Fan Favorites

[klaiggeb]

Let's face it; the reason a player becomes a fan favorite is BECAUSE he performs.

But last night, watching Peavy, I realized that, for ME... it goes beyond that. Way beyond that.

I looked back at the players I've really liked, and more importantly, discovered a reason why.

In no particular order, and leaving out the OBVIOUS choices such as Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, Marichal, Posey et. al. this is a list of the guys I REALLY enjoyed watching, and my reasons why.

Two guys top my list.

1-Will Clark- His absolute focus, his ferocious passion and the way he went all out every day.

2-Hunter Pence-His energy and PASSION on the field. You KNOW you're going to get Hunter's BEST, in a slump or not.

2nd tier

1-Rick Rueschel- You just didn't dick with this guy. Stoic, consistent, and he'd put the ball in your ear if you ticked him off. MY kind of pitcher!

2-Omar Vizquel- Just a joy watching him field his position. Smooth, so very, very smooth. Ozzie Smith may have been a better all around player, for just for the shear JOY of watching a guy field a ball... I'll take Omar!

3-Brandon Crawford-From the 1ST DAY I saw him in the field, watching him field groundballs was a pleasure! Most fun I've had watching an infielder SINCE Vizquel.

3-Jake Peavy-Man! I love his passion! That is the way I PLAYED the game! With fire!

Absolutely intolerant of HIS own mistakes, but forgiving of the mistakes of others. He EXPECTS to be good and simply cannot tolerate his own failures.


3rd tier

4-Rod Beck- Just a frickin' BULLDOG on the mound! Would take the ball any time without question and, good stuff or bad, you KNEW he was going to give you a battle.

5-Joe Panik- to ME, he's simply fear-less!I just love the way he plays the game. Love it! Knows he's NOT the most talented guy on the field, but humbly goes about his business grinding out each at bat. You get your VERY BEST from Joe every day.

6-Matt Duffy-Watching Matty at the plate, I realized last night that this guy is a machine; a computerized machine who isn't just programmed, but programmed to learn and learn fast! Goes about his business like a mechanical man, a mini terminator, if you will, who just... won't... quit! I simply LOVE his attitude!

boly

[Rog]

He never was a great player, and even his period of "goodness" wasn't long, but I loved to watch Andres Torres run the relay when he ran the bases. Talk about FORM!

Among players who aren't especially good, right now Gregor Blanco is one of my favorites. I think a lot of that may have to do with the great defensive plays he has made.

Going way back, I liked scrubs like Joe Pettino and Mike Sadek.

[Islandboagie]

I've always liked the little guy. The guy who physically doesn't look like an athelete, but between the ears he's the best player out there. That's why Matt Duffy became one of my favorites pretty quick.

[sfgdood]

I like players that do multiple things ell...I also like those who lead by example.

70s - Willie Mac and Darrel Evans (because I met him one day. I was on the way to see the Giants play Santa Clara U in an exhibition game and my dad pulled into a gas station near the field for refreshments. There we saw Darrell, tall as a redwood, in full uniform, crawling out of a low sports car--I think it was a Porsche--to gas it up. I ran over and started yammering about something I don't even remember. He was pretty cool and put up with me for a while. I had my little league hat on and he signed it for me. My teammates were impressed).

80s - Robbie Thompson and Will the Thrill

90s - Barry Bonds, Robb Nen and Stan Javier (loved his sense of humor)

00s - JT Snow, Rich Aurilia

present - Buster, Lincecum, Panda