Enjoying a restful holiday week?
How about getting your heart rate going with our 12th annual Overrated and Over-hated list?
It’s simple enough: A person, entity or concept can be good, but regarded as too good, in the opinion of this one-person panel. Or bad, but regarded too negatively. Hence the labels of Overrated and Over-hated. Shoot, there’s one guy on this list who has pivoted from overrated to over-hated in a year’s time, by virtue of our malleable society more than anything he did.
The list covers primarily baseball, with a few random people and issues thrown in to spice it up.
So here we go:
Sandy Alderson: Over-scapego(ated)
Amazon: Over-hated
Miguel Andujar: Overrated as a Rookie of the Year candidate, over-hated by those who think young players can’t improve.
Harold Baines: Overrated
Greg Bird: He’s either overrated or just not the same player after being over-incapacitated.
Aaron Boone: Over-obstinate-d. Man, was he committed to having Luis Severino and CC Sabathia pitch to Jackie Bradley Jr.
Jay Bruce: Over-hated
Mickey Callaway: Over-uncoordinated? Over-inarticulate-d? While he earned the right to come back, he must improve on his rookie season, or it’ll just be over for him.
Yoenis Cespedes: Over-hated
Robinson Cano: Overrated by the Mets, over-hated by the Hustle Cops
Brian Cashman: Over-hated
Alex Cora: From a physics standpoint, he cannot be overrated right now. It’s scientifically impossible.
Patrick Corbin: Overrated. But his upside still might be worth that sixth year for a team on the verge.
Edwin Diaz: Overrated
The Dodgers’ batting-practice garb: Over-hated
Nathan Eovaldi: Overrated, although a delightful guy
Facebook: Over-hated
Jeurys Familia: Over-hated
Mike Francesa: Over-fixated on his app and its critics
Clint Frazier: Overrated, unfortunately, as a current trade chip. Concussions are just so scary. Here’s hoping he recovers.
Todd Frazier: Over-hated
Josh Hader: Over-ovated. Good grief.
Tom Hallion: Over-agitated about his ass winding up in the jackpot
J.A. Happ: Overrated
Jim Harbaugh: Over-hated
Bryce Harper: Over-hated
LeBron James: Over-hated
The Marlins Park home-run sculpture: Over-hated by Derek Jeter
Manny Machado: Overrated
Dave Matthews Band: Overrated
Fred McGriff: Overrated
Jeff McNeil: Overrated
Andrew Miller: Overrated
Shohei Ohtani: Over-hated
The opener: Over-hated
“Ozark”: Overrated
James Paxton: Over-hated
The Phillies: Overrated
David Price: Vindicated. No “over” necessary.
Wilson Ramos: Like the last bowl of porridge, he’s just right.
J.T. Realmuto: Overrated. Well, to be more precise, a mere two years of control of him is overrated.
Dave Roberts: Over-dedicated to Ryan Madson
David Robertson: Over-cut-rated
Romaine lettuce: Overrated
Chris Sale’s World Series “pep talk”: Overrated
Gary Sanchez: Over-hated
Setting the all-time team record for home runs: Overrated
Luis Severino: Over-late-d
“Solo: A Star Wars Story”: Over-hated, despite the absence of a Death Star
John Stearns: Over-hated
George Steinbrenner: Over-hated
Noah Syndergaard: Over-hated
Brodie Van Wagenen: Perhaps over-exhilarated? His Buddy the Elf approach to general managing is very entertaining. We’ll find out if it’ll actually work.
Omar Vizquel: Overrated
White House Chief of Staff position: Over-hated
Wins: Overrated by too many, even if that count is diminishing
David Wright: Over-waited to make his farewell speech. Of course his final game went 13 innings! Best of luck to one of the classiest people in the game’s history.
— Let’s catch up on Pop Quiz questions:
1) From Gary Mintz of South Huntington: In a 2018 episode of “Fresh Off The Boat,” Jessica tires to track down famous author Stephen King at a major league ballpark. Name the ballpark.
2) From Gary Mintz again: In the 1975 film “The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” Mel (Jack Lemmon) complains that the bright lights in his brother’s den make it feel like “a night game” at a particular ballpark. Name the ballpark.
3) From Rich Kladerman of Marlboro, NJ: In a 2018 episode of “Superior Donuts,” a former Negro League player boasts that he got a hit off a pitcher who eventually made the Hall of Fame. Name the pitcher.
— At the Winter Meetings a couple of weeks ago, I attended a breakfast hosted by the Baseball Assistance Team, or B.A.T., which helps former players and team officials in need. It is a most worthy cause.
— Your Pop Quiz answers:
1) Fenway Park
2) Shea Stadium
3) Satchel Paige
If you have a tidbit that connects baseball with popular culture, you can send it to me at [email protected]. Happy and healthy New Year!
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