Post by rog on Mar 22, 2018 8:33:03 GMT -5
So is Andrelton Simmons truly considered to be the best fielder at shortstop, rather than Brandon Crawford? Based on what one finds when one puts "Is Brandon Crawford the best fielding shortstop" and separately "Is Andrelton Simmons the best fielding shortstop" into his browser, it becomes the internet anwer at least is a resounding "yes."
For Crawford we get two articles -- one in the New York Times and one at the McCovey Chronicles -- from mid-season 2016 saying yes. In fairness, it might be pointed out that Simmons had already missed more than a month of the season -- about half of the games played to that point.
For Simmons we get these headlines:
Andrelton Simmons is Peerless
Andrelton Simmons could be the best defensive shortstop ever
Under the headline Angels shorstop Andrelton Simmons wows on defense is written "the best defensive shortstop in baseball"
Andrelton Simmons may be the best defensive shortstop ever (In fairness, this was written in angels-win forum)
Under the headline Remember Andrelton Simmons? He's quietly (not so sure about that) been one of the best, we see written "From the day he broke into the big leagues with the Braves in 2012, Andrelton Simmons was not just one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball history. He was a human highlight reel."
You get the idea.
Is that East Coast bias? Possibly. While he plays on the West Coast now, Andrelton did begin his career in Atlanta. But the difference in what one finds when putting Simmons' and Crawford's names into the browser is so startling it's hard to imagine there's not some substance on Simmons' part.
Once again I challenge us: Look at the highlights of Crawford and the highlights of Simmons. Just the fact that there are so many more reels on Simmons than on Crawford should give us a hint. But look at the highlights of each, and find the plays Crawford makes that Simmons doesn't or can't. Then look at the Simmons reel and see the (several) plays Simmons makes that Crawford at least hasn't made and likely can't.
For form, Crawford in a landslide. Few shortstops have ever had better form than Brandon. But for results, which is probably the best way to measure something, it's clearly Simmons.
That's why Simmons generates such lofty headlines.
For Crawford we get two articles -- one in the New York Times and one at the McCovey Chronicles -- from mid-season 2016 saying yes. In fairness, it might be pointed out that Simmons had already missed more than a month of the season -- about half of the games played to that point.
For Simmons we get these headlines:
Andrelton Simmons is Peerless
Andrelton Simmons could be the best defensive shortstop ever
Under the headline Angels shorstop Andrelton Simmons wows on defense is written "the best defensive shortstop in baseball"
Andrelton Simmons may be the best defensive shortstop ever (In fairness, this was written in angels-win forum)
Under the headline Remember Andrelton Simmons? He's quietly (not so sure about that) been one of the best, we see written "From the day he broke into the big leagues with the Braves in 2012, Andrelton Simmons was not just one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball history. He was a human highlight reel."
You get the idea.
Is that East Coast bias? Possibly. While he plays on the West Coast now, Andrelton did begin his career in Atlanta. But the difference in what one finds when putting Simmons' and Crawford's names into the browser is so startling it's hard to imagine there's not some substance on Simmons' part.
Once again I challenge us: Look at the highlights of Crawford and the highlights of Simmons. Just the fact that there are so many more reels on Simmons than on Crawford should give us a hint. But look at the highlights of each, and find the plays Crawford makes that Simmons doesn't or can't. Then look at the Simmons reel and see the (several) plays Simmons makes that Crawford at least hasn't made and likely can't.
For form, Crawford in a landslide. Few shortstops have ever had better form than Brandon. But for results, which is probably the best way to measure something, it's clearly Simmons.
That's why Simmons generates such lofty headlines.
