Hard to believe he made it to the postseason four consecutive years with the Tigers. (Not so hard to believe he made it, more that it's hard to believe the Tigers made it to the postseason four consecutive seasons).

His first full season as a starter was 2011, as a 24-year-old, and he made the All Star team, was the AL Silver Slugger at catcher, and finished 12th in AL MVP voting. He had 5.1 bWAR---his only season above 2.8.

Due to that one season I always had it in my mind that he was a better player than he actually was---I was surprised to look and see that he was mostly a mediocre platoon player over the rest of his career.

He made it to four League Championship Series, but never broke through to a World Series. A big part of that may have been his own performances, as he owns a cumulative ALCS line of .137/.214/.255 in 56 PA, with 19 Ks.

As a pitcher though---two innings in each of 2018 and 2019---he shone, with a 2.24 ERA and a WHIP of 1.00.

Is he the best player to ever play for his dad?

His father was the District Attorney General Manager, who traded his own son, and perhaps more importantly, deprived his wife of ready access to her grandchildren.

Is he the best player to ever play for his dad?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question, but Alex Avila wasn't nearly as good as Cal Ripken.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question, but Alex Avila wasn't nearly as good as Cal Ripken.

1. Cal Ripken, Jr.
2. Alex Avila
3. Billy Ripken
4. Me

2,696. Marc Sullivan

He made it to four League Championship Series, but never broke through to a World Series.

I must be misunderstanding something. He didn't play well, but he had seven at-bats across two games in the 2012 World Series against San Francisco.

1. Cal Ripken, Jr.
2. Alex Avila
3. Billy Ripken
4. Me

2,696. Marc Sullivan

No offense, but Aaron Boone and Brian McRae probably knock you down a couple of spots.

Alex Avila wasn't nearly as good as Cal Ripken.

Or Moises Alou.

Moises Alou?

Edit: Too late with that one.

I was surprised to look and see that he was mostly a mediocre platoon player over the rest of his career.

It's oddly shaped. The rest adds up to 11 WAR, 2 WAA which is just fine. But he was terrible in 2015 and 2018 (0.6, -1.5 WAA total) which makes him a very good, nearly 3 WAR C in the other 2200 PA (taking 550 PA as a "full" C season). In only 4 of those 10 seasons did he get into 100+ games so he was more an awesome #2 C than an above-average #1 C.

2,696. Marc Sullivan

Bill James still probably thinks you're being way too generous.

I must be misunderstanding something. He didn't play well, but he had seven at-bats across two games in the 2012 World Series against San Francisco.

Both my memory and my research skills seem to be diminishing.

Dale Berra.

Between Avila and Mike Piazza, I'm beginning to think that nepotism isn't such a bad thing. (At least as it relates to catchers.)

Sandy Alomar coached both of his sons in San Diego, I believe.

I remember the days when Tony LaRussa's Cardinals used to employ his coaches' sons: first Chris Duncan, then Cody McKay. At least Duncan could hit.

His first full season as a starter was 2011, as a 24-year-old, and he made the All Star team, was the AL Silver Slugger at catcher, and finished 12th in AL MVP voting. He had 5.1 bWAR---his only season above 2.8.

Due to that one season I always had it in my mind that he was a better player than he actually was---I was surprised to look and see that he was mostly a mediocre platoon player over the rest of his career.

Watched Avila throughout his career with my beloved Detroit Tigers. Avila had an excellent 2011 season, but the Tigers wore him to a frazzle. Add in a series of concussion issues and his production dropped quickly. Not to say it wouldn’t have anyway- the road to Cooperstown is littered with catchers whose careers were shortened by the general demands of the position. But the overuse and concussions sure didn’t help.

#16 If Dave Duncan hit like Chris Duncan he'd have been a pretty good player. Well maybe not. He did have a 4 year run that looked a lot like Chris' career numbers. And it doesn't look all that good 6.5 WAR total. 2.8 per 650. Mostly because while he had a good defensive rep at the time, totalzone really doesn't think much of his defense -- particularly in 1973. I think it's driven by bad numbers against the running game.

His father was the District Attorney

Fun fact: That meme is now 18 years old (based on the TV series "Skin", which aired in 2003). That's closer to the 1986 BoSox-Mets World Series than it is to today.

As a Cardinal fan I still have sad thoughts on Chris Duncan, please stay away from that subject.

Fun fact: That meme is now 18 years old

I measure passage of time by how many people still get that excellent, excellent meme.

we started HOM voting in 2003 as well, with the "Class of 1898" - so retired as of 1892

"1898 Results - Deacon White, Paul Hines, George Gore and Ross Barnes Elected to the Hall of Merit"

likely nobody was more pissed than the still-active (and delightful) Twitter account of Old Hoss Radbourn, who finished 5th in 1898 but was inducted soon enough (or possibly not soon enough).