Well, I can't really think of things I want to review today, and since today is my birthday, I have decided not to do a full post today. But never fear, I do have a few things on my mind, so I will use this space to rant about a few things and maybe do a small review at the end. So, let's start this, shall we?
- When I heard the news that the Royals signed outfielders Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera, I literally laughed out loud. I mean, I know that Royals GM Dayton Moore seems to favor ex-Braves because he used to work for the team and all, but this is ridiculous. Since Moore arrived in Kansas City, the Royals have acquired 27 players that had previously played with the Atlanta Braves. While ex-Braves Bruce Chen and Wilson Betemit had nice years last years, most of the ex-Braves signed by Moore include guys like Oscar Villareal, Horacio Ramirez, and other shining lights of mediocrity. With the acquistion of Francouer and Cabrera, the Royals could field an all ex-Braves outfield along with center fielder Gregor Blanco. That wouldn't be so bad if they could actually play. Francouer, once one of the game's best prospects, puts up horrible on base percentages and doesn't have enough power to fill a corner outfield position. Meanwhile, Cabrera's 2010 season would best be described as awful. He doesn't have enough range for center field and has the same offensive deficiencies as Francouer. I could forgive the Royals if they took a chance on one of the two outfielders, but their decision to sign both and pray they show something that either left a few years ago (Francouer) or was never there to begin with (Cabrera) is curious at best. I know the Royals have a top-notch farm system, but the Royals will never be a winner on a consistent basis if they keep relying on the retreads of another organization to push them over the top.
- So let me get this straight, the Nationals couldn't, or wouldn't, give Adam Dunn a fourth year on his contract, so they let him sign to the White Sox for four years and 56 million. The Nats then turn around and give Jayson Werth, a player a few months older than Dunn, a seven year deal worth 126 million dollars. Werth has been one of the best outfielders in the game the past three years, but he's only had three full seasons producing at that level. Meanwhile, Dunn may not be a good defender or strikes out too much or whatever, but he has at least 38 home runs in each of his last seven seasons, has seven 100 walk seasons to his career, and has a career OPS+ of 133 compared to Werth's 121. I get that Werth is a far better defender than Dunn, but to me it doesn't make sense to lock up a player like that for seven years, most of which will take place past his prime, when you can have a player of equal or greater caliber for four years and a lower annual salary to boot. Maybe I'm missing something here, but to me the Nats paid a lot of money to Werth when it would have made more sense to spend half of that money to keep Dunn around.
- Remember when the Red Sox brass called the Yankees the evil empire due to the Yankees spending the most money on players? Well, apparently we have a new evil empire shrouded in red, as the Red Sox went out and acquired the two best hitters available in 1B Adrian Gonzalez and OF Carl Crawford. Well, good for them, the Red Sox have the money and the prospects to obtain those two players and should be a lot better team next year. What's sad about this is that the San Diego Padres, a team that nearly made the playoffs last year, couldn't afford to hold on to Gonzalez, the team's best player and a San Diego native to boot. It sucks, quite frankly, that a team like the Padres made a shrewd trade to get Gonzalez, watch him develop into a superstar playing for his hometown team, and then are forced to trade away that superstar for three prospects that may not work out because they can't hope to afford him under baseball's economic policy. The Padres were last year's feel good story, and it's a shame that they won't have a chance to prove that last year's success was not a fluke. Look, I love baseball, but something's wrong with the sport when you have some teams that can buy whoever they want from the other teams that can't afford to keep their best players.
Finally, today (or yesterday, technically) is not only my birthday, but it is also Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle's birthday, as he turns 42. In honor of this, here a a couple of videos for you to watch.
Well, thanks for reading my writing on baseball transactions. I probably won't be posting anything tomorrow, but I should be back on Saturday/early Sunday. Remember, if you have any ideas for blog posts or reviews, or thoughts about this post, let me know about them either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Worst of the Best: The Baseball Hall of Fame's Worst Players by Position
Yesterday, the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee had an election for candidates of the post-expansion era. Of the 15 men on the list, including George Steinbrenner, Steve Garvey, and Ted Simmons, only one man, Pat Gillick, was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gillick was the GM for three World Series winning teams and built playoff teams in four different cities (Toronto, Baltimore, Seattle, Philadelphia), so I don't see why he shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame. However, it did get me to thinking, just who are the least deserving members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. So, here we are. Like the previous post about the worst Pro Football Hall of Famers, I will name the worst Hall of Famer by position.
C - Ray Schalk, playing career 1912-1929, elected 1955
Of all the position players in the Hall of Fame, Schalk's .253 career batting average is the lowest. Combine that with a lack of power (.311 SLG, 11 career home runs), and Schalk was just about worthless with the bat. True, Schalk was considered the top defensive catcher in his time, but his defense could not compensate for his offensive ineptitude enough to make Schalk a worthy Hall of Famer.
If Schalk is in, then why not:
Wally Schang? Schang played in roughly the same time-period as Schalk (1913-1931) and while he never was the best fielder behind the plate, his bat was the best among catchers for a number of years. Of all catchers with more than 3,000 career plate appearances, Schang's .393 on-base percentage is third all time, only behind Mickey Cochrane and Joe Mauer, and Schang had eight seasons with an OBP over .400. A member of three World Championship teams, Schang finished in the top 10 in OBP six times, in Slugging Percentage four times, and in adjusted OPS+ 5 times. His career line (.284/.393/.401) and championship pedigree is superior to Schalk (.253/.340/.316, one world championship), but Schang is still on the outside of the Hall doors.
1B - George Kelly, 1915-1932, elected 1973
Kelly is perhaps the biggest example of getting into the Hall of Fame because of the people he knew rather than his skill on the diamond. Kelly had a few decent seasons in the early 1920s, leading the NL in home runs in 1921 and playing in four straight World Series for the Giants (1921-1924). Kelly was also regarded as a top notch fielder at his position, and surely would have won a few gold gloves had they been in existence during his playing days. But Kelly was not an effective ballplayer past the age of 30, and his career line of .297/.342/.452 was good, but not Hall of Fame caliber. Most of the writers seemed to think Kelly was not worthy of election, as he never got more than five votes on a single ballot. But in 1973, Kelly's old teammates Frankie Frisch and Bill Terry were the heads of the Veterans Committee, and brazenly voted Kelly in to the baseball Hall of Fame. That selection, and others like it (including four other players on this list) caused the baseball Hall of Fame to restructure the Veterans Committee some years later.
If Kelly is in, then why not:
Gil Hodges? Hodges, like Kelly, gained his fame playing in New York (Hodges for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kelly for the New York Giants). Hodges, however, has more staying power than Kelly, as he was the top first baseman in the National League for nearly a decade. During his career, Hodges slugged 370 home runs and drove in 1,274 runs. Hodges had 10 seasons where he finished in the top 10 in home runs, seven top ten finishes in RBIs, and six top ten finishes in slugging percentage. Not only that, but Hodges was also an excellent fielder, winning the Gold Glove the first three years of its existence, and had the Gold Glove been around earlier, Hodges would have added a few more to his resume. Of all the players that haven't been elected, Hodges has the most votes by the baseball writers' association, and has narrowly missed election in the Hall of Fame a few time by the veterans committee. It's possible that Hodges will be elected soon, but for now, he's the best first baseman outside of the Hall of Fame.
2B - Bill Mazeroski - 1956-1972, Elected 2001
Mazeroski is known mainly for two things, his excellent defense (probably the best of any second baseman in history) and for hitting the game winning home run in game seven of the 1960 World Series. That's all well and good, but it does not make for a Hall of Famer. Mazeroski played 17 years, and failed to put up an OPS+ over 100 (which is basically average production) one time. His on-base percentage of .299 is the lowest of any Hall of Fame position player. Mazeroski may have won eight Gold Gloves and played in nine All-Star games, but I fail to see how a .260 hitter with little power, little base running speed, and who couldn't take a walk is considered a Hall of Famer.
If Mazeroski is in, then why not:
Willie Randolph? Randolph may not have been the same caliber fielder as Mazeroski, but the longtime Yankee was far superior offensively. In roughly the same number of games (Randolph - 2,202, Mazeroski - 2,163). Randolph got more hits (2,210-2,016), more runs (1,239-769), and more walks (1,243-447). Maz had a little more power than Randolph, but Randolph was more of a threat on the basepaths (271 steals). Overall, Randolph's line (.276/.373/.351 104 OPS+) is superior than Mazeroski's (.260/.299/.367 84 OPS+), but while Maz is in, Randolph has little or no chance of getting inducted into Cooperstown.
3B - Freddie Lindstrom - 1924-1936, Inducted 1976
Another selection of the Frankie Frisch led Veteran's Committee, Lindstrom had a few good years for the New York Giants, hitting .379 in 1930 and leading the NL in hits in 1928 with 231, when he was a mere 22 years old. However, his last good season came at the age of 27, and Lindstrom seemingly did not put together enough quality seasons to reach the Hall of Fame. The writers seemed to agree, as Lindstrom never received more than seven votes while on the ballot. But Lindstrom had friends in high places, so in spite of his short career, he got in.
