If you could be the world's best at any sports position..........

[Sir_T-Cups]

@RickJay

Everyone has to hit. Teams are likelier to sacrifice some offense for a glove at shortstop, and that’s why great all-around shortstops can get paid huge bucks, but very few championship teams have shortstops who are *bad *hitters. When people say “the best shortstop in baseball” that usually means the complete package - what the player does as a hitter, fielder, and baserunner.

Rodriguez is certainly a greater hitter than he was a fielder, but in his prime he was a very good fielder indeed.

@Velocity

I think generally, when you get to the big league level, you can’t have any particular deficiency. If you are a great fielder but poor batter, you may find yourself competing for a roster against dozens of players who are great fielders *and *great batters.

Well obviously you’re not going to keep a guy on the field who bats .200 but can field like a mofo, but I thought that shortstops, on the whole, are weaker hitters than your first and/or third basemen

[RickJay]

@Sir_T-Cups

Well obviously you’re not going to keep a guy on the field who bats .200 but can field like a mofo, but I thought that shortstops, on the whole, are weaker hitters than your first and/or third basemen

On average, yes, for a variety of reasons. You are much likelier to carry a player with a modest, if not incompetent, bat to play a position where defensive skill is especially important, like shortstop or catcher.

The BEST, however, is going to be superior in all facets of the game. There have been excellent shortstops who could hit like mofos but were not terrific fielders (Derek Jeter, Ernie Banks) and shortstops who were just good hitters but masters of defense (Ozzie Smith) but the best shortstop who ever lived, Honus Wagner, was the best hitter in the National League AND the best defensive shortstop in the league as well. So to be the best shortstop ever you’d have to be better than that, which means you’re basically talking about a guy who hits like Miguel Cabrera and fields like Ozzie Smith. Hell, I don’t know if $35 million a year would be enough.

And to get back to the OP, if you were that guy, not only would you be making more money than God, but

1. Baseball careers are generally long for Hall of Fame-calibre players. The best shortstops ever almost all had very long careers, pushing 20 years or even more.

2. Baseball is generally not known for debilitating long term injuries.

3. Position players in particular are less prone to long term injuries than pitchers, who of course wreck their shoulders.

[HubZilla]

Most fun: DB in pro football. The fun of smashing players with the occasional glory of an interception. They usual don’t get the constant hits of a RB, lineman or linebacker. Bonus: If you become too good, the job gets easier: they are less likely to throw your way.

If I’m the best, I’d take a good look at boxing. Yeah, it is physically punishing during the matches. But I’d only fight 1-2 a year. And get to pick my opponents for the most part. The loser of the upcoming Pacquiao fight will still make over $120 million.

[Velocity]

@HubZilla

Most fun: DB in pro football. The fun of smashing players with the occasional glory of an interception. They usual don’t get the constant hits of a RB, lineman or linebacker.

Ummmm, if you smash players, you suffer impact, too. Not as much as RB, but still brutal.

[GoodOmens]

Soccer defensive midfielder. I’d be happy to maybe get 1 assist in a season…if nobody on the other side scores.

[astorian]

@HubZilla

Most fun: DB in pro football. The fun of smashing players with the occasional glory of an interception. They usual don’t get the constant hits of a RB, lineman or linebacker. Bonus: If you become too good, the job gets easier: they are less likely to throw your way.

If I’m the best, I’d take a good look at boxing. Yeah, it is physically punishing during the matches. But I’d only fight 1-2 a year. And get to pick my opponents for the most part. The loser of the upcoming Pacquiao fight will still make over $120 million.

On one hand, I appreciate jokes about defensive backs. I recall one time when Deion Sanders was ticked off and talking smack to Curt Schilling for some reason, and Schilling yelled back, “What’re you gonna do- arm tackle me?”

But defensive backs have to make tackles against big, strong guys on a regular basis, and they have to make big stops against running backs and tight ends who’ve built up a head of steam.They take their licks, too.

[racer72]

NASCAR driver. I spent about 10 years driving on the short tracks of the Northwest, the worst part was spending 50 or more hours a week just working on the cars. That was one of the reasons I quit. That time was in addition to working 40 hours a week at a full time job. At the top level, there are mechanics and crew chiefs that do all the work, I just drive.

[typoink]

@DinoR

NFL place kicker. The top kicker is at 4.5mil a year. For football it’s remarkably non-contact so there’s less chance of injury ending a career or causing life long injuries than even a lot of non-contact sports. If I’m that good I can have a long career and retire comfortably never having to work again at even reasonable savings rates.

Place kicker would be my call, as well. Comparatively less risk, high potential for glory, great monetary reward, and relatively long career.

[somepumpkin]

@Gatopescado

CEO of The Formula One Group. I’ll take over for Bernie and do a better job. Hey, its a “sports position”!

And I’d be quite content as your number 1 driver. Hell, I’d even be happy in one of the cars at the back of the grid, really.

But my ultimate choice would be MotoGP champion. Though I’m getting a little too old for that now, so I’ll just drive the Ferrari, thank you.

[Allthegood]

Relay swim team anchor.