Rube Foster

Andrew "Rube" Foster overcame childhood illness to become an outstanding pitcher, a shrewd manager, and the dominant executive in black baseball. As a 6'4" 200-lb teenager, he joined the Yellow Jackets, a traveling black team in Texas. John McGraw saw Foster during spring training of 1901 (or thereabouts) and wanted him and other blacks for his New York Giants. But, unable to use them, he instead asked Foster to tutor the Giants' pitchers. Christy Mathewson reportedly learned his "fadeaway" pitch (a screwball) from Foster.

Foster then joined the Chicago Union Giants, pitched a shutout in his first start, but soon lost his effectiveness. He regained his form while with a white semi-pro club in the Michigan State League, and defeated every team in the circuit. Because of his difficulties, he had become a keen student of the game, and a wily pitcher. By 1902 he was with the black Cuban Giants.

In 1903 Foster was the top black pitcher in the country. He pitched the Cuban X-Giants to the black championship, and was the winner in four of their five victories over the Philadelphia Giants in the Black World Series. The following year, he pitched the Philadelphia Giants to the title, and recorded both victories in a best-of-three series against the Cuban X-Giants.

It is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in Foster's pitching career; he is credited with a 51-4 season early on. Documentation does exist for a 1904 no-hitter he tossed against the Camden, NJ team. He reportedly gained his nickname by defeating the Athletics' Rube Waddell in 1902, and is reputed to have fared well in duels with major league pitchers Chief Bender, Mordecai Brown, and Cy Young. Frank Chance called him "the most finished product I've ever seen in the pitcher's box," and Honus Wagner said he was "one of the greatest pitchers of all time...smartest pitcher I've ever seen..."

Foster began managing in 1907, when he guided the Chicago Leland Giants to a 110-10 record. Their record was 64-21-1 in 1908. In 1909 Foster challenged the Chicago Cubs to a series, which the Cubs won in three close games. Foster pitched the second game and took a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning, but lost 6-5. Mordecai Brown won the first and third contests. There is no record of any major league club coming forth to answer Foster's challenge in 1910, when his team went 123-6.

In 1911 Foster left the Lelands to form a partnership with Chicago businessman John C. Schorling. From this union came one of black baseball's strongest teams, the Chicago American Giants. They dominated both the Chicago semi-pro scene (regularly winning the championship) and national black baseball, capturing Negro League titles in 1914 and 1917 and sharing the 1915 championship with the New York Lincoln Stars. Competing against white major leaguers following the 1915 season, they won the California Winter League crown.

In the winter of 1919 Foster organized the first viable black major league, the Negro National League, which operated in the Midwest and the South from 1920 through 1931. He served as president of the new league until 1926, and ruled it completely. An Eastern counterpart was organized in 1923 and Black World Series between the two leagues were held from 1924 through 1927.

Foster continued to manage through 1925, and won the Negro National League's first three pennants (1920-22). He made use of psychology and speed, invented the bunt-and-run, and intimidated opponents. White major leaguers often attended his games to learn his tactics. Though he made few rules, he expected his players to follow them. He ran the games as he ran the NNL - in total control - and once hit a player across the head with his pipe for tripling after he was given the bunt sign.

Foster's last known public meeting was in 1926 with lifelong friends Ban Johnson and John McGraw, through whom it is believed he was trying to schedule white major league teams to play his American Giants. Shortly thereafter he began to lose his mind, and spent his last four years in the Kankakee, Illinois State Hospital.

Courtesy of Baseball Library.

Ray Chapman

Ray Chapman is the only modern major leaguer to have died as a direct result of being hit by a pitch. At the Polo Grounds on August 16, 1920, Chapman, crowding the plate as usual, was struck in the temple by a pitch from Yankee submariner Carl Mays that barely missed the strike zone. Chapman was taken to a hospital, never regained consciousness, and died twelve hours later. Rookie Joe Sewell replaced Chapman at short, beginning a Hall of Fame career. Cleveland players wore black arm bands, and manager Tris Speaker rallied his dejected men to win the first World Championship in club history.

The popular Chapman led the Indians in stolen bases four times, setting a team record with 52 in 1917 that stood until 1980. He led the AL in runs scored and walks in 1918. He was hitting .303 with 97 runs scored when he died. It is baseball analyst Bill James's opinion that Chapman was "probably destined for the Hall of Fame had he lived."

