Top 100 Angels: Rod CAREW #17

by Rev Halofan on Mar 13, 2009 9:51 PM PDT in 100 Top Angels

#17 - ROD CAREW - 1B (1979 - 1985)

Franchise WIN SHARE Ranking: 16 (102 Regular Season Win Shares)

Post-2005 Top 100 Angels Ranking: 12 - OUR ESSAY ABOUT HIM from then still applies.

Over the past few days, there has been a lively discussion HERE (as well as HERE) at the site over Rod Carew's impact on the franchise in comparison to some other players, most notably his colleague and teammate Don Baylor.

Rodney's On-Base % as an Angel is the franchise record: .393 (Vlad is 2nd at .387)

His single season batting average of .339 in 1983 was the Angel record until Darin Erstad's .355 in 2000.

If anything is to lessen Rod's glory as an Angel, it is the Twins cap he wears on his Cooperstown plaque, as well as the fact that of his 968 hits as an Angel, 788 were singles. But you have to wonder somtimes if, had he been retained as a role-playing sub and pinch hitter in 1986, if we might not have been able to use his bat in the extra innings of Game 5 of the ALCS...

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Comments

Way to veto, Rev!

Hooters anyone?

by Chone's Chonies on Mar 13, 2009 10:02 PM PDT reply actions

it was tied when i looked.

by Rev Halofan on Mar 13, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions

If you say so....

…good call nevertheless.

I see red people

by The Limey on Mar 14, 2009 3:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Don Baylor hit a home run in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS ....

…. and Rod Carew did NOT have a single in that game.

I take rbis over runs scored. It is easier to get on base than it is to plate runs. My vote is for Big Bay!

by Yetijuice on Mar 13, 2009 10:18 PM PDT reply actions

way to bring up a HR he hit AGAINST us

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Mar 14, 2009 6:21 AM PDT up reply actions

1986 ALCS is mentioned in the last line of the original post

I know this is supposed to be about just what the players did when they were with the Angels. On the rbi front Don Baylor had seasons of 139, 99, and 93 rbis for the Halos (in 1979, 1978, and 1982). Rod Carew only ONCE had a season with more than 44 rbis for the Angels ( 59 in 1980). Both Baylor and Carew had down time with injuries while with the Angels. Yet in his healthy Angels seasons Baylor played in 162, 158, and 157 games (in 1979, 1978, and 1982). Carew’s most games played for the Angels were 144, 138, and 129 games (in 1980, 1982, and 1983).

As an Angel the highest Carew ever finished in the AL MVP voting was #26 in 1980. Baylor WON the 1979 AL MVP award and finished #7 in 1978 and #23 in 1982.

Carew was the better bunter (60 sacrifice bunts as an Angel to Baylor’s 2) and a better defensive first baseman. Baylor only played 40 games at first base the entire time he was with the Angels. If we are concentrating on defense this turns into an apples and oranges comparison. Carew was an above average defensive first baseman. Baylor truly was best as a designated hitter. That is the reason Baylor spent his entire career in the American League. Picture Baylor in left field: Juan Pierre inherited Don Baylor’s arm.

As for “way to bring up a HR he hit AGAINST us” that could be the reason why some posters here at Halos Heaven did not vote for Baylor. Rod Carew’s high water mark on a Top 100 list should be with the Twins. Don Baylor’s top ranking is with the Angels. To name some others Bert Blyleven’s with the Twins, Bobby Grich’s with the Orioles, Nolan Ryan’s with the Angels, Jim Edmonds’ with the Cardinals, Carney Lansford’s with the Athletics, and Dickie Thon’s with the Astros. Perhaps scottnak might compile some stats and charts of Angel players who make the Top 100 list for multiple teams!

by Yetijuice on Mar 14, 2009 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Whoa whoa whoa.

sorry if I got under your skin. I no doubt have massive rexpect for what Don Baylor did during his career, and I voted for him after voting for Mike Witt the first time thru based on sentimentality. I just found it ironic that you brought up his HR in game 5 of the ’86 ALCS. sorry.

Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu

by halofan4life on Mar 14, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

well put

in the first vote, I voted against him out of rage, having just watched ’86’s ALCS G5 that I recently acquired from Pontel (which, incidentally, plays FINE on my SHARP DVD player I bought in 1994).

by Downing Rules on Mar 16, 2009 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Rod Carew is definitely at top 20 Angel

Even though, I strongly endorsed Baylor over Rodney, none of us should forget what a wonderful player he was. His signing with the Angels before the 1979 season was one of the most exciting moments in team history.I remember many games where his single would move a player to third or where his base running even at an advancing age would win a game for the Halos. Can you imagine what a Rod Carew in his prime would do on a Mike Scioscia team? Batting second, he would score 130 runs. He deserved better than he got before the 1986 season. Sure Wally was the man but Carew deserved a dignified farewell from the team and yes, who knows what he would have meant in the infamous 86 ALCS. No wonder he wore the Twins caps for Cooperstown.

Angels in 09!

by tanana40 on Mar 14, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions