Worst personality in baseball .....

[OldEnglishD]

With all the Terrell Owens crud going on in the NFL, it makes me wonder who is baseball's T.O. ? I know that no one is on par with that dofus; but MLB still has it's cancers.

So, who's worst (please limit this thread to players, and leave out the Seligs, Steinbrenners, etc.)

[Mr. Met]

Kevin Brown comes to mind.

[runningshoes]

A.J. Pierzynski

Mods..He's safe at home. You can close this thread. :D

[Mattingly]

Since Brown was already mentioned, I'd say that Barry Bonds qualifies. In the past, I'd have added John Rocker and Albert Belle.

Too bad that Kenny Rogers doesn't quite have the finesse of the "Lady Love" crooner, since his showing no lover to cameramen (in a Sean Penn (actor) kind of way), makes him a current MLB bad-boy.

[runningshoes]

^^^^^^As soon as either one of them plants a knee in his trainers groin, I'll nominate him as well.

Until then, i'm sticking with A.J. ;)

[ndistops]

Pierzynski and Bonds. In that order.

(Yes, I just said AJP is worse than Bonds. What's wrong with me? ;) )

[runningshoes]

Too bad that Kenny Rogers doesn't quite have the finesse of the "Lady Love" crooner, since his showing no lover to cameramen (in a Sean Penn (actor) kind of way), makes him a current MLB bad-boy.

I can understand pushing a degenerate camera man around; I've worked with many over the years, but phyisically abusing a member of my own organization?

Bonds is a goof, no question about it, but I don't think he's a sociopath, which I would definatley define as a persoality disorder.

[Dasperp]

Jeff Kent. He has fought with teammates everywhere he's gone.

[E.Banks#14]

How about this then? http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2217517&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Maybe more like O.J. to the NFL...

[plask_stirlac]

Or his compatriot, Milton Bradley.

[runningshoes]

How about this then?

Revenge doesn't count, guys. ;)

[AnaheimAngelsFan]

P - Kevin Brown
C - AJ Pierzynski
1B -
2B- Jeff Kent
SS - David Eckstein (just kidding)
3B -
LF - Barry Bonds
CF -
RF - Milton Bradley

[steveox]

Reggie Jackson.. Reggie dont like following orders from a manager or from the owner. Just like billy martin told reggie to swing away he wanted to bunt. So reggie bunted and cause a big fight in the dugout at fenway. Remember that?

[ElCaminoSS]

rex hudler

[Brian McKenna]

Reggie Jackson.. Reggie dont like following orders from a manager or from the owner. Just like billy martin told reggie to swing away he wanted to bunt. So reggie bunted and cause a big fight in the dugout at fenway. Remember that?

if we're talking the past - rogers hornsby has to be up there

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

oh you all have to get good ol' Rickey Henderson on there. I love that story about he and John Olerud.

[Zito75]

oh you all have to get good ol' Rickey Henderson on there. I love that story about he and John Olerud.

Yes! Love the story about Ricky & Olerud as well. It always makes a great ice breaker.

Worst personality ever? Here's a few:

Ty Cobb- No explanation needed. He hated EVERYONE.
AJ Pierzynski- He's not nearly as good as he thinks he is.
Barry Bonds- Also hates everyone, including himself.
Rafael Palmeiro- Lying is the worst personality trait, IMO.
Donald Fehr- Just plain annoying.
Bud Selig- Needs to get a real job.

[Looping Line Drive]

Here's my first post.

Here's a hypothetical...
You're stuck on a desserted Isle ,and you have to have 3 of the players mentioned in this thread with you on the Isle.
Who do you pick to have with you? ;)

[MyDogSparty]

oh you all have to get good ol' Rickey Henderson on there. I love that story about he and John Olerud.


I've never heard it, what's the story?

[DownUnderDodger]

All depends who the media want to denegrate at the time - after all most of the crap that come out about any player in any sport is media generated, so we are the ones who chose to believe what we read. I know in watching Sports Center fairly regularly that T.O. is a favourite in NFL. Seems that Bonds is the Baseball favourite, and, despite the occasional "big story" such as Sosa's corked bat, it always seems to return to Bonds.

[trosmok]

I hereby nominate Doug "Mendoza line" Mientkiewicz. Almost $4mil. for a bench riding free agent, who was poison in Minnesota, was traded to the Red Sox and seemed to blossom. Then after the World Series, he started with that "Boston isn't big enough for the both of us at first..." on his platoon role with the team. In '05 with the Mets he fussed about being benched, but was hitting a whopping .208 at the time, his SLG% about the same, not exactly what you need from a power position.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I've never heard it, what's the story?
When Henderson was with the Mets, I believe, with Olerud as a teammate, he noticed Olerud would wear a helmet on the field. He remarked how he used to have a teammate in Toronto who did that very same thing. The teammate in Toronto being Olerud, of course.

Flake? Sure. Bad personality? I wouldn't think so.

[KCGHOST]

This "award" should be named after Dick Allen and awarded annually. :D

[runningshoes]

This "award" should be named after Dick Allen and awarded annually. :D

Would we call it the "D*ck H**d" Award? :D

[EDITED TO KEEP THIS SITE "PG-RATED"]

[Mattingly]

I know in watching Sports Center fairly regularly that T.O. is a favourite in NFL.
In all my discussions here, I never thought for *ONCE* that I'd see anyone remotely as bad as $cott Bora$, much less anyone who'd make me think that Bora$ could possibly look charming (shudder the thought) next to someone else. Along comes Drew Rosenhaus, T.O.'s agent, who decides that since his client's $49m/7 yr deal is "chump change", to use his own words, he should be allowed to belittle the QB who'd helped get them to the Super Bowl, get into arguments, fights with a team's retired "ambassador", and belittle the organization itself as having "no class" for not honoring him for being the 6th guy in the NFL getting 100 TD passes.

"Ballistic" doesn't describe the word I'd use if any MLB player ever tried that one. As bad as Bora$ is in getting amped-up, overpriced long-term deals (A-Rod, Chan Ho Park, Beltran, etc), I've never seen him resort to anything that bizarre.

Terrell's just lucky that his playing field is a 100-yd gridiron, rather than a diamond with a 9-man team, 16 others either pitching, in the pen or bench. No way baseball would ever tolerate that nonsense, and even the Philly Eagles aren't, despite the "out there" personas by T.O., Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson.

[PeteF3]

oh you all have to get good ol' Rickey Henderson on there. I love that story about he and John Olerud.

Too bad it's not true.

[Mattingly]

Too bad it's not true.
You mean that's a tale of yore? How'd you figure on that one? Got a good link where either men denied this?

[trosmok]

Anyone who alternates referring to himself in the third person, "Rickey does what Rickey wants...", and then simply as "the greatest", has some severe personality disorders, in my view.

Honorable mention to Reggie "swinganamiss" Jackson.

No Mets, Twins, or Red Sox fans opinions on Mientkiewicz?

[PeteF3]

You mean that's a tale of yore? How'd you figure on that one? Got a good link where either men denied this?

Salon Magazine, the 10/9/01 issue. Both men deny the story in there.

A simple Google search (Olerud Rickey helmet) brings up the story, and 99% of the hits also mention that the story is apocryphal, or at the very least, "alleged." It was apparently started as a joke in the Mets clubhouse, and got picked up by a local TV station as if it were actually true.

Then again, facts have rarely been important as things to fuel people's irrational hatred of Rickey Henderson.

[Yankee Legend]

Based on recent news a guy whos really been a jerk is Manny Ramirez. I still don't understand what exactly is his problem with the Red Sox??

[sschirmer]

You know I'm going with Barry "I don't sign for white people" Bonds.

[ndistops]

You know I'm going with Barry "I don't sign for white people" Bonds.
Thanks for keeping this quote alive. Sometimes I need reminding that this is perhaps the funniest and most offensive quote in perhaps the history of humanity all at the same time. :dance

[RottenGazebo]

Even as a Tiger fan, I would currently say Ivan Rodriguez.

