The Official 2025 MLB Season Thread

[mvp_status]

Kirby Puckett's peak WAR season: 7.1
Bernie Williams peak WAR season: 6.4

Sure, Kirby is higher but not by some outrageous amount.

The perception difference comes from Puckett getting more hits, while Bernie getting more walks.

Also, Puckett was done at 35. It's not likely he was going to remain a superstar into his late 30s even though he was still all-star level.

If I shave off Bernie's 1st two seasons and his last 2 seasons, he averaged .305/.392/.498 and 4.8 WAR per 162 games.
Compared to Kirby's entire career he averaged .318/.360/.477 and 4.6 WAR per 162 games.

I didn't shave off any years for Kirby because he had a 12 year career and Bernie had a 16 year career, so discounting Bernie's 1st two and last 2 seasons made sense -- given that Bernie wasn't even a regular until 1993 anyway and eliminating the last two years of Bernie's career uses his final season at age 35 --- which is the same final season for Kirby.

7.8**

Kirby was also a 10 time All-Star compared to 5 for Bernie. Finished in top 5 MVP voting 3 times compared to 0 for Bernie. I'm guessing those things matter too, how were you ranked amongst your peers when you played.

I'd also guess analytics were not as prevalent back when Puckett got in compared to when Bernie became eligible. He's not the only great CF from that mid 90s-2000s era having to buy a ticket to get in. Edmonds? Nope. Jones? Nope.

Probably some others I'm forgetting about

 

[VegetasHairline]

Clase right now.

 

[VegetasHairline]

Raisel Iglesias trade value just went up!

 

[Spidey Man]

I hope he has an interpreter. He was a few days away from getting traded too, and he fukked it up. The Bednar pack is shooting up in price

 

[VegetasHairline]

 

[VegetasHairline]

 

[VegetasHairline]

 

[VegetasHairline]

 

[K-Apps]

 

[Regular_P]

This guy has an ERA of 5 and doesn't strike people out.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

This guy has an ERA of 5 and doesn't strike people out.

Yeah, he's so washed.

 

[tremonthustler1]

This guy has an ERA of 5 and doesn't strike people out.

those are the ones who kill the Yankees

 

[FaTaL]

This guy has an ERA of 5 and doesn't strike people out.

he used to have the juice when he was in sd

 

[god shamgod]

Clase situation couldn’t be any worse timing they were about to trade dude this week

 

[FaTaL]

Clase situation couldn’t be any worse timing they were about to trade dude this week

whose his replacement?