Biographical

Portrait of Eric Davis

Eric Davis CFReds

Reds Player Cards | Reds Team Audit | Reds Depth Chart

Career Summary
Years PA AVG OBP SLG TAv WARP
17 6147 .269 .359 .482 .293 39.1
Birth Date5-29-1962
Height6' 3"
Weight200 lbs
BatsR
ThrowsR

Standard

YEAR TEAM AGE G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR TB BB SO HBP SF SH RBI SB CS AVG OBP SLG TAv VORP FRAA WARP
1984 CIN 22 57 200 174 33 39 10 1 10 81 24 48 1 1 0 30 10 2 .224 .320 .466 .298 16.3 1.2 1.9
1985 CIN 23 56 131 122 26 30 3 3 8 63 7 39 0 0 2 18 16 3 .246 .287 .516 .282 7.4 1.4 0.9
1986 CIN 24 132 487 415 97 115 15 3 27 217 68 100 1 3 0 71 80 11 .277 .378 .523 .319 48.7 0.4 5.1
1987 CIN 25 129 562 474 120 139 23 4 37 281 84 134 1 3 0 100 50 6 .293 .399 .593 .331 70.2 14.4 8.4
1988 CIN 26 135 543 472 81 129 18 3 26 231 65 124 3 3 0 93 35 3 .273 .363 .489 .295 35.2 1.7 4.0
1989 CIN 27 131 542 462 74 130 14 2 34 250 68 116 1 11 0 101 21 7 .281 .367 .541 .318 43.0 -4.9 4.2
1990 CIN 28 127 518 453 84 118 26 2 24 220 60 100 2 3 0 86 21 3 .260 .347 .486 .292 35.8 -5.8 3.2
1991 CIN 29 89 340 285 39 67 10 0 11 110 48 92 5 2 0 33 14 2 .235 .353 .386 .262 11.2 -2.9 0.9
1992 LAN 30 76 308 267 21 61 8 1 5 86 36 71 3 2 0 32 19 1 .228 .325 .322 .245 1.4 -7.7 -0.7
1993 DET 31 23 89 75 14 19 1 1 6 40 14 18 0 0 0 15 2 2 .253 .371 .533 .303 5.1 1.4 0.7
1993 LAN 31 108 422 376 57 88 17 0 14 147 41 88 1 4 0 53 33 5 .234 .308 .391 .253 9.3 4.6 1.4
1994 DET 32 37 138 120 19 22 4 0 3 35 18 45 0 0 0 13 5 0 .183 .290 .292 .203 -4.4 -0.3 -0.5
1996 CIN 34 129 496 415 81 119 20 0 26 217 70 121 6 4 1 83 23 9 .287 .394 .523 .297 39.0 3.7 4.0
1997 BAL 35 42 176 158 29 48 11 0 8 83 14 47 1 3 0 25 6 0 .304 .358 .525 .311 10.2 -3.6 0.7
1998 BAL 36 131 508 452 81 148 29 1 28 263 44 108 5 7 0 89 7 6 .327 .388 .582 .334 43.3 -3.6 3.9
1999 SLN 37 58 223 191 27 49 9 2 5 77 30 49 1 1 0 30 5 4 .257 .359 .403 .270 6.9 -2.9 0.4
2000 SLN 38 92 293 254 38 77 14 0 6 109 36 60 1 2 0 40 1 1 .303 .389 .429 .271 8.1 1.6 0.9
2001 SFN 39 74 171 156 17 32 7 3 4 57 13 38 1 1 0 22 1 1 .205 .269 .365 .234 -3.4 -0.0 -0.3
Career162661475321938143023926282256774013983350393434966.269.359.482.293383.3-1.339.1

