Graph of the Day: Boggs vs. Gwynn vs. Ripken
Today's GotD is also a link to four more graphs, as part of my article that appeared on The Hardball Times yesterday. I took a look at the careers of Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, and Cal Ripken, Jr. using Sean's WAR database.
The short story is that Boggs and Gwynn were equally awesome hitters, while Ripken was merely good. On defense, however, Gwynn loses a ton of value, both because he played a much easier position and because TotalZone calls him an average fielder for his career. Ripken was really good, obviously, and Boggs put up extremely consistent fielding seasons in the +5 run range, even during his Boston years.
Overall, well, you can see above how they stack up. While Ripken's one 11 WAR season is epic, I think I'd give the career nod to Boggs, while Gwynn definitely earns the bronze medal. And that's not what I would have guessed beforehand.
WAR data from Sean's historical WAR database. It's awesome. Each players' seasons sorted from best to worst, left to right.
0 recs |
12 comments
|
Comments
Yeah that Tony Gwynn guy really sucked
Boggs surprises me too. I guess that goes with the whole 3B is underrated thing.
by VictorW on Mar 27, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cool stuff.
That -28 on Gwynn is really perplexing, no?
by jwiscarson on Mar 27, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Closely followed by a +30!

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
by Sky Kalkman on Mar 27, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
still need some more work on those defensive stats, don't we.
fun to look at anyway.
by larry on Mar 27, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, but I'm not sure this data proves anything, though. Take a look at hitting:

“What a crazy 1991 spike for Ripken. No way that’s real.”
Also, I’d be curious if any Gwynn experts know any details about the ’89 to ’91 teams that might at least partially explain those wacko spikes. Ballpark stuff, team roster changes, etc.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
by Sky Kalkman on Mar 27, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, we have a handle on some things that cause spikes like that on offense.
not sure we’re there yet on defense.
by larry on Mar 27, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, I've always had Boggs a little higher on list-type things than my compatriots at Baseball Fever.
Usually top 50 all-time and usually #2 among third basemen. But, I’ve never had him over Ripken.
This is pretty eye-opening.
Also, I remember when Gwynn and Ripken were inducted I came under fire at another message board for calling Ripken the better player.
by philkid3 on Mar 27, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If you factor in Boggs' uncanny ability to polish off beers
I think that makes him all the more valuable.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on Mar 27, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was just told elsewhere how wrong I am for comparing Boggs to Mathews/Brett.
The reasoning is that the guy is old enough to have seen them all play, and Boggs wasn’t a good baserunner.
by philkid3 on Mar 27, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He wasn't.
Rally has him a full five runs below average for his career. What a baserunning dweeb.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
by Sky Kalkman on Mar 27, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't have any argument against him being a bad baserunner.
I do have an argument with that being the reason he wasn’t on Brett’s level.
by philkid3 on Mar 27, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boggs vs. Brett GotD is up...
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/28/813340/graph-of-the-day-boggs-vs
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
by Sky Kalkman on Mar 28, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by 












BtB on Facebook