If Lindstrom is in, then why not:
Stan Hack? Other than perhaps Ron Santo, Hack is the best third baseman outside of the Hall of Fame. Hack, the Cubs' leadoff hitter for a number of years, was quite adapt at getting on base, as his .394 career OBP and eight top ten finishes in OBP shows. Hack also led the NL in hits twice (1940-41), had seven season of 100 or more runs scored, and hit over .300 in six seasons. A six time All-Star, Hack played in four World Series with the Cubs, and led the league in stolen bases in 1938 and 1939. Hack's career line of .301/.393/.397 119 OPS+ compares rather favorably with Lindstrom's .311/.351/.459 110 OPS+, and Hack had more quality seasons than Lindstrom, but Lindstrom impressed the right people, so he got in despite Hack being the superior ballplayer.
SS - Travis Jackson, 1922-1936, Inducted 1982
Like Lindstrom and Kelly, Jackson was a New York Giant. Like Lindstrom and Kelly, Jackson's numbers look better than they are because they played in perhaps the highest-scoring era in baseball history. Jackson wasn't a bad ballpayer, but his lack of durability (only 4 seasons with 140+ games played), and his relatively unspectacular resume (although he did have more power than any other shortstop during his time, with four top 10 home run finishes), makes him a weak candidate for the Hall of Fame.
If Jackson is in, then why not:
Bill Dahlen? Dahlen, who also played for the Giants (as well as the Cubs, Braves, and Dodgers) was every bit the defensive player Jackson was, but also more durable and more important to his team offensively. Among shortstops, Dahlen is sixth all-time in both runs and stolen bases, and 12th in hits. Dahlen's 109 OPS+ is seven points better than Jackson's, and Dahlen finished in top ten in home runs, stolen bases, and walks in 5 different seasons. Dahlen also had nine seasons of 30+ steals, once compiled a 42-game hitting streak, and even led the NL in RBI in 1904. But for whatever reason, Dahlen was largely forgotten by voters, garnering only three votes total by the BBWAA.
LF - Chick Hafey - 1924-1937, Inducted 1971
Chick Hafey was one heck of a hitter, even accounting for the era he played in and his poor eyesight. During his career, Hafey won a batting title in 1931 and led the NL in slugging percentage in 1927. Hafey finished in the top 10 in Adjusted OPS+ and slugging percentage five times, and also finished in the top 10 in home runs six times. The problem with Hafey is that he didn't play nearly enough. During his career, Hafey only had eight season where he played more than 100 games, and two where he played more than 140. Yes, Hafey had five pretty good years, but so did a lot of other guys not in the Hall of Fame.
If Hafey is in, then why not:
Lefty O'Doul? Like Hafey, O'Doul probably didn't play long enough to truly deserve induction into the Hall of Fame, but O'Doul was one heck of a hitter. Even though his career didn't get fully started until he was 31, O'Doul put together one heck of a career. He won two batting titles (1929, 1932) and his .349 career batting average ranks fourth all-time in major league history. O'Doul also finished in the top 10 in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, and home runs four times apiece. O'Doul's line of .349/.413/.532 143 Adjusted OPS+ is superior to Hafey's .317/.372/.526, 133 Adjusted OPS+ line. One wonders what type of career O'Doul would have had if he hadn't been a pitcher for the first 10 years of it.
CF - Lloyd Waner - 1927-1945, Elected 1967
Waner's brother Paul is also in the Hall of Fame, and he is truly a legit Hall of Famer. But as for Lloyd, I'm not so sure. True, Waner hit .316 for his career and had seven seasons where he finished in the top 10 in batting average. But hitting singles seemed to be Waner's only skill, as he rarely walked, had no power, and like most of his peers during his era, rarely stole bases. Despite his high average, Waner finished his career with an Adjusted OPS+ of 99, meaning he was one point less than average.
If Waner is in, then why not:
Dom Dimaggio? Like Waner, DiMaggio played in the shadow of his more famous brother Joe. Like Waner, DiMaggio is considered one of the best defensive outfielders of his era, and like Waner, DiMaggio finished in the top ten in his league in hits seven times. But DiMaggio was also the superior offensive player to Waner, as he finished his career with a .383 OBP and a 110 Adjusted OPS+. DiMaggio had six 100 run seasons compared to Waner's three, outslugged Waner (.419-.393) and made seven all-star games during his career. Unilike Waner, Dimaggio's career was relatively short, in part due to WWII, but make no mistake about it, he was every bit the player Waner was, and a little more.
RF - Tommy McCarthy - 1884-1896, elected 1946
With most of the other players I've mentioned, I can see some reason why they were inducted into the Hall of Fame, even though I disagree with those reasons. With McCarthy, I honestly have no idea how he was inducted. Yes, he had a few decent seasons, and led the American Association with 83 steals in 1890. But McCarthy didn't have particularly high career numbers, and his .292/.364/.375 102 Adjusted OPS+ line is nothing to write home about, particularly for a right fielder. But in 1946, McCarthy was selected to the Hall of Fame by the now defunct Old Timers Committee. The only reason I can think of for McCarthy's induction is that he is widely credited with creating the hit-and-run play, but is that enough to make up for his average career numbers?
If McCarthy is in, then why not:
Mike Tiernan? Tiernan, like McCarthy, played his entire career in the 19th century, but a look at the numbers shows that Tiernan was the superior player. During his career, Tiernan led the NL in Slugging percentage one year, and led in OPS and in home runs two years. Tiernan finished in the top ten in slugging and OPS+ seven different years, in homers six years, and in OBP, batting average, and runs scored five different years. Tiernan's line of .311/.392/.463 137 Adjusted OPS+ is much better than McCarthy, and with the exception of stolen bases, Tiernan has better offensive numbers than McCarthy in every single category. Tiernan passed away nearly a century ago, and is largely forgotten today, but the numbers show that he was a superb hitter.
P - Jesse Haines - 1918-1937, Inducted 1970
Once again, the Frankie Frisch led Veteran's Committee let a borderline candidate at best through the doors of immortality. Througout his career, Haines was a pitcher with solid control and who was rather inconsistent. Yes, Haines had 3 20-win seasons, but so did guys like George Uhle, and nobody's calling for his election into the Hall. Haines finished his career with a decent record of 210-158, but his 3.64 career ERA and 109 career ERA+ hardly screams immortality. But because a few people in power liked Haines, he got into the Hall ahead of more deserving candidates.
If Haines is in, then why not:
Dolf Luque? Luque and Haines had similar careers, as both players started late and both men were teammates on the 1918 Cincinnati Reds. Haines may have had the better record, as Luque finished with a 194-179 win-loss mark, but other than that. Luque put together a better career. Luque led the National League in ERA in 1923 and 1925, and also led the league in wins and shutouts in 1923. Luque finished in the top ten in both ERA and WHIP six times, compared to three times and one time, respectively, for Haines. Luque also had the better career ERA (3.24), ERA+ (118), and better WHIP (1.29 to Haines' 1.35) than his contemporary. But while Luque isn't in the baseball Hall of Fame, he can at least claim that he's in the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, as Luque was one of the few Cubans permitted to play during his era due to his light skin.
Manager - Wilbert Robinson - 1902, 1914-1931, Inducted 1945
Robinson is best known for managing the Brooklyn Dodgers for 18 years beginning in 1914. During his tenure with Brooklyn, the team won 2 NL Pennants, but also had 10 losing seasons, and Robinson's .506 career winning percentage with the Dodgers doesn't really seem deserving of being selected to the Hall of Fame. I mean, he didn't even win a World Series as a manager.
If Robinson is in, then why not:
Ralph Houk? Houk managed 20 seasons to Robinson's 19, but had two less losing seasons and a winning percentage 17 points higher than Robinson's (.517 to .500). Not only that, Houk managed two World Series winning teams (1961 and 1962 Yankees). Houk was cited as an influence by many other managers, including Tommy Lasorda, who called Houk the best leader of men that he ever played for. Houk was also no stranger to adversity, as during his watch both the moribound Tigers and rebuilding Red Sox became respectable teams. It's unlikely that Houk, who passed away this July, will ever be elected into Cooperstown, but he is just as deserving, if not more so, than Robinson.
Executive - Morgan Bulkeley, Inducted 1937
Bulkeley, the former governor of Connecticut, was the first president of the National League when it started in 1876. However, Bulkeley only served one year as president, and it seems as if he was a figurehead president as his eventual successor William Hulbert was really running the show. So even though he may of been the first NL president, it's hard to see what he did, if anything, to justify his selection into baseball's hall of fame.