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

Kyle Farnsworth...even as a braves fan. I'd hate to make him angry while he had a gun availible.:eek: :eek:

[ndistops]

Kyle Farnsworth...even as a braves fan. I'd hate to make him angry while he had a gun availible.:eek: :eek:
He doesn't need a gun, he'll just body slam you to death.

"The eagle has landed on Paul Wilson's nose." - Stone or Chip, I can't remember which

[yankees-chick]

Bonds would be my top pick. But Yankee "stars" Kevin Brown and Jeff Weaver are close.....

[FatAngel]

Then again, facts have rarely been important as things to fuel people's irrational hatred of Rickey Henderson.

Agree. I think Rickey is more a terrible speaker than anything else.

[sschirmer]

Agree. I think Rickey is more a terrible speaker than anything else.

Come on, he's the "Greatest of all-time."

[Mattingly]

Salon Magazine, the 10/9/01 issue. Both men deny the story in there.

A simple Google search (Olerud Rickey helmet) brings up the story, and 99% of the hits also mention that the story is apocryphal, or at the very least, "alleged." It was apparently started as a joke in the Mets clubhouse, and got picked up by a local TV station as if it were actually true.

Then again, facts have rarely been important as things to fuel people's irrational hatred of Rickey Henderson.
I found this thing which seems highly credible, per the source:

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/submit/Patterson_Harry1.stm
Henderson-Olerud Story Never Happened

by Harry Patterson (Pittsburgh, PA)

This is more of a correction than a submission. The story about Rickey Henderson asking John Olerud why he wears a batting helmet (included in the Olerud bio, but not Henderson's) never happened. It started as a joke and was spread mainly by a Toronto writer. It has been denied by both players and debunked by several sportswriters. There are enough real Rickey stories out there. This is one of the better ones but it is simply not true.

» Harry Patterson is the author of several sports trivia books, most of which are available on Amazon.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a blog/newsgroup article discussing it: http://empyrealenvirons.blogs.com/empyreal_environs/2005/05/all_helmet_all_.html

[FatAngel]

Come on, he's the "Greatest of all-time."
Wasn´t it more like "Lou Brock was a symbol of basestealing. But now I´m the greatest (basestealer?) of all time !" ?

Not sure of the exact phrase, though.

[trosmok]

Come on, he's the "Greatest of all-time."

The thing about the Rickey is he has a T.O. sized ego, approximately the size of the planet Jupiter.:cool:

[Barnstormer]

Wasn´t it more like "Lou Brock was a symbol of basestealing. But now I´m the greatest (basestealer?) of all time !" ?

Not sure of the exact phrase, though.

If that's what he said, then it may be arrogant but it's true, he is the greatest basestealer of all time. 1400 SBs with an 80% success rate.

[Captain Cold Nose]

The thing about the Rickey is he has a T.O. sized ego, approximately the size of the planet Jupiter.:cool:
A lot of players who achieved as much as Henderson did as a player (not a very long list, mind you) have large egos. Goes with the territory when you're setting records.

[Mattingly]

A lot of players who achieved as much as Henderson did as a player (not a very long list, mind you) have large egos. Goes with the territory when you're setting records.
It ain't braggin' if you can back it up!

--One certain "humble" :p ballplayer who wore #9 for Finley's team and #44 for George's team.

[runningshoes]

Rickey Henderson was a great lead off hitter; Lou Brock was not.

At the very least, that makes him greater than Brock.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Even if his head is large enough to go on Mt. Rushmore, the guy has been more funny than abrasive, which is what a bad personality is to me. Rickey's never cost his team due to being a clubhouse distraction.

[AnaheimAngelsFan]

Frank Robinson

[538280]

--One certain "humble" ballplayer who wore #9 for Finley's team and #44 for George's team.

Reggie Jackson.. Reggie dont like following orders from a manager or from the owner. Just like billy martin told reggie to swing away he wanted to bunt. So reggie bunted and cause a big fight in the dugout at fenway. Remember that?

Really, the hatred Reggie gets on this board is unbelieveable. Do a little reasearch on him, you'll find he's a wholly likeable guy. Billy Martin was truly more to fault than Reggie for all those fights.

Reggie was not to fault for his self promoting-it wasn't even his true personaility. He knew the best way to make money and help himself financially was to promote himself. Really, would Reggie have made the money he did without self promoting? Sorry to say, the loudmouths get the endorsments. Reggie was a slick businessman, that's all.

[RottenGazebo]

Frank RobinsonI would say Ozzie Guillen...

[ElCaminoSS]

You know I'm going with Barry "I don't sign for white people" Bonds.
I agree! And lets not forget they were for an auction for children with cancer:eek: ! thanks a lot barry

Really, the hatred Reggie gets on this board is unbelieveable.
Thats because hes a pompous ass

p.s. He owes me a wood bat that his crappy hit-away dented all up :mad: . He'll slap his name on anything

[papa~smurf]

Gary Sheffield hasn't been mentioned.

[538280]

Gary Sheffield hasn't been mentioned.

And he shouldn't be.

[Mattingly]

Really, the hatred Reggie gets on this board is unbelieveable. Do a little reasearch on him, you'll find he's a wholly likeable guy. Billy Martin was truly more to fault than Reggie for all those fights.

Reggie was not to fault for his self promoting-it wasn't even his true personaility. He knew the best way to make money and help himself financially was to promote himself. Really, would Reggie have made the money he did without self promoting? Sorry to say, the loudmouths get the endorsments. Reggie was a slick businessman, that's all.
Who said I was hating on Reggie? I was quoting him and his "it ain't braggin' if you can back it up" statement, which seemed relevant to the post I was replying to.

Do you realize how many people he converted into Yankee fans? In *FOUR* HRs over as many consecutive consecutive ABs, who else could win like that? He had a HR in his last AB in Game 5, and a walk in between before his next 3 jacks.

Citing his immodesty doesn't equate to hatred, at least to me. He's still with the Yankee organization and his #44 jersey can be bought across the street from Yankee Stadium at "Stan's", just as you can be Gehrig's, DiMaggio's, Mick's, Berra's, etc.

[trosmok]

Do you realize how many people he converted into Yankee fans?


That alone is enough to make any real baseball fan intensely dislike Reginald Martinez Jackson.:D

More than any player, Mr. Swinganamiss Jackson was the most irritating individual when he actually made contact. Of the 563 HRs he did manage to hit, including those in his last five pitiful seasons, he stood and admired approximately 560 of them. Why more pitchers didn't simply stick one in his ear the next time up defies reason. Thank goodness Sammy is on his way out, preserving the only record Reggie will be known for : Two-thousand five-hundred ninety-seven strikeouts, that's worth repeating: 2597 Ks, three short of twenty-six hundred whiffs. And he had the nerve to get upset when his manager and teammates rightly criticized his dogging it to first, lolligagging in the field, and his non-stop diarrhea of the mouth.

[runningshoes]

Do you realize how many people he converted into Yankee fans?

Makes me nauseous just thinking about such a conversion. ;)

[538280]

Thank goodness Sammy is on his way out, preserving the only record Reggie will be known for : Two-thousand five-hundred ninety-seven strikeouts, that's worth repeating: 2597 Ks, three short of twenty-six hundred whiffs.

No, the record that really stands out in my mind is his record for most Win Shares of any AL player of the 1970s. 444 career Win Shares and 563 home runs in the toughest leagues to dominate is quite an accomplishment too. And, oh yeah, what about his record of two World Series MVPs, and he also won 5 championships (lifted his team to at least 3 almost single handedly).

Will you please just get past the strikeouts and realize Reggie was actually a great player?

I got in a discussion on this on another thread, and I think it is quite clear than in his Oakland years, Reggie could be classified as a five tooler, or the "total package". This may seem surprising to many of you, because Reggie has the image of a "strikeout 150 times and bat .230" type player. Well, really Reggie's BA numbers were greatly diluted when he did become the "strikeout 150 times and bat .230" type player. In his younger years, he was truly a complete player. I will start by giving you Reggie's relative BAs in some of his good Oakland years (the years I'm claiming he was the total package):

1969-110
1971-109
1972-110
1973-115
1974-115

So, as you can clearly see, Reggie was in fact a very decent contact hitter at one point. 15% above league average is very, very solid, but not spectacular. Certainly enough to consider him a good contact hitter.