Courtesy Baseball Library.

Sand Hooters

From Bob Harris at This Modern World.

All over the world, wars and languages and cultures may divide us, but humanity still seems united by one powerful force: teenagers always seem to get a big kick out of sand hooters.

Below: The first picture is from Columbia and the second from Singapore.

Fred Merkle

On occasion, this blog will highlight a player from baseball history. Courtesy of Baseball Library.com.

Fred Merkle is forever famous for his bonehead play on September 23, 1908, which cost the Giants a critical victory and made possible the Cubs' pennant-clinching victory when the game was replayed at the end of the season. The play itself was clouded by contradictory affidavits by players, conflicting opinions by various baseball officials, and protests lodged by both teams over the umpires' handling of the incident.

The confusion started when Merkle, the runner on first, failed to touch second after an apparent game-winning base hit. Instead, he turned back toward the dugout, as was customary at the time, when he saw the run cross the plate. As the happy Polo Grounds crowd filed across the field towards the centerfield gate, second baseman Johnny Evers got the ball and stepped on second, claiming a forceout which negated the winning run. With the fans already crowding the field, the game could not be played to a decision, and had to be replayed.

When the season ended with the two teams tied, a group of Giants, led by Christy Mathewson, went to owner John T. Brush. They claimed they shouldn't have to play another game for something they had already won. The gravely ill Brush expressed disappointment at their attitude, and they played and lost. Whatever the merits of the case, it was one of baseball's most controversial plays and it haunted Merkle not just for the rest of his playing days, but all his life. He bitterly refused requests for interviews in later years because he didn't want to relive the incident.

Click here for the rest of the article.

Odds and Ends

As we go into the last Brass month, I find my Green Bay Yoopers in a tough race with New York. How appropriate is that? My hometown Packers host the NY Giants tomorrow on the "Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field. It is freezing around here. As much as I love baseball, I am into football as well, and coached it for 15 seasons. I even started and manage a Packer Fan message board and go to training camp practices in summer.

http://members6.boardhost.com/TALKinPACKERS/


Enough about football. I have been reading a lot about prospects lately. Who do you guys see as a better prospect, Buchholz or Chamberlain? Just curious.

The trade I made where I parted with Pena and netted Carmona was huge for me this past month in the pennant race. I went 11-3 on the road, 9-5 at home. But Punto gave me the ability to sit both Hall and Hunter ten games and still have a quality player there. And Otsuka has been huge in the pen for me, many quality innings in an area I was running short. And Cordero will close for me on the road this month. Jenks has eight innings left, so I will use him at home.

I like this blog site! I hope it will be used. Good luck to all in the pennant and wildcard chases.

And go Packers!

Bob-GB

Majority Think Duluth Will Win Title

By one vote, Duluth-Superior is the favorite to win the 2007-08 BRASS title. I'm sure Mike is ecstatic about his chances. But you know, defending champ Cream City is only 40+ games out ... the Pirates could rally yet.

Froemming Likes Him

Well, if former major league umpire, Bruce Froemming, likes him, I guess going with Mike Cameron in centerfield won't be all bad.

A Modest Proposal for BRASS

Why do we have divisions in BRASS?

"Every league has divisions, Mark. It's how it's done."

True. In America, that is.

Why not go to a single table in BRASS ala European soccer leagues? We already play a completely balanced schedule. To wit: everyone in the league plays their divisional opponents only 22 games total. That is a paltry amount to declare a "division champ" from.

Therefore, I think we should just meld the honest simplicity of our schedule with one table and seed the playoffs accordingly- across all of BRASS.

More on Mike Cameron

Aside from the fact that Cameron, even at the age of 35, will be an upgrade defensively in centerfield, here are some other numbers that I find a little frightening (having a day or two to think about it).

Cameron's lefty vs. righty splits: He hit .222 vs righties, managed a sub-.300 on base average, with a Matilda-like slugging percentage of .402 -- OPS of .700. Yikes. Considering 72% of his plate appearances occurred against righties, the potential for a dreary season is good.

Cameron did play in a very pitcher-friendly park (Petco) and his numbers are correspondingly dismal and almost identical to his righty splits. The away numbers are a bit better: .254 BA, .341 OBA, .449 SLG and .790 OPS. Still not great, though.