If Bulkeley is in, then why not:
Marvin Miller? Unlike Bulkeley, it's not hard to spot the impact Miller has had on baseball. As the head of the players' union from 1966-1982, Miller and the union put an end to the reverse clause, and both arbitration and free agency started in baseball due to Miller's efforts. The new policies negotiated by Miller not only changed baseball, but other professional sports as well. Despite endorsements from such legendary players like Hank Aaron and Joe Morgan, Miller once again fell short of election this year, finishing one vote short in yesterday's voting. The fact that Miller is on the outside of the Hall while Bulkeley is in after doing nothing of impact in baseball is a travesty, and it should have been rectified long ago.
Well, thanks for reading. I hope it wasn't too long to read. If you happen to agree or disagree with my selections, than feel free to express your opinions on this topic. If you have any comments on this post, or ideas for future posts, than send me them either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.
C - Ray Schalk, playing career 1912-1929, elected 1955
Of all the position players in the Hall of Fame, Schalk's .253 career batting average is the lowest. Combine that with a lack of power (.311 SLG, 11 career home runs), and Schalk was just about worthless with the bat. True, Schalk was considered the top defensive catcher in his time, but his defense could not compensate for his offensive ineptitude enough to make Schalk a worthy Hall of Famer.
If Schalk is in, then why not:
Wally Schang? Schang played in roughly the same time-period as Schalk (1913-1931) and while he never was the best fielder behind the plate, his bat was the best among catchers for a number of years. Of all catchers with more than 3,000 career plate appearances, Schang's .393 on-base percentage is third all time, only behind Mickey Cochrane and Joe Mauer, and Schang had eight seasons with an OBP over .400. A member of three World Championship teams, Schang finished in the top 10 in OBP six times, in Slugging Percentage four times, and in adjusted OPS+ 5 times. His career line (.284/.393/.401) and championship pedigree is superior to Schalk (.253/.340/.316, one world championship), but Schang is still on the outside of the Hall doors.
1B - George Kelly, 1915-1932, elected 1973
Kelly is perhaps the biggest example of getting into the Hall of Fame because of the people he knew rather than his skill on the diamond. Kelly had a few decent seasons in the early 1920s, leading the NL in home runs in 1921 and playing in four straight World Series for the Giants (1921-1924). Kelly was also regarded as a top notch fielder at his position, and surely would have won a few gold gloves had they been in existence during his playing days. But Kelly was not an effective ballplayer past the age of 30, and his career line of .297/.342/.452 was good, but not Hall of Fame caliber. Most of the writers seemed to think Kelly was not worthy of election, as he never got more than five votes on a single ballot. But in 1973, Kelly's old teammates Frankie Frisch and Bill Terry were the heads of the Veterans Committee, and brazenly voted Kelly in to the baseball Hall of Fame. That selection, and others like it (including four other players on this list) caused the baseball Hall of Fame to restructure the Veterans Committee some years later.
If Kelly is in, then why not:
Gil Hodges? Hodges, like Kelly, gained his fame playing in New York (Hodges for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kelly for the New York Giants). Hodges, however, has more staying power than Kelly, as he was the top first baseman in the National League for nearly a decade. During his career, Hodges slugged 370 home runs and drove in 1,274 runs. Hodges had 10 seasons where he finished in the top 10 in home runs, seven top ten finishes in RBIs, and six top ten finishes in slugging percentage. Not only that, but Hodges was also an excellent fielder, winning the Gold Glove the first three years of its existence, and had the Gold Glove been around earlier, Hodges would have added a few more to his resume. Of all the players that haven't been elected, Hodges has the most votes by the baseball writers' association, and has narrowly missed election in the Hall of Fame a few time by the veterans committee. It's possible that Hodges will be elected soon, but for now, he's the best first baseman outside of the Hall of Fame.
2B - Bill Mazeroski - 1956-1972, Elected 2001
Mazeroski is known mainly for two things, his excellent defense (probably the best of any second baseman in history) and for hitting the game winning home run in game seven of the 1960 World Series. That's all well and good, but it does not make for a Hall of Famer. Mazeroski played 17 years, and failed to put up an OPS+ over 100 (which is basically average production) one time. His on-base percentage of .299 is the lowest of any Hall of Fame position player. Mazeroski may have won eight Gold Gloves and played in nine All-Star games, but I fail to see how a .260 hitter with little power, little base running speed, and who couldn't take a walk is considered a Hall of Famer.
If Mazeroski is in, then why not:
Willie Randolph? Randolph may not have been the same caliber fielder as Mazeroski, but the longtime Yankee was far superior offensively. In roughly the same number of games (Randolph - 2,202, Mazeroski - 2,163). Randolph got more hits (2,210-2,016), more runs (1,239-769), and more walks (1,243-447). Maz had a little more power than Randolph, but Randolph was more of a threat on the basepaths (271 steals). Overall, Randolph's line (.276/.373/.351 104 OPS+) is superior than Mazeroski's (.260/.299/.367 84 OPS+), but while Maz is in, Randolph has little or no chance of getting inducted into Cooperstown.
3B - Freddie Lindstrom - 1924-1936, Inducted 1976
Another selection of the Frankie Frisch led Veteran's Committee, Lindstrom had a few good years for the New York Giants, hitting .379 in 1930 and leading the NL in hits in 1928 with 231, when he was a mere 22 years old. However, his last good season came at the age of 27, and Lindstrom seemingly did not put together enough quality seasons to reach the Hall of Fame. The writers seemed to agree, as Lindstrom never received more than seven votes while on the ballot. But Lindstrom had friends in high places, so in spite of his short career, he got in.
If Lindstrom is in, then why not:
Stan Hack? Other than perhaps Ron Santo, Hack is the best third baseman outside of the Hall of Fame. Hack, the Cubs' leadoff hitter for a number of years, was quite adapt at getting on base, as his .394 career OBP and eight top ten finishes in OBP shows. Hack also led the NL in hits twice (1940-41), had seven season of 100 or more runs scored, and hit over .300 in six seasons. A six time All-Star, Hack played in four World Series with the Cubs, and led the league in stolen bases in 1938 and 1939. Hack's career line of .301/.393/.397 119 OPS+ compares rather favorably with Lindstrom's .311/.351/.459 110 OPS+, and Hack had more quality seasons than Lindstrom, but Lindstrom impressed the right people, so he got in despite Hack being the superior ballplayer.
SS - Travis Jackson, 1922-1936, Inducted 1982
Like Lindstrom and Kelly, Jackson was a New York Giant. Like Lindstrom and Kelly, Jackson's numbers look better than they are because they played in perhaps the highest-scoring era in baseball history. Jackson wasn't a bad ballpayer, but his lack of durability (only 4 seasons with 140+ games played), and his relatively unspectacular resume (although he did have more power than any other shortstop during his time, with four top 10 home run finishes), makes him a weak candidate for the Hall of Fame.
If Jackson is in, then why not:
Bill Dahlen? Dahlen, who also played for the Giants (as well as the Cubs, Braves, and Dodgers) was every bit the defensive player Jackson was, but also more durable and more important to his team offensively. Among shortstops, Dahlen is sixth all-time in both runs and stolen bases, and 12th in hits. Dahlen's 109 OPS+ is seven points better than Jackson's, and Dahlen finished in top ten in home runs, stolen bases, and walks in 5 different seasons. Dahlen also had nine seasons of 30+ steals, once compiled a 42-game hitting streak, and even led the NL in RBI in 1904. But for whatever reason, Dahlen was largely forgotten by voters, garnering only three votes total by the BBWAA.
LF - Chick Hafey - 1924-1937, Inducted 1971
Chick Hafey was one heck of a hitter, even accounting for the era he played in and his poor eyesight. During his career, Hafey won a batting title in 1931 and led the NL in slugging percentage in 1927. Hafey finished in the top 10 in Adjusted OPS+ and slugging percentage five times, and also finished in the top 10 in home runs six times. The problem with Hafey is that he didn't play nearly enough. During his career, Hafey only had eight season where he played more than 100 games, and two where he played more than 140. Yes, Hafey had five pretty good years, but so did a lot of other guys not in the Hall of Fame.
If Hafey is in, then why not:
Lefty O'Doul? Like Hafey, O'Doul probably didn't play long enough to truly deserve induction into the Hall of Fame, but O'Doul was one heck of a hitter. Even though his career didn't get fully started until he was 31, O'Doul put together one heck of a career. He won two batting titles (1929, 1932) and his .349 career batting average ranks fourth all-time in major league history. O'Doul also finished in the top 10 in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, and home runs four times apiece. O'Doul's line of .349/.413/.532 143 Adjusted OPS+ is superior to Hafey's .317/.372/.526, 133 Adjusted OPS+ line. One wonders what type of career O'Doul would have had if he hadn't been a pitcher for the first 10 years of it.
