In a message of  to James Dunlop (), you wrote:
 JD> First off, let me agree that Palmeiro's defense is better than 
 JD> the others, but so what?  A first baseman's defense doesn't make 
 JD> much of a difference overall.  You'd be hard pressed to show a 
 JD> significant advantage.
 AH> 134 rbi isn't an advantage?  Only Vaughn is close among first basemen.
Not specifically.  RBIs are greatly influenced by other factors, specifically 
batters hitting ahead of you.  I think Anderson's 100 RBIs (as of last Wed.) 
is more impressive than Palmeiro's 128, given that Palmeiro has had many more 
at bats with runners on (don't have the figures, but Anderson leading off 
will have the eighth and ninth holes in front of him, while Palmeiro's had 
Anderson and Alomar most of the year.)  RBIs is the ONLY advantage, and as 
I've argued many times before, I don't look at RBI totals much when comparing 
individual hitters.
 AH> Dependability also helps a team.
So does 50 home runs.
 AH> Brady's hit the long ball, but has been awful with runners in scoring
 AH> position.  Alomar has slumped over the last month.  Palmeiro's been
 AH> consistent.
I'd like to see the figures on the clutch hitting.  I don't buy the argument. 
 Anderson can't be that bad with runners on, or else he couldn't have wound 
up with 100 RBIs already.  Consistancy is nice, but being a better player is 
even better, which is what these guys are compared to the (very talented) 
Palmeiro.
 JD> about Palmeiro a bit too much as a home town fan.  But I doubt 
 JD> there are too many people anywhere who would trade Palmeiro for 
 JD> Will Clark (Texas's mistake, and Baltimore's good fortune.)
 AH> Then there are lots of dumb fans out there.
You mean, like the Rangers' GM? 
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