Advanced

'opp' stats - quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
YEAR Team Lg G PA TAv oppAVG oppOBP oppSLG oppTAv BABIP BPF BRAA repLVL POS_ADJ FRAA BRR BVORP BWARP VORP WARP
1980 EUG A- 33 87 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .326 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1981 EUG A- 62 274 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .397 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1982 CDR A 111 492 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .329 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1983 WBY AA 89 366 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .345 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1983 IND AAA 19 88 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .327 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1984 CIN MLB 57 200 .298 .256 .315 .369 .000 .248 98 7.6 5.4 0.3 1.2 2.3 16.3 1.9 16.3 1.9
1984 WIC AAA 52 223 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .373 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1985 CIN MLB 56 131 .282 .252 .309 .379 .000 .293 94 2.8 3.5 0 1.4 2.2 7.4 0.9 7.4 0.9
1985 DEN AAA 64 239 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .339 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1986 CIN MLB 132 487 .319 .251 .315 .378 .000 .302 104 29.1 13.5 -0.9 0.4 10.4 48.7 5.1 48.7 5.1
1987 CIN MLB 129 562 .331 .260 .323 .400 .000 .333 101 42.8 16.6 1.3 14.4 10.5 70.2 8.4 70.2 8.4
1988 CIN MLB 135 543 .295 .245 .299 .357 .000 .317 102 17.9 14.2 1.1 1.7 3.9 35.2 4.0 35.2 4.0
1989 CIN MLB 131 542 .318 .244 .304 .359 .000 .297 104 30.1 14.1 1 -4.9 0.9 43.0 4.2 43.0 4.2
1990 CIN MLB 127 518 .292 .256 .314 .382 .000 .283 106 16.3 13.9 -0.8 -5.8 3.9 35.8 3.2 35.8 3.2
1991 CIN MLB 89 340 .262 .246 .303 .365 .000 .304 107 0.7 9.2 0.7 -2.9 1.2 11.2 0.9 11.2 0.9
1992 LAN MLB 76 308 .245 .250 .302 .363 .000 .290 97 -4.5 8.0 -1.9 -7.7 -1.0 1.4 -0.7 1.4 -0.7
1993 DET MLB 23 89 .303 .254 .321 .384 .000 .255 103 4.1 2.6 -0.1 1.4 -0.8 5.1 0.7 5.1 0.7
1993 LAN MLB 108 422 .253 .263 .317 .399 .000 .266 96 -3 12.1 -2.8 4.6 3.0 9.3 1.4 9.3 1.4
1994 DET MLB 37 138 .203 .263 .335 .418 .000 .264 104 -8.9 4.2 0.4 -0.3 0.8 -4.4 -0.5 -4.4 -0.5
1996 CIN MLB 129 496 .297 .262 .322 .406 .000 .342 102 21 15.3 0.8 3.7 3.2 39.0 4.0 39.0 4.0
1997 BAL MLB 42 176 .311 .275 .338 .434 .000 .377 94 9.9 4.9 -2.3 -3.6 0.6 10.2 0.7 10.2 0.7
1998 BAL MLB 131 508 .334 .266 .331 .423 .000 .372 96 41.2 13.9 -6.6 -3.6 -2.7 43.3 3.9 43.3 3.9
1999 SLN MLB 58 223 .270 .270 .333 .432 .000 .319 99 2.7 6.1 -2.5 -2.9 1.9 6.9 0.4 6.9 0.4
2000 SLN MLB 92 293 .271 .270 .337 .432 .000 .374 105 3.8 8.1 -3.3 1.6 -0.7 8.1 0.9 8.1 0.9
2001 SFN MLB 74 171 .234 .274 .334 .443 .000 .243 97 -4.8 4.6 -1.6 -0.0 -0.1 -3.4 -0.3 -3.4 -0.3
CareerMLB6147.293.257.317.392.254.311101208.8170.2-17.2-1.339.4383.339.1383.339.1

