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January 04, 2008

SOTD: Jim Rice, John Olerud & Bernie Williams

Maybe Yankees fans should root for Jim Rice to make the Hall - so that Bernie Williams has a case too?

Posted by Steve Lombardi at January 4, 2008 12:57 PM

Comments

The one naive question I have is about whether there is a consensus on Bernie as a fielder. I always thought at his peak he was good, but I don't know what the general view is.

Posted by: Nick from Washington Heights [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2008 01:26 PM

At his peak, he could out run his mistakes and bad jumps. But, around 1997-2000, he got slower, and, by 2003 he was just terrible in CF, IMHO.

Posted by: Steve Lombardi [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2008 01:32 PM

I remember he used to fly to the ball and that would also make up for his arm, which was even poor then. Honestly I remember him being good but I always picture Jim Rice as on another level as to bernie (perhaps because I'm not old enough to have seen Rice play and all I hear about is how good he was from other people) but the stats show to be pretty identical. When you factor in the fact that bernie has almost 3 times as many SB and the fact that Bernie grounded into almost a hundred less DP's...I think he should get his number retired and a plaque in left center

Posted by: Corey [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2008 01:39 PM

by 2003 he was just terrible in CF, IMHO.
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Not surprising, considering that was the year he had knee surgery.

Posted by: Raf [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2008 02:41 PM

My mom has heard of Bernie Williams, therefore he is famous, therfore he should be in the hall of fame. As should Marilyn Monroe, cause ya know, she's like, famous and stuff.

Posted by: SteveB [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2008 06:09 PM

Bernie Williams did ONE thing well. He was a great hitter. But thats it. In no way should he even get a sniff of the Hall of Fame.

NO ARM. Period.

Poor fielder, he used his speed to play defense, he never got good jumps on the ball, and when he lost a step, he was done as a everyday player.

Despite being one of the fastest men on the team, he couldn't become a good base stealer because of his biggest failing as a player - no baseball instincts.

Posted by: Inconnu [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 5, 2008 05:13 PM