CF - Lloyd Waner - 1927-1945, Elected 1967
Waner's brother Paul is also in the Hall of Fame, and he is truly a legit Hall of Famer. But as for Lloyd, I'm not so sure. True, Waner hit .316 for his career and had seven seasons where he finished in the top 10 in batting average. But hitting singles seemed to be Waner's only skill, as he rarely walked, had no power, and like most of his peers during his era, rarely stole bases. Despite his high average, Waner finished his career with an Adjusted OPS+ of 99, meaning he was one point less than average.
If Waner is in, then why not:
Dom Dimaggio? Like Waner, DiMaggio played in the shadow of his more famous brother Joe. Like Waner, DiMaggio is considered one of the best defensive outfielders of his era, and like Waner, DiMaggio finished in the top ten in his league in hits seven times. But DiMaggio was also the superior offensive player to Waner, as he finished his career with a .383 OBP and a 110 Adjusted OPS+. DiMaggio had six 100 run seasons compared to Waner's three, outslugged Waner (.419-.393) and made seven all-star games during his career. Unilike Waner, Dimaggio's career was relatively short, in part due to WWII, but make no mistake about it, he was every bit the player Waner was, and a little more.
RF - Tommy McCarthy - 1884-1896, elected 1946
With most of the other players I've mentioned, I can see some reason why they were inducted into the Hall of Fame, even though I disagree with those reasons. With McCarthy, I honestly have no idea how he was inducted. Yes, he had a few decent seasons, and led the American Association with 83 steals in 1890. But McCarthy didn't have particularly high career numbers, and his .292/.364/.375 102 Adjusted OPS+ line is nothing to write home about, particularly for a right fielder. But in 1946, McCarthy was selected to the Hall of Fame by the now defunct Old Timers Committee. The only reason I can think of for McCarthy's induction is that he is widely credited with creating the hit-and-run play, but is that enough to make up for his average career numbers?
If McCarthy is in, then why not:
Mike Tiernan? Tiernan, like McCarthy, played his entire career in the 19th century, but a look at the numbers shows that Tiernan was the superior player. During his career, Tiernan led the NL in Slugging percentage one year, and led in OPS and in home runs two years. Tiernan finished in the top ten in slugging and OPS+ seven different years, in homers six years, and in OBP, batting average, and runs scored five different years. Tiernan's line of .311/.392/.463 137 Adjusted OPS+ is much better than McCarthy, and with the exception of stolen bases, Tiernan has better offensive numbers than McCarthy in every single category. Tiernan passed away nearly a century ago, and is largely forgotten today, but the numbers show that he was a superb hitter.
P - Jesse Haines - 1918-1937, Inducted 1970
Once again, the Frankie Frisch led Veteran's Committee let a borderline candidate at best through the doors of immortality. Througout his career, Haines was a pitcher with solid control and who was rather inconsistent. Yes, Haines had 3 20-win seasons, but so did guys like George Uhle, and nobody's calling for his election into the Hall. Haines finished his career with a decent record of 210-158, but his 3.64 career ERA and 109 career ERA+ hardly screams immortality. But because a few people in power liked Haines, he got into the Hall ahead of more deserving candidates.
If Haines is in, then why not:
Dolf Luque? Luque and Haines had similar careers, as both players started late and both men were teammates on the 1918 Cincinnati Reds. Haines may have had the better record, as Luque finished with a 194-179 win-loss mark, but other than that. Luque put together a better career. Luque led the National League in ERA in 1923 and 1925, and also led the league in wins and shutouts in 1923. Luque finished in the top ten in both ERA and WHIP six times, compared to three times and one time, respectively, for Haines. Luque also had the better career ERA (3.24), ERA+ (118), and better WHIP (1.29 to Haines' 1.35) than his contemporary. But while Luque isn't in the baseball Hall of Fame, he can at least claim that he's in the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, as Luque was one of the few Cubans permitted to play during his era due to his light skin.
Manager - Wilbert Robinson - 1902, 1914-1931, Inducted 1945
Robinson is best known for managing the Brooklyn Dodgers for 18 years beginning in 1914. During his tenure with Brooklyn, the team won 2 NL Pennants, but also had 10 losing seasons, and Robinson's .506 career winning percentage with the Dodgers doesn't really seem deserving of being selected to the Hall of Fame. I mean, he didn't even win a World Series as a manager.
If Robinson is in, then why not:
Ralph Houk? Houk managed 20 seasons to Robinson's 19, but had two less losing seasons and a winning percentage 17 points higher than Robinson's (.517 to .500). Not only that, Houk managed two World Series winning teams (1961 and 1962 Yankees). Houk was cited as an influence by many other managers, including Tommy Lasorda, who called Houk the best leader of men that he ever played for. Houk was also no stranger to adversity, as during his watch both the moribound Tigers and rebuilding Red Sox became respectable teams. It's unlikely that Houk, who passed away this July, will ever be elected into Cooperstown, but he is just as deserving, if not more so, than Robinson.
Executive - Morgan Bulkeley, Inducted 1937
Bulkeley, the former governor of Connecticut, was the first president of the National League when it started in 1876. However, Bulkeley only served one year as president, and it seems as if he was a figurehead president as his eventual successor William Hulbert was really running the show. So even though he may of been the first NL president, it's hard to see what he did, if anything, to justify his selection into baseball's hall of fame.
If Bulkeley is in, then why not:
Marvin Miller? Unlike Bulkeley, it's not hard to spot the impact Miller has had on baseball. As the head of the players' union from 1966-1982, Miller and the union put an end to the reverse clause, and both arbitration and free agency started in baseball due to Miller's efforts. The new policies negotiated by Miller not only changed baseball, but other professional sports as well. Despite endorsements from such legendary players like Hank Aaron and Joe Morgan, Miller once again fell short of election this year, finishing one vote short in yesterday's voting. The fact that Miller is on the outside of the Hall while Bulkeley is in after doing nothing of impact in baseball is a travesty, and it should have been rectified long ago.
Well, thanks for reading. I hope it wasn't too long to read. If you happen to agree or disagree with my selections, than feel free to express your opinions on this topic. If you have any comments on this post, or ideas for future posts, than send me them either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Canon Review Listamania: The Top 7 Tag Teams in the last 30 years
The idea for this post came from a discussion I had last week with my sister and Canon Review reader Maggie W. See, Maggie was watching the WWE DVD Allied Powers: The World's Greatest Tag Teams (a DVD I've had for months and yet to view or review, by the way) and we were discussing the DVD when she asked who I thought was the greatest tag team of all-time. Well, I then said that she would have to wait until I reveal the answer on The Canon Review. Originally, this was to be a top 10 list, but Maggie wanted only the top 5. Eventually, we settled on the nice even number of seven, and well here we are. Eventually, I decided to limit this list to tag teams from 1980 onward, as I haven't seen enough of teams like The Fabulous Kangaroos or Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens, so instead of running the danger of misplacing them, I have decided to only focus on those teams that I have at least a passable knowledge on. So, without further adeiu, here are some teams that didn't quite make the list for a variety of reason.
Edge and Christian, The Hollywood Blondes, The Eliminators, The Dudley Boys, The Hart Foundation, Harlem Heat, The Texas Hangmen, Los Guerreros, Wrath and Mortis, The Rockers, The Rock N' Roll Express, The Heavenly Bodies, Fire and Ice, JeriShow
Now onto the list itself:
7. The Hardy Boyz - While the Hardy Boyz may be a little strange outside of the ring, inside of the ring, these two can go. They may not have been the first tag team to rely heavily on aerial maneuvers, but the Hardys may be the best high-flying tag team in the sport's history. Over the years, the Hardys have had captivating matches with a wide variety of opponents, from their long feuds with Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boys, to top-notch matches with teams like MNM, The World's Greatest Tag Team, and Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch. With seven world tag team titles to their credit and a huge fan following, the Hardy Boyz are likely the most popular team over the past 10 years, and one of the best in the ring as well.
6. The British Bulldogs - The Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith may had grown to despise each other, but while they were a tag team, they were pure magic. A great combination of aerial ability and technical wrestling made the Bulldogs one of the premier tag teams of their era. After excelling in Stampede wrestling and becoming one of the top tag teams in Japan, the Bulldogs arrived in the WWF in 1985, and their innovative moves and pugnacious styles made the Bulldogs one of the most popular acts of their era. Their long standing feud with the Hart Foundation is still regarded as one of the best in wrestling history, and many, many wrestlers have been influenced by the British Bulldogs. Despite the team's tragic end, the British Bulldogs are still remembered today as one of the best and most influential tag teams to ever wrestle.
5. The Holy Demon Army - For eight years, Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue were the best tag team in the best wrestling promotion in its time, All Japan Pro Wrestling. From 1993-2000, Kawada and Taue not only excelled as singles wrestlers, but managed to consistently put together classic matches together as a tag team. The Holy Demon Army's wars with teams like Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi, Misawa and Jun Akiyama, Kobashi and Johnny Ace, No Fear, the Miracle Violence Connection, and other teams are remembered by those that witnessed them as some of the greatest tag matches in the history of wrestling. As individuals, Kawada and Taue were two of the top wrestlers of their era, and were just as good, if not better, as a tag team.
