All Hit, No Field

A fine article written by Steve Treder of The Hardball Times, regarding the career of stone-gloved Leon Wagner, has prompted a few Internet diehards to nominate selections for an all-hit, no-field team. Unable to resist the temptation, I've jumped into the fray with my own picks. In order to make my team, players needed to meet two conditions: 1) they must have played at least 100 games at the position and 2) they must have performed horrendously in the field.

(Catcher) Cliff Johnson: He was a good backup catcher to have, a strong hitter, with the ability to deliver pinch-hit home runs, but his stone hands and popgun arm prevented him from playing the position every day. Did I say he could hit?

(First Base) Dick Stuart: I never actually saw "Dr. Strangeglove" play, but I've heard so many stories of his lack of defensive prowess that some of them must be true. Besides, he managed to make 29 errors in one season, a simply remarkable achievement for someone playing first base.

(Second Base) Jorge Orta: An outfielder in a middle infielder's body, Orta possessed hard hands and a slow turn on the double play, a lethal combination.

(Shortstop) Alan Bannister: His versatility and live bat made him a useful player, but not at shortstop. In 1977, the White Sox used Bannister and Orta as their primary double-play combination, creating some interesting defensive adventures for the South Side Hit Men.

(Third Base) Jim Ray Hart: Better suited to play the outfield, Hart played more games at third base than at any other position, much to the chagrin of Giants pitchers who threw sinkerballs. Hart lacked the hands and range to play third, and by his own admission, didn't take a lot of interest in his fielding.

(Left Field) Greg Luzinski: "The Bull" played like a "bull in a china shop" in left field combining incredibly slow feet with a weak arm. Having to play on the fast carpet of old Veterans Stadium only underscored Luzinki's deficiencies. It remains a mystery why the Phillies ever moved him from his original position at first base.

(Center Field) Willie Montanez: Another former Phillie, Montanez lasted only two seasons in center field before management mercifully moved him to first base. An honorable mention goes to Ralph "The Roadrunner" Garr, who would have won the balloting at this position if only he had played more than 63 games in center field.

(Right Field) Pedro Guerrero: Given the demands of the position, it's hard to find someone truly awful for this spot, but Guerrero fits the bill. Like Hart, Guerrero didn't care much for fielding--and it showed. Guerrero could throw, but everything else proved a challenge.

(Utility) Curt Blefary: Nicknamed "Clank," Blefary was a jack-of-all-trades who mastered the art of making the error. He could catch, play first, or the outfield, but the sound of the ball smacking his iron glove resonated everywhere.

(Pitcher) Tommy John: A borderline Hall of Famer in terms of his pitching, John lacked mobility and coordination when it came to handling batted balls. If John was on his game, the best way to beat him was to bunt--again and again and again.