Sandberg wasn't exactly a risk taker. I'm really not sure why anyone would say that he was amazing defensively really. It's easy to not make errors if you don't every try to get the ones that might be a touch out of reach.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I never said if I hadn't heard something it didn't happen. Nice try though.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Then what was the point of you saying that you've "never heard a non-cubs fan call him one of the best defensive infielders either"?
Was it just an unnecessary thing to add to your post for kicks?
Or were you trying to imply that no one other than Cubs fans say that and therefore, it's someone trying to fanboy up their opinion?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Again, context is required. I said that in response to Matches saying there would be universal agreement on the topic if he wasn't a Cub. If it's something people would universally agree on it would stand to reason I would've probably heard someone say it before today. You seem to be thinking I said nobody anywhere has ever said he's the best defensive infielder ever,, and that's what you're replying to. Problem is I never said that.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Baez is the most naturally talented infielder I've seen in a Cubs uniform. He just needs to show consistency and longevity, which I realize is easier said than done.

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Yeah, Ryan Sandburg was the anti-Baez... consistent, not amazing, and white.

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The only reason you haven't heard it before today is because you were unaware its being said. You seem to be of the opinion that if you didn't hear it it's not being said. But it is.
But again, as I said earlier, these announcers are certainly prone to crazy superlatives. I'm not ready to say Matches is right in the proposition that Baez is one of the best ever, and certainly the only reason anyone really has to dispute that right now is service time, not the eye test of what we've seen, which, in my opinion, is quite telling. Were he to play at the level he has played so far for another 10-15 years we'd call him elite. At only 200 some odd games I'd be bummed if this is the peak of his ability we're seeing now. There's a very good chance he gets even better... and were he to, shit man, maybe he's top ever who knows.

I'm saying all this with the caveat that "best ever" comes with its own litany of problems. Ask this board to list the top 10 QB's to ever play and you'll hear over 30 names and probably only 4 or 5 will agree on top 3 overall and less in the same order. We all see the game differently and value different skillsets within a position differently.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Reply to what I've said, not what you wanted me to say. I've never said or implied that because I didn't hear something it didn't happen. So stop saying that.

Who's saying it besides the announcers in one game? I tried google and I dont really see anyone saying it. Tons of people write about baseball. You'd think a few of them would've said it by now if it was a common sentiment in the baseball community.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Hawkside returns! Dagummit.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Kinda what I was asking of you earlier, slick.


Well, all I said was that I heard that during the WBC, not that a large percentage of writers (which I believe we can universally agree upon are largely as useful as tits on a boar hog). Reply to what I've said, not what you wanted me to say.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I love it when Brick adds something worthwhile to sports talk around here.


Well, at least I suspect that when it happens I'll love it.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

You said it's being said. So, I'm asking you - who is saying it? If your answer is one announcing team in one game and you don't even agree with them, well then once again I will say thank you for agreeing with me and I'm not sure why you felt the need to antagonize along the way to that agreement.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Am I the best you ever saw?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

At what?

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

The other game I heard it in during the WBC was in regards to that insane baserunning play he made... so slightly off topic.
Now that I think about it I'm pretty sure I heard Joe Forehead say it during the MLB playoffs a few times. But you know, that guy...
Sure, I'll agree with you that you've never heard it. If you're not listening, I'm sure you're not hearing it. I'd buy that.
If you want to respond to something I didn't say until much later, of course I agree that it's hard to call him the best ever.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

You tell me Hawkside.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Do you have any idea what you're even talking about? So far... doesn't seem like it. I think you might be having some kind of seizure or failure to understand your native language. Maybe you should re-read the thread and thing before you hit submit.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Dagummit.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Oh ok, so you don't know what you're talking about. I dig that about you. I think maybe you wanted to make that statement about another poster in this thread and got confused. I forgive you.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Stretch!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

When you throw shit against the wall, and none of it sticks, do you bother to pick it up or do you just leave it there to smell like shit forever?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Keep on fighting the good fight Dark! Ignore PRICK and his baseball musings.

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Here's what started the whole argument.

I then specified that since I've been watching MLB (1984) he's the best defensive infielder I've seen. As far as I know, he's taken the routine task of trying to tag someone out and not only mastered it, but it's now an active thing teams have to prepare for. Think about that for a second.

And I stand by the "almost any other team" statement as well. If he were on the White Sox, there'd surely be some Cub fans who wouldn't want to give him his proper due either.

Your statement was completely reasonable.

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Terrible. Absurd. At this point, Baez is not one of the best infielders ever. There is nothing more that needs to be said.

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Your lost in a Cub hating abyss.

And I never said best infielders ever. I've clearly stated one of the best "defensive" infielders you've ever seen.

Matches' statement implies a player at a moment in time. I would not read his statement and think he meant an entire career. And he is certainly one of the most fun defenders I've ever watched: He could wind up being one of the best ever:

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