In a tightly contested battle last week it was the Pats Richard Seymour edging the Sox Dwight Evans to move up one spot into the top 50 of the RBSF Ladder. In this week's Ladder Challenge it is a contest between Red Sox stars past and present. David Ortiz (#42) looks to move up 6 spots by taking on Tris Speaker (#36). In a close contest I'm taking The Grey Eagle over Big Papi....who do you support this week?
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15 comments:
TRIS SPEAKER
Currently Ranked: 36
Challenge Record: 0-0-0
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*Played for Red Sox for 9 seasons (1907-1915).
*Helped Sox win 2 World Series (1912, 1915).
*A.L. MVP in 1912 (.383 BA, 136 R, 222 H, 53 D, 12 T, 10 HR, 90 RBI, 52 SB, .464 OBP, .567 SLG, 1.031 OPS).
*Considered one of the greatest defensive CF of all-time; had 207 outfield assists for Boston.
*In Red Sox all-time top 10 with: .327 BA, .414 OBP, .896 OPS, 106 T, 267 SB.
*Hit .298 in 13 career World Series games for the Red Sox.
*Single season franchise record for Triples (22, 1913).
*Part of famed "Million Dollar Outfield" (with Harry Hooper & Duffy Lewis).
*Led league in: OBP (1912), Hits (1914), Total Bases (1914), Doubles (1912, 1914), Home Runs (1912).
DAVID ORTIZ
Currently Ranked: 42
Challenge Record: 0-0-1
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*Has played for Red Sox for 6 seasons (2003-Present).
*Helped Sox win 2 World Series (2004, 2007).
*Runner-up for A.L. MVP in 2005 (.300 BA, 119 R, 180 H, 40 D, 47 HR, 148 RBI, .397 OBP, .604 SLG, 1.001 OPS)
*5x All Star (2004-08).
*2004 ALCS MVP.
*2005 Hank Aaron Award winner.
*Top 5 in MVP voting 5 straight years (2003-07).
*In Red Sox all-time top 10 with: .398 OBP, .598 SLG, .996 OPS, 231 HR.
*Hit .313 with 8 RBI in 8 World Series games for Red Sox.
*Hit .296 with 12 HR and 43 RBI in 63 career post-season games.
*Has 19 career game-winning or walk-off hits including 3 in the post-season.
*Single season franchise record for Home Runs (54, 2006).
*Led league in: OBP (2007), Total Bases (2006), Home Runs (2006), RBI (2005, 2006), Bases on Balls (2006, 2007).
They both have 2 titles, but Speaker has an MVP and was one of the greatest defensive outfielders ever. Add to that a few additional seasons in Boston and I reluctantly give Tris my backing this week.
This week's "Magic Number" is 2. So depending on who you vote to be the Challenger next week the match ups would be....
*Bill Sharman vs Cam Neely
*Reggie Lewis vs Wade Boggs
*Dave Cowens vs Sharman
*Andre Tippett vs Lewis
*Walter A. Brown vs Cowens
*Terry O'Reilly vs Brown
*Gino Cappelletti vs this week's winner
*Jim Rice vs O'Reilly
*Manny Ramirez vs Cappelletti
Evans got screwed
Ortiz is responsible for shifting the word "hope" for me as a Red Sox fan. I will never forget him in the '04 Yankees series...he sparked the unthinkable...a 4 game sweep of the Yankees after being down 3-0. He could be the best DH in the history of MLB if he wants to...which basically means - he needs to stay healthy.
Any Mid-Week Miscellaneous? I cannot believe no Celtic was picked for the 3 point contest.
Will Chris Paul play in All Star game? If not, I bet Iverson tries to score 30
2 eh?
an attempt to prolong Clemens spot at #27...
(I'd put a question mark but I don't need a response)
Seems that the only thing that Ortiz has over Speaker is his power - in every other category speaker wins.
Luke, I've come to the realization that you are going to complain about something no matter what happens with the Ladder Challenges. I'm fine with it, just saying it seems inevitable on a weekly basis. Your only comment about the Speaker/Ortiz Challenge is to complain about Clemens not being challenged? The numbers are picked randomly....sorry.
JBS, I will have Mid-Week Miscellaneous up by the end of the day. No time to update everything last night.
Doodle, I agree with your assesment....and if you noticed Speaker and Ortiz actually have the same number of home run titles....so maybe even power is not as much of Papi's advantage as it may initially seem.
I noticed they had the same amount of Titles but I get the feeling - and I didn't look it up - that he was not as powerful of a hitter based on his number of Triples.
Although that could be more a function of his speed and the fact that Fenway's outfield condition in the 1910's was probably more conditioned for hitters.
It is a long week, and I will have more to say about the current challenge.
My complaint(s) is not about the Ladder directly, as it is your twisted logic in some corners of your sports' perception.
you also said Clemens'd be challenged next opportunity
You are correct, I did say that Clemens would be the next Challenge. So....if the winner of this week's voting to be next week's Challenger is within striking distance of Clemens (10 spots) that will be the Ladder Challenge for next week.
Otherwise we will revert back to the original "magic number" of 2.
Speaker being an all around player get my vote against the one dimensional Ortiz.
Speaker being an all around player get my vote against the one dimensional Ortiz.
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