Favorite All-Time Tool?
by aap212
on Jul 3, 2025 4:44 PM EDT
76 comments
For a bunch of dyed in the wool baseball nerds, I figure this should be a fun conversation. What's your favorite all-time individual tool on a particular player? There's no right or wrong answer, but in many cases, I'm sure there's a story behind it. Tony Gwynn's hit tool? Clemente's arm? I'm especially interested in guys that aren't hall of famers or even superstars, but had that one insane ability. And it has to be someone you saw/see. I, for one, am certain I'll tell my grandkids about Vlad's plate coverage. But it can also be on the other end of the spectrum, like Mackey Sasser's arm or the most astonishingly/endearingly slow player you've ever seen. There's no right or wrong answer. Go!
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Solid
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-Stephen Colbert
by Conjunction on
Jul 3, 2025 7:29 PM EDT
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This has always been a favorite of mine
Bonds’ plate discipline. If you want one of the five tools, then Willie Mays’ glove.
Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)
by CB30 on
Jul 3, 2025 4:58 PM EDT
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Vinny Mazzaro Dislikes This.
Hey guys, I run a music blog. alternative, powerpop, punk, electronica, screamo, etc etc, check it out. http://muzikdizcovery.blogspot.com/ artist interviews and many other stuff. free cookies! (not really, but still) :D
by cwhitman412 on
Jul 3, 2025 5:28 PM EDT
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But does Van?
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
by OldProspects on
Jul 5, 2025 11:34 AM EDT
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And after reading post
Ricky Henderson’s ability to get a lead and jump off the pitcher. They knew he was going, but couldn’t stop it.
by smoooooth on
Jul 3, 2025 5:08 PM EDT
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Tim Lincecum's Cloning Ability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf02Sq2WZlM
Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson
by gore51 on
Jul 3, 2025 5:45 PM EDT
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Tim Lincecum's...
delivery. Even though it really isn’t considered a tool.
by joegonzo on
Jul 3, 2025 5:48 PM EDT
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Michael Jackson’s decrepit, inactive weiner.
by Frederick0220 on
Jul 3, 2025 5:52 PM EDT
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Richie Sexson's Tackling a Rangers Pitcher
is the best and most memorable skill I will see ever in a baseball game I think.
For tools, I’ll second Gathrights ungodly legs giving him speed and jump skills. The secret to the commercial of Kobe jumping the car is that it was actually Gathright
by tdot mariner fan on
Jul 3, 2025 6:00 PM EDT
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This is a pretty tough question really. Bonds’ plate discipline is pretty good. Nobody mentioned Ruth’s power which, in context of the era, is just so impressive. Clemente’s arm was wicked to but hard to remember if it is even the best I’ve seen. Ted Williams contact ability is pretty impressive as well. Henderson’s base running ability definitely stands out as well. As far as Gathright, I was always amazed with Bo pretty much every time he took the field in terms of athletic ability.
I can’t really put my finger on one thing but I think the serious replies will be pretty interesting.
by jfish26101 on
Jul 3, 2025 6:09 PM EDT
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on a serious note
Maddux’s fastball command
baseball rules.
by doublestix on
Jul 3, 2025 6:10 PM EDT
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Maddux’s command, period.
Prospective parent of new pick, Zack Wheeler. Projectable Righty stolen from the braves. Of course, I stalk my son's myspace: http://www.myspace.com/zackwheelerbaseball
"Obviously I’m not doing things like going toe-to-toe with a ninja. Find me a ninja, for one."--Brian Wilson
by haverecords on
Jul 4, 2025 3:44 AM EDT
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Glenallen Hill
His raw strength. I was watching the game when he broke his bat on a check swing. And in another game he hit a ball onto one of the rooftops overlooking left field at Wrigley.
by RJB7 on
Jul 3, 2025 7:03 PM EDT
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Bengie Molina's speed
Awaiting his arrival in SF: Jesse English
by henwo on
Jul 3, 2025 7:16 PM EDT
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on that note
Bengie Molina’s ability to take a walk
Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson
by gore51 on
Jul 3, 2025 8:29 PM EDT
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better than Miguel Olivo's
baseball rules.
by doublestix on
Jul 3, 2025 9:05 PM EDT
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Eric Gagne's ability to change speeds
At his best there was almost a 25 mph difference between his fastball and his change.
The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.
by mckeeno on
Jul 3, 2025 9:01 PM EDT
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Ironically enough
that’s the same difference between his steroid fastball and non-steroid fastball
by joltinjoe on
Jul 6, 2025 12:33 PM EDT
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Favorite all time tool?
Fred Phelps, everybody knows he’s a tool, but nobody really takes him seriously. Plus I don’t live in Topeka so I don’t have to deal with him on a weekly basis.
Good luck with him, John. Lawrence isn’t too far from Topeka.
Mourning Guy Carbonneau...
Royals obscure player to watch in ST: Lenny DiNardo
by playingwithfire on
Jul 3, 2025 9:38 PM EDT
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My favorite Phelps fact
is that during the 60s, he did some cases for the NAACP. Even now, when he goes after everybody from gays to the Swedes, he never mentions blacks.
