Post by jamesa46 on Jul 1, 2007 23:10:08 GMT -5
I have been trying to figure out who Hunter Pence could be compared to from the great hitters of the past.
Of course, it's not even the All-Star break yet so it could be a little early to start putting "star-status" on Pence but so far, the guy has shown that he can knock the cover off the ball. Pence is currently hitting .340 plus and he hits with tremendous power. Had he been given the opportunity to start from opening day, he would have even more impressive numbers.
Pence has tore up the league at every level he's played and he's continuing to do the same in the big leagues.
So...I've been trying to figure out what ballplayer from the past to compare Pence to.
If Pence were playing for the Yankees would they be calling him the next Joe DiMaggio? DiMaggio didn't run the bases like Pence can. Mantle? Mickey was a switch-hitter but he was fast and could really run the bases before he tore up his knee playing against the Washington, Senators.
But, Pence is a righty and he simply does not compare to Mantle - especially with those spindly lower legs.
How about Roberto Clemente? If Pence continues hitting has he has been, he would certainly compare favorably to Clemente at the plate and Clemente could run the bases well too but Pence isn't even in the same league as Clemente defensively in the outfield so that comparison won't hold water. Neither does Yastzremski or Musial. Both were lefties.
Ted Williams? Ted was certainly spindly like Pence when he was young thus the reason for the "Splendid Splinter" nickname for Williams but again, Ted was a left-handed hitter and he didnot excel in running the bases at all.
What about Al Kaline? Kaline came up to the big leagues quickly. Actually, I don't believe Kaline played a day in the minors. It took him 3 or 4 years in the big leagues before he started putting up good numbers but "Mr. Tiger" was not an outfielder. But, if we just compare the both of them offensively, Pence could be compared more closely to Al Kaline than the aforementioned ballplayers.
Again, with Pence's ability to run very fast thus being able to run the bases well with those long toothpick looking lower legs even comparing him to Kaline is a reach.
Ok..How about Joe "Ducky" Medwick? Medwick didn't steal a lot of bases but the guy had a barrell full of extra base hits. He had double figures in triples several times so he definitely could get around the bases.
Assuming that Pence continues to do what's he's done at every level he's played, could he be another Joe Medwick?
Anybody else got any ideas?
Of course, it's not even the All-Star break yet so it could be a little early to start putting "star-status" on Pence but so far, the guy has shown that he can knock the cover off the ball. Pence is currently hitting .340 plus and he hits with tremendous power. Had he been given the opportunity to start from opening day, he would have even more impressive numbers.
Pence has tore up the league at every level he's played and he's continuing to do the same in the big leagues.
So...I've been trying to figure out what ballplayer from the past to compare Pence to.
If Pence were playing for the Yankees would they be calling him the next Joe DiMaggio? DiMaggio didn't run the bases like Pence can. Mantle? Mickey was a switch-hitter but he was fast and could really run the bases before he tore up his knee playing against the Washington, Senators.
But, Pence is a righty and he simply does not compare to Mantle - especially with those spindly lower legs.
How about Roberto Clemente? If Pence continues hitting has he has been, he would certainly compare favorably to Clemente at the plate and Clemente could run the bases well too but Pence isn't even in the same league as Clemente defensively in the outfield so that comparison won't hold water. Neither does Yastzremski or Musial. Both were lefties.
Ted Williams? Ted was certainly spindly like Pence when he was young thus the reason for the "Splendid Splinter" nickname for Williams but again, Ted was a left-handed hitter and he didnot excel in running the bases at all.
What about Al Kaline? Kaline came up to the big leagues quickly. Actually, I don't believe Kaline played a day in the minors. It took him 3 or 4 years in the big leagues before he started putting up good numbers but "Mr. Tiger" was not an outfielder. But, if we just compare the both of them offensively, Pence could be compared more closely to Al Kaline than the aforementioned ballplayers.
Again, with Pence's ability to run very fast thus being able to run the bases well with those long toothpick looking lower legs even comparing him to Kaline is a reach.
Ok..How about Joe "Ducky" Medwick? Medwick didn't steal a lot of bases but the guy had a barrell full of extra base hits. He had double figures in triples several times so he definitely could get around the bases.
Assuming that Pence continues to do what's he's done at every level he's played, could he be another Joe Medwick?
Anybody else got any ideas?
