I think DH's get very little respect, all the awards go to positional players like in 2005 when A-rod won the MVP over Big Papi, even though Papi had an enormous season. So who do you think is the greatest DH of all time ?
My list is:
1. Edgar Martinez
2. Frank Thomas
3. David Ortiz
2007-09-18 09:43:08 · 18 answers · asked by powerplayer_11 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
by the way..i m from seattle, so of course i had to put edgar on top and i think man has a beautiful swing...
2007-09-18 10:03:57 · update #1
Molitor's in the Hall, but he did a lot more than just DH, so let's step past him.
I'll take Edgar Martinez. Utterly brilliant hitter, and the DH award is named after him. Gar won it five times before MLB decided to slap his name on it. Ortiz has four in a row, and is looking good for the quinfecta.
Edgar -- Hall 2010!
EMA winners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Martinez_Award
2007-09-18 09:51:23 · answer #1 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Tough quesiton. Those guys are the three best DHs of all time, but the order is questionable. I think it is David Ortiz, Edgar Martinez, and Frank Thomas, in that order.
Ortiz is an absolute monster. His stats from '04, '05, and '06, respectively: 41, 47, and 54 HRs, 139, 148, 147 RBIs, .603, .603, .636 SLG, and .380, .397, .413 OBP.
Martinez had a career .312 BA, 309 HRs, 1261 RBIs. Nuff said.
Frank Thomas has 512 HRs and counting, .302 BA, and a billion RBIs. He is crazy good. He might be just as good, if not better than Edgar.
All three are (or were) great baseball players, and there is no doubt that they are the three greatest DHs ever. At this point, Edgar might even be better than Big Papi. They named the DH award after Martinez, which says quite a lot. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Martinez_Award to see the past winners. Papi has won it four years in a row, which is anpther reason i think he might be better than Martinez.
2007-09-18 17:00:55 · answer #2 · answered by Jaspee✈ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You really have to consider the split statistics in this situation. Frank Thomas was not a DH for his whole career. In fact, only 56% of his at bats are as a DH. So the 500 home run argument is invalid, as he has only hit 260 home runs. If you look at his numbers as a first basemen, they are much better than those as a DH. For example, he hit .337 / .453 / .625 / 1.078 as a first baseman compared to his DH numbers, which are .277 / .396 / .512 / .908. So I think this eliminates Frank Thomas.
Edgar Martinez I really can't complain about, although his power/RBI numbers could've been better. Anyone will take a .960 OPS guy anytime. However, once Ortiz (.959 OPS as a DH) reaches as many at bats as Martinez, I'd give him the number one spot.
As far as Paul Molitor is concerned, I wouldn't rate him in the top three. He was still a great player nonetheless.
I would rate it:
1) Edgar Martinez
2) David Ortiz
3) Frank Thomas
2007-09-18 18:25:09 · answer #3 · answered by Jordan F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your list. When the Yanks finally made the playoffs in 1995, they faced off with a Seattle team that featured sluggers Griffey Jr., Buhner, and a young Arod, but Edgar was the one they feared the most and tried, to no avail, to not let him beat them. Edgar hit 2 HRs in game 4 and knocked in the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the 11th in game 5 as Seattle took the series 3 games to two after Yanks had jumped out to a 2 game lead.
Always had lots of respect for Edgar Martinez.
2007-09-18 17:14:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At this point Edgar. He was consistently great for such a long time. And had one of the best swings ever. Big Papi has a great chance to pass him though if he can keep it up.
2007-09-18 17:14:09 · answer #5 · answered by Joboo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Jim Thome
2. Frank Thomas
3. David Ortiz
2007-09-18 17:01:09 · answer #6 · answered by 3 of diamonds 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Edgar
2007-09-18 16:51:43 · answer #7 · answered by J Dub 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Martinez is probably the best DH.
But there's a REASON DHs don't get as much respect...they don't deserve it.
They don't have to sweat out inning after inning or freeze their butts off in cold games. They don't have to worry about ground balls hitting them in the face or body or collisions with runners or fielders inning after inning. They perform five or six times a game and only have to hit.
Obviously, if a league has a DH a good one will be helpful to your team. But his batting has to be so much better than any competent fielder's as to be incredible for him to be worth as much.
2007-09-19 04:48:36 · answer #8 · answered by Bucky 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Edgar Martinez of course...he has ALL of the DH records...even stolen bases.
2007-09-18 17:06:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Martinez, Ortiz, Baines in that order.
Frank Thomas, Paul Molitor, and Jim Thome played positions for most of their careers, including their best years, so I don't count them.
2007-09-18 17:38:44 · answer #10 · answered by Thomas M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