Without question, when his career is over, he'll probably be considered the best all-around shortstop ever to play the game. But...he's had a great supporting cast his entire career.
Well, that's what I've come to expect from Cardinals fans. If that was not your intent, sorry.Just forget I said it. Honestly it wasn't meant to be a chest-thumping thing... sorry
Last edited by couch_manager; 08-13-2010 at 12:27 AM.
For defense Davy, hands down, by a mile, if the man could back flip he'd be in the HOF
1. The Big Red Machine is considered by many, not just Reds fans as the greatest team ever.
2. Ozzie Might have been the Wizard, but Barry Larkin is GOD!
"Ahh, Jesus, I like him very much, but He no help with curveball." - Serrano. "Are you trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?" - Harris in Major League (1989)
Hard to compare offensive worth vs defensive worth, even with today's sabremetrics. That being said Concepcion was certainly no slouch defensively, he was a 5 time GG'er. Overall though Ozzie was better, but the difference was not a large as some here would lead you to believe, Ozzie had some extremely bad offensive years early in his career. It was only until he turned 30 that he somehow began to hit the ball with any kind of consistency. Ozzie's BA was somewhere in the .230's before he hit 30.
Seriously, the more I read the more I wonder where you are coming from. What was different in the 80's vs. the 70's? Nintendo?
The Big Red Machine of the 70's had as much if not more exposure nationally than the Cardinals in the 80's.
If you want to make any kind of comparison you could say the Cardinals did not have the star power of a Bench, Rose, or Morgan and therefore did not overshadow Ozzie like the stars of the Reds overshadowed Concepcion.
Seriously, how can you compare exposure of the Reds of the 70's vs. the Cardinals of the 80's? The Reds of the 70's are compared to the greatest teams of all time. The Cardinals of the 80's? Also rans.
Sorry, but Ozzie had the better glove for a longer time than Davey did. Not saying that Davey didn't have some seasons where he would have rivaled Ozzie defensively, just Ozzie had more seasons of better defense.
Also, Larkin was better than both. The whole package defense and offense. He was the one who changed what SS were supposed to be on a team.
"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." Stephen Hawking
I'm too young to offer an type of real analysis. Ozzie Smith's rookie card is worth more, tho.
The Wizard.....
However, I would say Larkin was a lot more valuable player.
Both have comparable offensive numbers.
It's bottom of the 9th. 2 outs, runner on third. A sharp ground ball hit deep in the hole between SS and 3rd. Who do you want fielding it?
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