These numbers should frighten anyone. They are his post all-star numbers. Anyone see a downward trend: .213 BA, .332 OBA, .410 SLG and .742 OPS.

Again, the only real positive is he's signed in reality for only one year, and fairly cheaply. Plus, the defense in centerfield will be improved. I suppose he could bat 7th ahead of Kendall, though those bottom three spots are going to hurt the overall attack.

You're as Young as You Feel

Hey, my mom sent it to me. She's 70+ and allowed to be a little raunchy.

George Carlin Classic

Brewers Sign Cameron

It's being reported that the Milwaukee Brewers have signed outfielder Mike Cameron to a one-year deal with an option for 2009.

I hope they're not paying him too much.

Cameron brings a few positives. He's a former Gold Glover in centerfield and will be a marked improvement over Bill Hall. And, he does have some pop and RBI ability. His arrival will move Ryan Braun to leftfield, where he will have less chance to flash the metal glove.

On the other hand, he will be missing the first 25 games of the year ... games that would be important in learning to play with his teammates. As they say, those games in April and May are just as important as later in the year.

Also, Cameron does strikeout a bit ... not something the Brewers need to add.

Hall has shown he can play 3B in the past, though he's is not quite the upgrade I'm sure the Brewers had in mind. Apparently talks for Hank Blalock and other 3B fell through, I'm betting because management thinks Capuano will show up in 2008.

Could be, could be.

I'm concerned, too, the Brewers have added another right-handed bat. A lefty would have been better, especially since Geoff Jenkins has moved onto other pastures.

UPDATE: Cameron gets a $1.25 million signing bonus and $5 million next season. Milwaukee has a $10 million option for 2009, with a $750,000 buyout.

In addition, Cameron can earn $750,000 annually in performance bonuses. He would get the full amount for 475 plate appearances next year and for 575 in 2009.

Cameron also receives a limited no-trade clause.

Well, I guess that's not too bad, though in BRASS money, Cameron would be a stud.

Is this an inside joke?

Ok, so the annual Hall of Fame voting just took place and, yet again, I am left in disbelief. Sure, we can talk about many players who have not yet made the Hall of Fame, but I'm here to speak of only one...Dale Murphy.

Already I've been met with a "how about Rob Deer" comment. But, seriously, does anyone even remember the 1980's and Dale Murphy?

The brief version of my disgust is this...how do you leave a player who won back to back NL MVP awards, hit 30 HR or more in 6 different seasons, hit 20HR or more in 12 straight seasons, won 5 straight Gold Gloves, went to 7 All-Star games, is a member of the 30-30 club, played in 162 games in 4 straight seasons, and played 18 seasons...posing the only offensive threat in the Braves lineup in virtually every one.

With this list of players registering even a single vote, Dale Murphy should be in the HoF ten times over:
Rod Beck
Travis Fryman
Robb Nen
Shawon Dunston
Chuck Finley
David Justice
Chuck Knoblauch
Todd Stottlemyre

Heck, some of those guys don't even know how to spell.

The Hall has to do a better job of reflecting the times. The game was different in the 80's...remember the 82 Cardinals? Dale Murphy excelled like few others and DEFINITELY deserves a place in the Hall of Fame.

BRASS Early Draft Preview

I won't put the players in a rankable order, per se. After all, I have to draft against you goombahs myself! But the draft does seem deep in non-AM talent. I'll leave the evaluation of the AM crop to another.

Top of the Heap

Chase Headley
Ian Kennedy
Yunel Escobar
Droobs Cabrera
Mark Reynolds

Two sure-fire starting 3b at the top, two fine middle infielders and a much discussed pitching prospect. Droobs profiles to be an eventual 1 with the glove. Does that put him at the top? Yunel has already shown that he candle the bat in the Bigs and play a commendable SS. Ian Kennedy should make a fine #3 starter for the Twins...Mark Reynolds might have the most power among draftable carded players. And Headley gets on base and is a switch hitter. Who goes first out of this bunch will probably come down to club preference.

The Next Bunch

Steven Pearce
Chin Lung Hu
Jason Maxwell

There are others amongst the groups below I'd put ahead of this bunch, but they all are intriguing options in their own right. Like Droobs, Hu can pick it. SOM gave him a 2 already at SS based on his limited 2007 work at the MLB-level. Pearce is short, but can hit. RH Brian Giles, anyone? Maybe. Justin Maxwell looks like a deer with those long legs of his. If he can become a proficient hitter, mainly get on base, he should have a decent career.