Statistics For All Levels

Year Team Lg PA R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG ISO TAv VORP FRAA WARP
1980 EUG A- 87 12 16 1 0 1 11 14 26 10 1 .219 .345 .274 .055 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1981 EUG A- 274 67 69 10 4 11 39 57 59 40 7 .322 .464 .561 .238 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1982 CDR A 492 80 120 20 5 15 56 51 103 53 12 .276 .353 .449 .173 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1983 WBY AA 366 56 85 13 1 15 43 65 75 39 12 .290 .427 .495 .205 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1983 IND AAA 88 18 23 4 0 7 19 8 22 9 2 .299 .375 .623 .325 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1984 CIN MLB 200 33 39 10 1 10 30 24 48 10 2 .224 .320 .466 .241 .298 16.3 1.2 1.9
1984 WIC AAA 223 42 61 9 5 14 34 25 55 27 10 .314 .396 .629 .314 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1985 CIN MLB 131 26 30 3 3 8 18 7 39 16 3 .246 .287 .516 .270 .282 7.4 1.4 0.9
1985 DEN AAA 239 48 57 10 2 15 38 29 67 35 5 .277 .369 .563 .286 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0
1986 CIN MLB 487 97 115 15 3 27 71 68 100 80 11 .277 .378 .523 .246 .319 48.7 0.4 5.1
1987 CIN MLB 562 120 139 23 4 37 100 84 134 50 6 .293 .399 .593 .300 .331 70.2 14.4 8.4
1988 CIN MLB 543 81 129 18 3 26 93 65 124 35 3 .273 .363 .489 .216 .295 35.2 1.7 4.0
1989 CIN MLB 542 74 130 14 2 34 101 68 116 21 7 .281 .367 .541 .260 .318 43.0 -4.9 4.2
1990 CIN MLB 518 84 118 26 2 24 86 60 100 21 3 .260 .347 .486 .225 .292 35.8 -5.8 3.2
1991 CIN MLB 340 39 67 10 0 11 33 48 92 14 2 .235 .353 .386 .151 .262 11.2 -2.9 0.9
1992 LAN MLB 308 21 61 8 1 5 32 36 71 19 1 .228 .325 .322 .094 .245 1.4 -7.7 -0.7
1993 DET MLB 89 14 19 1 1 6 15 14 18 2 2 .253 .371 .533 .280 .303 5.1 1.4 0.7
1993 LAN MLB 422 57 88 17 0 14 53 41 88 33 5 .234 .308 .391 .157 .253 9.3 4.6 1.4
1994 DET MLB 138 19 22 4 0 3 13 18 45 5 0 .183 .290 .292 .108 .203 -4.4 -0.3 -0.5
1996 CIN MLB 496 81 119 20 0 26 83 70 121 23 9 .287 .394 .523 .236 .297 39.0 3.7 4.0
1997 BAL MLB 176 29 48 11 0 8 25 14 47 6 0 .304 .358 .525 .222 .311 10.2 -3.6 0.7
1998 BAL MLB 508 81 148 29 1 28 89 44 108 7 6 .327 .388 .582 .254 .334 43.3 -3.6 3.9
1999 SLN MLB 223 27 49 9 2 5 30 30 49 5 4 .257 .359 .403 .147 .270 6.9 -2.9 0.4
2000 SLN MLB 293 38 77 14 0 6 40 36 60 1 1 .303 .389 .429 .126 .271 8.1 1.6 0.9
2001 SFN MLB 171 17 32 7 3 4 22 13 38 1 1 .205 .269 .365 .160 .234 -3.4 -0.0 -0.3

Injury History beta

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2001-05-27 2001-06-15 15-DL 19 17 Left Shoulder Strain - -
1999-06-26 1999-10-03 60-DL 99 87 Left Shoulder Surgery Rotator Cuff 1999-08-15 -
1997-05-26 1997-09-15 60-DL 112 100 - Abdomen Surgery Colon Cancer 1997-06-19 -
1996-05-26 1996-06-10 15-DL 15 11 - Trunk Contusion Ribcage - -
1994-05-19 1994-07-26 15-DL 68 61 - Low Back Neurological Injury Pinched Nerve - -
1992-08-02 1992-08-25 15-DL 23 21 Left Wrist Soreness - -
1992-05-23 1992-06-19 15-DL 27 24 - Shoulder Separation - -
1991-07-29 1991-08-27 15-DL 29 28 - General Medical Illness Fatigue - -
1991-06-12 1991-06-27 15-DL 15 14 Right Thigh Strain Quad - -
1990-10-20 1990-10-20 DTD 0 0 - Abdomen Laceration Kidney Diving for Ball - -
1990-04-25 1990-05-21 15-DL 26 23 Right Knee Sprain MCL - -
1989-09-03 1989-09-07 DTD 4 4 - Wrist Sprain - -
1989-05-03 1989-05-19 15-DL 16 14 - Thigh Strain Hamstring - -
1984-08-15 1984-09-01 15-DL 17 15 - - - -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2001 SFN $1,500,000
2000 SLN $4,500,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
2 yrPrevious$6,000,000
2 yrTotal$6,000,000

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status

BP Annual Player Comments

No BP Book Comments have been found for this player.

