Time to Bring Sammy Home

[Benchwarmer]

Isn't it time to bring Sammy Sosa back into the embrace of the Cubs front office? This isn't about the HOF, whose ballots go out for 2013 in December of next year. And yes, I believe Sammy belongs. It's about honoring a player who did as much for the franchise as any player, including Ryno, Ernie, Billy and Fergie.

 

Say what you want about Sammy. He was quirky. He did some stupid things. He was hard headed. Yes, he did and was..but the man produced and built sustained interest in the Cubs for years. He had a joy of playing and rarely took a day off. Remember, we couldn't wait for the game to start and for Sammy to bat. Was I suckered in? Yup. I'll wager most of us here were in the same position.

 

In 1998, Sammy got 98% of the MVP vote. The year McGwire set the HR season record, Sammy got every MVP vote except for two St. Louis writers. He gave us so many memories like: How about the time Sammy got hit in the helmet in Pittsburgh and the helmet shattered. How frightening was that? The countless HR, especially the ones into the trees beyond Waveland. Running out to RF with an American flag in his hand. He gave us alot.

 

With the hope that Hendry and his crew will be cut loose at season's end, it will be the perfect time to bring Sammy back. Retire his number and hang the flag on the rightfield pole. Come home, Sammy.

[rocket]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

also, it's pretty hilarious how robbed mcgwire was of the mvp in 1998. i don't think sammy wins it in 2011 if they had identical seasons

[squally1313]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

also, it's pretty hilarious how robbed mcgwire was of the mvp in 1998. i don't think sammy wins it in 2011 if they had identical seasons

 

Yeah I just looked at the BR MVP page for that year (http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp). Some good names in there, and shows how different the voting was done then.

 

I think what's really funny is how good the "replacement player" was back then (if I understand WAR correctly). McGwire hits 70 home runs and puts up a 1.222 OPS, and it's only good for a 7.2 WAR. Bautista's got a 1.102 OPS currently, and he's already at 6.8.

[OleMissCub]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

I doubt that

[Magnetic Curses]

sammy used to sprint out into right field with a glove full of baseballs and just toss them into the stands for people, he really did know how to put on a show and even if most of what he did was for attention, i was entertained.

 

i hope he's embraced by the fans again. he's up there with ron as cubs' tragic heroes.

[Sammy Sofa]

So how much truth is there to the idea that Wood smashed Sammy's boom box? I'd love to see Sammy recognized by the organization, but if he and Wood are at odds in some way then Sammy's unfortunately going to be on the outs, because the Cubs and Wood seem to have mutual plans to have Wood involved in some capacity with the team for a long time.

[rocket]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

I doubt that

 

maybe not most. but enough fans dislike him that he'll never get a statue/his number retired.

[Post Count Padder]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

also, it's pretty hilarious how robbed mcgwire was of the mvp in 1998. i don't think sammy wins it in 2011 if they had identical seasons

 

Yeah I just looked at the BR MVP page for that year (http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp). Some good names in there, and shows how different the voting was done then.

 

I think what's really funny is how good the "replacement player" was back then (if I understand WAR correctly). McGwire hits 70 home runs and puts up a 1.222 OPS, and it's only good for a 7.2 WAR. Bautista's got a 1.102 OPS currently, and he's already at 6.8.

That's because that year McGwire had a -1.6 dWAR (pretty bad defensively) that brought down his overall WAR. Bautista has a .4 dWAR this season.

[OleMissCub]

Yeah I just looked at the BR MVP page for that year (http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp). Some good names in there, and shows how different the voting was done then.

 

haha, that was the year that someone gave Morandini a vote.

 

The game really was so different back then. 15 guys in the NL alone with 100+ RBI's. 9 with 120+.

[Guest]

How about Maddux sporting a 2.22 ERA over 251 IP in that run scoring environment. And unlike Clemens, nobody will ever accuse Maddux of taking steroids to get that result.

[OleMissCub]

How about Maddux sporting a 2.22 ERA over 251 IP in that run scoring environment. And unlike Clemens, nobody will ever accuse Maddux of taking steroids to get that result.

 

impressive, but hey, Ruth and Cobb didn't get 100% of the vote so that Maddux guy doesn't deserve it either!!

 

I swear, I wish there was a one time disclosure of HOF votes so we could see which mugwumps don't vote for Maddog on his first ballot. Those people should be hunted down and then summarily put to death.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

Yeah I just looked at the BR MVP page for that year (http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp). Some good names in there, and shows how different the voting was done then.

 

haha, that was the year that someone gave Morandini a vote.

 

The game really was so different back then. 15 guys in the NL alone with 100+ RBI's. 9 with 120+.

 

Check out Barry Bonds' 1998 statline. Holy crap.

[rocket]

Yeah I just looked at the BR MVP page for that year (http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp). Some good names in there, and shows how different the voting was done then.

 

haha, that was the year that someone gave Morandini a vote.

 

The game really was so different back then. 15 guys in the NL alone with 100+ RBI's. 9 with 120+.

 

Check out Barry Bonds' 1998 statline. Holy crap.

 

you could probably spend 5 minutes with your jaw dropped looking at barry bonds' br page

[Post Count Padder]

Yeah I just looked at the BR MVP page for that year (http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.shtml#NLmvp). Some good names in there, and shows how different the voting was done then.

 

haha, that was the year that someone gave Morandini a vote.

 

The game really was so different back then. 15 guys in the NL alone with 100+ RBI's. 9 with 120+.

 

Check out Barry Bonds' 1998 statline. Holy crap.

 

you could probably spend 5 minutes with your jaw dropped looking at barry bonds' br page

The offensive stats are just ridiculous, but I for some reason never realized just how good a fielder he was in his younger days. He had a 3.9 dWAR in 1989, which is the second highest dWAR in one season at any position ever (behind only Adam Everett, who had a 4.0 dWAR in 2006, so for awhile he had the highest).

[NonProfitCow]

Larry Walker hit .363 .445 .630 1.075 and finished 17th. In the NL.

[Sammy Sofa]

How about Maddux sporting a 2.22 ERA over 251 IP in that run scoring environment. And unlike Clemens, nobody will ever accuse Maddux of taking steroids to get that result.

 

impressive, but hey, Ruth and Cobb didn't get 100% of the vote so that Maddux guy doesn't deserve it either!!

 

I swear, I wish there was a one time disclosure of HOF votes so we could see which mugwumps don't vote for Maddog on his first ballot. Those people should be hunted down and then summarily put to death.

 

Please stop saying "mugwumps."

[Sosa21MVP]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

I doubt that

 

Me too.

[NonProfitCow]

i agree, but it isn't happening. most cubs fans still hate sammy for not playing in the meaningless game in 2004.

 

I doubt that

 

Me too.

Hmm. Head over to Cubs.com or ESPN and start this same exact thread. I'm curious.

[OleMissCub]

Please stop saying "mugwumps."

 

I will not.

[Sammy Sofa]

You will. Or else.

[JimSorgi]

Please stop saying "mugwumps."

 

I will not.

I think everyone would appreciate it.

[wekim81]

great post. I agree.

[Soul]

I hope someday it happens. Maybe not after this year, but let some more time go by and we'll see.

[mike2482]

After reading this thread I was at my parents house for dinner. Searching through some old stuff I found a Sammy Sosa starting lineup that she bought for me years ago and never gave me. Will someone please start a Honus Wagner appreciation thread.

[EhDubya]

Im trying to figure out what in the world Honus Wagner has to do with this conversation at all?