I don't think anyone's going to debate that Reggie was always a very good power hitter, so I'll talk about the other three tools-running, fielding, and throwing arm.

Running-Reggie also seems to today have an image of a slow player, and that is again because of his decline years. The prime Reggie was very fast. He stole 20 bases almost regularly and was considered a good baserunner. If you don't believe the stats, then I point you to the fact Reggie was recruited heavily as a running back at Arizona State before he got into baseball. Can you imagine ASU recruiting a slow running halfback? It's not likely.

Fielding-Reggie did have good range in his younger years, which is evidenced by his range factors. He was always significantly above league average for an OFer, which is even more impressive because he played the corners, which obviously have lower RFs. He did have a high error rate, but I don't think that makes much of a difference here. How important is it, really? It's only about 3 plays a year that can change a bad error rate to a good one. Really, error rates aren't great to rate OFers. It's only based on like 2 or 3 plays a year.

Throwing Arm-This is one where you won't find much debate on either. Reggie snapped hard throws to the infield consistently in his day, and his assist totals show that. When he was younger, he had four years of double digit assists. He was second in the AL is assists in 1968, fourth in 1969. There isn't much question the young Reggie had a very good arm.

So, all things considered it is fairly clear to me the young Reggie was certainly the "total package".

[Mattingly]

Makes me nauseous just thinking about such a conversion. ;)
That alone is enough to make any real baseball fan intensely dislike Reginald Martinez Jackson.:D
Here you two, take a few of these over the weekend and get back to me after you've had your fill of the goodies. DEEEE-LICIOUS! :D :p

http://www.candywrappermuseum.com/c_reggie.jpg

I'll make sure there's plenty sweets more for your empty stomachs. Never know, you two may also be converted. :laugh :dance :crazy

[runningshoes]

Here you two, take a few of these over the weekend and get back to me after you've had your fill of the goodies. DEEEE-LICIOUS! :D :p

I'll make sure there's plenty sweets more for your empty stomachs. Never know, you two may also be converted. :laugh :dance :crazy

You've got a better chance of making me pull my finger nails out with pliers than converting me to what could only be described as a fate worse than a fate worse than death. :D

[trosmok]

Will you please just get past the strikeouts and realize Reggie was actually a great player?


Not possible, considering his other downside, namely his personality. If baseball was an individual sport I might feel differently, but it is a team sport, which I don't think Mr. Swizzle Stick even realizes to this day.

As far as converting to Yankee fandom, two-three, I'd rather eat worms, thank you.

[The Big C]

This isn't even the history forum, yet still this thread is in danger of being hijacked and turned into a Reggie debate. 538280, if we wanted to be forcefed the "Reggie's BA+ of 115 is pretty solid" line, we'd go to the thread about him in the history forum. (I believe there is actually two threads in the history forum where that bit of information can be located)

Seriously, someone just posted about 2 sentences on his strikeout mark, and you went on to make a post of approximately 7 paragraphs on why Reggie is great. You don't have to post his entire statistical life story every time someone calls him a jerk you know. And I don't think 115 BA+ is anything special anyway, especially when that was apparently the best he ever did and only managed to do it twice.

Sammy Sosa is my favorite player, but I am able to accept the fact that his plate discipline was pedestrian in his best years, and less than crap the rest of the time. Acceptance is the first step in the healing process...

[Mattingly]

Me thinks that Big C has a great point.

Folks, this is a thread about worst *PERSONALITY*, not worst *BATTING* or *FIELDING*.

Albert Belle, great slugger (before injury). Albert Belle, nasty person. Which would you folks really discuss about Belle in this thread?

Let's stick to his persona, not the stats on the back of his baseball cards.

[538280]

Not possible, considering his other downside, namely his personality. If baseball was an individual sport I might feel differently, but it is a team sport, which I don't think Mr. Swizzle Stick even realizes to this day.


Go tell that to Sal Bando.

Reggie was actually beloved by his teammates in Oakland. Then when he moved to the Yankees, they already had their cliques set and they didn't want some other star coming and butting in. So, Reggie was forced to the outiside while all the other Yankees made fun of him. They were jealous. They didn't want this guy coming in and being their best player. The fact was, though, he was their best player.

The long time Yankee stars (Munson, Nettles, and Lyle particularly) then formed the anti-Reggie clique. They wouldn't let him in on anything they were doing and basically gave him the cold shoulder. Reggie resented this and almost asked off the team, and also made some comments ("I'm the straw that stirs the drink") out of anger. His supposed bad attitude towards his teammates was actually justified. In Oakland, he was loved by his teammates. What really caused people to hate him wasn't his own doing, but just jealosy from other players.

[538280]

Me thinks that Big C has a great point.

Folks, this is a thread about worst *PERSONALITY*, not worst *BATTING* or *FIELDING*.

Albert Belle, great slugger (before injury). Albert Belle, nasty person. Which would you folks really discuss about Belle in this thread?

Let's stick to his persona, not the stats on the back of his baseball cards.

Mattingly, topic drift is natural on internet forums like this. It is one of the things that keeps things lively and interesting. Some of the best discussions I've had on here have been really off topic from the original thread meaning. I don't understand what's wrong with topic drift, as long as there is some discussion on the original subject at the beginning.

[Dasperp]

Two-thousand five-hundred ninety-seven strikeouts, that's worth repeating: 2597 Ks, three short of twenty-six hundred whiffs.

If you look at the all-time top 20 in SO's, there are 8 HOFers, 1 more on his way (Sosa) and another possible (Thome). Additionally you have some fine players in McGriff, Galarraga and Canseco. Strikeouts are a byproduct of power and walks, they are not nearly as bad as the traditionilists like to think

[wamby]

Ryan Church for his stupid anti-Semitic comments.

At least his chaplain got kicked out of the Nationals clubhouse.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-11-06-faith-edit_x.htm

[ndistops]

Ryan Church for his stupid anti-Semitic comments.

At least his chaplain got kicked out of the Nationals clubhouse.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-11-06-faith-edit_x.htm
The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!

:laugh :laugh :laugh

[wamby]

The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!

:laugh :laugh :laugh

That irony wasn't lost on me. At least this guy is no longer in the Indians organization.

[ElCaminoSS]

Bonds would be my top pick. But Yankee "stars" Kevin Brown and Jeff Weaver are close.....
Jeff Weaver is with the dodgers, what'd he do that makes him one of the worst personality in baseball

[ballparks]

This is no debate at all. The question really should be 'Other than Barry Bonds, who is the worst personality in baseball'.

There are so many Barry stories and the sad thing is that there are so many more and worse ones that aren't even public. He's just a bad human.

[Mattingly]

Mattingly, topic drift is natural on internet forums like this. It is one of the things that keeps things lively and interesting. Some of the best discussions I've had on here have been really off topic from the original thread meaning. I don't understand what's wrong with topic drift, as long as there is some discussion on the original subject at the beginning.
OK, but throw a little bit of that, "... and that's what makes him one of the worst personalities in baseball" and I'll be fine. ;) :D

[Mattingly]

Jeff Weaver is with the dodgers, what'd he do that makes him one of the worst personality in baseball
He didn't seem that bad a guy with the Yankees. No throwing his cap, no yelling at the coaches, arguing with teammates or making crazy statements to the press from what I remember. He just had the worst luck and started games which became absolute blowouts against the Yanks.

6 Houston pitchers combined for a no-no against the Yanks, and guess who started that game? Too many 11-3 Yankee losses to think about.

[538280]

This is no debate at all. The question really should be 'Other than Barry Bonds, who is the worst personality in baseball'.

There are so many Barry stories and the sad thing is that there are so many more and worse ones that aren't even public. He's just a bad human.

Barry is just bad with the media. The media locks onto players they hate through their careers and always tries to get the public to hate them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and in the case of Bonds it has been a great success. I like Bonds, but to tell you the truth I'm sick of defending my position.