BP Articles

Eric Davis is referenced in the following articles.

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  Title Author Date
The Lineup Card: 10 Players We Wish Had Stayed HealthyBaseball Prospectus2013-05-01
This article requires BP Premium accessSkewed Left: Explaining Chase Utley's Stolen Base SuccessZachary Levine2013-04-30
Baseball ProGUESTus: When Good Things Come in Three YearsChad Finn2013-04-17
This article requires BP Premium accessWestern Front: Lines in a Larger SongGeoff Young2013-04-02
This article requires BP Premium accessWestern Front: They Took Their TurnGeoff Young2013-02-04
This article requires BP Premium accessPebble Hunting: The Year in HustleSam Miller2012-11-28
This article requires BP Premium accessIn A Pickle: The Raul Ibanez SpecialJason Wojciechowski2012-10-11
This article requires BP Premium accessMonday Morning Ten Pack: October 8BP Prospect Staff2012-10-08
The Lineup Card: 7 Memorable Suspensions, Bans, and Blackball CasesBaseball Prospectus2012-08-29
The BP Wayback Machine: Taking a Step Back, Part OneKevin Goldstein2012-06-01
Inside The Park Blog: Big 3s: The Complete ListBradford Doolittle2012-05-24
This article requires BP Fantasy or Premium accessFantasy Beat: Can Dee Gordon Steal 80 Bases?Jason Collette2012-04-13
This article requires BP Premium accessWestern Front: It Only Seems Like the SuburbsGeoff Young2012-04-10
This article requires BP Premium accessPainting the Black: Building Benches FasterR.J. Anderson2012-03-28
This article requires BP Premium accessDivide and Conquer, NL West: Everybody Got ProblemsGeoff Young2011-05-10
This article requires BP Premium accessOn the Beat: Reds Plot a RepeatJohn Perrotto2011-03-14
This article requires BP Premium accessThe BP Broadside: The Most Disappointing Prospects of All Time, Part 3Steven Goldman2011-03-04
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Hit and Run: Don't Call it the Veterans' CommitteeJay Jaffe2010-07-28
One-Hoppers: Ken Griffey Jr. Bows OutJay Jaffe2010-06-02
You Can Blog It Up: Dead Player of the Day and Other Notes #8Steven Goldman2010-04-07
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Hit and Run: Return of the RickeysJay Jaffe2009-07-28
Prospectus Q&A: John SmoltzDavid Laurila2009-06-25
This article requires BP Premium accessYou Could Look It Up: Inglorious BastardsSteven Goldman2009-06-19
This article requires BP Premium accessFuture Shock: Marlins Top 11 ProspectsKevin Goldstein2008-11-20
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Preview: Saturday's Games to WatchCaleb Peiffer2008-08-02
This article requires BP Premium accessDoctoring The Numbers: The Brewers and GiantsRany Jazayerli2008-03-12
This article requires BP Fantasy or Premium accessTeam Health Reports: St. Louis CardinalsWill Carroll2008-03-04
You Could Look It Up: Fun with ComparablesSteven Goldman2008-02-25
This article requires BP Premium accessSchrodinger's Bat: For the Sake of CompletenessDan Fox2008-01-17
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Q&A: Greg RhodesDavid Laurila2008-01-07
Prospectus Q&A: Rick Walls and Chris EckesDavid Laurila2008-01-06
This article requires BP Premium accessYou Could Look It Up: Sweepers, Part 3Steven Goldman2007-11-12
This article requires BP Premium accessFuture Shock: Detroit Tigers Top Ten ProspectsKevin Goldstein2007-01-19
This article requires BP Premium accessThe Class of 2007: The Hitters, Part TwoJay Jaffe2007-01-08
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Today: My Hall of Fame BallotJoe Sheehan2007-01-05
This article requires BP Premium accessFuture Shock: Position Breakdown: Corner OutfieldersKevin Goldstein2006-08-03
Future Shock: Taking a Step Back, Part OneKevin Goldstein2006-03-14
This article requires BP Premium accessFuture Shock: State of the Systems: NL CentralKevin Goldstein2006-03-08
You Could Look It Up: When You Wish Upton a StarSteven Goldman2006-03-01
This article requires BP Premium accessYou Could Look It Up: Position ChangesSteven Goldman2006-02-24
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Today: Firing BulletsJoe Sheehan2006-01-27
This article requires BP Premium accessTransaction Analysis: November 18-22Christina Kahrl2005-11-23
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Today: Down to TwoJoe Sheehan2004-10-22
One Man is an Island: Barry Bonds and His TeammatesJay Jaffe2004-10-04
The Class of 2004: Analyzing the HittersJay Jaffe2004-01-06
Aim For The Head: Pete Rose and the Hall of FameKeith Woolner2003-08-13
This article requires BP Premium accessAim For The Head: SupercyclesKeith Woolner2003-08-04
This article requires BP Premium accessProspectus Today: Fumbling in the DarkoJoe Sheehan2003-06-27
This article requires BP Premium accessUnder The Knife: DepthWill Carroll2003-05-23
This article requires BP Premium accessTeam Health Reports: Team Health Report: Cincinnati RedsWill Carroll2003-02-03


BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2010-07-09 13:00:00Combined career all-star appearances for Brandon Wood, Andy Marte, and Cameron Maybin, 0.5, Over or Under?
(Karen from NY)		Now there's a depressing thought. I never thought Brandon Wood's approach would translate to the majors--I've been harping on this for five years or so, seriously--but I also didn't think he'd tank *this* hard. Cameron Maybin's ceiling seems to have quickly fallen from "Eric Davis, maybe?" to "Mike Cameron, maybe?" to "Let's just keep our current outfield out there for now". Such an odd situation. (Marc Normandin)
2010-04-01 13:00:00OK ... so *IS* Jayson Heyward the next Dave Winfield, OR Eric Davis?
(dianagramr from NYC)		I lean Winfield. Is there ANY player in baseball who is going to have a 30 HR/50 SB season any time soon? (Steven Goldman)
2010-04-01 13:00:00BJ Upton seems to be the better comp with Eric Davis, right down to the build.
(RMR from Chicago)		He seems like the most likely guy to do it, but after the last couple of seasons I'm just not sure what to expect from him. A 30-50 season seems a long way off when you've hit 20 HRs in your last two seasons. (Steven Goldman)
2010-02-05 13:00:00Is this the year for Cameron Maybin's breakout?
(Scott from NJ)		I say he turns it on by June, but what's his ceiling these days? Are we still looking at Eric Davis, or is he Mike Cameron? (Marc Normandin)
2009-10-09 13:30:00Fun subjective question: Based on what you've seen and older scouts you know, who are the five most physically talented prospects of the past 25-30 years? Griffey, A-Rod, Bo Jackson, Eric Davis, Strawberry?
(Jonathan from New York)		I love this question, but the discussion would take . . . years. Justin Upton comes to mind for recent guys, Dave Winfield if we can go back a few more years. (Kevin Goldstein)
2009-07-24 16:30:00Is there still hope for Cameron Maybin? While he was initially projected as an Eric Davis type, his power seems to have disappeared. Can he become anything more than a CF with a little speed and pop? Thanks.
(Fish Fan from FLA)		There is PLENTY of hope, but the Marlins need to get off their butts and bring him up. I don't know what more he has to prove in the minors. (Eric Seidman)
2009-08-05 13:00:00taking a clue from your previous response and limiting my question to one name- Josh Hamilton. What's with him? How can one guy injure himself so often? What happened to Roy Hobbs?
(john from ct)		The injury thing happens to a lot of players, which is sad. Eric Davis is the worst one that comes to mind for me, given his talent level.