Need a Backstop?

JR Towles
Geovany Soto
Jesus Flores

As a Brewer fan I will refrain comment on Soto. I watched Towles play against the Crew late in the season and he didn't look out of place. Flores? All I know is what I've read. Could have a nice power bat/arm combo. I think the first two go in the first round, with Flores snared in the second.

Or How about a Pitcher?

Manny Parra
Garrett Olson
Jair Jurrjens
Andy Sonnastine
Kyle Kendrick
Bill Buckner

Buckner is the only one on this list who appears to have to sparkle in spring training for a roster spot on the Snakes, although Garrett Olson will probably be back in AAA even though as a proponent of the "Earl Weaver School of Pitcher Development" I think putting him in the pen would be a sound idea. But obviously, the O's ain't listening to me. The Brewers may, nigh should, look to have Parra fill the same role Carlos Villanueva did last season. The other three all should be in their respective team's rotations.

Just Made It!


Ross Detwiler

Hey, hey! On the virtue of one inning pitched Detwiler rockets to importance in the BRASS draft- especially now that only three AM slots will be available. Plus, rumor has it he's good. Hard throwing lefties with command don't exactly grow on trees.

We Throw Hard

Juan Gutierrez
Felipe Paulino
Andrew Brown

Power relievers are always a nice resource to tap and these three can bring it. Paulino may even start in the gutted Stros rotation.

The Alexi Casilla Divsion

Emilio Bonifacio
Eugenio Velez

Speed, triples, defense, I assume? Look for Challenger management to be awkwardly eyeing one of these two in the second round.

General Reliever Mish-mash

Joe Thatcher
Brian Wolfe
Jensen Lewis
Joe Smith
Matt Lindstrom
Chris Schroeder
and a cast of hundreds...

"Why buy in free agency what you can overdraft a year in advance," I say? But in all honesty, Lewis looks like a real keeper. He might be the only one here that sniffs the first round.

Misers slighted!!

Alright.. who posted the "Who will win Brass poll" and forgot to include the Misers?

Revisiting Dawson

Thanks to Paul Noonan at Electric Commentary who has directed me to another site with the odd name Fire Joe Morgan (just guessing there is some slight animosity ... hopefully not with Joe's playing career). A contributor who goes by the name of Ken Tremendous (a spectacular name, btw) disagrees with another over Andre Dawson's Hall of Fame credentials. As his disagreement therefore becomes a disagreement with my thoughts on Dawson's eligibility, I thought I would showcase some of his arguments and discuss.

Mr. Tremendous disagrees with the argument that Dawson should be in the HOF because his numbers are comparable to others who have been elected like Kirby Puckett, Tony Perez, Ryne Sandberg and Gary Carter.

I happen to agree that comparing numbers is not always an adequate measure of a player's performance, but they do provide starting points for consideration. Tremendous says this:

Tony Perez shouldn't be in the Hall. Gary Carter is arguable, but he's a catcher. Ryno...eh. Ozzie Smith is in for defense and one memorable home run in the postseason. So, yes, you are indeed comparing apples to oranges. The closest actual comparison is Puckett, but Puckett's injury was non-baseball-related, which makes it a special circumstance.

I agree Perez shouldn't be in the Hall, and I agree that special dispensation be given to Carter because he was a catcher... blah blah. But I have an issue with the special circumstances that hurried Puckett's induction (and don't go nuts on me ... I loved Kirby Puckett).

Anyway, forgive me if I don't cry a river. While it is true that injuries are a part of the game and have sidetracked any number of promising careers, Dawson continued to play at a high level on knees that would eventually need to be replaced. His career was not sidetracked, he played through the pain and continued to put up HOF qualifying numbers. In fact, his slugging percentage was higher than Puckett's.

From 1977 to 1992, Dawson's 162-game average was:

Despite playing on knees that would have felled a lesser man, Dawson continued to put together consistently good seasons for horrible clubs, including one season that saw him win the MVP though playing for a last place team. When was the last time that happened?

Additionally, he played half those 16 years on a rock-hard surface that accelerated the deterioration of his knees and STILL won eight Gold Gloves. Mr. Tremendous downplays the fielding awards, but Dawson's peers and sportswriters don't. They understand the importance of defense. Dawson stood above the rest during that 16-year stretch.

