Is Jim Rice over-rated by some fans?

Question

I’m not saying he was awful. But I keep reading some people on YA saying he was the “most feared slugger in the game.” I just don’t see it. To reduce park effects and their distortions, let’s look at where he ranked in things like Slugging, OPS+, Runs : Created in his years in the AL.
NTT=Not in the top ten.
1975: Slugging 9, OPS+ and RC NTT.
1976: SLG 2, NTT and NTT.
1977: #1 SLG, #6 OPS+, #2 RC (Behind Rod Carew, a non-slugger)
1978: #1 in all three—kudos.
1979: 2/4/2
1980: 7/NTT/NTT
1981: NTT/NTT/3-way tie for 10
1982: NTT/NTT/NTT
1983: 2/6/6
1984: NTT/NTT/NTT
1985: SAME
1986: 10/6/6
1987/1988/1989: NTT/NTT/NTT

That's good. But that's not feared or dominant more than anyone else of his time.
George Brett led the league more often in slugging percentage. So did Schmidt, Jackson, Yaz, McCovey...he is tied with Fred Lynn.

That doesn't look like #1 dominant guy to me.

And we've got a "most feared hitter in baseball" answer! That didn't take long. Okay, I didn't survey pitchers of the time. But given that he was usually only AMONG the best and not THE best, why would he be the most feared?

Answer 1

I say he is border line overrated. I'm a Rice guy though I loved him. He had some great years but his numbers are certainly border line for the hall. When he got old he got real old in a hurry and his body gave out on him. 1978 was a monster year but I think the hall will not be in his future. There are guys with better numbers. Hitters are easier to measure with all the stats. I feel it's much tougher to gauge pitchers for the hall. The dramatic changes with the ways starters, relivers and closers have been used since the mid 70's as apposed to prior to that time.

Answer 2

Rice will probably have to wait for the veteran's committee to vote him into the Hall of Fame. He just didn't play long enough to accummulate great career numbers and was not very popular with the press.

In his prime (1977-1979), there wasn't a more feared hitter in all of baseball. I went to over 100 Sox games over that stretch and he was a pretty special hitter. Hank Aaron once pegged him as the active player most likely to break his HR record. Rice was the only player to have 200 hits and 35 HRs for three straight season, (1977-1979), and still might be.

He was not a defensive wizard in LF, (especially replacing Yaz), but his defense improved over the years.

Answer 3

Completley agree, Brady won his superbowls on run and protection first team and vinatieris take carry of kicking. whilst people play the colts they comprehend that manning is going to bypass and not something you're able to do to end them. additionally the patriots have almost consistently had commonplace vets on their team manning is often arising adult males, incredibly Reggie Wayne, Austin collie and pierre garçon, the only polished WR manning became into ever exceeded became into Marvin Harrison, between the terrific statistical WR's ever, plus the pats o-line is lots lots extra suitable. And lastely Brady is a gadget qb, no belichek, no Brady, at the same time as Peyton is surprisingly lots his very own offensive coordinator.

Answer 4

Yes, of course some do. That's why they're fans.

Answer 5

He was good for his time. He is a borderline candidate.

Answer 6

definitely but he was great, no doubt
Andre Dawson was much better though
GO CUBS

Answer 7

yes he is, those fans are called bostonians, but they call themselves "red sox nation" how one city can be a nation? i dunno