Rodriguez vs Bench

[fenrir]

Who do you take in this comparison? pudge rodriguez or johnny bench?

[PJ-34]

Pudge's got it all. I'd say him. The title is kind of confusing though. It seems like Alex Rod vs the Yankees bench.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Pudge's got it all. I'd say him. The title is kind of confusing though. It seems like Alex Rod vs the Yankees bench.

[GiambiJuice]

As I mentioned in the Piazza vs. Bench thread. I think Bench is overrated and I would take Piazza over him in a heartbeat.

...But Bench is still miles and miles ahead of Pudge.

[slugger33]

Pudge by a longshot.

[Edgartohof]

So the Detroit Tiger fan takes Pudge...

I'm going with Bench - who is widely considered the #1 greatest catcher ever. Though Pudge has a claim to a top 5 spot.

[leecemark]

--I would have thought not even I-Rod's momma would pick him over Bench.

[fenrir]

--I would have thought not even I-Rod's momma would pick him over Bench.

why? what bench has over irod is hitting. pudge has won more goldgloves, and from the stats ive seen of them both...pudge is the better defender. pudge also has stolen more bases at a better % then bench.

i pick bench over pudge...but it's not so clear as your making it.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

--I would have thought not even I-Rod's momma would pick him over Bench.

A good part of I-Rod's flashy stats are a product of the era plus the PED suspicions don't help. Can you imagine Bench playing in the 1990s, in Texas DHing, and on PEDs? He'd jack 50 HRs several seasons for sure and maybe reach 500 HRs for his career. I pick Bench.

[fenrir]

A good part of I-Rod's flashy stats are a product of the era plus the PED suspicions don't help. Can you imagine Bench playing in the 1990s, in Texas DHing, and on PEDs? He'd jack 50 HRs several seasons for sure and maybe reach 500 HRs for his career. I pick Bench.

but bench would be facing pitchers on ped's...something he never presumably had to deal with.

[Mike Hoban]

--I would have thought not even I-Rod's momma would pick him over Bench.

Amen to that. Pudge is a good catcher - maybe even a very good catcher. But Johnny Bench is either the #1 or 2 best catcher ever!!

Here are the catchers with the best careers according to the NEWS HOF Gauge.

1. Yogi Berra 301
2, Johnny Bench 297
3. Mike Piazza 286
4. Gary Carter 282
5. Carlton Fisk 272
6. Joe Torre 262
7. Ted Simmons 259
8. Mickey Cochrane 256
9. Bill Dickey 255
10. Gabby Hartnett 253
11. Ivan Rodriguez 246

IRod will probably pass a few of these guys but he is a long way from catching Bench.

Author of BASEBALL'S BEST: The TRUE Hall of Famers

[ChrisLDuncan]

Ivan Rodriguez may be the most overrated player in baseball history. I'd go Bench. I also like Hoban's list execpt I have Fisk and Cochrane swiched out.

[philkid3]

I'm obviously biased.

But I voted Bench.

[Los Bravos]

It's Bench, but this is much closer than the Piazza comparison. Rodriguez is in Bench's neighboorhood defensively (down the street a ways, to be sure) and he's a more than competent batter. He's also a winner, like Bench.

I'll void this is the PED suspicions pan out, but I tend to doubt they will at this late date.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Actually Rodriguez is considered the better defender than Bench, but that's if you think that a catcher's "game calling" is a myth. There was an article on Baseball Prospectus about that a while ago.