I felt like we could use a new post (of course, then the Quentin DL news broke) so I went back to the WAR Database to look at third base this time. I think third is appropriate, as Fields is doing nothing and our Lord and Savior is fast approaching. Once again, this is not a complete list as the database only goes back to 1955 so I don't want to hear about Buck Weaver.
Top 10:
| Rank | Name | Season | WAR |
| 1 | Robin Ventura | 1992 | 6.5 |
| 1 | Pete Ward | 1964 | 6.5 |
| 3 | Robin Ventura | 1998 | 6.0 |
| 4 | Robin Ventura | 1993 | 5.8 |
| 5 | Bill Melton | 1971 | 5.5 |
| 6 | Robin Ventura | 1991 | 5.3 |
| 7 | Robin Ventura | 1996 | 4.9 |
| 8 | Robin Ventura | 1995 | 4.7 |
| 8 | Pete Ward | 1963 | 4.7 |
| 10 | Don Buford | 1966 | 4.3 |
The Bottom 11 (there was a five-way tie)
| Rank | Name | Season | WAR |
| 1 | Chris Snopek | 1997 | -1.4 |
| 2 | Greg Norton | 1999 | -.9 |
| 3 | Kevin Bell | 1980 | -.6 |
| 3 | Syd O'Brien | 1970 | -.6 |
| 5 |
Ed Spiezio | 1972 | -.4 |
| 6 | Tim Hulett | 1987 | -.2 |
| 7 | Vance Law | 1984 | .1 |
| 7 | Jim Morrison | 1981 | .1 |
| 7 | Aurelio Rodriguez | 1982 | .1 |
| 7 | Herb Perry | 2001 | .1 |
| 7 | Josh Fields | 2007 | .1 |
Some Observations:
- Damn, Robin Ventura was the man. Taking six of the top ten spots is impressive enough, but his 1997 season impresses me even more. That was the year he mangled his ankle in spring training and was almost lost for the entire year. In 54 games he managed to be worth two wins above replacement.
- And his replacements were terrible. Snopek, Norton, and Perry's 2001 season were all worse than Robin's seasons in Queens.
- There were a lot of 2-3 WAR seasons that did not make the cut, we've had some solid players at the hot corner over the last 44 years.
- And my favorite: Jim Morrison didn't really die, he just went away for ten years and decided to come play lackluster baseball for the Sox.
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