As I read through this argument for the first time, I keep seeing Mike referring to a statement like the following:
"As I said earlier, when EM was walking with Griffey, A-Rod and Buhner in the line-up, it was probably a good idea. When he was walking with O'Brien, Reynolds and Davis in the line-up, he wasn't helping the team."
Mike, I know your not a Mariner fan, but you should probably look it up, or think back a little harder before you continually try to use it as part of your argument.
Edgar's first time with any type of significant playing time was 1989 and his first "full-time" starter year was 1990; he played with Seattle until he retired in after 2004
Griffey's rookie season was 1989; he played with Seattle through 1999
Buhner was with Seattle from 1989 until he retired after 2001
Rodriguez was with the Mariners from 1994 through 2000
Alvin Davis was with the M's from his rookie year in '84 through '91 and was no schlub hitter (career .830 OPS and 127 OPS+, although his 1991 year with the M's wasn't so good)
Pete O'Brien was with the M's from 90-93 with only one full-time season (he was essentially a replacement level player)
Harold Reynolds was with Seattle form '83 -'92... but he played 2B... what 2B was going to provide any reason for Edgar to hit differently from 89-92?
In the 2 years that Edgar played with Davis and Reynolds with no Griffey and Buhner, he had a grand total of 6 walks. Alvin Davis had an .886 and .875 OPS in those years (127 & 141 OPS+)
Pre-A-Rod, Edgar's walk rate only exceeded ANY YEAR in which he played with A-Rod (along with Buhner & Griffey, - Griffey in 2000) once, and that season (1993) was his 4th highest walk-rate, not highest.
12/6/2013 7:20 PM (edited)