is the silliest question you have ever posted Ice...I hope you don't actually believe Ozzie would not find a starting job on any team he was on...if a team had a guy like Tejada or A-Rod or jeter, they would move him to 3rd base...Ozzie Smith was THAT good at shortstop.

How many runs do you think he saved on defense? He didn't break into the majors til age 23, finished with 580 SB's and had 2,460 base hits, not exactly an offensive liabilty...you're acting like he was Mark Belanger at the plate.

WVU · Apr 2, 2007

There is some truth to Ice's statements here. Most teams now can't afford to sacrifice offensive power for defensive dominance. As far as Ozzie saving runs, that is true, but he did not do this every play. 95% of his plays would have been handled by even an average shortstop. The remaining 5%, well that is a different story. But to give up not getting 18 more home runs and 25 or so RBIs would cost you in today's game.

I reluctantly agree with what Ice is trying to say here.

Journeyman · Apr 2, 2007

WVU said:
There is some truth to Ice's statements here. Most teams now can't afford to sacrifice offensive power for defensive dominance. As far as Ozzie saving runs, that is true, but he did not do this every play. 95% of his plays would have been handled by even an average shortstop. The remaining 5%, well that is a different story. But to give up not getting 18 more home runs and 25 or so RBIs would cost you in today's game.

I reluctantly agree with what Ice is trying to say here.

Have you taken a good look at most of the National League rosters? Not exactly Murderer's Row.

Journeyman · Apr 2, 2007

Baseball still comes down to pitching and defense when it all counts...

teazeman · Apr 2, 2007

shocking to think some people don't appreciate his greatness......to say he couldn't start for almost every mlb club is an understatement in itself.

WorldNumberOne · Apr 2, 2007

any hall of famer could find a starting spot on 1/2 the teams in mlb...

the talent pool is so watered down these days .

Journeyman · Apr 2, 2007

Iceman said:
Does anyone have any offensive highlights?

Maybe him hitting a few foul balls hard or something? Anyone? (LOL)!!!!!!!!

Ice , did you know Ozzie was originally drafted by the Tigers?

Just think he may have hit a few more homers playing in that band box stadium , instead of cavernous Busch that was designed for a speedy team like the 80's Cardinals had...he was a huge reason the Cardinals played in 3 World Series' in 6 years...

I suppose you don't remember Ozzie's game winning homer in the playoffs off of Tom Neidenfurer? He was the 1985 NLCS MVP too.

Smith's greatest season came in 1987, when he had a .303 BA, 43 stolen bases, 75 RBI, 104 runs scored, and 40 doubles...

He was also the NL's highest paid player in 1987.

How many really good shortstops in MLB today are real power hitters? the postion is still more of a defensive position...... CAL RIPKEN , yes the same one you think Alan Trammell is equal to lol changed all that....

You still must have a very good fielder at SS, any team that had a Jeter or Tejada would move them gladly to put Ozzie in their shortstop position today, no doubt about that....and you also have to take into consideration this is the steroid era where certain players , Tejada, Bret Boone (2nd base) A-Rod are all at the very least under suspicion of getting artificial enhancement....if you're going to single out Ozzie why not single out HOF players from 50 years ago too? Would Hank Aaron be as great today? Would Ty Cobb? Would Al Kaline have started for last years Tigers?

Anyone who thinks Ozzie wouldn't start today is either very young or wasn't a sports fan before ESPN fooled everyone into thinking the homerun was all that mattered.

Ironman_8 · Apr 2, 2007

Journeyman said:
Ice , did you know Ozzie was originally drafted by the Tigers?

Just think he may have hit a few more homers playing in that band box stadium , instead of cavernous Busch that was designed for a speedy team like the 80's Cardinals had...he was a huge reason the Cardinals played in 3 World Series' in 6 years...

I suppose you don't remember Ozzie's game winning homer in the playoffs off of Tom Neidenfurer? He was the 1985 NLCS MVP too.

Smith's greatest season came in 1987, when he had a .303 BA, 43 stolen bases, 75 RBI, 104 runs scored, and 40 doubles...

He was also the NL's highest paid player in 1987.

How many really good shortstops in MLB today are real power hitters? the postion is still more of a defensive position...... CAL RIPKEN , yes the same one you think Alan Trammell is equal to lol changed all that....

You still must have a very good fielder at SS, any team that had a Jeter or Tejada would move them gladly to put Ozzie in their shortstop position today, no doubt about that....and you also have to take into consideration this is the steroid era where certain players , Tejada, Bret Boone (2nd base) A-Rod are all at the very least under suspicion of getting artificial enhancement....if you're going to single out Ozzie why not single out HOF players from 50 years ago too? Would Hank Aaron be as great today? Would Ty Cobb? Would Al Kaline have started for last years Tigers?

Anyone who thinks Ozzie wouldn't start today is either very young or wasn't a sports fan before ESPN fooled everyone into thinking the homerun was all that mattered.

Ummm Journey, is your middle name Elias??

Dawoofdaddy · Apr 2, 2007

Iceman said:
Ozzie Smith the man who hit more than 2 HR's in only 5 of his 19 seasons and with a .262 career batting average and 1st ballot hall of famer (not sure may need to check that).

Could the 1980's version of Ozzie Smith start in the current MLB with such importance on offense nowadays? Remember he is a hall of famer and played as late as 1996 in MLB.

Our Tigers sure as hell could have used him in last years playoffs.

Agree with several in this thread...this question is ridiculous.

:WTF: