I know for some this is an easy post, and for others this is nearly impossible. Try and have some fun and take into account all of the awesome stuff we've read and learned this semester.
You can be any ballplayer (past or present). Who are you and why?
Not going to lie, my first instinct is Ricky Henderson. Great speed. Played on some fun teams. But the man has hubris. He didn't just burn out, he faded away. He bumped down to minor leagues and some old school barnstorming at the end of his career. Some say it was for the love of the game, but I know otherwise. The man has an ego. He couldn't imagine life without the fame. He has pushed the A's away until only recently when they've been successful. Interesting. Very interesting. So knowing that he's kind of a jerk and overly interested in the money, I can't logically choose him. Option #2: Dave Winfield. Another great from my younger years. Sure he's in the Hall of Fame as a Padre, but I know him from his years with the Yankees. He's not only in the MLB Hall, but also the NCAA. He still works in the front office for the Padres and he also does commentary for Fox. But what really sells me is that he does a lot of community outreach and has committed his life to bring baseball to anyone interested in playing. He believes in full access. Clearly I've gotten cheesy in my old age, but I do appreciate someone who loves the sport for what happens on the field and off.
Just in case you're wondering about other options I might have chosen ....
#3: Cal Ripken Jr.
#4: Julio Franco (just signed for independent league at 55!!)
#5: Bo Jackson
#6: Don Mattingly
#7: Lou Pinella
#8: Pete Rose
#9: Johnny Bench
#10: Mariano Rivera/David Ortiz
I would choose Yasiel Puig if I could be any baseball player. First off, he is starting his career off, basically a rookie and is one of the most interesting, badass, and impressive ballplayers I have ever seen. I remember first hearing about Yasiel Puig last year near the start of the baseball season. His story is really neat. He defected from Cuba in 2012 and then signed a 7 year, 42 million dollar deal with the Dodgers. He hit an impressive .319 with 19 home runs in his first year. Making the "All-Rookie Team" was not a shocker. The only thing I don't like about Yasiel Puig is who he plays for. I hate the Dodgers. However, in certain situations, I believe it gives me an extra bonus when watching the intense rivalry of the Giants and Dodgers. I have a player on the Dodgers I really like and then I also have the entire Giants team that I hope win. His early childhood and many attempts to defect seemed incredibly difficult and being able to get out of that is extremely impressive. I hope he can continue this hot streak for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteHonestly there are so many players to choose from. So, I'm going to go with my first instinct, which is Derek Jeter. Even though I'm not the biggest Yankee fan, Jeter is probably one of the few Yankees that gets respect from most teams he plays against. For one, his loyalty to the Yankees is worth mentioning. For a team known for taking players from rival teams or basically just buying up any players they can find, Jeter debuted on the Yankees in '95, and has been playing for them ever since. Loyalty is hard to find nowadays in baseball. Secondly, he's handsome. There's not much to say about this other than the fact that I wouldn't mind looking like him. Thirdly, he's classy. We talk about classy athletes who never really get into trouble even with the spotlight on them, and Jeter is a good example of that. I don't know too much about him. but it seems he plays for the love of the game. Lastly, he's very good. He'll most likely be inducted into the Hall of Fame as soon as possible following his retirement, due to the fact that more or less he's consistently been a major asset for the Yanks. His talent has been a difference maker on countless occasions, and has led them to be World Series champions more than once. In class, we talk about heroes and their flaws. But to me, it seems Jeter has no flaws.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult for me to choose what baseball player I would be. First, I do not know very baseball players. My baseball knowledge is limited to probably just the Giants, and within that I still do not know many of the Giants players, what they are like, how they play, etc. With this being said, I would be Buster Posey. Although he seems like a quiet player, I think he makes a tremendous impact. He can hit home runs and is extremely disciplined as the starting catcher. He is also young and has great potential to become an even better player. I hope he can help lead the Giants to another World Series title in the upcoming years!