[ElCaminoSS]

Thats because theirs no position that you can defend

[wamby]

Here you two, take a few of these over the weekend and get back to me after you've had your fill of the goodies. DEEEE-LICIOUS! :D :p

http://www.candywrappermuseum.com/c_reggie.jpg

I'll make sure there's plenty sweets more for your empty stomachs. Never know, you two may also be converted. :laugh :dance :crazy

The Reggie Bar was the only thing I ever liked about Reggie. I remember the Reggie Bar being pretty good.

When I was ElCaminoSS's age, Reggie was by far my least favorite player.

[runningshoes]

When I was ElCaminoSS's age, Reggie was by far my least favorite player.

I thought Reggie was a God in 1977. I was eleven years but, of course, time, maturity and a little education have a way changing things.

Then he tried to kill the queen and that did it for me. :laugh

[ballparks]

Barry is just bad with the media. The media locks onto players they hate through their careers and always tries to get the public to hate them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and in the case of Bonds it has been a great success. I like Bonds, but to tell you the truth I'm sick of defending my position.

He's not JUST bad with the media. He's bad with other players, coaches, clubhouse staff, medical staff, charity organizations and fans. Like him if you want, but don't deny that he's the worst human being in the game today.

[ElCaminoSS]

and he's a racist

[538280]

and he's a racist

What has Barry ever done that makes you think that?

[runningshoes]

I could be wrong but I think he's referring to Bonds not wanting to sign for a bunch of sick white kids.

At the very least, that makes him what we all know he is.

You can fill in the blank. Look south, you have two choices. :D

[Dasperp]

I personally think Jeff Kent is far worse than Barry.

[Mattingly]

The Reggie Bar was the only thing I ever liked about Reggie. I remember the Reggie Bar being pretty good.

When I was ElCaminoSS's age, Reggie was by far my least favorite player.
He took the town by storm, and everyone was talking about him back then. If anyone deserved one that year, it was him.

As mentioned earlier, he'd hit *FOUR* HRs in consecutive ABs (1 HR in Game 5, then a walk and 3 HRs in Game 6 of 1978, but I keep mixing up the year of the arrival of the Reggie Bar. I think that debuted in 1977. It was low, square around 2" or so with rounded corners, and the peants, caramel were there. It had a nice taste to it, sooooo ... quite a few New Yorkers "bit" Reggie's offering.

As to all the "playa haters" out there, bahhhhhhh, humbug! :D :p
I could be wrong but I think he's referring to Bonds not wanting to sign for a bunch of sick white kids.

At the very least, that makes him what we all know he is.

You can fill in the blank. Look south, you have two choices. :D
In the case of Rickey and Olerud, both men denied that Rickey had mistaken Olerud for someone else. In the case of Barry, he'd denied that "I don't sign for white people" thing, so even though I'm far from a defender of his re PED usage (see the gazillion "Barry" threads under CE), I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this.

Do I still like him? Nope. Media loves a big story, vilifies those who don't give them this, since good seems to sell better than bad, but the media can't make an Albert Belle into a Ken Griffey, Jr if that smile ain't there to begin with!

[ElCaminoSS]

I could be wrong but I think he's referring to Bonds not wanting to sign for a bunch of sick white kids.
Right again runningshoes, your on a roll!

[ElCaminoSS]

The Reggie Bar was the only thing I ever liked about Reggie. I remember the Reggie Bar being pretty good.

When I was ElCaminoSS's age, Reggie was by far my least favorite player.
When I was my age I thought he had a head the size of a parking garage

[runningshoes]

When I was my age I thought he had a head the size of a parking garage

When you were your age. You're always your age. :crazy :D

I know I'm always my age. I don't always act act it, but I can't deny that I am it. :laugh

[DownUnderDodger]

Milton Bradley has yet to be mentioned. I guess "out of sight, out of mind". The :radio :atthepc has not had any stories to relate about him of late. After all, it is the :radio :atthepc that feeds us all these stories that highlight the 'bad personalities'.

[The Big C]

Mattingly, topic drift is natural on internet forums like this. It is one of the things that keeps things lively and interesting. Some of the best discussions I've had on here have been really off topic from the original thread meaning. I don't understand what's wrong with topic drift, as long as there is some discussion on the original subject at the beginning.


Topic drift is one thing, but constant posts about Reggie and whether or not he was a good contact hitter are hardly what I would call "lively and interesting". When "drift" consists of several paragraphs of Reggie statistics and support, is completely irrelevant to the conversation, and exists in two or three different threads, thats where I think the line ought to be drawn.

[charlesblalack@yahoo.com]

You're always your age. :crazy :D

Barry Bonds hits like a 29 yr old.

[Bluesteve32]

Wost ever, I nominate Alex Johnson, that is past , present, and future!

[Mattingly]

Barry Bonds hits like a 29 yr old.
How many 29 yr old guys get pitched around like him, since they know that the ball will become a nice souveneir if it's in the strike zone? I sure don't.
Wost ever, I nominate Alex Johnson, that is past , present, and future!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/johnsal01.shtml
He hasn't played since the nation's bicentennial (1976).

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/J/Johnson_Alex.stm
No one could quite figure how to motivate Johnson, a surly yet talented hitter with a great arm who never achieved popularity despite his skills. He is best remembered for edging the popular Carl Yastremski in the AL batting race in 1970, .3289 to .3286. Known as an aggressive contact hitter who didn't strike out much and who hated to walk or talk, Johnson admitted that he never gave 100% and never hustled. He once told a reporter, "I'm just paid to hit." As a result of this lackadaisical attitude, he spent time with eight different teams in his 13-year career. Called the fastest righthanded hitter from home plate to first, Johnson had his first success with the Reds in the late 1960s, hitting over .300 both seasons he spent in Cincinnati. His fine play in 1970 was quickly forgotten the next season when Angels manager Lefty Phillips suspended him for being "a bad influence." After leaving California, he never again hit .300.

[Bluesteve32]

The 1970 AL batting title is vacant in my eyes. Many old time Angel fans really do not mention Mr Johnson's time and title with the club, and wish to "sweep it under the rug."

He ruined that clubhouse and Lefty Phillips was not able to handle the situation and ruined what should have been a contending team along with that horrible GM, Dick Walsh, who was a former Dodger PR man.

[Mattingly]

The 1970 AL batting title is vacant in my eyes. Many old time Angel fans really do not mention Mr Johnson's time and title with the club, and wish to "sweep it under the rug."

He ruined that clubhouse and Lefty Phillips was not able to handle the situation and ruined what should have been a contending team along with that horrible GM, Dick Walsh, who was a former Dodger PR man.
Tell me more. I commandeth thee. :D

[Bluesteve32]

He was fined 29 times and benched or suspended something like five times in 1971. According to reports, Chico Ruiz and AJ pulled a gun on each other in the clubhouse. He would not run out balls, except that final hit in the 1970 season where he beat out Yaz for that 1970 batting title.

He became a cancer in the clubhouse and was sent to Cleveland for the 1972 season with Catcher, Jerry Moses for Vada Pinson and others. Phillips was a great friend of a George Anderson who was hiried to be the Angels third base coach. Anderson was called into Dick Walsh's office and the Red's GM was on the phone and was offered the managing job of the Red...yes that was Sparky. I heard Anderson was pleased as punch to be with the Angels atthe time, since he was an LA kid, but this was a great chance for him and he did well in Cincy. Anderson did say that much of the clubhouse situation most likely would not have happened had he been the coach (who knows, Sparky seems to think so) and he would most likely have moved into the manager's job once it was ascertained that Phillips was not the right guy for the job.

The Angels had a good collection of players in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but poor management decisions, and the decimation of the troubled, but talented 1970 team, put the Angels behind for another half a decade. Even Harry Dalton never really fixed the problem until free agency, and still did not produce a winner.

[Mattingly]

They should've had Pete Rose on that team, since Rose would make a head-first slide to 1B on a walk.

BTW, who's that linked to in your sig from 1961?

