MLB Network Prime 9 for the 1980s: Jack Morris is #1 Pitcher!

[Anup_Sinha]

I enjoyed watching MLBN's Prime 9 players of the 1980s yesterday night. Instead of doing a straight-up Top-9 like they usually do, they chose to pick a player at each position corresponding to the number.

So they did the pitcher of the 80s last, and the whole time watching I'm preparing myself to be disappointed. But in the end, they picked Jack Morris, which was awesome.

Here are their choices, for those who didn't watch:

9 (RF) Dwight Evans
8 (CF) Dale Murphy
7 (LF) Rickey Henderson
6 (SS) Cal Ripken
5 (3B) Mike Schmidt
4 (2B) Ryne Sandberg
3 (1B) Don Mattingly
2 (C) Gary Carter
1 (RHP) Jack Morris


I can't argue a whole lot with them. I might have picked Dave Winfield over Dwight Evans, but they made an awful good argument for Dewey. For one thing, I didn't realize he had more extra-base hits than any other hitter during the 1980s! Great fielder, too.

I also might have picked Eddie Murray over Don Mattingly just because Donnie Baseball didn't get going until 1984 whereas Murray was quite consistent the whole decade.

And maybe I'd take George Brett over Mike Schmidt. I just thought Brett was a more dangerous hitter and more consistent year-to-year that decade. Schmidt struck out a ton and wasn't nearly the clutch hitter as Brett, in my opinion. He was an exceptional fielder, though, before his knees got the better of him in the middle of the decade.

What do you all think about the Best Players of the 1980s? What's your Prime 9?

[Edman85]

I'd hardly say a list put together by media types is validation for Mr. Morris, but hey...

Off the top of my head, a list of some pitchers who were better in the 80's include and are not limited to:

Nolan Ryan
Bert Blyleven
Bret Saberhagen

[DennisDubay]

I'd hardly say a list put together by media types is validation for Mr. Morris, but hey...

Off the top of my head, a list of some pitchers who were better in the 80's include and are not limited to:

Nolan Ryan
Bert Blyleven
Bret Saberhagen

but it is the media that votes the HOF, no?

[Duane B. Sims]

I think the MLB Network does a good job with these lists. I don't always agree with them, but you don't see the ridiculous things you do with ESPN, which pretends sports didn't exist prior to color television.

Conversely, the MLB Network doesn't discriminate against modern players, either. They named Pedro Martinez' 1999 season as the greatest pitching season ever, which is a good choice.

Prime 9 is a good program. Whoever is writing it knows their baseball.

[LJK004]

Actually, I'd agree with that list, 'cept for Mattingly. Don had a nice 4-5 year stretch, but he fizzled quick whereas Murray raked just about every year in the 80's.

[Edman85]

but it is the media that votes the HOF, no?

This only takes away from the Hall of Fame. Jay Freaking Mariotti has a vote!

[cruzer1]

This only takes away from the Hall of Fame. Jay Freaking Mariotti has a vote!

Err... no vote, as he turned in an empty ballot this year. What a d-bag, and I don't mean Dirtbag.

[DaYooperASBDT]

I see the Wins stat is still the most important pitching statistic on Earth.
Nice to see the recognition for Jack, but was he really any better than, say, Dave Stewart or Dave Steib?

[chasfh]

I just had to bump this, because this is just so asinine.

Dave Stieb was the pitcher of the 80's, and it wasn't particularly close.