It just goes to show that even a raging, evil bigot can actually do something decent once in a lifetime.
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
by OldProspects on
Jul 5, 2025 11:37 AM EDT
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Some of mine...
Jesse Barfield’s arm
Roberto Alomar’s range
Devon White’s range
Dave Stieb’s ability to snap at his fielders
Yep, I am a Jay’s fan for sure.
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on
Jul 3, 2025 11:08 PM EDT
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Favorite all time tool
Billy Zabka
by thefordhamflash on
Jul 4, 2025 12:05 AM EDT
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+1
The “must be take a worm for a walk week!” guy is pretty good too though.
by Flynn Blake on
Jul 4, 2025 4:43 AM EDT
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Derek Jeter's Clutchness
I would have also settled for his leadership abilities. He has 4 rings, ya know.
by JayWise on
Jul 4, 2025 10:57 AM EDT
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David Eckstein's
Grittyness
I am beginning to lose patience
With my personal relations.
They are not deep
And they are not cheap.
W.H. Auden
by jimduquettesucked on
Jul 4, 2025 1:59 PM EDT
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RP-Atonio Alfonseca's hands
all 12 fingers in all of them.
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on
Jul 4, 2025 7:30 PM EDT
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Also
I love how nobody’s taking this seriously. In that vein: Cecil Fielder’s appetite.
by demondeaconsbaseball on
Jul 5, 2025 12:33 AM EDT
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Oh, those back flips.
"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"
by maxisagod on
Jul 5, 2025 4:01 PM EDT
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Nomar's hitting for average
used to be a real pleasure to watch that guy hit.
by alskor on
Jul 5, 2025 12:46 AM EDT
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seriously....
Ichiro’s arm—not because it is necessarily the best, just that the first time I saw him throw the ball I didn’t expect this small slap hitting OF from Japan to have such a cannon.
by DenverBears on
Jul 5, 2025 6:52 AM EDT
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Pulling up that video of him gunning down Terrence Long at third would be great.
I can’t find it though.
by PissedMick on
Jul 5, 2025 9:27 AM EDT
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I'm not sure the video is out there still
But when Bo Jackson was with the White Sox, he threw a guy out at third from right field. Bo was about 30 feet from the wall in right and was FLAT FOOTED and threw out the runner tagging from second. I don’t know who has the better/stronger/more accurate arm, but that’s the most amazing throw I’ve ever seen.
by thejd44 on
Jul 5, 2025 3:06 PM EDT
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Ok, so my memory was a little foggy
I exaggerated some. He’s a bit more than 30 feet from the wall, and he does take one step to throw.
Either way, the video can be found here: http://www.psslbaseball.com/video/plays91.rm
It’s the 4th best play of the year in that video.
by thejd44 on
Jul 5, 2025 3:17 PM EDT
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For you Twins fans
Punto’s gamerness or Puntos Grinding it out ability.
Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?
by halfchest on
Jul 5, 2025 4:49 PM EDT
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Punto's head first slides into first base on a bunt.
by JopeX37 on
Jul 6, 2025 3:01 AM EDT
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Joe Mauer's Eyes
(at the plate)
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on
Jul 6, 2025 5:37 PM EDT
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My serious answer
John Olerud’s eyes/onbase/etc. Whatever you’d call it, I always loved his ability to control the strike zone (and that really smooth swing ).
by JayWise on
Jul 5, 2025 5:22 PM EDT
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Good call
He shouldn’t be a hall of famer, but he’s a LOT closer than people give him credit for.
by aap212 on
Jul 6, 2025 12:54 AM EDT
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He's closer than Jim Rice
no wait…
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
by Evan_S on
Jul 6, 2025 6:17 AM EDT
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What about his ability to wear a helmet in the field?
Always loved to see Olerud with his helmet on out there, he was a spectacular fielder as well
If he’s on the 2000 Mets, we win the World Series.
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
by Evan_S on
Jul 6, 2025 6:16 AM EDT
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Joe Sewell's contact ability
look it up
"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft
www.27ClubPeak.blogspot.com
by harendaman365 on
Jul 6, 2025 10:23 AM EDT
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Kyle Farnsworth's...
…BRAWLING abilities. Starting ’em, controlling them, you name it. Really his only tool…
by valley on
Jul 6, 2025 9:06 PM EDT
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jeremy affeldt endorses this
baseball rules.
by doublestix on
Jul 6, 2025 11:06 PM EDT
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Answer,,
The bat of Ted Williams and Ricky Henderson’s speed. Johnny Bench’s catching ability is up there too as he completely changed the way the position is played.
by Havok1517 on
Jul 7, 2025 1:22 AM EDT
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Ruben Rivera's baserunning ability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFJlT2ic1uw
Adoptive parent of Kyle Nicholson
by gore51 on
Jul 7, 2025 11:16 AM EDT
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Never saw him play, but...
Joe D’s hit tool has to be up there. I mean the guy struck out like 369 times in his career while hitting 361 homers. That’s incredible.
by rglass44 on
Jul 7, 2025 11:34 AM EDT
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