4. The Brainbusters - Even though Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were only a team for a little more than three years, their excellence is still enough to put them on this list. Masters of tag team psychology, the two original members of the Four Horsemen (along with Ric Flair and Ole Anderson) had great matches with a variety of teams in the NWA. Matches with the Road Warriors, The Rock N' Roll Express, and Lex Luger and Barry Windham established the Brainbusters as one of the top teams in the world. After jumping to the WWF in 1988, the Brainbusters didn't slow down a bit, soon becoming the top tag team in a loaded tag team division. The Brainbusters had a series of top-notch matches with teams like the Rockers, the Hart Foundation, and Demolition, and in 1989 they became the first tag team the win the NWA and the WWF tag team titles. Yes, they only were a team for three years, but their mastery of psychology, technical wrestling, and hard hitting style made the Brainbusters a memorable tag team.
3. The Steiner Brothers - The top brother duo on the list, Rick and Scott Steiner have one of the most impressive resumes of any tag team. With 11 Tag Team Title reigns (7 WCW, 2 WWF, 2 IWGP) in their career, the Steiners are no strangers to championship gold. Of course, the Steiners earned all of that gold through a hard hitting style and a lot of spectacular moves, both individual and double-team moves. Scott had two of the most devastating finishers of his era with the Frankensteiner and Steiner screwdriver, while Rick displayed a wide array of suplexes to go along with his devastating Steinerline. The Steiners were also able to put together great matches with a variety of opponents, like the Nasty Boys, Doom, Sting and Lex Luger, the Miracle Violence Connection, Money Inc., Harlem Heat, and The Outsiders. With a legendary repeitore and a long line of great matches, the Steiners are clearly one of the best teams of all time.
2. The Road Warriors - Probably the most famous tag team of all-time, Hawk and Animal took the wrestling world by storm in 1983 with their unique look and immense strength, and never looked back from there. The only tag team to win the AWA, NWA, and WWF tag team titles, the Warriors were impact players no matter where they showed up, whether in America or Japan. The Road Warriors were such a success that no other tag team in history have been ripped off more, as teams like the Powers of Pain and Demolition were near carbon copies of the Road Warriors. With manager Paul Ellering by their side, the Warriors became perhaps the most popular tag team of all time, and the duo had legendary matches with teams such as the Brainbusters, The Freebirds, The Koloffs, The Midnight Express, Demolition, Money Inc., and so many more.
1. The Midnight Express - Yes, the Road Warriors and Steiners were bigger stars, and yes the Dudleys/Team 3-D have more titles than any other tag team, but to me, The Midnight Express, whether it's the Bobby Eaton-Dennis Condrey version or the Eaton-Stan Lane version, are tag team wrestling. In the ring, the Midnights could do no wrong, as they invented a lot of double-team maneuvers and could dazzle fans with superb techincal wrestling, top-notch brawling, and an exciting aerial style. Outside the ring, manager Jim Cornette handled the promos for both versions of the Express, and his bombastic style added a whole other element to the Midnight Express. During their tenure, the Midnight Express had tons of legendary matches with teams such as the Rock N' Roll Express, The Fantastics, The Road Warriors, and many other teams. Their mastery of tag team psychology, exciting style, and flawless teamwork is a combination that no other team can match, and that is why the Midnight Express is the greatest tag team in the last 30 years.
Well, thanks for reading. If you want to share some opinions you have about this list, or put together a top seven list of your own, than I would be happy to see your opinions, so be sure to leave a comment on the blog. Also, if you have an idea for a future post, then share those with me either by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on this blog.
Edge and Christian, The Hollywood Blondes, The Eliminators, The Dudley Boys, The Hart Foundation, Harlem Heat, The Texas Hangmen, Los Guerreros, Wrath and Mortis, The Rockers, The Rock N' Roll Express, The Heavenly Bodies, Fire and Ice, JeriShow
Now onto the list itself:
7. The Hardy Boyz - While the Hardy Boyz may be a little strange outside of the ring, inside of the ring, these two can go. They may not have been the first tag team to rely heavily on aerial maneuvers, but the Hardys may be the best high-flying tag team in the sport's history. Over the years, the Hardys have had captivating matches with a wide variety of opponents, from their long feuds with Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boys, to top-notch matches with teams like MNM, The World's Greatest Tag Team, and Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch. With seven world tag team titles to their credit and a huge fan following, the Hardy Boyz are likely the most popular team over the past 10 years, and one of the best in the ring as well.
6. The British Bulldogs - The Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith may had grown to despise each other, but while they were a tag team, they were pure magic. A great combination of aerial ability and technical wrestling made the Bulldogs one of the premier tag teams of their era. After excelling in Stampede wrestling and becoming one of the top tag teams in Japan, the Bulldogs arrived in the WWF in 1985, and their innovative moves and pugnacious styles made the Bulldogs one of the most popular acts of their era. Their long standing feud with the Hart Foundation is still regarded as one of the best in wrestling history, and many, many wrestlers have been influenced by the British Bulldogs. Despite the team's tragic end, the British Bulldogs are still remembered today as one of the best and most influential tag teams to ever wrestle.
5. The Holy Demon Army - For eight years, Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue were the best tag team in the best wrestling promotion in its time, All Japan Pro Wrestling. From 1993-2000, Kawada and Taue not only excelled as singles wrestlers, but managed to consistently put together classic matches together as a tag team. The Holy Demon Army's wars with teams like Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi, Misawa and Jun Akiyama, Kobashi and Johnny Ace, No Fear, the Miracle Violence Connection, and other teams are remembered by those that witnessed them as some of the greatest tag matches in the history of wrestling. As individuals, Kawada and Taue were two of the top wrestlers of their era, and were just as good, if not better, as a tag team.
4. The Brainbusters - Even though Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were only a team for a little more than three years, their excellence is still enough to put them on this list. Masters of tag team psychology, the two original members of the Four Horsemen (along with Ric Flair and Ole Anderson) had great matches with a variety of teams in the NWA. Matches with the Road Warriors, The Rock N' Roll Express, and Lex Luger and Barry Windham established the Brainbusters as one of the top teams in the world. After jumping to the WWF in 1988, the Brainbusters didn't slow down a bit, soon becoming the top tag team in a loaded tag team division. The Brainbusters had a series of top-notch matches with teams like the Rockers, the Hart Foundation, and Demolition, and in 1989 they became the first tag team the win the NWA and the WWF tag team titles. Yes, they only were a team for three years, but their mastery of psychology, technical wrestling, and hard hitting style made the Brainbusters a memorable tag team.
3. The Steiner Brothers - The top brother duo on the list, Rick and Scott Steiner have one of the most impressive resumes of any tag team. With 11 Tag Team Title reigns (7 WCW, 2 WWF, 2 IWGP) in their career, the Steiners are no strangers to championship gold. Of course, the Steiners earned all of that gold through a hard hitting style and a lot of spectacular moves, both individual and double-team moves. Scott had two of the most devastating finishers of his era with the Frankensteiner and Steiner screwdriver, while Rick displayed a wide array of suplexes to go along with his devastating Steinerline. The Steiners were also able to put together great matches with a variety of opponents, like the Nasty Boys, Doom, Sting and Lex Luger, the Miracle Violence Connection, Money Inc., Harlem Heat, and The Outsiders. With a legendary repeitore and a long line of great matches, the Steiners are clearly one of the best teams of all time.
2. The Road Warriors - Probably the most famous tag team of all-time, Hawk and Animal took the wrestling world by storm in 1983 with their unique look and immense strength, and never looked back from there. The only tag team to win the AWA, NWA, and WWF tag team titles, the Warriors were impact players no matter where they showed up, whether in America or Japan. The Road Warriors were such a success that no other tag team in history have been ripped off more, as teams like the Powers of Pain and Demolition were near carbon copies of the Road Warriors. With manager Paul Ellering by their side, the Warriors became perhaps the most popular tag team of all time, and the duo had legendary matches with teams such as the Brainbusters, The Freebirds, The Koloffs, The Midnight Express, Demolition, Money Inc., and so many more.
1. The Midnight Express - Yes, the Road Warriors and Steiners were bigger stars, and yes the Dudleys/Team 3-D have more titles than any other tag team, but to me, The Midnight Express, whether it's the Bobby Eaton-Dennis Condrey version or the Eaton-Stan Lane version, are tag team wrestling. In the ring, the Midnights could do no wrong, as they invented a lot of double-team maneuvers and could dazzle fans with superb techincal wrestling, top-notch brawling, and an exciting aerial style. Outside the ring, manager Jim Cornette handled the promos for both versions of the Express, and his bombastic style added a whole other element to the Midnight Express. During their tenure, the Midnight Express had tons of legendary matches with teams such as the Rock N' Roll Express, The Fantastics, The Road Warriors, and many other teams. Their mastery of tag team psychology, exciting style, and flawless teamwork is a combination that no other team can match, and that is why the Midnight Express is the greatest tag team in the last 30 years.