With respect to Mr. Tremendous' opinion, Dawson deserves enshrinement.

A Travesty

It is a travesty that Andre Dawson has not been elected to the Hall of Fame. The man had some monster seasons, a career that spanned 21 years and he won eight Gold Gloves. As a fantasy manager who always tries to build the best defensive team possible, this is most impressive. Here is a fine article by Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald regarding Dawson's candidacy.

Knee surgeries? ''Had 12,'' Andre Dawson says in that stoic way of his.

Does that count the number of times you needed the swollen knees drained?

A laugh.

''No,'' he says.

How many times did you have those knees drained?

"On average?''

Yes.

"At the end of every spring training. That was good for about three months. And after every surgery. About three times a year, maybe more.''

How many years?

Another laugh.

"Every year.''

Every year of your 21-year career?

"Pretty much.''

What does that feel like?

''The small needle or the big one?'' he says.

Never mind.

Dawson is a proud man of uncommon strength, but he finally had one of his knees replaced last year. It is the worst pain he has ever known, making him go through the three-week Percocet prescription in 10 awful days.

''I literally cried for three days,'' he says.

The other knee?

It will need to be replaced soon, too.

''A painful career,'' he says.

Would he do anything differently?

''No,'' he says. ``Not at all.''

He belongs in the Hall of Fame, but he is not yet in.

Voters want more.

''The managers and trainers and doctors and players know what I went through,'' he says. ``If they were voting, I'd get in fairly easily.''

Even in the inflated age of steroids, bloated with swollen numbers, Dawson's statistics flex and demand immortality. Thirty-fifth in homers. Thirty-second in RBI. Forty-fifth in hits. Ever. In our most historic game. And all the more impressive when you see the stained names of Sammy Sosa and Gary Sheffield and Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco ahead of him in home runs.

Dawson's 438 homers are more than Joe DiMaggio or Johnny Bench or Al Kaline or Duke Snider.

Dawson's 1,591 RBI are more than Rogers Hornsby or Harmon Killebrew or Tris Speaker or Willie McCovey.

Dawson's 2,774 hits are more than Lou Gehrig or Ted Williams or Joe Morgan.

What makes him proudest?

''My longevity,'' he says.

All-around player? He won eight Gold Gloves. He is one of six men with 300 homers and 300 stolen bases -- on a short list that includes golden names such as Willie Mays and Barry Bonds. He is an eight-time All-Star. There are eight or nine right fielders in the Hall of Fame who don't have his résumé.

Read the rest here.

Cream City Gearing Up for 2008 Season

Cream City and Montgomery County

Cream City trades Josh Willingham, Willy Taveras, John Patterson, Jorge De la Rosa, Kyle Davies and its 2009 1st to Montgomery County for A.J. Burnett, Francisco Cordero, Pat Burrell, and Cory Sullivan ... all current salaries for 2007 to be paid by former teams.

Cream City adds an ace caliber pitcher in A.J. Burnett, with injury issues and a relatively high salary (for a pitcher with injury issues) and a top closer in Cordero at a decent price to its 2008 bullpen. The Pirate pitching staff looks tough for next year (see next trade). Burrell and Sullivan cost the Pirates nothing and are one-year PA fillers only. Meanwhile, Montgomery County gains a full-time left fielder in Willingham, who also has shown good patience at the plate, a speedy centerfielder in Taveras who also provides excellent defensive range and arm, and some hopes ... hopes that Patterson will bounce back from surgery and that De la Rosa and Davies will figure out how to pitch. But they're cheap, so it's a good roll of the dice and they will provide IPs next year.

Cream City and Belfast

Cream City trades Jose Capellan, Neal Cotts and Cream City's 2009 2nd to Belfast for Billy Wagner.

Cream City adds a powerful left-handed component to its 2008 bullpen. Wagner fills out a strong bullpen that consists of Francisco Cordero, Jose Valverde, Jeremy Accardo, Justin Speier and Kyle Farnsworth. Belfast gains some young potential. Will Capellan ever stick around long enough to show what he has, will the transition of Cotts to starter work and will the 2nd round pick yield anything? Who knows, that's baseball. But, Wagner was going to be gone after next year and at least Belfast has something to hopefully bank on.