ReplyDeleteSandy Schenker:
ReplyDeleteIf I could be one baseball player ever, it would be Barry Bonds. I would be Barry Bonds for three major reasons. First, he is my favorite player ever, and I still adore him after seeing him trashed in the media for almost a decade. Second, throughout his career he was able to effectively play in so many different styles. Starting off as a great fielder and great baserunner and turning into the home run king. I have always loved base running and home runs, and Bonds could do both amazingly throughout different parts of his career. Thirdly, I would like to be Barry Bonds to change who he was as a person. I loved Bonds for the player who he was not the person, and if I could be Bonds, I believe I could fix that one flaw in Bonds. He is and was adored by millions of San Franciscan's, including myself, yet he is a self-centered jerk who cared very little about his team or his fans. I would like to be Bonds to make him a more perfect human, a man who could enjoy the love he got from his team and fans, and reciprocate it.
Like Ruby, I would choose Buster Posey (a.k.a Gerald Posey III), but not for the same reasons. Buster is everything I could ask for in a baseball player. He makes smart plays defensively and is a power hitter, but you could not tell in a conversation because he is extremely humble. Through interviews, it is clear that Posey is extremely poised and articulate. Also, he was ranked in the top 5 GPA and a four-sport athlete at his high school, so he is extremely well rounded and more dimensional than just being a baseball player. Luckily, Buster has a contract with the Giants until 2021!
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any baseball player in history, it would probably have to be Timmy Lincecum. I feel like Timmy just lives his life. He doesn't seem to care what the media has to say about him; he kind of just does his own thing. Two-time Cy Young award winner and even in his poor years currently, he's still balled out sometimes. Despite being dropped to a relief pitcher in 2012 he still pitched well in the playoffs and helped the Giants to another World Series. And then in 2013 he threw a no-hitter so even in his worse years he was still doing things that not many people can say they've done. And another reason I'd want to be Timmy is because I feel like everyone adores him. I remember when he was pitching a few years ago and ticket prices would go down a dollar for every pitcher he struck out the game before and tickets were so cheap. He was just so fun to watch. Timmy is my favorite player on the giants even though he's kind of been falling off and that's why I would want to be him if I could.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this course we have learned about so many players, but the one that really stood out to me is Mariano Rivera. Despite playing for the Yankees he is a true athletic hero. His winning talents and personality combine to make an incredible person. 18 years of playing in the major league yet he never let his fame go to his head. The result of this is a calm and collected, 13 time all-star and 5 time world series champion. Aside from his accomplishments and personality, it is his ability to remain calm under pressure that I envy. It truly takes ice in the veins to hold the record for most saves, and this calmness makes him a real standout. I have thrown many a tennis match by psyching myself out and cracking under pressure. That is why I find his abilities to be so phenomenal. He combines incredible talent, with an admirable personality that makes him an inspiring person.
ReplyDeleteIf I could choose to be any living or dead baseball player in the history of the game I would have to go with Jason Varitek for multiple reasons. Growing up he was my baseball idol. As a lifelong sox fan a little league catcher for eight years, he was always there for me to look up to. One thing I like the most about him is how he played fourteen years on the same team, the only team he ever played for. I also admire him for the fact that even during seasons when he played worse on average he never really played horribly and always kept a good attitude, not to mention the fact that he had very good sportsmanship, something not always found with players on teams with such history and such strong rivalries. I was also really happy for him to lead the sox to two world series titles.
ReplyDeleteWhen thinking about this question I thought mostly about who's body I would want to pitch in and have. I know it sounds weird. Because I'm a pitcher I would have to go with Randy Johnson. He's six ten, athletic, and has an elastic arm. He would hit 100 mph and he would release the ball as close to the plate as any pitcher in the game. He was like Aroldos Chapman, except he new where the ball was going and his slider was ridiculous. His career was nearly perfect. 22 years in the bigs, five Cy Youngs, two no-hitters, a perfect game, a world series, nine strikeout titles, he killed a bird with a fastball, amazing hair, awesome nickname, and he got to finish his career on the Giants, the man is an absolute legend. He's also hilarious. Here are a few examples. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hELGlmietdk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVOlw6PIjBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q80YF__M3A
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lZ1FUabRho
If I had to choose between more recent players in MLB, I would pick with Brandon Crawford. He’s a Bay Area native and has been a San Francisco baseball fan since he was little. After playing baseball for UCLA, Crawford was ultimately drafted to his home team, the Giants. I think that the sense of fulfillment that comes with being a part of your childhood team must be pretty remarkable; playing on the team that inspired you to play the game in the first place would give you the ultimate sense of accomplishment. Crawford has performed very well since joining the team in 2011, and I have loved watching him grow as a player over the last few years.
