Baseball Reference

Not enough people talk about Wes Parker • .267/.351/.375 (.726 OPS), 111 OPS+ • 22.9 WAR, 1110 H, 64 HR, 470 RBI • Played 9 seasons from 1964-72 • One-franchise man with LAD • Had a career year in 1970: • 5.2 WAR, .319 BA w/ 47 2B • Also 111 RBI, GG, 5th in MVP • 1965 WS Champion with LAD • Hit for the cycle on May 7, 1970 • Won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves • Made a comeback in Japan, 1974 • (Hit .301, 14 HR, 59 RBI, .810 OPS) • Ineligible for Cooperstown (9 years) • Appeared on The Brady Bunch, 1970 • Won Gold Gloves in both MLB & NPB • Was famously generous to young kids • Regarded as an all-time great defender • Later worked as a broadcaster & teacher • Wes Parker is 1 of 4 players in the Divisional Era (since 1969) to drive in 100+ runs with 10 or fewer HR

Not enough people talk about Mike Scioscia • Tough-as-nails backstop of the Dodgers • Later, a longtime manager of the Angels • Never struck out more than 32 times!! • .259/.344/.356 (.700 OPS), 99 OPS+ • 26.1 WAR, 1131 H, 68 HR, 446 RBI • One-franchise man with LA (NL) • 2x WS Champ (1981 and 1988) • 2x All-Star (1989 and 1990) • More walks (567) than K (307) • A spectacular defensive catcher • Homered off Gooden in '88 NLCS • LA's all-time leader in games caught • First Dodger C to start ASG since Roy • Caught 136 shutouts, 4th most all-time • 2x Manager of the Year (2002 and 2009) • One of the slowest baserunners of all time • Caught two no-hitters (Fernando V, Kevin G) • Led Anaheim to their only WS Championship • Mike Scioscia has by far the fewest strikeouts of any Divisional Era catcher (1969-present, min. 90% of appearances at C) to play at least 1400 games. Subscriber nomination by @bikebrh

Not enough people talk about Craig Counsell • Easily the weirdest batting stance ever • .255/.342/.344 (.686 OPS), 79 OPS+ • 22.4 WAR across 16 MLB seasons • Got a hit in his final AB at age 41 • 2x WS Champ (FLA '97, ARI '01) • Was an exceptional defender • 2001 NLCS MVP (.381 BA) • Started managing in 2015 • Did I mention batting stance • HBP in the 9th of 2001 WS G7 • Game-tying RBI in 1997 WS G7 • 35th all-time in Total Zone Runs • Had the highest-ever manager AAV • (5 years & $40 million with the Cubs) • Top Similarity Score: Harold Reynolds • Craig Counsell is 1 of 4 players in the Wild Card Era (since 1995) to have at least a career .340 OBP and 140 Rfield, joined by only Scott Rolen, Mookie Betts, and Brett Gardner

The OTD widget in Sports Reference Hub reminded me that Game 3 of the 2009 WS occurred on this date, an 8-5 Yankees win over Philadelphia. You can (and should!) make your free Hub account ASAP, because it's awesome. The eventual WS MVP didn't start because NO DH IN THE NL PARK!!

Not enough people talk about Mike Timlin • 75-73 (.507), 3.63 ERA (125 ERA+), 141 SV • Pitched in 1058 games over 18 seasons • 4x WS Champ (Toronto x2, Boston x2) • Debuted at 25, pitched till he was 42 • Led league w/ 81 appearances at 39 • 5th-round pick out of NAIA school • 8th ALL-TIME in games pitched • Earned AL ROY votes in 1991 • 0.60 ERA vs. the @Nationals • Gave up IPHR to Adrian Beltre • Threw to 34 different catchers • Held Frank Thomas to a .160 BA • Held Bernie Williams to a .185 BA • Got 0 HOF votes from the BBWAA • (But made the Red Sox Hall of Fame) • 18.69 ERA in 5 games w/ Mike Winters • Top B-R Similarity Score: Mike Jackson • Wore either #40 or #50 his whole career • Struggled vs. Harold Reynolds (1.903 OPS) • Only 11 pitchers have appeared in at least 1,000 games while maintaining a career ERA+ of at least 125; Mike Timlin has the 5th-most appearances in MLB history among those pitchers Subscriber nomination by @billyflan