[Bluesteve32]

They should've had Pete Rose on that team, since Rose would make a head-first slide to 1B on a walk.

BTW, who's that linked to in your sig from 1961?

Instead of that dung heap of human flesh, Alex Johnson. Someone said he refered to everyone as "[a dimunitive of 'Richard')head.":evil

[Dasperp]

I completely forgot Pete Rose himself. I don't care how much he hustled, he is just a despicable person.

[Bluesteve32]

I completely forgot Pete Rose himself. I don't care how much he hustled, he is just a despicable person.

I'll give this to Pete, he hustled on the field and between the lines one of the finest players who has ever played. Alex Johnson had the talent, but was a dungheap on and off the field.

[scrface744]

obviously John Rocker.....im sure most of you have heard that he came to play in an independent league here on Long Island on the Ducks...he said how he apoligized and everything.....i met him because i no a lot of players and they kinda let me in the club sometimes and i talked 2 him and he seemed kinda stuck up.......that night he pitched and he blew the game and everyone was boo'ing him and he walked off the field givin everyone the finger it was funny

[BaseballHistoryNut]

Since Brown was already mentioned, I'd say that Barry Bonds qualifies. In the past, I'd have added John Rocker and Albert Belle.

Too bad that Kenny Rogers doesn't quite have the finesse of the "Lady Love" crooner, since his showing no lover to cameramen (in a Sean Penn (actor) kind of way), makes him a current MLB bad-boy.

Barry Bonds in a runaway.

Like Terrell Owens in football, Bonds may not be the most execrable person in his sport, but he wins that distinction because the media jackals have given him all the attention and hype in the world, and because his personality is so endlessly detestible. For the record, I will say I loathe Owens a lot more than I do Bonds, and I don't think it's just my idiosynracies, since at least two teams have decided they're better off without Owens, despite his enormous talent. No team has yet reached that conclusion about Bonds.

But Bonds gets my vote, hands down, for MLB... because, given his enormous publicity, he's done more to destroy the game than any other single cheater of the past 15 years. I think a lot of other guys who came before him, and cheated before him, and would never have been known had they not cheated, are a lot more morally culpable than he is. But he has become the face of Steroid-/HGH-Gate, and what a hideous face it is, as one thinks back on a 5-year farce of preposterous proportions. Yeah, I believe someone who's been a power-speed-defense package--much like his dad, only a great deal better--could suddenly become Babe Ruth, Jr., at age 36.

Yes, I've said before and I'll say again that I'd put him in the Hall in his first year of eligibility. And I'd bar McGwire, Sosa and all the other obvious suspects.

But I believe that in the 6 seasons that Bonds has been Babe Ruth, Jr., and has for obvious reasons become the defiant, shameless face of Steroid-/HGH-Gate, he's done more to destroy the game than any single player since the 1912, 1918 and 1919 World Series were tainted by thrown games. (And yes, possibly the 1916 Series, too.)

BHN

[Senor Octobre]

And he shouldn't be.
Sheffield is still and will always be a jerk. But he's no Barry Bonds. Other bad personalities: Pierzynski, Buehrle, Mientkiewicz, Kent, Milton Bradley... I'd say A-Rod, but I think he's more a case of NO personality. Also, this might sound weird, but I'm going to throw Curt Schilling in the mix. I'm a fan of him as a player and his postseason heroics and I don't think he's really a bad guy... but his overbearing republicanism and bible-thumping is WAY too much for me, he's the type of guy I would NOT get along with if I knew him personally.

[Sliding Billy]

How about Ben Chapman?

Or Jeff Heath?
According to Bill James,

In 1947 Willard Brown, a Negro League star, was trying to stick in the American League, which he unquestionably had the ability to do, although it didn't work out. The Browns were trying to cash in on the publicity generated by Jackie Robinson's breakthrough in Brooklyn, but neither the front office nor the other St. Louis players actually wanted him to succeed. . . . He liked to use a heavy bat, but. . . . [w]hen he got to St. Louis, everybody was using a lighter bat, and he just couldn't adjust to it. Jeff Heath used the heaviest bat on the team, and Brown eventually found a bat that had been Heath's, but the knob had been broken off on it. Brown taped the knob back on, but the umpire wouldn't let him use the bat with tape over the end, so he had to use the bat with a broken knob. He hit a home run--the first home run by a black player in the American League, and the only home run of Brown's "major league" career. But when he got back to the dugout, Jeff Heath reclaimed the bat, and shattered it against the dugout wall.
--The New Bill James Historical Abstract, 2001, p. 683.

Both Chapman and Heath were eminent jerks even before the advent of black players gave them their full opportunities.

[Erik Bedard]

Jake Powell?

[Seattle1]

Well, Roger Clemens threw a broken baseball bat at Mike Piazza during a game. That's pretty bad.

[Cyborg]

Here it goes, my first post: John Rocker.

[Red Sox Rule]

Randy Johnson gets my vote. Always seems like a complete $#@ whenever i've seen him on TV

[Senior skittles]

jeff kent by far

[W_Marone]

I dont think there is any way to not put Bonds at the top of the list. He by far has the worst attitude and is a complete jerk all around.

[Food]

I'm calm. It takes a lot for me to get irritated by somebody I've never even met/spoken to/interacted with. So I can't think of any current ballplayer who I can flat-out call a "bad person." A league full of Dale Murphy-style characters wouldn't be very interesting. So I don't mind the egos, the histrionics, the whining, the lack of grit, the surliness, or whathaveyou. They balance the character, grace, friendliness, charity, and humility that the better-liked players show. Drama. Heroes and villians. The good-guy/bad-guy dynamic doesn't have to apply only between teams, but between players as well.

As mentioned earlier, the press loves to vilify those who don't meet their litmus tests, and there are plenty of folks in the masses who will believe every bit of it. I especially laugh at folks who hate somebody just for speaking words that the listener doesn't like. The haters of Rickey Henderson, John Rocker, and Carlos Delgado come immediately to mind. I didn't become a fan of any of those three until everybody started hating on them.

My father would act all disgusted every time Dave Kingman came to bat. Me, I think the guy simply disliked his celebrity status and would've been perfectly happy if he never got one word of ink. I believe his surliness was a result of the nonstop swarm of press and fans that wouldn't allow this particular star player the privacy he wanted. Night-in and night-out for six months a year, I can imagine that would make a shy guy turn surly.

Jim Presley was a guy I wondered about. I've heard about him having a "fight" with his mother that irritated the fans soon after he left the Mariners and joined the Braves, but I've never heard any specifics, not even what context of "fight" was used. He didn't really hit his mother, did he? (I hate it when arguements are referred to as "fights.") That would suck, as my own mother had the biggest crush on him, and was thrilled to see him coaching the Marlins a couple months ago.

Guys like Pete Rose or Kirk Gibson seem to have an abrasiveness that went hand-in-hand with their competitiveness, which in turn goes hand-in-hand with their success on the field. This makes me wonder if removing the unliked portions of their characters wouldn't have made them lesser ballplayers. This is supported by Whitey Herzog's recollection of Darrell Porter. Per Herzog, Porter's abilities dropped way off once he gave up cocaine and became a born-again Christian. On coke, Porter was gritty and fiery and played his guts out. Once trading powder for faith, he lost his competitive edge. Herzog says he's happy Porter found redemption (this was before Porter died), but Herzog no longer had use for Porter on the team.

[Skin & Bones]

Don't see how Kenny Rogers wasn't mentioned. He beats up on cameramen for no apparent reason.

[wu-tang clan]

I say Rickey Henderson.

From wikipedia:

Many stories have been told about Rickey Henderson over the years, both the player and person. He is well known for his malapropisms, for referring to himself in the third-person (for example, calling Padres GM Kevin Towers to inquire about a contract and leaving a message starting "this is Rickey, calling on behalf of Rickey."), and for talking to himself at length when he is up to bat. He has been known to speak to his bats, asking them which one has the next hit inside them. He once fell asleep on an icepack, thereby contracting a case of frostbite in August. In 2001, he described a long single this way: "I hit it out, but it didn't go out." Another time, Rickey was offered a seat on the team bus, the player saying that he had tenure. To which Rickey replied, "Ten years? What are you talking about? Rickey got 16, 17 years."