I'm sure Hamilton can bounce back, but those struggles during his rehab stints are pretty ugly. Give him some time to recover fully. (Marc Normandin)
2008-11-14 13:00:00How great would Eric Davis truly have been if not for the injuries?
(Brandon from Charleston)		Well, he was pretty great as it was. He probably wouldn't have been too different, with perhaps a couple more years around the level of that 1986-1989 peak. I don't know if it would have been enough to get him into the Hall of Fame, given that his first manager was Pete Rose, who was more focused on getting himself, Tony Perez, and other 40-something pals into the lineup than he was breaking in this kid with the great speed. Davis lost some playing time that way in what would have been the healthy, or healthier, part of his career. As it was, he was one of the most exciting players I ever saw, and my personal inspiration for one of our forthcoming projects. (Steven Goldman)
2008-11-14 13:00:00Take Brandon's question and substitute Bo Jackson for Eric Davis.
(Mike K from Athens, GA)		It's a somewhat harder question because Bo knew a lot of things, but he didn't know the strike zone--though he was clearly getting to know it better at the point that it all fell apart. With a normal career arc, I suspect that he would have suffered a decline in bat speed somewhere that would have really curtailed his KILL THE BALL approach and left him without much to fall back on, but that's just speculation. What I'm trying to say is I don't think it would have been a long career either way, but obviously there would have been around three more years in the 1989-1990 zone. Would have been fun. He was always entertaining, even when striking out. (Steven Goldman)
2008-09-10 13:00:00I don't recall exactly when Eric Davis retired, and I have to acknowledge that his career numbers don't come close to HOF material. However, he stands out to this Reds fan as one of the most exciting players of his era, and I'll forever wonder what might have been had he stayed healthy. What's your top-5 list of "coulda shoulda" players?
(BelongstotheReds from Seattle)		No joke, I got all verklempt when I wrote up Davis' blurb for a JAWS piece a couple years back. The man possessed the most electrifying speed/power combo to hit the majors between Willie Mays and Barry Bonds, period. What I wouldn't give to see him play at his peak again...

Davis and his childhood pal Darryl Strawberry make a good strat to a top five for the Hall of Should aWouldaCoulda, and you can't mention the straw without calling upon Dwight Gooden too. Add David Cone and Fernando Valenzuela and you've got an easy five from me, though I'm certain there are others I could include particularly from other eras. (Jay Jaffe)
2008-07-29 16:00:0080s analogy of the day: Adam Dunn: Austin Kearns = Eric Davis: Kal Daniels
(DrManhattan from NY, NY)		You looked good in the Watchmen trailer, Doc. (Will Carroll)
2008-06-20 13:30:00Do you think Chris B Young will eventually hit for a respectable average (.270)? He seems to have major contact issues right now, but on a positive note, his walk rate has increased.
(Tim from Glendale)		Lots of Chris Young questions. This is why the Mike Cameron comps were so prevalent. Some guys can strike out this much and be Eric Davis, but more just can't get the BA up high enough to be that valuable. His strikeout rate will improve, and he will hit for a higher average; it just may be that he never bats .300, so he won't be a superstar. (Joe Sheehan)
2008-05-28 13:00:00I love false nostalgia for a fake time in baseball...everything about Baseball in the 80's was an attempt to make it like other sports...multi-purpose stadiums all around, awful "modern" jerseys (Astros, White Sox, etc.) Emphasis on the speed game to make it "faster" . . . bad times. Baseball was trying to be something it wasn't. Look at the attendance...Baseball in the 80's stunk.
(George W. from Alexandria, VA)		You mean after the owners got together and decided to collude on salaries, they also colluded on offensive styles as well? You've completely misread history. Few teams emphasized speed to the exclusion of all else, principally the Cardinals, and that was only because that's how Whitey Herzog figured he could make his park work for him. Others had select players who could run and run really well, like Rickey Henderson or Eric Davis, but could also get on base and hit the ball out of the park. In many ways it was a more dynamic game, with all of those styles coming together to make a really varied offense. I would argue it was the apotheosis of all the eras that came before it, the truce between the lively ball and previous era of "inside baseball" and thus the epitome of baseball, a sampling of everything that made the game great... No defending the cookie cutter parks, but those were mostly the offspring of the 1970s and proved to be really transient. (Steven Goldman)


BP Roundtables

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