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dlreed52 Dick Stuart could have been a better-than-average first baseman if he'd only cared to. On very rare occasions, he was capable of scooping low throws while performing a split that would have made a ballet artist proud.
Most of the time, however, he simply couldn't be bothered. As he once told his manager, "I get paid to do one thing on this ball club, and I do it very well, and that's hit the ball out of the ballpark."
Furthermore, his staggeringly high number of errors are only a partial indication of his defensive indifference. Errors are not given to fielders who allow pop flies, line drives, and grounders to escape into the outfield unhindered due to inertia instead of ineptitude. This aspect of Stuart's defense led to a third nickname, "The Ancient Mariner," because, like the Coleridge protagonist, "he stoppeth one in three."
Or seemed to be trying to....
[Note: Gaylord Perry would also be dubbed "The Ancient Mariner" since he was a bit long in the tooth when he logged his 300th career win while playing for Seattle.]
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carl2444 Over the years, I've written hundreds of letters to old ballplayers, asking
questions on dozens of topics.
One was asking pitchers who played with Stuart how they felt about his
fielding ability. I received three responses:
Bob Friend: Dick Stuart was a great athlete. He won more games with his
bat than he lost with his glove. I was happy to see him in the lineup.
Bill Monbouquette: Dick wasn't a very good fielder. Had no range, average
arm, and his hands were not good.......Great guy, very witty.
Elroy Face: All I can tell you, as a pitcher in tight situations, when I
came into a ballgame, I would have to walk past him to get to the mound. The
tying or winning run could be on first base. He would say to me, "Don't throw
(over) to me, I don't want to foul up anymore." I would be afraid to try to
pick the runner off 1st base.
But he was adequate as a 1st baseman. As good or better than most of today's
1st basemen.
Friday Rockpile: Eight isn't enough, so the Rockies go for nine
Purple Row —
... Bullpen now stoppers in tough situations - The Denver Post Matt Daley has a line about the confusion that was the bullpen until recently, when guys didn't know their role out there. Also, Jason Hammel expects to receive his ALCS ring next week when the Devil Rays visit Denver.
Rockies' surge isn't easy to explain - FOX Sports on MSN Tracy Ringolsby latest work at Fox Sports looks at the Rockies' "surge."
Cooperstown Confidential: Dr. Strangeglove and Mr. Cooper -- The Hardball Times Since we're on ...
Monday Morning Astros, etc. Round Up
The Crawfish Boxes —
... The Hardball Times discusses whether Coop gets fired on the next losing streak and who might replace him...interesting, but I'm not sure I buy much of it. ...