Another story occurred while Henderson was playing for the Oakland A's. Team bookkeepers could not account for a $1 million discrepancy in their finances. The mysterious figure was eventually traced to Henderson, who had received the sum as a signing bonus. Instead of cashing the check, he'd had it framed, where it still hung on his wall.[2]

Henderson has also been reported to take practice swings in the locker room in front of a mirror completely naked while repeatedly saying "Rickey's the best! You tha' man Rickey!"[3]:laugh

One widely reported story, however, is by all accounts a fabrication. Supposedly while playing for Seattle, Henderson went up to John Olerud, a former teammate then with the New York Mets, and asked why Olerud wore a batting helmet out on the field, noting that he "used to have a teammate in Toronto who did the same thing." To which Olerud was said to have replied, "That was me."

[starkeeper]

Kenny Rogers by far!!!!!

[circusmaximus]

Bud Selig- He just won't do anything to enforce a salary cap.
Ozzie Guillen- Good manager, really obnoxious though.
Roger Clemens- I hated the way he stuck it to the Red Sox and when he threw the bat at Mike Piazza. "I though it was the ball." YEAH RIGHT.
Tim McCarver- SHUT HIM UP already!
Jeff Kent- He's such a whiner, especially while he played for the Giants.
Pay-Rod- SELLOUT.
Jason Giambi- SELLOUT.
Johnny Damon- SELLOUT.
The Dark Lord Steinbrenner- Enough said.

[rwolfe09]

Ozzie Guillen- Good manager, really obnoxious though.

Let's all place bets on how long it takes Guillen to get fired. I've been hearing that the White Sox aren't too happy with Guillen and he could be on his way out very, very soon. So things don't look too good for Ozzie Guillen.

[Mattingly]

Let's all place bets on how long it takes Guillen to get fired. I've been hearing that the White Sox aren't too happy with Guillen and he could be on his way out very, very soon. So things don't look too good for Ozzie Guillen.
Likely stuff for the "Between Innings" thing. Betting is for sigs & avs here. Create a new thread, name a time frame and let your opponent name another time frame. Then the bet is on. :)

[circusmaximus]

Let's all place bets on how long it takes Guillen to get fired. I've been hearing that the White Sox aren't too happy with Guillen and he could be on his way out very, very soon. So things don't look too good for Ozzie Guillen.

The Sox would prefer not to get rid of Ozzie (at least that's what GM Kenny Williams said), but if he doesn't clean up his act they might have to. He just doesn't know when to shut up, especially after that tirade against Jay Mariotti, so he definitely needs sensivity training.

[Dodger_Ric]

Or his compatriot, Milton Bradley.

No no no, Milton Bradley is the Ron Artest of baseball. Not T.O.

The T.O. of baseball is Bonds hands down. Remember what T.O. is, a greedy, me-first, arrogant superstar. That's Bonds to a T. He lives in his own world, you ever catch an episode of Bonds On Bonds?

[Dodger_Ric]

Now that I've read the rest of the thread, I see it's less about T.O. and more about clubhouse cancers in general.

Therefore I nominate Jose Guillen (Nationals) This guy was crushing the ball a few years ago and the Angels still kicked him off the team.

Frank Thomas, you could tell Kenny Williams rant in spring training was genuine.

And Sheffield has already been mentioned but not enough. He wanted to be a "lifetime Dodger" then a "lifetime Yankee." Screw him and his ass injecting buddy Bonds. :evil

I hope his wrist takes forever to heal like poor Derek Lee. Furcal must be public enemy number 1 in Chicago.

[baseball junkie]

How about Raul Mondesi? How many times has he signed contracts with teams and then just walked away in the middle of the season because he's lost interest.

Barry, A.J., & Kent are jerks but at least they give you all they got on the field. Mondesi must have a screw loose or something.

[ThePeach]

Ty Cobb- No explanation needed. He hated EVERYONE.


O rly?

What about Shoeless Joe Jackson? Tris Speaker? Joe Sewel? Harry Heilman? Ted Williams? Joe DiMaggio? Honus Wagner? Babe Ruth? Stan Musial? Connie Mack? Or even Ernest Hemmingway? Did he hate Thomas Edison? Or Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren Harding? Ever hear of Bobby Jones? Douglas Fairbanks?


All-time grouch? Rogers Hornsby.

[blslivewire]

Two words: Tommy LaSorda

[Da Penguin]

Ozzie guillen....he sent a pitcher to the minors for not beaning ''Hammerin''Hank Blalock....nuf said

[blslivewire]

I say Rickey Henderson.

From wikipedia:

Many stories have been told about Rickey Henderson over the years, both the player and person. He is well known for his malapropisms, for referring to himself in the third-person (for example, calling Padres GM Kevin Towers to inquire about a contract and leaving a message starting "this is Rickey, calling on behalf of Rickey."), and for talking to himself at length when he is up to bat. He has been known to speak to his bats, asking them which one has the next hit inside them. He once fell asleep on an icepack, thereby contracting a case of frostbite in August. In 2001, he described a long single this way: "I hit it out, but it didn't go out." Another time, Rickey was offered a seat on the team bus, the player saying that he had tenure. To which Rickey replied, "Ten years? What are you talking about? Rickey got 16, 17 years."
."

Comedian David Cross does a agreat bit on Rickey where he plays Henderson's actual answering machine outgoing message-and yes he refers to himself as Rickey in his message. So Cross leaves him a voicemail, pretending to be Rickey saying stuff like "Rickey this Rickey. Pick up the phone Ricy! Ricky! It's Rickey. It's me. You. Rickey!"

You had to be there.

[jsmets92]

David Wells

[ElHalo]

David Wells

That's odd; I'd say Wells has one of the best personalities in baseball. I've met him a couple times; he's a very, very fun type of guy to be around.

For worst personality, I'd go with either ARod or Curt Schilling. Both tremendously unpleasant, in basically opposite ways.

[SoxSon]

That's odd; I'd say Wells has one of the best personalities in baseball. I've met him a couple times; he's a very, very fun type of guy to be around.


I'd agree on Wells. He wasn't terribly popular with Sox fans, from what I saw, but I actually got a kick out of him. For the most part, his questionable behavior seemed to come from his not putting on airs. He didn't seem like one of these guys who sets out to be a jerk...he just didn't entertain any nonsense, and I didn't mind that at all.

[PhilWings24]

Dave Roberts.

Just kidding.

It seems like the honor should probably go to AJ Pierzinsky, but i'm not too sure. I'm under the impression he's a real nice guy when he isn't losing his temper. You'll find thats the case with most people though (carl everett is supposedly ultra-mega-super fun when he's not flipping out)

I'll stick with AJ though, i guess.

[PhilWings24]

David Wells

I'd defend him cus he's suh a gamer, basically. He is definitely a jerk in a lot of ways, but i don't think overall his teammates value him. Same with curt schilling. as annoying and brattish as he is, i've heard guys liek david ortiz and pedro martinez even call him one of the best teammates they've ever had, cus they have no doubt that he's giving 110% every time he steps on the field.

while i've never heard pierzinsky called lazy, i've never heard his grittiness receive great praise.

i would've (or at least might've) picked wells before he came to boston. in fact, i would've picked wells his first 4 months with boston. but he's grown on me, i don't think he's all that terrible a guy.

[Rookie1914]

A.J. Pierzynski

Mods..He's safe at home. You can close this thread. :D

May 27th, my boy Barrett jacked him. Loved it. :laugh

[Rose4theHall]

Frank Thomas, you could tell Kenny Williams rant in spring training was genuine.


Frank Thomas was in the right, and Kenny Williams is a huge jerk. Thomas proved that this year by becoming a fan favorite and all-round nice guy in Oakland.

Also Milton Bradley seems to have left his obscene behavior behind, in the past yeah definitely but this year I think he was only kicked out of 1 game (which was a blowout, sometimes guys just want an early night) and he threatened racist Boston fans who called him the n-word (perfectly acceptable, I would have had his back). MB is a firey guy, and this year he kept it just to that and never really went overboard like he did in Cleveland and LA.