Well, thanks for reading. If you want to share some opinions you have about this list, or put together a top seven list of your own, than I would be happy to see your opinions, so be sure to leave a comment on the blog. Also, if you have an idea for a future post, then share those with me either by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on this blog.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Canon Book Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Canon Review's series of reviews on the Harry Potter series continues with the fifth book in the saga, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The book is once again written by J.K. Rowling and is the biggest in the series at a massive 870 pages. It's Harry and the gang's fifth year at the wizardry school Hogwarts, and things have never been worse for Potter. Not only is his nemesis Lord Voldemort back in power, Harry also has to endure a smear campaign spearheaded by the Ministry of Magic, who denies that Voldemort is back in power. To make matters worse for Harry, a new teacher comes to Hogwarts whose sole purpose seems to be to punish Harry Potter, and Potter finds himself more and more alone, as Hagrid and Dumbeldore have bigger problems on their hands. He even gets into a feud with Seamus Finnegan, which ticked me off because Harry was slightly in the wrong there. But enough about that, here are a few notes from the book, and yes there are SPOILERS, so be careful.
- After witnessing the revival of his arch-rival Voldemort, the death of one of his fellow students, and not only enduring a smear campaign but also a plot to have him expelled from Hogwarts from the Ministry of Magic, well it's safe to say that Harry Potter is just a bit angry in this book. Naturally, he does what most people do in situations like these and takes out his frustration on those unfortunate enough to be close to him. It seems like half the book is spent on Harry yelling at whoever he happened to be talking to at the moment, whether they deserved it or not. The other half of the book is usually Harry either wallowing in self-pity or making the dumbest decision possible at every turn. While this may be the way that most teenagers would act in this situation, it does make Harry a lot less sympathetic in this book than in any of the previous titles.
- Then again, Harry's not the only person that has seemingly taken a turn for the worse. His two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger, seem to not be able to go more than five minutes without bickering at each other about even the smallest little thing. Granger in particular becomes more and more annoying, as she seemingly can't wait for any opportunity to boss her friends around. Even some of the adults of Hogwarts change for the worse, as head master Dumbledore seems to make a concentrated effort to have as little contact with Harry as possible (although it is later revealed that he had a good reason for this behavior), Snape becomes more and more hateful of Harry (although Harry certainly did not help himself in that matter), while Hagrid crosses the line between being a bit reckless and irresponsible to becoming a downright health risk for his friends to be around. At least Neville Longbottom actually changes for the better in this book, as he shows signs of being more than just a clumsy wizard, but rather a quite capable wizard, at least in a few subjects.
- Since there's another year at Hogwarts, there is also a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. This time it's a particularly nasty woman from the Ministry of Magic named Delores Umbridge. Umbridge doesn't seem to be too interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts, rather, her main goal is to gain enough power to take over Hogwarts. Umbridge also has a secondary role, to make Harry Potter's life a living hell. Umbridge is very successful in her goal of tormenting Potter, to the point where it gets tiresome. After a while, you can start predicting just when Umbridge comes in to foil whatever plan Harry and his friends have going on at the time. Also, it's never really made clear why Umbridge hates Potter so much, to the point where she orders Dementors to attack Potter and even attacks his owl, Hedwig. But, there's never a reason given as to why Umbridge is so strongly against Potter other than he may be a threat to her power. Surely, there is some deeper reasoning behind Umbridge's behavior.
- Like all the previous Harry Potter books, we are introduced to quite a few new characters, which is a good thing because it takes up time which otherwise would be spent on Harry being grouchy and/or Hermoine being an unbearable pest. Most of these characters are part of the titular Order of the Phoenix, which is a group put together to fight off Voldemort, although some of the members like Mundungus seem more interested in their own personal desires than fighting off Voldemort. The only one of these characters that were remotely interesting was the metamorph auror Tonks, and she only has a minor role in this book. The most fascinating new character is a fellow Hogwarts student named Luna Lovegood, who has a very different outlook on life than anyone else. It's actually somewhat refreshing to have someone with a different outlook on things for once, as Luna adds a new element to the story and is one of the few endearing characters in this story.
- Once again, Harry Potter and his Quidditch team (with Ron as goalie) takes on Draco Malfoy and his team and once again, Harry gets the better of Draco by catching the snitch first. Shouldn't somebody point out how bad Draco is at Quidditch the next time he insults Harry or the Weasleys or whoever? In fact, Draco is seemingly more inept than ever, as the only time he can seem to do anything right is when Umbridge tells him what to do. You would think that with Draco's lack of success against Harry Potter, he would learn to lay low and not antagonize his rival as much as he does, but considering the events at the end, I don't foresee that happening.
- Also, once again, some unpleasant news or events happen to Harry Potter, and once again, the student body of Hogwarts turn their back on him nearly en masse. Of course, the story of Harry's narrow escape of Voldemort isn't really told until the middle of the book, but even so, considering how many times Harry and his pals have saved the school from certain doom, wouldn't you think they would cut him some slack? But no, the newspaper with a habit for sensationalizing stories is knocking Potter, so he must be a lying buffoon who is worse than Stalin. Yet once again, Harry is proven right, and only Seamus seems to be a big enough person to apologize.
Overall, this was by far the least enjoyable book in the Harry Potter series thus far. Most of the characters spent most of their time either yelling at each other or doing mind-numbingly stupid acts, the over reliance of Umbridge as Potter's new foil became rather tiresome, and there were quite a few plotholes in this book which I'm not going to spoil here, but still rather annoyed me. The book probably would have been better if it were at least 200 pages shorter, and the big revelation at the end was nothing that most readers probably didn't figure out after the first book. It wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't all that good either. Overall, I'd give Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a 5.045 out of 10. Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
- After witnessing the revival of his arch-rival Voldemort, the death of one of his fellow students, and not only enduring a smear campaign but also a plot to have him expelled from Hogwarts from the Ministry of Magic, well it's safe to say that Harry Potter is just a bit angry in this book. Naturally, he does what most people do in situations like these and takes out his frustration on those unfortunate enough to be close to him. It seems like half the book is spent on Harry yelling at whoever he happened to be talking to at the moment, whether they deserved it or not. The other half of the book is usually Harry either wallowing in self-pity or making the dumbest decision possible at every turn. While this may be the way that most teenagers would act in this situation, it does make Harry a lot less sympathetic in this book than in any of the previous titles.
- Then again, Harry's not the only person that has seemingly taken a turn for the worse. His two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger, seem to not be able to go more than five minutes without bickering at each other about even the smallest little thing. Granger in particular becomes more and more annoying, as she seemingly can't wait for any opportunity to boss her friends around. Even some of the adults of Hogwarts change for the worse, as head master Dumbledore seems to make a concentrated effort to have as little contact with Harry as possible (although it is later revealed that he had a good reason for this behavior), Snape becomes more and more hateful of Harry (although Harry certainly did not help himself in that matter), while Hagrid crosses the line between being a bit reckless and irresponsible to becoming a downright health risk for his friends to be around. At least Neville Longbottom actually changes for the better in this book, as he shows signs of being more than just a clumsy wizard, but rather a quite capable wizard, at least in a few subjects.
- Since there's another year at Hogwarts, there is also a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. This time it's a particularly nasty woman from the Ministry of Magic named Delores Umbridge. Umbridge doesn't seem to be too interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts, rather, her main goal is to gain enough power to take over Hogwarts. Umbridge also has a secondary role, to make Harry Potter's life a living hell. Umbridge is very successful in her goal of tormenting Potter, to the point where it gets tiresome. After a while, you can start predicting just when Umbridge comes in to foil whatever plan Harry and his friends have going on at the time. Also, it's never really made clear why Umbridge hates Potter so much, to the point where she orders Dementors to attack Potter and even attacks his owl, Hedwig. But, there's never a reason given as to why Umbridge is so strongly against Potter other than he may be a threat to her power. Surely, there is some deeper reasoning behind Umbridge's behavior.
- Like all the previous Harry Potter books, we are introduced to quite a few new characters, which is a good thing because it takes up time which otherwise would be spent on Harry being grouchy and/or Hermoine being an unbearable pest. Most of these characters are part of the titular Order of the Phoenix, which is a group put together to fight off Voldemort, although some of the members like Mundungus seem more interested in their own personal desires than fighting off Voldemort. The only one of these characters that were remotely interesting was the metamorph auror Tonks, and she only has a minor role in this book. The most fascinating new character is a fellow Hogwarts student named Luna Lovegood, who has a very different outlook on life than anyone else. It's actually somewhat refreshing to have someone with a different outlook on things for once, as Luna adds a new element to the story and is one of the few endearing characters in this story.
