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Troy Glaus vs. Mike Schmidt ESPN.com | |||||||||||||||||
Yes, this one is a bit premature. But Glaus has enormous potential: Player G AVG OBP SLG OPS* OPS+^ Runs RBI TPR# Schmidt 2649 .267 .384 .527 .912 147 1506 1595 79.6 Glaus 1877 .256 .360 .497 .857 115 224 198 3.3* on-base percentage + slugging percentage ^ OPS adjusted for home park and normalized to league average (from "Total Baseball") # Total Player Rating (wins above average player at his position -- from "Total Baseball") Of course, nobody is Mike Schmidt. As Bill James once wrote, "True, Schmidt didn't for a high average. If he had, he'd be the greatest player ever," let alone greatest third baseman ever. What intrigues us about the Glaus vs. Schmidt comparison is that they are extremely similar players. Both were college shortstops who converted to third base. Glaus, who ESPN's Dave Campbell ranked as one of the top five infielders in baseball, will win many Gold Gloves, as Schmidt did. They are power hitters who strike out a lot but draw a ton of walks. In his first year in the majors, Schmidt hit .196 with 18 home runs and then exploded at age 24. In his first full year, Glaus hit .240 with 29 home runs and then exploded at age 23/24: Player G AVG OBP SLG OPS OPS+ HR RBI Schmidt 1974 .282 .398 .546 .944 156 36 116 Glaus 2000 .284 .405 .604 1.009 150 47 102Both players led their leagues in home runs. Their adjusted OPS are similar. Of course, Schmidt went on to lead the NL in home runs seven more times as well as a host of other categories. Will Glaus become Mike Schmidt? Highly unlikely. But it will be exciting watching him become one of baseball's best players for the next decade. Final tally: Schmidt. --David Schoenfield  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Best now vs. best ever: Catcher Best now vs. best ever: First base Best now vs. best ever: Second base Best now vs. best ever: Shortstop Best now vs. best ever: Left field Best now vs. best ever: Center field Best now vs. best ever: Right field Best now vs. best ever: Pitcher | ||||||||||||||||
