Hey Boys here is a fun topic...top 5 slow pitch softball players in the area...post your top 5 players and reasons as to why...also feel free to pick an all-star squad of 11 if you have some extra time as I know Marcus will!!!
I will respond back with my top 5 after...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Playing today, I might go:
Freddie Jones - Maybe the best outfield arm that I have ever seen; huge power even with aluminum; can hit for average, can field his position (left center), and can run the bases.
Eric Coleman - The best all round hitter in the area, and has been since Todd LaForce retired; explosive pop to the opposite field, but can also turn on a ball; extremely intelligent ball player; aggressive on the base paths with decent speed; can pitch, play the infield or outfield (very solid), and while he doesn't have a rocket arm, it is accurate.
Chip Corbin - Another all round baller; a few years removed from his prime, but can apparently still crush big flys; could always go to any field for average or with power; solid outfielder with an extremely strong arm; decent speed on the basepaths.
Chris Tinder - Arguably the best pure athlete around; huge power from left field to right center, but can also hit line drives when needed; he can be irratic, but when his head is in the game, there are few better; has a cannon for an arm, and can track fly balls about as well as anyone; will also give up the body; has very good speed, both in the field and on the bases.
Larry Hyde - Probably the best outfielder in the area; blazing speed allows him to play shallow, and close on most balls hit over his head; a very heady ball player; also showcases a strong, accurate arm; at the plate, he can go to any field, and can hit with some power; around the bases, there are very few that can touch him.
HM Rick Bowden - One of the most underrated players around; plays mostly modified, but when on top of his slow-pitch game, he is an easy top 10 player around; excellent shortstop with range and a rocket arm; good speed on the basepaths; can hit for average, but has hit some of the most majestic homers I have seen.
Next, the best that I have seen - three have already been mentioned above . . .
Tinder is the only name I recognize from this list, and I haven't really been around too many guys as I have only played the last several years.
Not to be bias but Chris "Squally" Pasquale has been mentioned as one of the top softball players around during his prime. He recently came out of retirement to play with us so I still have to put him in my top 5.
His attributes are he can hit with power and can place the ball in gaps making him a threat everytime at the plate. He has great speed still for an older player and his defense is superb. He can chase down fly balls still better than anyone in our league and has a cannon for an arm which might be his best skill, is accuracy and strength in his arm are a real weapon. He too is also a very smart player and uses excellent judgement on the base pads.
The other 4 I am going to have to do some research on. Based on your description of Tinder and I believe I have seen him in action before I would have to also place him in my top 5.
To Be Continued...
Alright, to continue, the only changes I would make for an "all-time" team would be to add Laforce, Squally, and Devin Ashman and take off Hyde and Tinder.
Todd LaForce is simply the best softball player to perhaps ever play around here. Easily the best overall power hitter, but could hit nearly unfieldable top spin line-drives. A rocket for an arm, and had enough speed and wherewithall to field his position and run the bases. Definitely the most feared hitter I've ever seen.
Chris Pasquale could pretty much do it all in his prime - field any position with a world class arm, hit with power and average and to any field; and had decent speed.
Devin Ashman is just a great all round ballplayer. Power? Check. Hit for average? Check. Field any position, including the two most important, short and center? Check. Rocket arm? Check - one of the best ever. Run the bases? As good or better than anyone else on this list. Plus, no attitude - a great teammate.
Some others, including Toesy, say that Mike Carr, in his prime, was the best player they've ever seen. I didn't see enough of him in his prime.
As for hitters, I would rank them as follows:
(1) LaForce
(2) Coleman
(3) Mike McPeek
(4) Ken Derr
(5) Corbin
As for best players I've played or against on a routine basis over the years, I would rank them:
(1) LaForce
(2) Jones
(3) Coleman
(4) Corbin
(5) Ashman
Like I said, I didn't see enough of Carrster in his prime, or Squally for that matter.
My all-time team would be:
P Rick Gaska - toughest pitcher I've ever faced.
P Bob "Toesy" Flint - Fields the position better than anyone.
1B Mike McPeek - Hits the hardest line-drives, and is 6-6.
2B Steve Nedlik
3B Eric Coleman
SS Chris Pasquale
LF Larry Hyde
CF Freddie Jones
CF Devin Ashman
RF Todd LaForce
EH Chip Corbin
Util OF Ken Derr
Util IF Rick Bowden
Reserves Chris Tinder
Mike Carr
Marcus,
Where am I on this list?
Not sure I know Aaron, but kind words anyway. Not to be bias but I will tell you this, in our prime (Vestal Center Tavern, Barney’s, Warners Gas-our team names back then) nobody in this area could come close (even today). In the later years of these teams it was placed in the local ASA book that we were not aloud to play with one another in this area. This is when the area really went down hill. I started on these rosters when I was 14 years old. Back then you needed to win your league in order to move up a league (you started in the “H” league), it encouraged you to get better players every year or you stopped there. Now its just pay your entry fee and you can be in any league you want and complain to a league official that other teams are too good and you can’t compete. I’m glad to see young players like the one’s we played last night and yourself/Phil play the game. Enough about yester year.
Direct Quote from a conversation with the great Chris "Squally" Pasquale on his being enshrined as one of the area's best.
- Otto
Schof: The only thing keeping you off is longevity :).
Post a Comment