- Once again, Harry Potter and his Quidditch team (with Ron as goalie) takes on Draco Malfoy and his team and once again, Harry gets the better of Draco by catching the snitch first. Shouldn't somebody point out how bad Draco is at Quidditch the next time he insults Harry or the Weasleys or whoever? In fact, Draco is seemingly more inept than ever, as the only time he can seem to do anything right is when Umbridge tells him what to do. You would think that with Draco's lack of success against Harry Potter, he would learn to lay low and not antagonize his rival as much as he does, but considering the events at the end, I don't foresee that happening.
- Also, once again, some unpleasant news or events happen to Harry Potter, and once again, the student body of Hogwarts turn their back on him nearly en masse. Of course, the story of Harry's narrow escape of Voldemort isn't really told until the middle of the book, but even so, considering how many times Harry and his pals have saved the school from certain doom, wouldn't you think they would cut him some slack? But no, the newspaper with a habit for sensationalizing stories is knocking Potter, so he must be a lying buffoon who is worse than Stalin. Yet once again, Harry is proven right, and only Seamus seems to be a big enough person to apologize.
Overall, this was by far the least enjoyable book in the Harry Potter series thus far. Most of the characters spent most of their time either yelling at each other or doing mind-numbingly stupid acts, the over reliance of Umbridge as Potter's new foil became rather tiresome, and there were quite a few plotholes in this book which I'm not going to spoil here, but still rather annoyed me. The book probably would have been better if it were at least 200 pages shorter, and the big revelation at the end was nothing that most readers probably didn't figure out after the first book. It wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't all that good either. Overall, I'd give Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a 5.045 out of 10. Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Canon Book Review: The Rebel League
Today, I finished reading Ed Willes's 2004 book, The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association. As you might expect, this book is about the World Hockey Association, a professional hockey league in the 1970s which tried to compete with the NHL, and ultimately ended up with four WHA teams, the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets, being absorbed into the NHL. The WHA may have only lasted seven seasons, but it still managed to have a huge impact on the game, as the talent wars between the WHA and the NHL causes salaries to skyrocket as well as bringing in a number of Eurpoean players and introducing North America to a different style of hockey. Many of hockey's greatest legends, such as Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Wayne Gretzky, played part of their careers in the WHA. While the WHA had a lot of skilled hockey players, it also had a bit of flair to it, as the league employed some of the craziest characters to ever lace up the skates. What Willes attempts to do with the Rebel League is to not only chronicle the zaniness of the World Hockey Association, but also the impact the WHA had on the game of hockey as a whole, and to be honest, he does quite a good job of it. A few notes about this book.
- Even from the start, the World Hockey Association was something quite different in the world of professional sports. The World Hockey Association basically came about because the creators of the American Basketball Association (another startup league around this time), Dennis Murphy and Gary Davidson, were bored. So they decided to start a hockey league even though they had no knowledge of the game whatsoever. Remarkably, they rounded up enough investors to field 12 teams in the WHA's inaugural season. Even though Murphy and Davidson were the creators of the WHA, they didn't last very long, as the duo then turned their attention to the less successful World Football League.
- One of the key chapters in The Rebel League was the chapter dealing with the subject of signing players away from the NHL to play in the WHA, the key player being Bobby Hull. Hull, at the time one of the marquee players in the NHL, signed a contract with the Winnipeg Jets for 5 years, nearly 3 million dollars, and included a 1 million dollar bonus up front. In modern terms, it would be as if Kobe Bryant left the NBA to sign in a new basketball league. Hull's signing not only caused oodles of controversy, but also legitimized the WHA, as scores of NHL players followed Hull's path into the great unknown. The defections also led to the destruction of the NHL's reserve clause, which not only gave players more freedom and increased salaries, but also became the first step to the establishment of free agency. So, even before the WHA even played a game, the league managed to change the game of hockey forever.
- Another change the WHA brought to the table was the signing of teenage players straight from the junior leagues. Before the WHA came around, players were not eligible for the draft until they reached the age of 20, and players basically were indentured to the various junior associations they played for. The players even had agents hand-picked by the Canadian junior hockey association to represent them, although they would usually not have the players' best interest at heart. One of the things the WHA did was sign players before they were eligible for the NHL draft to huge contracts. While this practice landed the WHA some premier talent, including Wayne Gretzky, it also was a mixed blessing for the youngsters who landed these big money contracts. As the author illustrates in the book, some players, like Dennis Sobchuk and Pat Price, got too much money too soon, and ultimately the players were too immature to handle all of the money and the expectations that followed. However, the practice of signing young players did eventually lead to players now being drafted at age 18, and also loosens the grip that the junior leagues had on their young players.
- Of course, the WHA is also remembered for its cast of some of the most intriguing characters to ever play hockey, and the author does a splendid job of presenting these characters in an entertaining manner. Players like goalie Gilles Gratton, who believed he was reincarnated several times and once missed a game due to an injury he claimed happened over 300 years ago. Also there was the Carlson brothers, Jack, Scott and Jeff, who were the inspiration for the Hanson Brothers in the movie "Slapshot" (Scott and Jeff actually starred as the Hanson brothers, along with fellow goon Dave Hanson. Not to mention Bill Goldthorpe, perhaps the wildest man to ever play hockey, a man that practiced Martial Arts in the locker room and would wrestle many an unsuspecting fellow, no matter what the situation. There was Frankie Beaton, who once escaped Cincinnati police by being placed in an equipment bag after a warrant was issued for his arrest, and many, many more characters whose exploits were profiled here.
Overall, this is quite an entertaining read. Willes uses first person accounts with key figures such as Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Harry Neale, and others, and weaves those accounts into an entertaining tale about one of the most tumultuous times in hockey history. From tales of failed franchsies and sub-standard hockey arenas, to the excellence of the Hot Line in Winnepeg and the Howes in Houston, to the constant attempts to merge with the NHL, only to end up with a merger that provided little help to the merged teams, to all of the changes that the WHA brought to professional hockey as a whole to shape today's game, the Rebel League tells it all, and does so in an entertaining yet informative manner. While not quite on par with Loose Balls, Terry Pluto's account of the ABA, The Rebel League is definitely a worthy read for any hockey or sports fan. Overall, I'd give The Rebel League an 8.6 out of 10. Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
- Even from the start, the World Hockey Association was something quite different in the world of professional sports. The World Hockey Association basically came about because the creators of the American Basketball Association (another startup league around this time), Dennis Murphy and Gary Davidson, were bored. So they decided to start a hockey league even though they had no knowledge of the game whatsoever. Remarkably, they rounded up enough investors to field 12 teams in the WHA's inaugural season. Even though Murphy and Davidson were the creators of the WHA, they didn't last very long, as the duo then turned their attention to the less successful World Football League.
- One of the key chapters in The Rebel League was the chapter dealing with the subject of signing players away from the NHL to play in the WHA, the key player being Bobby Hull. Hull, at the time one of the marquee players in the NHL, signed a contract with the Winnipeg Jets for 5 years, nearly 3 million dollars, and included a 1 million dollar bonus up front. In modern terms, it would be as if Kobe Bryant left the NBA to sign in a new basketball league. Hull's signing not only caused oodles of controversy, but also legitimized the WHA, as scores of NHL players followed Hull's path into the great unknown. The defections also led to the destruction of the NHL's reserve clause, which not only gave players more freedom and increased salaries, but also became the first step to the establishment of free agency. So, even before the WHA even played a game, the league managed to change the game of hockey forever.
- Another change the WHA brought to the table was the signing of teenage players straight from the junior leagues. Before the WHA came around, players were not eligible for the draft until they reached the age of 20, and players basically were indentured to the various junior associations they played for. The players even had agents hand-picked by the Canadian junior hockey association to represent them, although they would usually not have the players' best interest at heart. One of the things the WHA did was sign players before they were eligible for the NHL draft to huge contracts. While this practice landed the WHA some premier talent, including Wayne Gretzky, it also was a mixed blessing for the youngsters who landed these big money contracts. As the author illustrates in the book, some players, like Dennis Sobchuk and Pat Price, got too much money too soon, and ultimately the players were too immature to handle all of the money and the expectations that followed. However, the practice of signing young players did eventually lead to players now being drafted at age 18, and also loosens the grip that the junior leagues had on their young players.
- Of course, the WHA is also remembered for its cast of some of the most intriguing characters to ever play hockey, and the author does a splendid job of presenting these characters in an entertaining manner. Players like goalie Gilles Gratton, who believed he was reincarnated several times and once missed a game due to an injury he claimed happened over 300 years ago. Also there was the Carlson brothers, Jack, Scott and Jeff, who were the inspiration for the Hanson Brothers in the movie "Slapshot" (Scott and Jeff actually starred as the Hanson brothers, along with fellow goon Dave Hanson. Not to mention Bill Goldthorpe, perhaps the wildest man to ever play hockey, a man that practiced Martial Arts in the locker room and would wrestle many an unsuspecting fellow, no matter what the situation. There was Frankie Beaton, who once escaped Cincinnati police by being placed in an equipment bag after a warrant was issued for his arrest, and many, many more characters whose exploits were profiled here.
