Baseball Prospectus

MLB Statistics

Statistics for All Levels

Statistics For All Levels

Plate Discipline

Comparable Players (Similarity Index )

BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2005		Take a bow, Robin. Ventura retired shortly after the season, capping a nice career. Played great defense, and played in some very tough hitters' parks; if he'd toiled somewhere more neutral, somebody would make a Hall of Fame argument for him. His single moment of ignominy has probably been forgotten by most—that unfortunate incident when he charged elder statesman Nolan Ryan, only to find himself on the business end of a power-noogie.
2004		"What do you mean you don't have Oreos? Fine, just give me some Hydrox and I'll be outta here." That's more or less the way the Dodgers acquired Ventura, who came from the Yankees at the trading deadline when the Yankees dealt for Aaron Boone. Dan Evans had his eye on a number of name-brand hitters toward the end of July, but by the deadline, all that was left were the old, store-brand leftovers. The Dodgers signed Ventura to a one-year, $1.2 million deal at the end of 2003; Dodger fans better hope there's a Plan B for the first-base job.
2003		The master plan was to get a nifty little year out of Ventura in what was supposed to be a single season engagement prior to the arrival of the stupendous Henson. A second season turned into a necessity after Henson floundered, which isn’t going to kill the Yankees. Ventura’s still an asset offensively and defensively, with a great first step around the bag, and the quick wrists to still get around on anybody and anything. His shot at the Hall of Fame probably depends on his willingness to stick around as long and as well as Graig Nettles and Darrell Evans did; since both have been overlooked so far, Ventura might have to settle for the Hall of the Really Very Good.
2002		Ventura has had the misfortune to play during a pretty good period for third baseman, and in lousy hitters' parks. He's been a hell of a player, consistent as sunrise on both sides of the ball, and even now a terrific defender. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him have another 1999 season, particularly in the power department.
2001		Robin Ventura fought nagging injuries in 2000, so it's hard to say with certainty how much of last year's decline is permanent. Between injuries and off years, he's really been good at the plate only one season in the last four. That projection seems generous; his 1998 level is where the smart money is going.
2000		He bounced back nicely from a sub-par 1998 to be the highest-ranking Met in the MVP voting, nosing out Piazza and Alfonzo. He enjoyed the highest RBI total of his career, thanks in part to a raft of opportunities courtesy of Piazza and Olerud. The offensive surge of the late 1990s masks the fact that this season was essentially the equal of his 1992, 1995 and 1996 seasons, all of which were between a .298 and a .303 EqA.
1998		One of the great players in the history of the organization, and one they seem to go out of their way to antagonize. He’s extremely bitter that he worked as hard as he did to come back as quickly as he did, just in time for the white flag to be run up. Although the Sox want to talk about a multi-year extension, he seems determined to walk away after ’98. This is the kind of collateral damage the Sox will have to expect after the “white flag” trades. Ventura’s comeback is a tribute to one of the organization’s unsung heroes, trainer Herm Schneider.
1997		The best third baseman in the AL, in franchise history, and the target of some of the most idiotic kvetching you’ll ever hear about a great player. The foul Reinsdorf, unwilling to blame his staff for the attendance problems and on-field failures, spent his time taking potshots at Ventura in a September 20th interview: “He’s kind of a laid-back guy... I think we need to get people with a little bit better personality.” What the hell was that all about? This kind of dopey criticism only indicates an organization looking for scapegoats, and in the fine tradition of blaming great players, Ventura’s the man.
1996		An excellent player you never hear much about. Ventura is probably the best third baseman in the league, and the only talk you hear about him is about the Sox entertaining a trade offer or two. He gained some notoriety for defying Walt Hriniak, but he still releases the top hand a lot.

BP Articles

BP Chats

BP Roundtables