Worst Person in the World!

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Padreman

Hank didn't even show up in person to congratulated him for the "record*" he broke. Was a video message. Many firsthand accounts at that time tell how Hank was upset and be bad every right to be. Bonds is a cheater, him Sosa and McGuire made the beloved baseball numbers into a joke. They almost killed baseball for me

For me, too. The Steroid Era will be a permanent dark blot on baseball's history.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

I see both sides. Murder (and other bad stuff) is in a class by itself. However, when I started this thread, I was basically talking about "jerkitude" (nice - it should be a word, red squiggle underline regardless) so Wolf is right.

It ought to be a word! And thank you.

[Déjà Bru]

So, getting back to fantasy land (my OOTP league - see OP of this thread), here's an update on my man. Actually, he's not my man; the AI manages him.

And apparently the AI does not like him at all! He's p.o.'d right now because the NY Giants released him after the 1913 season and he signed with the Cleveland Naps for 1914 but spent much of the season in the minors.

It's remarkable how the AI will use a guy like this but does tend to shun players with low personality ratings. You see that especially in drafts. Why else would the AI/Giants have just released him?

I got this guy shortlisted. I will be following him for the rest of his career. Too bad he doesn't have a Twitter account.

[Hammercraft]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Lie, cheat and then steal the record Hank Aaron earned honestly.

That doesn't even register

[The Wolf]

DB asked us to move on.

[hockeyman001]

As for the Belle/Vina play, it looks bad without context.

So here's some context. Earlier in the game, the exact same play had happened. Belle had run into the tag (without bowling over Vina or doing any such thing), and that had been the first half of an inning ending double play that had negated a run for the Indians (since Belle's passive baserunning in that instance did not instead caused it to be a fielder's choice).

Belle was told the next time to make sure he breaks up the double play.

Source:

Belle Defends His Hit On Vina - philly-archives
Coach Says Belle Followed His Orders

So, he did it in the only way he knew how, which was a violent collision, which, while still not the right way to do it, at least casts doubt on the narrative that the guy was "always" out to hurt people etc. because if that were true he would have dropped Vina on the first double play attempt.

Not to mention, at the time, all sports were a little more violent (just as in Cobb's time, although certainly much more so in Cobb's), and people didn't have this reaction they do now where all violence is condemned at all times, but no one bats an eye over, say, theft or lying. There was more "action" if you will, and less jawing through the media. Someone charging the mound was not a big deal even 20 years ago, it would be a bit noteworthy for a day or two and there would be suspensions, etc. but media would not be writing about it for months on end over such frivolities as near miss chin music and bat flips as we see today, and there wasn't this stupid back and forth over it by the pundits that we see today. Guys have been flipping bats for 100 years, and beanballs and collisions have happened since the day baseball began. Heck even a homeplate collision would be cause for uproar in today's game, and by today's standards because of the Buster Posey rule, or a collision at any other base due to the Utley rule.

I don't agree with Belle's play, but I can understand how it happened, and I don't think Belle's gut reaction was to flatten Vina (one of the nicest guys in baseball, btw) since he didn't do it earlier in the game. He probably was undiagnosed with some sort of mental condition of some kind, but he could hit the hell out of the ball, so he didn't always get the help he needed, and ballpark clubhouses, fans, and the media, are not really known as the most understanding groups for that sort of thing...so it was just easier to make him the bad guy. There was a way to get through with him and earn his respect, but only certain people did it. Kenny Lofton did it. Charlie Manuel did it. He was always great with the charities he worked with. If he was truly irredeemable, no one would have done it.

[Number4]

That play doesn't make a person better or worse in my eyes. It is hard baseball, which might be seen as too hard and therefore disallowed and the runner at first called out, but there is a legitimate reason for going in hard in this play, because if you don't do it, the batter-runner will be out anyway.
You probably should err on the side of hard play in this case, as you are in my opinion more likely to fail to break up the DP with a soft hit, than to be called interfering with the batter with a hard tackle. It's like a collision with the catcher according to the old rules - you would be going in hard as well.

[Déjà Bru]

"No, it couldn't be," I said to myself when I saw the headline. But, yes, surer than stuff, it's him!

[TheMaus2]

Originally Posted by italyprof

Maybe he could run for president.

Never say never.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by TheMaus2

Never say never.

Thanks for revisiting this thread and reminding me of the "Worst Person in the World." He really was the lowest of the low that I have ever seen.

But for some reason, when I think of him, "Jonathan Papelbon" comes to mind, not "Donald Trump."

Never mix baseball and politics. Never!

[NCBeachBum]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

after one poor at-bat against Boston, he retreated to the visitors' clubhouse and took a bat to teammate Kenny Lofton's boombox

Ignoring all of the pro-, anti-, and middle-ground Belle stuff for a moment, I just want to add a Kenny Lofton boombox anecdote.

This was his lone year in Atlanta, and by this time the boombox had become a full-on DJ booth. Bobby Cox had always had a "headphones only" rule about music in the clubhouse, before, during, and after Lofton. Lofton came in demanding to play full-time DJ in the clubhouse for everyone, and he didn't take requests. Insisted he'd always been allowed to do so in Cleveland and he'd continue to do so in Atlanta. He was told that the headphones rule applied to everyone, and that included him. He then went to the front office, but they backed the manager... so he went to the press and accused Cox of racism for not allowing him to DJ. He'd been with the team for less than a month... it was still spring training.

So frankly... to hell with Kenny Lofton and his boombox.

[Klaus 74]

Originally Posted by chucksabr

At least his desire to win is not "very low".

So he's a stupid, greedy, lazy, opportunistic loner who's OK with winning. I agree: what's not to not like?

Lol, FYI you may be interpreting desire for win incorrectly. 'Very High' is often a huge problem. From the manual..."How important it is for a player to be on a winning team. Players who need winning teams factor this into their decisions about where to sign contracts or extensions. Player morale can suffer greatly if this rating is high and the team is performing poorly."