I'm Bill Coffelt, and You're Not

Red Blow · 11-03-2002, 10:40 PM

I'm Bill Coffelt and You're Not

Can anyone stack up to Arizona's Bill Coffelt?

Or is he simply in a class by himself?

Is life easy or hard when you are the first person taken in the draft? Don't ask Coffelt. He hasn't thought about the draft since it happened. The five-tool superstar netted the AL MVP last season and was voted NOBL's Player of the Year [ed note: ok, I made that part up]. He led his team to the best record in the AL West, but could not get past Eric Tryon and the eventual World Series champion Detroit Tigers in the post-season. Coffelt chased the .400 mark all season long, falling beneath it for the final time on September 28-- two games from the end. He finished a robust .397 with 42 home runs, 120 rbis, 146 runs and 52 stolen bases. The travelling tent-city known as the press may have finally gotten to Coffelt. In a disappointing post-season he managed only 1 home run and a .241 average in eight games. "Last year doesn't matter," is his standard reply to the question asked a thousand times this off-season. "We'll be back."

If last year doesn't matter, do we need to look for a new #1 guy?

Chicago has a pretty good player in Frank Hunsberger. Almost traded the first month of the inaugural season, Hunsberger finished the year in Chicago with a .350-41-116 season. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. His numbers are very comparable to Coffelt, and talent-wise they are similar. The differences are minimal: Frank is younger; Bill is faster, and a better fielder. Either would make you happy in the 3 or 4 spot. When it comes down to it, though, the edge goes to Coffelt. Five-tool beats four-tool the same way a .397 average beats .350.

What about the NL's MVP George McNatt. It's easy to pick on the Florida DH during what is, hopefully, a bad season. His 2001 numbers, however, were the envy of his league: .356-38-129. George, even during an MVP season, is a two-tool athlete. Unquestionably, he can hit, and hit with power. He can't run, he can't field, and no one has any idea if he can throw. He is a young power hitter with a good eye for the strike zone. In this case, that is simply not enough.

Boston has almost a carbon copy of Coffelt in Paul Strachan. He's another great athlete, and his numbers showed it: .360-29-95. Sadly, we are not discussing hand grenades or horseshoes here. The shortcomings are immediately apparent.

How about pitchers? Certainly Eric Tryon's 19 wins, 2 losses, 2.19 ERA, 22 quality starts and .171 opponents'average (all league bests) would stand a chance of attracting the title "League's Best." Eric didn't win 20 games, much less 30, which would be the pitching equivalent of a .400 season. Best Pitcher? Yes. Best Player? No.

The Yankees' Nathaniel Ayala had 47 saves and a 1.90 ERA. Milwaukee's David Weisinger had 38 and a 1.54. Detroit's Chris Gorsuch walked 22 and struck out 246. None of that even comes close.

Any way you want to look at it, Bill Coffelt remains the best player in the NOBL.

11-03-2002, 10:40 PM	#1
Red Blow Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 404	I'm Bill Coffelt, and You're Not I'm Bill Coffelt and You're Not Can anyone stack up to Arizona's Bill Coffelt? Or is he simply in a class by himself? Is life easy or hard when you are the first person taken in the draft? Don't ask Coffelt. He hasn't thought about the draft since it happened. The five-tool superstar netted the AL MVP last season and was voted NOBL's Player of the Year [ed note: ok, I made that part up]. He led his team to the best record in the AL West, but could not get past Eric Tryon and the eventual World Series champion Detroit Tigers in the post-season. Coffelt chased the .400 mark all season long, falling beneath it for the final time on September 28-- two games from the end. He finished a robust .397 with 42 home runs, 120 rbis, 146 runs and 52 stolen bases. The travelling tent-city known as the press may have finally gotten to Coffelt. In a disappointing post-season he managed only 1 home run and a .241 average in eight games. "Last year doesn't matter," is his standard reply to the question asked a thousand times this off-season. "We'll be back." If last year doesn't matter, do we need to look for a new #1 guy? Chicago has a pretty good player in Frank Hunsberger. Almost traded the first month of the inaugural season, Hunsberger finished the year in Chicago with a .350-41-116 season. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. His numbers are very comparable to Coffelt, and talent-wise they are similar. The differences are minimal: Frank is younger; Bill is faster, and a better fielder. Either would make you happy in the 3 or 4 spot. When it comes down to it, though, the edge goes to Coffelt. Five-tool beats four-tool the same way a .397 average beats .350. What about the NL's MVP George McNatt. It's easy to pick on the Florida DH during what is, hopefully, a bad season. His 2001 numbers, however, were the envy of his league: .356-38-129. George, even during an MVP season, is a two-tool athlete. Unquestionably, he can hit, and hit with power. He can't run, he can't field, and no one has any idea if he can throw. He is a young power hitter with a good eye for the strike zone. In this case, that is simply not enough. Boston has almost a carbon copy of Coffelt in Paul Strachan. He's another great athlete, and his numbers showed it: .360-29-95. Sadly, we are not discussing hand grenades or horseshoes here. The shortcomings are immediately apparent. How about pitchers? Certainly Eric Tryon's 19 wins, 2 losses, 2.19 ERA, 22 quality starts and .171 opponents'average (all league bests) would stand a chance of attracting the title "League's Best." Eric didn't win 20 games, much less 30, which would be the pitching equivalent of a .400 season. Best Pitcher? Yes. Best Player? No. The Yankees' Nathaniel Ayala had 47 saves and a 1.90 ERA. Milwaukee's David Weisinger had 38 and a 1.54. Detroit's Chris Gorsuch walked 22 and struck out 246. None of that even comes close. Any way you want to look at it, Bill Coffelt remains the best player in the NOBL. __________________ http://www.nobl.net This is your father's league.