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Wow. Way harder than I thought it would be. I'm split between two, and man is it close. As I'm writing this I have no clue which one I am going to choose, just think I'll lay out an argument for each and whichever is strongest wins. Alright just did more research. I am now thoroughly mad at you for assigning this. just widened out to 5. Guerrero, The Big Hurt, Ichiro, The Kid, and Chipper. These guys were the best clean hitters in a lost generation of cheaters, and for the most part they outplayed their overvalued competition. Vlad literally didn't have a strike zone, that dude was the ultimate bad ball hitter which was just so infinitely amusing and entertaining. The guy also batted without batting gloves. That's just badass. Frank the Tank is simply put the man. he mashed homers at an unprecedented level while maintaining an elite batting average, love multifaceted players, especially Black Americans in baseball, a dwindling breed. Also sweet nickname! Ichiro...How many more single name recognizable players have there been? In my mind it's Ruth, Mays, ichiro as far as name recognition. that has to count for something. Also that due was as close to willie Mays Hayes as my childhood would ever have. He also trail blazed for an entire talent pool. Griffey is just the kid. is there anything more i have to write about his awesomeness? Macklemore's My Oh My always gives me goose bumps. He played with his dad in the same outfield!! he's such a dynamic talent! Injuries are the only thing holding him from easily topping my list. And then theres Chipper. I love that dude. Can't be a classier athlete. Just gets the job done, Southern charm. I think i'm more stuck than when I started.F this. Frank.
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any player I would be Barry Bonds. I do not know much about Barry but I have heard about how great of a player he was before he was caught for steroids. The revered home run king's natural talent and skill is inspiring to me. As an athlete myself I have always strived to be the best I could be and to out perform my opponent, similar to Bonds. Nevertheless this attitude can be quite selfish and counter productive as I and many other athletes such as Bonds have personally experienced.
ReplyDeleteIf I could be one baseball player ever it would be Willie Mays. I would be Willie May’s because other than being the best player ever he was way before his time. He is an amazing representation of where the game is going. Today we see young superstars like Trout, Matt Kemp and Bryce Harper. All three of these all stars are what we call five tool players. A five tool player has the five major skill sets: hits for power, hits for average, has the ability to steal, has an arm and is great defensively. If you were to look up five-tool player in an encyclopedia all it would have is Willie Mays’s face. Mays had all of these attributes and more. I love players that have it all and that’s why I would have Mays. In general I enjoy players that have a good all around game. I think in the world of sports offense cast a dark shadow on the defensive side of sports. Being able to bring it on both ends is what I think separates could athletes from great ones. However, what makes Mays so amazing is that he was exceptional in every category. He didn’t just hold his own on both sides of the ball he excelled. His career stats: 12 consecutive gold gloves, 338 stolen bases, career 302 average and 660 homeruns. Need I say more.
ReplyDeleteLuc good instead of could
Deletegood instead of could sorry
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any baseball player I would be JT Snow. I don't have very many memories of JT, but remember how he and Barry Bonds were my favorite ball players while I was growing up. He was a great first baseman and played for the Giants for so long. I remember how he was also so well known for his defense and his ability to take away hits. I would have also put Barry Bonds, but I would not like to be a player who was known only for using steroids. JT was my childhood hero and I think it would have been awesome to be him and play for the Giants.
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any baseball player, I would be Chipper Jones. Chipper Jones had a long, consistent and impressive baseball career. He was able to keep up his scores and averages without slipping into the temptation of performance enhancing drugs for 18 full seasons. This kind of consistent and successful life and career is what I would ideally strive for if I had to become a baseball player.
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