[Elvis]

Jeff Kent- He's such a whiner, especially while he played for the Giants.


Since he's been with the Dodgers he's been a happy camper and respected teammate. He deservedly called out Milton Braley a couple of years ago who then played the race card like a fool and was shown the door before he could throw anymore bottles into the stands. Maybe Kent was whining before because he was playing in San Francisco. He's not whining anymore.

[Rose4theHall]

Eddie Murray hasnt been mentioned at all.

Bonds, AJ, Schilling and Kent are the top 4 current jerks. No one else is really that close. Clemens maybe but he doesnt have a big mouth.

[Rose4theHall]

Since he's been with the Dodgers he's been a happy camper and respected teammate. He deservedly called out Milton Braley a couple of years ago who then played the race card like a fool and was shown the door before he could throw anymore bottles into the stands. Maybe Kent was whining before because he was playing in San Francisco. He's not whining anymore.

Maybe Kent was whining because he was leading the Giants to the WS and not getting any credit, and even when winning an MVP no one cared. Bonds and his "recliner corner" = worst dude in mlb.

[Rookie1914]

Barry Bonds hands down for me.

Give Delmon D. Young a few more years and Barry will pass down the crown. What a jerk kid. No respect.

[ChrisLDuncan]

With all the Terrell Owens crud going on in the NFL, it makes me wonder who is baseball's T.O. ? I know that no one is on par with that dofus; but MLB still has it's cancers.

So, who's worst (please limit this thread to players, and leave out the Seligs, Steinbrenners, etc.)

Umm, TO's still one hell of a player who gives 110 % on every play. He's still a top five reciever today and perhaps a Hall of Famer, he was right to critize McNabb the way McNabb played in the Super Bowl, I'd ream him too. So I would have to say that Manny is the TO of baseball great player, execpt that TO gives his all on every play...whereas Manny's lazy in the field.

[Mattingly]

Umm, TO's still one hell of a player who gives 110 % on every play. He's still a top five reciever today and perhaps a Hall of Famer, he was right to critize McNabb the way McNabb played in the Super Bowl, I'd ream him too. So I would have to say that Manny is the TO of baseball great player, execpt that TO gives his all on every play...whereas Manny's lazy in the field.
I don't follow the NFL, but watch the Super Bowl just for fun. McNabb gained a lot of yards, but I've heard that he'd wasted many opportunitiies, had a few interceptions, etc. Kind of like scoring many runs but having many errors, walked batters.

Anyway, as to Boomer, he's definitely an unfiltered character. After a few stints as a Yankee, he'd gone from fan favorite to despised after he'd written his book at the Yanks, for which he was forced to donate about $100,000 to charity. Things like always looking to cash in on the contract incentives by pitching extra games, even if he was unprepared made me wary of him at times.

That 1-inning performance in Game 5 of the 2003 WS will *NEVER* be forgiven, nor forgotten by Yankee fans. *NEVER, EVER, EVER!*

I also thought that it wasn't proper to stare down a teammate who'd made an error. Randy Johnson used to do that in Arizona, I've heard.

Still, I appreciated Boomer's honesty, you know that nobody asked him to say what he did, he was unguarded and that part about him, even if you disagreed with what he said, you knew that he was speaking for himself only. At times, that was for better or for worse, depending upon what he'd said.

As to Manny, you can't keep saying you'll quit your team by demanding a trade about once every winter, especially when their payroll limits are greatly affected by your humongous, long-term contract, the highest in team history. Then this business of walking into a hole in the scoreboard when the game's being played, intercepting a Johnny Damon throw to the infield (best defense he's ever played) makes me definitely feel bad about his timing.

He seems like a nice guy, loveable, harmless and goofy. However, at that salary, he's gotta start considering his teammates, his fans quite a bit more often. He's like a man-child, but a bit more maturity and level-headedness on his part may just be one reason why I've heard Cleveland fans aren't upset about missing his bat. For such a powerful pure hitter, it's a matter of talent being completely wasted at times.

[Rapmaster]

Umm, TO's still one hell of a player who gives 110 % on every play. He's still a top five reciever today and perhaps a Hall of Famer, he was right to critize McNabb the way McNabb played in the Super Bowl, I'd ream him too. So I would have to say that Manny is the TO of baseball great player, execpt that TO gives his all on every play...whereas Manny's lazy in the field.

I think Sheff's a lot like TO. They often get written off as uncommitted and lazy in games based on their off-field antics.

Sheffield seems to be wholly involved in the game. I've yet to see him report out of shape and he certainly gives it his all. that altercation in the stands (when he got punched), it should be noted that he threw the ball to the cutoff man before responding. I used to see him cover second base on rundowns back in Atlanta (from RF). I usually only see that in little league games.

[EvanAparra]

They often get written off as uncommitted and lazy in games based on their off-field antics.

TO is uncommitted and lazy in the field, reguardless of off-field antics. I don't think i've EVER seen him dive for a ball. He short arms balls when he thinks hes about to get popped. Dont get me started on TO... :ughh

[Charger567]

Does the name Carl Everett ring a bell?

How about Izzy Alcantara? Does kicking a catcher's face in and then charging the mound after a strikeout not count?

[Rookie1914]

TO is uncommitted and lazy in the field, reguardless of off-field antics. I don't think i've EVER seen him dive for a ball. He short arms balls when he thinks hes about to get popped. Dont get me started on TO... :ughh

Come to think of it, I have NEVER witnessed Mr. Owens dive for a ball either. He is overrated big time. Marvin is the man :D and underrated big time.

[Sliding Billy]

Dave Roberts.


That is funny.

[Dodgerfan1]

A lot has been said about Reggie Jackson on this thread, both criticizing him for his brash and arrogant personality and defending him in other ways. I don't know what kind of a person he was in the clubhouse, but going on what I've heard from other players, it would be easy to assume that he wasn't a very well liked clubhouse presence. Do I have any links? No, I don't, only what I've heard and read about throughout the years, however he was, according to some, intentionally aloof to certain players while being overly friendly to others. Oddly enough, the ones he was aloof to were marginal or ordinary players while he went out of his way to befriend the stars. Seems he only associated with those he thought were worthy of his friendship. Again, I don't remember who said it, but I do know I have read it. Does that make it true? No, but when all the comments I've read from his peers are taken together, it doesn't paint a very flattering picture of Reggie as a team player.

Two of my favorite quotes of all time come from ex-teammates of Jackson, both of which are oft-repeated. The first was by former A's teammate Catfish Hunter who said, "When you unwrap a Reggie Bar, it tells you how good it is."

The other was by former Yankee teammate Graig Nettles, who said of Reggie, whose full name is Reginald Martinez Jackson, (paraphrasing) "No wonder he's so screwed up. He's got a white first name, a Hispanic middle name and a black last name!"

[trosmok]

How about Izzy Alcantara? Does kicking a catcher's face in and then charging the mound after a strikeout not count?

Israel Alcantara hardly qualifies as a major league worst because he only played in 50 or so games in the show. He is one of those million dollar talent, five cent head kind of guys that never grasped the concept of a team game. The endless replays of that unfortunate incident didn't hurt his career as much as his own me first attitude, both on and off the field. Not to defend his actions, but I did have the opportunity to get to know him during his Brewers org. days, and he was not all the way wrong for going a bit berserk that evening. It wasn't a strikeout, Charger567, it was the second time he'd been plunked in two PAs. and he verbally warned the pitcher, catcher, ump and mgr. that he would retaliate if he was buzzed again. He's listed as 6'2", 180 lbs., but he is really a lot bigger than that, and last I heard he was banging the ball over the fences in Mexico for more pesos than any MLB team was willing to pay him.

[Dalkowski110]

Surprised nobody's mentioned Chick Gandil...

[hellborn]

He may be out of baseball for good now, but how about Dmitri Young?
Anybody who was facing the possibility of time in the pen for choking his 21 year old GF can't be a NICE guy. I guess I've heard that he was a good teammate, but we're talking about assaulting a young lady in real life here...

