Whilst masticating on , Niki Sanders (1:344/17)
wrote to Alan Hess:
NS> Who do you think would be ahead of Ripkin?  I mean there's a few 
NS> that I think are really good, but I don't know...   And how can 
Alex Rodriguez, Garciaparra (this season - we'll see how he does next 
season), Jeter possibly - they'd be better overall shortstops than Ripken 
(overall = offense + defense.)  Cal would still be one of the top defensive 
shortstops, but his offense wouldn't be as good as some of the younger guys.  
Of course, compared to the stiff Pat Gillick stuck us with (Mike "What's This 
Stick In My Hands For" Bordick), Cal is so superior overall that he's in 
another galaxy.
NS> you figure that out acurately?  I mean you could compare previous 
NS> seasons, but I still think that there's always a little 
NS> improvement.  I know Rodriguez #'s dropped this year, but after 
NS> the year he had last year, there was only one way to go.  Down.  
NS> Not that I think he's slipping.  He is only 22.
His fielding has been lousy - too many routine plays botched.  Offensively, 
he's still a terror.
NS> As for Cal BELONGING at short.  I think that trying something 
NS> new is a good thing for everyone.
When it's necessary, perhaps.  Ripken at third was definitely NOT necessary, 
as Cal was still a top-flight defensive shortstop last season, especially 
when the guy who was signed to replace him has no business being anything but 
a late-inning defensive replacement on a team with a bad shortstop.  The 
Orioles keep winning in spite of the black hole in the nine spot of the 
batting order.  *adh*
--- Msged/2 4.10
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