Canseco takes swing at Ripken

Baltimore Sun ^ | February 15, 2005 | Jeff Barker

[Alberta's Child]

That's a good reference there. I always thought 1985 was his best year, but statistically 1991 was better. What I never understood was how an all-star caliber ballplayer could sandwich a .320 year between two .250 seasons.

His career was actually quite ordinary (at best) in the years before and after 1991, especially when you consider that after '91 he was playing in a "live ball" era in which offensive numbers were historically high throughout both leagues. It's kind of surprising that 1991 was really the only year after 1986 in which he was among the league leaders in any number of offensive categories.

[untenured]

I think what Lee Roy Jordan said about Clint Longley...

Wow, you are getting into the carbon-dated portions of the Cowboy archives with that name.

I am (just barely) old enough to remember the Thanksgiving Day Mad Bomber game. And his ignominious exit from Dallas, which seemed like it happened just a few weeks later.

[doug from upland]

Ripken is a man whom you would want as the Godfather of your child. Canseco you would want for your garbageman.

[REDWOOD99]

Jose wouldn't sell any books if he just said "Baseball been berry, berry good to me." Controversy is the only thing that sells when you're controversial.

[sinkspur]

"I'm of the age where the SS was a defensive position and not to be counted on for offense."

How damned old are you?

You forget Ernie Banks?

[sinkspur]

And his ignominious exit from Dallas, which seemed like it happened just a few weeks later.

It actually happened in April, in a quarterback mini-camp.

Longley, to this day, has never given an interview to anybody.

[Pompah]

Mike Schmidt had the Big Bat thats for sure. And was an all round third baseman as was Nettles.

But Brooks Robinson was Pure Poetry to watch. I saw his play (in person) twice. Couldn't take my eyes off of him.
He was on dirt what Bobby Orr was on Ice.

[Iron Eagle]

That would be news to Michael Jack Schmidt.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The Cuban-born Canseco suggests in the book that he often was singled out for media criticism because he was a minority.

No Jose. It was because you were an a-hole. Plain and simple.

[Mase]

"That's a good reference there. I always thought 1985 was his best year, but statistically 1991 was better. What I never understood was how an all-star caliber ballplayer could sandwich a .320 year between two .250 seasons."
____________________

Cal's contribution to the team has to be measured in more than just batting average. Even in those less than stellar years his slugging percentage and on base percentages remained high.

1990:
Avg. .250
SLG .415
OBP .341
RBI 84
Runs 78
HR 21

Show me any other SS with a .250 average and those other contributing stats.

1992 was one of his worst years but even then he managed 160 hits and a .323 OBP.

He still had some incredible year's after 1991. In 1994 he had a .314 average, a .364 OBP and his SLG was .459. Not bad for an old guy.

In 1996 he had 102 RBI's, a .341 OBP and 178 hits with a SLG of .466. I haven't looked but I'll bet those other offensive categories would have him very high on the list of shortstop's those years. Even his fielding remained respectable throughout his career.

Beyond that was the fan factor. I had season tickets from 1989-1995 and you would have had to been there to understand just how important Cal was to Baltimore. If Cal was playing, the game was sold out. It didn't matter to the fans if Cal was producing like his critics expected him to or not. The fans wanted to see Cal and didn't give a damn if someone else felt it would be better for the team if he sat out. I was there the night he broke the record for games played and I cannot think of any other athlete, in recent times, that has garnered the kind of admiration and respect that was on display that night. Of course, Peter Angelos did all he could to make that night about himself and has decimated what was once a great ball club. Rich, obnoxious trial lawyers should not own baseball teams!

[Fry]

Cal moved to 3rd in '97 and the Orioles won 10 more games and the AL East that year. Case closed right? Ummm maybe not. Bordick had 49 fewer Total Chances at short than Cal did the year before (Cal did play in 5 more games), Bordick hit .236 in 97 but Cal hit .278 in 96. Maybe shortstop is not the decisive edge. Offensively, the 97 team scored less runs, had a lower batting average and hit 61 fewer home runs than the 96 team. Yet they won their division because their pitching was better (5.15 ERA down to 3.91) and they had a great manager in Davey Johnson. Angelos fired Johnson at the end of that year and they haven't had a winning season since.

I'm not a stat head, I had to look all those numbers up. I'll be the first to admit that my defense of Cal is emotional. However, looking over the years, I don't see where he cost the Orioles games. They could afford Angelos' boneheaded free agency deals because Cal was the public image of that team and he put fans in the seats. When I paid to see Orioles games he played as hard as he could every pitch that I ever saw. Everything he did off the field and the way he lead his public life made me proud to be an Oriole fan.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I didn't think it was possible for me to think any less of Jose Canseco, and then he goes and insults Cal Ripken Jr.

I used to live down the street from Canseco in Blackhawk, California. Trust me, it's possible to think less of him. That man is scum. We were so happy when he moved.

[Coop]

I do fondly recall that time when Canseco was playing outfield and the ball bounced off of his forehead and went over the fence for a ground-rule double (IIRC). I remember taking great pleasure in his embarassment and presumed headache.

[bootless]

Thanks, that's good to hear.

[Constantine XIII]

$7.50...ouch! :P

[aroostook war]

completely agree re: #4 Bobby Orr. Same for Brooks, for that matter.

[beyond the sea]

RUSH WAS INAPPROPRIATE. NO AMOUNT OF TANGENTIAL VERBAL EXCREMENT THROWN AGAINST THE FR WALL EVERY TIME A MINORITY ATHLETE IS IMPERFECT WILL VALIDATE IT

Now that McNabb was next to throwing up in the 4th quarter, and was throwing up the ball for grabs more than the three times he was kindly intercepted..... and now Michael Jackson is throwing up.... what's the deal with that?

STAGE FRIGHT?

[Fury]

Another point about Ripken. He owned up if he was wrong. When Joe Altobelli took over as manager of the Orioles, Ripken was pretty up front about being upset with his father not getting the nod. But Ripken made up with Mr. Baseball and the Orioles won the World Series that year.

Cal was a great player and a good sportsman.

[Libertarian4Bush]

Now that McNabb was next to throwing up in the 4th quarter, and was throwing up the ball for grabs more than the three times he was kindly intercepted

he looked better against the pats than manning or roethlisburger, and according to sportscasters, those two are already in the hall of fame.

the patriots defense: dynastic when your argument requires it, depleted when that would be more useful.