Somebody mentioned Kingman earlier in the thread...he was trying to make friends with his new teammates after joining the Cubs, so he invited a bunch of them over to his bach pad for a party. Just when things were starting to swing, Kingman informed the group that he had a date and was leaving, but the guys should have a good time and lock up when they were done.
Supposedly, a few things were missing when he returned home...

[trosmok]

Somebody mentioned Kingman earlier in the thread...he was trying to make friends with his new teammates after joining the Cubs, so he invited a bunch of them over to his bach pad for a party. Just when things were starting to swing, Kingman informed the group that he had a date and was leaving, but the guys should have a good time and lock up when they were done.
Supposedly, a few things were missing when he returned home...

One of my part-time gigs long ago was working on the docks of the Lincoln Park Harbor; fueling boats, providing life-jackets, fetching last minute items for folks, etc., and occasionally accompanied sailors out on Lake Michigan if they wanted an extra hand. One evening Mr. Kingman asked if I'd like to go fishing with him, and I readily agreed, but he said I could only go if I promised to keep very quiet. I don't think we talked about anything except an occasional "fish on!", "nice catch," and "it's getting mighty dark", but it still ranks among the top brushes with MLB notables I've had.

[hellborn]

One of my part-time gigs long ago was working on the docks of the Lincoln Park Harbor; fueling boats, providing life-jackets, fetching last minute items for folks, etc., and occasionally accompanied sailors out on Lake Michigan if they wanted an extra hand. One evening Mr. Kingman asked if I'd like to go fishing with him, and I readily agreed, but he said I could only go if I promised to keep very quiet. I don't think we talked about anything except an occasional "fish on!", "nice catch," and "it's getting mighty dark", but it still ranks among the top brushes with MLB notables I've had.
Great story!
I would assume that Kingman cut quite an imposing figure? He looked pretty big on TV, even next to McGwire...I'd think that he'd look even more impressive in person. He probably didn't have to worry about getting mugged in Chicago...

[rkoch]

I can`t understand you people, some of these people are good players and good guys. When you read the subject title, this should`nt be more than one person, the winner and most rotten;"Ben Chapman".

[SusieP]

AJ Pierzynski is such a bush league player. He makes me want to punch him in the face!! And I'm a girl!

[Captain Cold Nose]

I can`t understand you people, some of these people are good players and good guys. When you read the subject title, this should`nt be more than one person, the winner and most rotten;"Ben Chapman".

Chapman hardly qualifies as a current player, which this thread really is about. (Current Events forum, after all.) Nor is he baseball's lone transgressor. Yes, he deserves mention when mentioning baseball history's bad apples. But this is a very subjective idea, after all.

[CandlestickBum]

I can`t understand you people, some of these people are good players and good guys. When you read the subject title, this should`nt be more than one person, the winner and most rotten;"Ben Chapman".

You must be really pissed off to dredge up a three year old thread like this one.

[ol' aches and pains]

AJ Pierzynski is such a bush league player. He makes me want to punch him in the face!! And I'm a girl!

If he was on your team, you'd be glad to have him. He's the smartest, quickest thinking player I've seen.

He literally stole a game from Tampa Bay last year. He was caught in a rundown late in the game, and instead of letting them tag him out, he bumped into the shortstop and fell down, and started yelling that he was interfered with. The umpire bought it, and called him safe. He came around to score the tying run, and the White Sox eventually won the game that probably would have been lost if AJ had been out. Since the Sox ended up in a tie for the division at the end of the season, that game made the difference. If they had lost it, no post-season.

Also recall the game in the ALCS in 2005 when AJ stole first base on a dropped third strike call in a tie game in the 9th inning, a game the Sox also won.

Pierzynski has a knack for getting in the other teams' heads, and diverting their concentration from the task at hand. Call it bush league if you want, but he's a winner.

[SusieP]

If he was on your team, you'd be glad to have him. He's the smartest, quickest thinking player I've seen.

He literally stole a game from Tampa Bay last year. He was caught in a rundown late in the game, and instead of letting them tag him out, he bumped into the shortstop and fell down, and started yelling that he was interfered with. The umpire bought it, and called him safe. He came around to score the tying run, and the White Sox eventually won the game that probably would have been lost if AJ had been out. Since the Sox ended up in a tie for the division at the end of the season, that game made the difference. If they had lost it, no post-season.

Also recall the game in the ALCS in 2005 when AJ stole first base on a dropped third strike call in a tie game in the 9th inning, a game the Sox also won.

Pierzynski has a knack for getting in the other teams' heads, and diverting their concentration from the task at hand. Call it bush league if you want, but he's a winner.


I was at that game!! If I recall the umpire that called him safe actually apologized for that call and admitted he made a mistake. Pierzynski also tried to use his bat to interfere with a catcher making a throw to 2nd to catch a guy stealing. He just stuck his bat right in the way! Bush league all the way.

[tag0519]

Manny. What a waste of some fine talent and a poor role model.

[ol' aches and pains]

Manny Ramirez gets my vote too, not so much for the suspension as the sleazy way he ended his tenure with the Red Sox last year. The way he quit on his teammates, and the episode with the Traveling Secretary were a disgrace to the sport.

And an "honorable" mention to his agent Scott Boras, without his enabling, Manny couldn't be Manny.

[hallzee]

Pierzynski has a knack for getting in the other teams' heads, and diverting their concentration from the task at hand. Call it bush league if you want, but he's a winner.

Wow, the old thread lives! BBF reducing its carbon footprint, by recycling! :D

A.J. also got into his own teammates' heads. Just about every Giants player (especially the pitchers), and fans were glad to see him go.

[ol' aches and pains]

Wow, the old thread lives! BBF reducing its carbon footprint, by recycling! :D

A.J. also got into his own teammates' heads. Just about every Giants player (especially the pitchers), and fans were glad to see him go.

I've heard that, but he's been in Chicago for five seasons now, and I never hear anything reported about friction between AJ and his teammates. They had Orlando Cabrera last year, and he rubbed his teammates the wrong way, and was not offered a contract for this season, so the Sox do get rid of players that cause problems in the clubhouse.

[sturg1dj]

hows that 9% throw out rate sitting with you?

I hate A.J. so much, and just when my hatred seems to be dying off he seems to always hit a HR against the Tigers...just like the other day....ugh:laugh

[BC227]

Granted AJ used to be a real jackass, but I think he's a lot better now. The Sox appear to have a great clubhouse chemistry, and AJ actually seems to be a big part of that. I know he's locker mates with Buehrle (who everyone says it a great guy), and the two of them are actually pretty close now. Whenever he is interviewed he is always crediting other guys and complimenting his teammates. He is a weekly guest on the most popular sports talk radio show in the city and they love having him on the show - just seems like he has really come around since when he was younger.

Granted he is still a guy that will use every trick in the book while playing. Like ol' aches and pains said - a real fast thinker with a lot of moxy. He truly is a guy you love to have on your team but you absolutely hate him when he is on the other side.

hows that 9% throw out rate sitting with you?


Yeah, his arm isn't great, but I think the stealing is more done on the pitchers than on him. Contreras is known to be one of the worst pitchers in baseball at holding guys on, and our other righties aren't much better. Even Danks is said to be pretty bad for a lefty. Buehrle is the only one that gives AJ a break. They actually worked on it with Floyd the other day before the Tampa game and AJ threw out both Crawford and Bartlett that game when he was finally given a chance by one of his pitchers.

[ol' aches and pains]

[/B]hows that 9% throw out rate sitting with you?

I hate A.J. so much, and just when my hatred seems to be dying off he seems to always hit a HR against the Tigers...just like the other day....ugh:laugh

AJ is actually not entirely to blame for the 9% throw out rate. With the exception of Buehrle, Sox pitchers are terribile at holding runners on, and very slow to the plate. When they give AJ a chance, he can throw people out. He got Carl Crawford last week, and not many catchers can say that this year. He also threw out Jason Bartlett at 3rd in the same game.