The fans speak out

Baseball Digest, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Travis Udulutch, Joe Shaffer, Frank Watson, Richard A. Smiley, Donna Welch, Bill Goodman, Tim Moule, Peter Ephross, Ralph E. Stubbs, Tom Smail, David Mogentale, Barry Adico, Terry Shaw, Shirley Cramer, Gerald Beirne, Jim Winthrop, Frank Rinella, Tom O'Neill, Henry T. Sarnataro, Kal Sheheen, Richard Prince, Mark Simpson, Laurie Sweeney, Gene McCloskey, Danny Chaskin, Marty Blake, Shelby Freymiller, Andrew J. Bednarz, Jr.

In reading the article on the "Majors' Top Starters" in the November issue, I was shocked that Ben Sheets of the Brewers was not even mentioned.

Living in Wisconsin and being a life-long Brewer fan, I admit I may be a tad biased, but show some love!

Last season, Sheets ranked fourth in the National League in ERA (2.70), second in strikeouts (264), tied for third in innings pitched (237), and third in quality starts with 24.

He also had an 18-strikeout performance against Houston, and a one-hitter against the Angels.

It was unfair to leave Ben off the (Top 10) list. His only blemish was his won-lost record (12-14) which was the result of a stagnant Brewer offense that failed to score him runs.

Place Sheets on any other team, and he wins 20 games easily.

Travis Udulutch

Sun Prairie, Wis.

Watching Terry Francona's Red Sox one night last season reminded me of his dad, Tito, who lost the 1959 American League batting title because he failed to get the required 400 at-bats.

Tito needed only one more at-bat. Did the Indians make any effort to get him another at-bat?

Joe Shaffer

Grand Junction, Colo.

In 1957, the rule governing batting championships was changed, eliminating the requirement of a player needing 400 at-bats to qualify for the title.

Instead, the new rule read: "A player must have a total of at least 3.1 plate appearances (which include at-bats, walks, sacrifices and hit by pitch) for every game scheduled to qualify as the league leader in batting average.

Thus, with a 154-game schedule in use at that time, Francona would have needed 477 plate appearances to qualify as the American League batting champion.

He fell far short of that mark, with 399 at-bats, 35 walks, six sacrifices and three times hit by pitcher for a total of 443 plate appearances.

So, one more at-bat that year still wouldn't have gained him the title despite the fact he hit .363 to the winner's .353 mark, posted by the Tigers' Harvey Kuenn.

I still can't understand why Jim Kaat isn't in the Hall of Fame. If his 283 wins, 4,530 innings pitched, and a career 3.45 ERA aren't enough, how about the fact that he won 16 Gold Gloves (for defensive excellence)!

If Brooks Robinson can make the Hall with a .267 career batting average, then surely they have room for Kant.

Frank Watson

Uncasville, Conn.

In the October issue of Baseball Digest in the article on "Sloppiest World Series Confrontations," the author made a reference to a quote attributed to Heinie Zimmerman of the Giants as his defense of futilely chasing Eddie Collins of the White Sox across home plate in the 1917 World Series.

The author had Heinie saying, "Who was I supposed to throw the ball to--myself?"

Most sources, however, have Heinie saying, "Who was I supposed to throw the bail to--Klem?" Bill Klem was the home plate umpire.

Richard A. Smiley

Chicago, Ill.

I was watching a game last season, and a play was made where the umpire's call was obviously wrong and proven so by the instant replay on TV.

Why can't each manager have the opportunity to have three close plays reviewed per game in order to have the right calls made?

Let's leave the balls and strikes alone, just the plays on the field. I think getting the right calls made is fair, not only to the players but to the fans as well. I would like see a response from Baseball Digest and readers on this subject.

Donna Welch

Hooksett, N.H.

If managers on each team had the option of calling for a review of at least three plays in a game through the use of instant replay, there undoubtedly would be too much of a delay in the progress of the game.

During the regular season, maybe the option of one review for each manager would be in order.

When a team's entire season is at stake in the Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series, however, we see nothing wrong in giving managers broader freedom in calling for review of plays that might determine the outcome of a game, involving, for example, cases of disputed calls on home runs, tag plays at second base or perhaps fans' interference.

Outside of disputed ball-and-strike calls, major league umpires, by and large, do a petty good job as long as they are positioned to make the right decision. Their mistakes usually come when, perhaps through no fault of their own, they are not in the right spot to call a close play correctly.

I noticed that last season. Jeff Bagwell built his career totals to more than 1,500 runs scored and 1,500 RBI.

How does he stack up with the all-time greats in this regard?

Bill Goodman

Memphis, Tenn.

In the 2004 season, Bagwell became the 27th player in major league history to have accumulated at least 1,500 RBI and 1,500 runs scored. See the accompanying chart.

If you were a manager in 1957 and you had Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial and Ted Williams on your team, in what position in the batting order would you put each one of them?

Tim Moule

Grass Valley, Calif.

With four hitters in the lineup like the ones you mention, it wouldn't matter much where the manager placed them in the batting order. The manager could close his eyes while his team was at bat, and later ask his bench coach how many runs had scored.