Where does Bret Boone stand now?

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Well, since Seattle's once awesome fielding and hitting second baseman Bret Boone has retired what is your take on him now?

I think Boone was one of the best ever, regardless of his decline and problems. Personally, I would have liked to watch him compete in NY for the job with Kaz Matsui. Where does he rank in your list? He makes my top 10 2B list.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Why do you think he retired?
Because he no longer had any ability or was tired, or had he just had enough of playing ball?

All of the above would be a correct answer.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Can a mod please edit my title, I put soes instead of does.
Thanks.

Done.
He had a good couple year run in an absolute offensive boom era. The guy always had the potential, but he had, at times a horrible attitude, especially in Cincinnati.
There have been many second basemen who had far better careers who the HOF voters didn't take too kindly to.

[baseballPAP]

Unfortunately (because I really liked the guy, even in Cincy), I have to think he was on the juice. He just fell off the table too quickly, and after jumping up there just as quickly too. In Cincinnati he was an excellent defensive player with a little pop and a little speed, good smart baserunner. Back in Seattle, he bacame a freak...hitting monster shots out of his 170 pound frame. Of course, his 2001 season is an all time great fluke year too....his .331 average that year is about 65 points better than his career average. I have him at 16 among second basemen, and I suspect that might be high for this forum.

[mac195]

I enjoyed watching Boone play for the Mariners... always got a chuckle out of that little bat flip he did after smacking a home run, and he was great fielding 2nd baseman. Whatever happened to him between '94 and '01? That should have been the prime of a great career, but instead, he forgot how to hit for six years.

[leecemark]

--I really enjoyed watching Boone play too. I probably saw 80-90% of the Mariners games in 2001 and for my money Boone, not Ichiro, deserved the MVP that season. That said, he probably was juiced, he definately isn't one of the top 10 2B of all time and he hasn't got a prayer of making the Hall off Fame.

[KCGHOST]

On whole I have him on the negative side of the ledger. He had two great season, two good seasons, and 10 pretty weak ones. He doesn't crack my top 20 by a long shot.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

--That's what everyone thinks, just because a star player becomes, excuse me, crap, does NOT mean he was on juice.

I've been trying to make everyone understand that for a while now...
Wonder if I ever wil;?

[Tigerfan1974]

Well, since Seattle's once awesome fielding and hitting second baseman Bret Boone has retired what is your take on him now?

I think Boone was one of the best ever, regardless of his decline and problems. Personally, I would have liked to watch him compete in NY for the job with Kaz Matsui. Where does he rank in your list? He makes my top 10 2B list.

Rod Carew
Eddie Collins
Bobby Doerr
Johnny Evers
Nellie Fox
Frankie Frisch
Charlie Gehringer
Billy Herman
Rogers Hornsby
Nap Lajoie
Tony Lazzeri
Bill Mazeroski
Bid McPhee
Joe Morgan
Jackie Robinson
Ryne Sandberg
Red Schoendienst

Craig Biggio
Jeff Kent
Alfonso Soriano

Lou Whitaker
Randy Velarde

In your opinion, which of the past, present and HoF 2d basemen is Boone better than to make your top 10? Just curious, no criticism involved!

Maybe not at the bat, but perhaps his dad was a better catcher than Bret was 2d basemen?? Just a question!

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Rod Carew
Eddie Collins
Bobby Doerr
Johnny Evers
Nellie Fox
Frankie Frisch
Charlie Gehringer
Billy Herman
Rogers Hornsby
Nap Lajoie
Tony Lazzeri
Bill Mazeroski
Bid McPhee
Joe Morgan
Jackie Robinson
Ryne Sandberg
Red Schoendienst

Craig Biggio
Jeff Kent
Alfonso Soriano

Lou Whitake
Randy Velarde
Dave Concepcion

In your opinion, which of the past, present and HoF 2d basemen is Boone better than to make your top 10? Just curious, no criticism involved!

Maybe not at the bat, but perhaps his dad was a better catcher than Bret was 2d basement?? Just a question!

I will get back to you on that.

[baseballPAP]

Randy Velarde??????
And Concepcion was a SS.

[DoubleX]

I have long been extremely suspicious that Boone was juicing. The guy put up very consisent, and fairly unspectacular numbers for 8 years, with the occasional blip here and there. But then at age 32, after 8 years of consistently lower production, he begins a three year stretch that rivals the offensive production of most any 2Bman in history. So that's suspicious. And then when steroids testing is implemented, his game completely falls off the map. That definitely added to the suspicion. Also, Canseco mentions Boone in his book. Of course, considering the source, that might not mean too much. But I tend to think Canseco is scummy enough to actually be telling the truth on these things - he doesn't care if he's ratting people out.

I have Boone outside of my top 30 2Bman, probably in the 30-35 range, and without a chance whatsoever of making the Hall.

[Tigerfan1974]

Randy Velarde??????
And Concepcion was a SS.

Your right, my bad on Concepcion.
List edited.

[Tigerfan1974]

I have long been extremely suspicious that Boone was juicing. The guy put up very consisent, and fairly unspectacular numbers for 8 years, with the occasional blip here and there. But then at age 32, after 8 years of consistently lower production, he begins a three year stretch that rivals the offensive production of most any 2Bman in history. So that's suspicious. And then when steroids testing is implemented, his game completely falls off the map. That definitely added to the suspicion. Also, Canseco mentions Boone in his book. Of course, considering the source, that might not mean too much. But I tend to think Canseco is scummy enough to actually be telling the truth on these things - he doesn't care if he's ratting people out.

I have Boone outside of my top 30 2Bman, probably in the 30-35 range, and without a chance whatsoever of making the Hall.

I'll agree with that!!

[Freakshow]

Boone's most similar career batting lines from BB-Ref

Travis Fryman (924)
Ken Caminiti (903)
Joe Gordon (899)
Larry Parrish (894)
Bobby Grich (893)
Vern Stephens (886)
Vinny Castilla (863)
Doug DeCinces (854)
Bobby Doerr (850) *
Bobby Thomson (849)

This is generally a list of players better than Boone, since his numbers benefit from playing in an era of high offense. In particular, Gordon, Grich and Doerr were far better players.