Bob Feller: Who Much Would You Pay?
by John Sickels on Dec 16, 2010 10:00 PM EST
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Print"Gentlemen, I've found the greatest young pitcher I ever saw. I suppose this sounds like the same old stuff to you, but I want you to believe me. This boy I found out in Iowa will be the greatest pitcher the world has ever known"---Cleveland Indians scout Cy Slapnicka, speaking to the Cleveland Indians Board of Directors, spring 1936
One more thought on Bob Feller.
The newsreel footage I posted below shows him throwing an estimated 98.6 MPH, which would be well over 100 MPH on a modern gun that measures the pitch at release and not at home plate. That measurement was done in 1946. His contemporaries felt that Feller threw harder when he was younger, and that his peak velocities were when he first reached the majors in 1936 and 1937. If he was throwing, say, 102 MPH in 1946..what was he throwing in 1936?
Bob Feller's signing bonus was $1.
If there was a high school kid available for the 2011 draft who was throwing consistent 100-104 MPH fastballs, who also had a good curveball, who had an incredible work ethic, and was a fine overall athlete to boot, how much money would he make on draft day?
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HS kid I wouldn't be able to tell...
but if you would have said college kid then you would have just been able to look at Strasburg.
ETHAN MARTIN!!!!
never
Think about what that cranky old bastard did at 17. Unbelievable. Marking his passing with a few posts is just fine with me.
When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream.
I understand dude
I just feel all this stuff couldve been done in one post, rather than multiple ones. It feels like that since John doesn’t have anything else prepared to post, heck, lets post something on Bob Feller again. Dont get me wrong, Bob Feller is an ICON. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see “What is Bob Feller’s favorite food” or “What kind of music does Bob Feller like” or “If Bob Feller wasnt a baseball player, what would he be” etc posts.
Perhaps I’m being insensitive, and I apologize. RIP Bob Feller. No disrespect intended.
A bit of research might help
Feller is clearly someone that had a rather significant impact on John’s life
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1574884417.01.SCLZZZZZZZ.jpg
WTF
What the hell is your problem Dewey? I knew the guy, I wrote a book about him, and he had a huge impact on my life in many ways. If you don’t like it, then don’t read it. Geez.
by John Sickels on Dec 17, 2010 10:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I apologize John
I was just looking forward to your other content (prospect lists etc) and was surprised to see multiple posts on the same topic (Bob Feller). Once again, I apologize for my insensitive remarks and not showing proper respect towards something that is clearly very important to you.
RIP Bob Feller
The bestest ever to come from my state of Iowa.
By the way, is there any way to justify Dayton Moore's move to sign two former Braves outfielders? I won't name names but you would know already who they are....
Klaw (1:02 PM): The Francoeur thing was the funniest thing to happen all offseason
blank check
more seriously. significantly more than Strasburgh or Harper
Harper, yes, Strasburg no
Strasburg was a “complete” pitcher coming out of college. No HS pitcher in the same year, no matter how good, would get the same bonus.
$ 30 Million
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"Its too bad that NHL is taken because the National Football League has become the National Hypocrite League" Mark Schlereth
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
why do we think he'd get significantly more than stras?
isnt a pitcher who’s made it to 21 without injury more valuable than the one who’s 18?…
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Dec 16, 2010 11:33 PM EST reply actions
simply the extra leverage?
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Dec 16, 2010 11:33 PM EST up reply actions
Because if Strasburg was doing Strasburg things at 18, wouldn't that make you curious as to what he could do at 21?
by Kenneth Arthur on Dec 17, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, I won't claim to know what Feller looked like at age 18
but I doubt he had the kind of secondary offerings that Strasburg has.
Fire John Mozeliak
by purple_haze on Dec 17, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
just to clarify
are you suggesting that strasburg has better stuff than feller?
I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?
by the pinstripes on Dec 17, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
its extremely likely that stras' offspeed stuff is on a different level than fellers at 17....
and thats what people were comparing
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Dec 17, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
Not only that, but Strasburg's command was amazing
I’d be hard-pressed to pay any 17 year old much more than Stras got
I sort of wonder
what that combination of confidence and talent would mean for his professional and personal life in today’s world. I think his work ethic and strong personality would have prevailed, but the challenges he faced would have been different in some ways.
When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream.
Not above slot!
Sincerely,
Omar Minaya and The Wilpons
by thehitonecafe on Dec 17, 2010 1:37 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Harper money seems reasonable
Doubt he could get anything more given the one-sidedness of the draft. As a free agent, though? [claydavis]Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit[/claydavis]
http://bullpenbanter.com/
he signed for $1? wow
talk about how different the times are these days. and some players like Renteria thinks $1M is an insult…(!)
Feller would have gotten at least $15M/season for sure, but more likely $28-$30M. he was a super-elite pitcher.
"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"
arbitration
I wonder what Feller would have asked for in arb after his 4th and 5th years in today’s terms. And imagine if he hit the market as a free agent at age 23…
When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream.
it don't matter
today, we’d sign you for 30 million a year when you hit Free Agency.
Love-
The Yankees
oh, and the Red Sox, too.
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Dec 17, 2010 3:03 PM EST reply actions
yeah
i just read that the sox now have the highest payroll in baseball.
I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?
by the pinstripes on Dec 17, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
Not accurate
Not yet anyway. Probably end up about 15-20 million behind the Yanks.
by Lollardfish on Dec 17, 2010 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
whatever it took
or whatever my market could bear.
"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."
He'd get what Strasburg got
Give or take a bit. The key word here is “draft”, like Strasburg, young Feller would have no option today to shop his talents to the highest bidder. He would have some leverage to demand a bigger contract than Strasburg, by saying “Pay me X or I’ll just go off to college.” But I think he’d have to cave, because throwing 100 MPH at age 17 is no guaranty that you won’t be on Dr. Frank Jobe’s operating table at age 18. Or age 22, as was Strasburg’s fate.
How about if Young Feller were an international free agent? How much money would he get through the bidding process? Then again, there is a simple answer named Aroldis Chapman.
"That boy is our last hope" - Obi Wan Scioscia, as Francisco Rodriguez left for the Mets. "No, there is another" - Yoda Reagins.
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