11th Best Ranger Ever Community Project

by philkid3 on Aug 22, 2008 1:58 PM CDT

Congratulations to Jim Sundberg on being named the 10th greatest Texas Rangers player ever, winning with 27% of the LSB vote.

Our list so far:

Ivan Rodriguez 1991-2002

Juan Gonzalez 1989-99, 2002-03

Nolan Ryan 1989-93

Rafael Palmeiro 1989-93, 1999-03

Alex Rodriguez 2001-03

Rusty Greer 1994-2002

Michael Young 2000-08

Charlie Hough 1980-90

Kenny Rogers 1989-95, 2000-02, 2004-05

Jim Sundberg 1974-83, 1988-89

Now it's time to decide who the 11th greatest Ranger player ever is. I would suggest judge it the same way you would evaluate MLB players over a career, but consider their careers were only as long as the years and games they played with the Texas Rangers. Consider not just best seasons, but total contribution, and perhaps a bit of profile.

If there's anyone not on the ballot who you think should be considered as the 12th best Ranger, please let me know in the comments.

Write-In Votes

If there's someone not on the list who you want to vote for, please vote "OTHER," then write your vote down in a reply. If you label that reply as "Write In" it will be much easier for me to find. Thanks!

Poll

Who is the 11th best Texas Rangers player ever.

Buddy Bell 1979-85, 1989

20 votes

Kevin Brown 1986-94

5 votes

Jeff Burroughs 1972-76

0 votes

Will Clark 1994-98

7 votes

Julio Franco 1989-93

0 votes

Tom Grieve 1972-77

1 votes

Mike Hargrove 1974-78

1 votes

Toby Harrah 1972-78, 1985-86

1 votes

Pete Incaviglia 1986-90

1 votes

Fergie Jenkins 1974-75, 1978-81

15 votes

Pete O'Brien 1982-88

0 votes

Al Oliver 1978-81

1 votes

Dean Palmer 1989-97

3 votes

Larry Parrish 1982-88

0 votes

Ruben Sierra 1986-92, 2000-01, 2003

21 votes

Mark Teixeira 2003-07

6 votes

Bobby Witt 1986-92, 1995-98

1 votes

OTHER (Please Specify)

0 votes

83 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs | Comment 24 comments

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Comments

Seventh straight time I've voted for Bell.

I find it very hard to believe he’s not a top 10 player.

by philkid3 on Aug 22, 2008 2:04 PM CDT 0 recs

i voted for him

http://www.buchanan4pres2008.org/
NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVER

by gossamer on Aug 22, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

I voted for him as well.

As I said in the last thread, I think we somewhat overrate Michael Young and Rusty Greer. They probably shouldn’t be top ten, given what some of the older guys did (bear in mind, I wasn’t around to watch the old Rangers, but the stats speak for themselves). I definitely don’t think Kenny Rogers is top ten material.

While I love Nolan Ryan, I don’t think he should be third, nor do I think A-Rod should be as high as he is (although he’s definitely a top-ten all-time Ranger).

At any rate, I think discussing these things are half the fun of rating the players, and I’ve enjoyed the polls to this point.

by jwiscarson on Aug 22, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

I actually think MY has a good argument for top 10.

Which is sad. But not ahead of Bell, Hough or Sundberg.

Ryan and Greer, though, are the ones we very much overrated. I can understand it, because they’re two of my three favorite players ever, but I’m trying to separate my bias from my voting.

by philkid3 on Aug 22, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

On that note...

When we finish the project, I would really be interested to see some statistical comparisons put up against the list. I’m not sure what would be a valid comparison statistic outside of VORP (or WARP?), but it does make me curious.

by jwiscarson on Aug 22, 2008 5:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Also

I agree about Ryan and Greer. I remember loving Rusty in the late 90s, and keeping the Waco Tribune-Herald’s story about the Ryan/Ventura brawl on my wall until we moved out of that house. It is still difficult for me to look back over Nolan’s stats and think “wow, he really isn’t the greatest pitchers of all time”.

by jwiscarson on Aug 22, 2008 5:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

Multiple consecutive votes from me too...

…he should be higher than 11th.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 22, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sierra was Juando before Juando

He was a beast there in the late ’80s for us. He should be a top-10 guy in my opinion.

I do think it is a travesty that Greer is that high. Greer is probably my all-time favorite but was not as good as some of these other guys.

"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo

by kentbenfer on Aug 22, 2008 2:23 PM CDT 0 recs

Greer may be too high but...

…I think he still belongs ahead of Ruben. And for the record I was a huge Sierra apologist back in the day.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 22, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

greer's 3 years at 7.75M per year

when he only played like 100 games through that period was one of the worst deals and helped send this club into premature ruin way early on that team.

ill never forget it. rusty may get some love here. and its way out of proportion. his contract ended up having more of an effect on the downturn of this club than arods.

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 23, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hate him for his contract?

by philkid3 on Aug 23, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

yeah

what’s he gonna do? give the money back? even if he wanted (and he shouldn’t have) the MLBPA would not have allowed it.

for the numbers he put up, that was probably a good deal for the rangers at the time.

if they would have moved him to DH, it still would have been a good deal…and he would not have gotten hurt.

he’s not a top 10 player, but he’ll always be a favorite. he’s a favorite of mine still.

http://www.buchanan4pres2008.org/
NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVER

by gossamer on Aug 23, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

The fact that it took 10 spots to place the first guy that played in the 70s speaks volumes

1977 team had 94 wins, 5 guys with double-digit wins (Alexander-17, Perry-15, Blyleven-14, Divine-11, Ellis-10) and a staff ERA+ of 115.

Maybe John Burkett should make the list based completely on the fact that he has the only postseason win in Rangers history.

by robert_d_wilfong on Aug 22, 2008 3:23 PM CDT 0 recs

i completely agree

all of these “been a Ranger fan since the late 90’s” voters need to pull their heads out of their asses.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Aug 22, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

I would bet half the people on here are younger than 30

and therefore don’t really know how good some of those 70’s rangers players were..

I’ll be the first to admit, that my fandom really started in about ‘89 or so, and then I was young, so anything before that I don’t have strong feelings about.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 22, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up 0 recs