Overall, this is quite an entertaining read. Willes uses first person accounts with key figures such as Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Harry Neale, and others, and weaves those accounts into an entertaining tale about one of the most tumultuous times in hockey history. From tales of failed franchsies and sub-standard hockey arenas, to the excellence of the Hot Line in Winnepeg and the Howes in Houston, to the constant attempts to merge with the NHL, only to end up with a merger that provided little help to the merged teams, to all of the changes that the WHA brought to professional hockey as a whole to shape today's game, the Rebel League tells it all, and does so in an entertaining yet informative manner. While not quite on par with Loose Balls, Terry Pluto's account of the ABA, The Rebel League is definitely a worthy read for any hockey or sports fan. Overall, I'd give The Rebel League an 8.6 out of 10. Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The 200th Canon Review Post
Before I begin, I must state that originally I was going to do a review for Fable III, but it occurred to me that I probably haven't played enough of the game to do a proper review on it. So, I'll hold off on that for a while, and hopefully I'll be able to deliver a proper review by the end of the week. Also, even though it may not seem like it judging from the infrequent updates on this blog, I do have a few other ideas I've been working on. So never fear, there will be more coming at the Canon Review in the near future. Just not tomorrow, as I will be busy and unable to be on the internet for any long period of time. But after tomorrow, you will be able to see the 201st post on The Canon Review. That's probably the least exciting announcement you will hear all weak, but it's an announcement nonetheless. As for me, I'm still in mourning over Georgia Tech's loss to Georgia on Saturday. I mean, you don't expect a kicker that has made 77 extra points in a row to miss one that would tie the game against their biggest rival and cost the team the game. Yes, it's good that the Falcons won against the Packers and the Hawks won three straight games in four days, but damn it, it would have been sweet for the Yellow Jackets to beat the Bulldogs. Now I have to hear UGA fans brag all year about their team's superiority over Tech, to go along with the taunting I receive from my sister after Tech lost to her school, Kennesaw State University, in basketball just two weeks ago. I don't really have a point here, just ranting.
Anyway, if you have an idea for a future post on the Canon Review, then let me know about it either by leaving a comment on the blog or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com. It could be about nearly anything, from a movie to a book to the nine greatest fly outs in the history of baseball to whatever your heart's desire, provided it's an appropriate topic of course. So, in honor of the 200th post in Canon Review history, I leave you with two totally unrelated videos:
Anyway, if you have an idea for a future post on the Canon Review, then let me know about it either by leaving a comment on the blog or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com. It could be about nearly anything, from a movie to a book to the nine greatest fly outs in the history of baseball to whatever your heart's desire, provided it's an appropriate topic of course. So, in honor of the 200th post in Canon Review history, I leave you with two totally unrelated videos:
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 6, 1967 Stanley Cup Finals, May 2, 1967
Ninety-three years and a day ago, the NHL was formed. The original NHL has five teams, one of which played four games before shutting down, and of the four, only the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs (which in 1917, were known as the Toronto Arenas) survived. In tribute of this fact, I have decided to watch a classic hockey game featuring the two original teams of the National Hockey League. This particular game took place in 1967, and is notable because this is the last game the Toronto Maple Leafs have played in the Stanley Cup Finals up until now. Meanwhile, teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, and Tampa Bay Lightning have won Stanley Cups while the once proud Maple Leafs just can't seem to find their way to claiming Lord Stanley's prize. So, here are a few observations about the last Stanley Cup win for the Toronto Maple Leafs:
- These teams were so loaded with talent that you could swing a stick in any direction and most likely hit a Hall of Famer. For the Maple Leafs alone, there were 10 players that suited up in this game that would go on to be elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including both goalies (Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower). Not to be outdone, the Canadiens dressed six men that wound up in the Hall of Fame.
- Not only were the Maple Leafs loaded with talent, they were also, shall we say, experienced. Bower was the oldest player in the league at 42, but he had some contenders for that title on his own team, as defenseman Allan Stanley was 40, center Red Kelly was 39, Sawchuk and defenseman Tim Horton was 37, and defenseman Marcel Pronovost and right wing George Armstrong was 36. To say the Leafs were full of veteran presence would be an understatement.
- However, no matter how old they were, these Leafs could still play. Sawchuk was by far the player of the game, saving 40 shots and making even the toughest saves look easy. Sawchuk made a lot of key saves, but he was also helped by the Maple Leafs' veteran defense, particularly Pronovost, as the Leafs kept the Canadiens at bay and made the Canadiens take the majority of their shots from a long distance. Kelly had a strong game, as he had two assists in what proved to be his final game, and it was the team captain, Armstrong, that put in the empty-netter in the last minute to seal the game for Toronto. Not only that, but Armstrong, along with forwards Dave Keon and Ron Ellis, helped throttle the potent Montreal power play.
- Even though it came in a losing effort, the best individual play came from Montreal left winger Dick Duff. In the middle of the third period, Duff took the puck back in his own zone, raced across the ice, put a big time deke move on Tim Horton, skated around Allan Stanley and firing an off balance shot past Sawchuk for Montreal's only goal. Duff's goal not only cut the lead to 2-1, it also woke up the Canadiens, as they began to press harder and harder for the tying goal, but Sawchuk recovered quickly and stood strong.
- I must say that I haven't watched a lot of hockey from the 1960s, so this was a bit of a different experience. For one thing, only two players on the ice were wearing helmets, and the Montreal goalie, Gump Worsley, didn't even wear a mask, which to me seems like a rather bad idea, but since Gump played well into his 40s, I guess it worked for him. Sawchuk had a mask on that looked to be made out of plastic and made him look like a demented horror film character, well that, and his constant stoop that had developed from years of playing goalie. In fact, if you were to take a look at the short, stocky Worsley, and Sawchuk, who stood and skated as if he were in constant pain, you would never guess they could be fast enough to play goalie, but by golly, both men played quite well, as Worsley also made over 40 saves, including a few that were rather spectacular.
Well, I guess that's enough for now, as I am tired and I want to go to bed. If you have any memories or thoughts about this game, then I would like for you to post those in the comments section. Also, if you have any ideas for future posts, then let me know about them either by leaving a comment of by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
- These teams were so loaded with talent that you could swing a stick in any direction and most likely hit a Hall of Famer. For the Maple Leafs alone, there were 10 players that suited up in this game that would go on to be elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including both goalies (Terry Sawchuk and Johnny Bower). Not to be outdone, the Canadiens dressed six men that wound up in the Hall of Fame.
- Not only were the Maple Leafs loaded with talent, they were also, shall we say, experienced. Bower was the oldest player in the league at 42, but he had some contenders for that title on his own team, as defenseman Allan Stanley was 40, center Red Kelly was 39, Sawchuk and defenseman Tim Horton was 37, and defenseman Marcel Pronovost and right wing George Armstrong was 36. To say the Leafs were full of veteran presence would be an understatement.
- However, no matter how old they were, these Leafs could still play. Sawchuk was by far the player of the game, saving 40 shots and making even the toughest saves look easy. Sawchuk made a lot of key saves, but he was also helped by the Maple Leafs' veteran defense, particularly Pronovost, as the Leafs kept the Canadiens at bay and made the Canadiens take the majority of their shots from a long distance. Kelly had a strong game, as he had two assists in what proved to be his final game, and it was the team captain, Armstrong, that put in the empty-netter in the last minute to seal the game for Toronto. Not only that, but Armstrong, along with forwards Dave Keon and Ron Ellis, helped throttle the potent Montreal power play.
- Even though it came in a losing effort, the best individual play came from Montreal left winger Dick Duff. In the middle of the third period, Duff took the puck back in his own zone, raced across the ice, put a big time deke move on Tim Horton, skated around Allan Stanley and firing an off balance shot past Sawchuk for Montreal's only goal. Duff's goal not only cut the lead to 2-1, it also woke up the Canadiens, as they began to press harder and harder for the tying goal, but Sawchuk recovered quickly and stood strong.
- I must say that I haven't watched a lot of hockey from the 1960s, so this was a bit of a different experience. For one thing, only two players on the ice were wearing helmets, and the Montreal goalie, Gump Worsley, didn't even wear a mask, which to me seems like a rather bad idea, but since Gump played well into his 40s, I guess it worked for him. Sawchuk had a mask on that looked to be made out of plastic and made him look like a demented horror film character, well that, and his constant stoop that had developed from years of playing goalie. In fact, if you were to take a look at the short, stocky Worsley, and Sawchuk, who stood and skated as if he were in constant pain, you would never guess they could be fast enough to play goalie, but by golly, both men played quite well, as Worsley also made over 40 saves, including a few that were rather spectacular.
Well, I guess that's enough for now, as I am tired and I want to go to bed. If you have any memories or thoughts about this game, then I would like for you to post those in the comments section. Also, if you have any ideas for future posts, then let me know about them either by leaving a comment of by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
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