Clemente or Kaline?

[tycobb420]

How's this for a right field argument? Which would you take if you could only have one?

 

[Mitchrapp]

Al Kaline. Two great players for a comparison but it has to be Al.

 

[kalinecountry]

Al Kaline. More Power, better plate discipline. Same great RF defense,
and Kaline was more accurate, Clemente with a tit hair more arm strength.
Both were not 'very' fast, but both could run the bases going from first to third, second to home easily, they were smart runners, touching the inside corner of the bag.

 

[byco42]

Kaline. Were I a Pirates' fan, I'd pick Clemente and be right.

 

[LGRW_9]

Kaline. Were I a Pirates' fan, I'd pick Clemente and be right.

Ditto that. Both are in the HOF deservedly, both were total class acts on and off the field, and both played their entire careers with one franchise. Can't go wrong with either, but as a Tiger fan, gotta have No. 6.

 

[biggunsbob]

Kaline all the way... But RC was a HOF to.... Can't go wrong with either..

 

[jabbo5150]

Kaline all the way... But RC was a HOF to.... Can't go wrong with either..

This. I think it depends on where you are from. Some people like to look at Kaline now as a stat compiler or not that good in light of the inflated steroid era, but he had some injury issues and, in his prime, he was very good.

Unrelated, but I had been reading this forum as a lurker for some time, intending to sign up, not realizing that I already had, so this is my first post!

 

[firehim]

Kaline, and it's not even close. I never saw either of them play, so it has nothing to do with where I am from. Kaline is a better player. Both were great fielders. Kaline had more power, got on base more, played longer, and he didn't strike out nearly as much. It would be hard for someone to make an unbiased argument for Clemente IMO.

 

[Rebbiv]

Kaline, and it's not even close. I never saw either of them play, so it has nothing to do with where I am from. Kaline is a better player. Both were great fielders. Kaline had more power, got on base more, played longer, and he didn't strike out nearly as much. It would be hard for someone to make an unbiased argument for Clemente IMO.

Pretty hard to play longer when you die in a plane crash. That fact alone negates any insight you might have.

 

[firehim]

Pretty hard to play longer when you die in a plane crash. That fact alone negates any insight you might have.

How is that relevant at all. Do you want to tell me their road stats?

 

[Thumb]

To be fair to Clemente, his last few years were better then Kalines last few, so the argument could be made that Clemente, though 38 at the time of his death, might have had 2-4 more seasons in him.

Kaline played 4 more seasons and 401 more games, and only had 7 more hits total than Clemente. But Kaline also could take a walk and didn't strike out a ton, Clemente rarely walked and struck out quite a bit.

You could probably make a solid argument for either of them and not be wrong.

 

[firehim]

To be fair to Clemente, his last few years were better then Kalines last few, so the argument could be made that Clemente, though 38 at the time of his death, might have had 2-4 more seasons in him.

Kaline played 4 more seasons and 401 more games, and only had 7 more hits total than Clemente. But Kaline also could take a walk and didn't strike out a ton, Clemente rarely walked and struck out quite a bit.

You could probably make a solid argument for either of them and not be wrong.

The reason why I mentioned it is because the only stat that Clemente really has the edge on Kaline is his batting average. Usually when a player sticks around for a few more years his dareerbatting average drops significantly. But, I am still waiting to see what Clemente did on the road in April from Rabbid. Im sure that he will find some off the wall stat to argue.

 

[Rebbiv]

How is that relevant at all. Do you want to tell me their road stats?

First of all, when you posted Kaline played longer, I thought I would bring up the FACT that Clemente died unexpectedly in a plane crash, in case you didn't know. Especially seeing you made it a point to mention you hadn't seen either one play. I had seen them both.

There is no reason to think that Clemente couldn't have played another 2 years. Clemente was just 3 months older than Kaline and Kaline played an additional 2 years after Clemente died.

Second, Kaline was the better all around player. But I don't have to offer an opinion in every thread that is created. Clemente hit for a higher average and hit far more triples. Other than those two areas, the rest belonged to Kaline.

 

[Rebbiv]

The reason why I mentioned it is because the only stat that Clemente really has the edge on Kaline is his batting average. Usually when a player sticks around for a few more years his dareerbatting average drops significantly. But, I am still waiting to see what Clemente did on the road in April from Rabbid. Im sure that he will find some off the wall stat to argue.

You need to simmer down. What did I ever do to you? Unless of course this second or third user id you are using.

I am sorry OPS, Walk Rates and Runs Created are off the wall stats for you.