San Jose Again and Again

San Jose is at it again. Two more trades to report ... one in December and another more recent one in January.

San Jose and Southtown

San Jose trades Vernon Wells and $700,000 to Southtown for Brendan Harris, Kevin Correia and Southtown's 2009 2nd.

Southtown making a bid for the playoffs and beyond (?) with this acquisition of Vernon Wells. Wells' defense and power should help the Misers lineup. Brendan Harris is a decent pickup for 2008 shortstop, but his defense is not that strong, nor are there many TB chances on his card. There are worse choices though. San Jose probably figured it would have a tough time matching any bids for restricted free agent Wells, though his lackluster 2007 campaign should lower his price. Kevin Correia will provide some average relief and starter IPs. Nice swingman.

San Jose and Diamond

San Jose trades Kevin Slowey, Humberto Sanchez, San Jose's 2008 1st and Cream City's 2008 1st for Josh Hamilton and Diamonds 2008 2nd and 5th.

San Jose must have a lot of faith in Hamilton staying healthy and having a good year (and staying sober which we all hope happens). Plus, Cream City's #1 will be the number one or two pick in the draft and San Jose's will be top ten. That's a lot to give up. Sanchez was once considered as high as Zumaya ... he's an intriguing thought if he has recovered from elbow-ligament surgery.

I *Hart* Corey

By Mark Lentz (Twin City Challengers)

I’m a Brewer fan. A BIG Brewer fan. Much to my wife’s chagrin I watch most every game each year. Corey Hart’s range rating of a 3 in RF in the upcoming SOM set has stuck in my craw. Before I proceed, let me preface my remarks that this is not some anti-HAL, SOM rant. I know the range ratings can cause some overly serious griping. This is just me pleading my case for a guy I like a lot, ala my hopes for Bert “Be Home” Blyleven and the Hall.

Corey Hart received a 3 in right field. By comparison, Sports Illustrated pretty boy Jeff “Frenchy” Francouer received a 1 in right. I will grant that Frenchy */may/* be a better RF than Corey…but I will not grant */two/* ratings better.

Here are the stats I bring to the argument:

For the just completed season, Jeff Francouer played 1440 innings in right field for the Atlanta Braves. Corey Hart, on the other hand, split his 1096 defensive innings between right (864) and center (232) for my Brewers.

According to Win Shares statistics supplied on The Hardball Times website, Frenchy was credited with 5.5 win shares for his defensive play and Hart 3.9 shares for his performance. Broken down on a per nine inning basis you get the following:

Jeff Francouer *0.34* defensive win shares per 9 innings

Corey Hart *0.32* defensive win shares per 9 innings

I’m no math major, but the difference of two hundreths of a point has to be fairly inconsequential, no?

I feel these numbers are further strengthened by the fact that win shares do take in the fact that Corey played center field a little over 20% of the time. I don’t need to preach to this choir that center field is harder to play than right.

Still not convinced? Consider the following statistics:

John Dewan introduced the Plus/Minus fielding analysis system in his book /The Fielding Bible/. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it is quite possibly the most rigorous attempt at objective fielding analysis ever attempted. I will allow Mr. Dewan to sum up the Plus/Minus system:

A/ “player gets credit (a "plus" number) if he makes a play that at least one other player at his position missed during the season, and he loses credit (a "minus" number) if he misses a play that at least one player made. The size of the credit is directly related to how often players make the play. Each play is looked at individually, and a score is given for each play. Sum up all the plays for each player at his position and you get his total plus/minus for the season.”/

For 2007, Jeff Francouer was credited with making 10 more plays in right field that other right fielders would not have made. This is an impressive number. Frenchy is no slouch in right, to be sure. His plus/minus number ranks him seventh amongst all right fielders. Pretty good, but Corey Hart is just plain better, objectively speaking. In almost 600 less innings in right field Hart made *THREE* more plays! Compared to the Win Share difference displayed above, this is a notable difference.

Once again, on a per nine inning basis:

Jeff Francouer *0.063* plays made per 9 innings

Corey Hart *0.135 *plays made per 9 innings

That math *IS* significant. Corey’s rate is *DOUBLE* that of Frenchy’s!You want to argue that Frenchy has a cannon for an arm? I grant you that. But when it comes to running down batted balls in right field in Major League parks, the very definition of range, very few are better at it than Corey Hart.