Re: George's question about injuries. I have a long-held opinion that may put me on an island, but here goes. Players of past generations, up to around the 1960s or so, played the game almost 100% on natural talent and "normal" conditioning of those times related to running and general stamina. I could be wrong, but I don't think weightlifting was part of the normal conditioning regimen. I've always questioned how much weightlifting really helps a baseball player. Does it help hitters hit more HRs? Does it help pitchers throw more strikes? You could argue that the faster pitch speeds are at least partially due to weight lifting. Perhaps. Perhaps not. IMO, the change is due primarily to the fact that today's players are by natural generational growth stronger than past players. We see this evolutionary change in every sport. I believe the greater susceptibility to injury for this generation is due to 2 factors: 1) Overplaying one sport at younger ages in terms of # of games and essentially year-round play. I believe this practice, which is prevalent from the early teens on causes continuous stress on muscles which are critical to success on the diamond, whether for pitching or for batting. This kind of stress doesn't always have an early effect. It can build over a long period of time before it impacts the athlete. (I have no direct knowledge of this causation. Like I said, it's an opinion). 2) Over-development of certain muscles via weight training believed to be important to successful execution on the field but in fact become less effective when developed beyond their normal contribution to the athletes' efforts. In other words, IMO you can develop muscle that when taken beyond a certain level can hamper a player's natural ability to play the game at his/her highest level of potential. This may seem like gibberish to most, but when George asked the question, it unleashed beliefs I've held for a long time, so I thought I spit them out. It won't be the first time I said something with which folks disagree. :wink:
:idea: :arrow: I don't disagree with Sid. I've seen a lot of evidence that both of his ideas are true. Kids who play hundreds of games growing up don't help themselves. Baseball is a sport where all the muscles and tendons are used and kids who play multiple sports are often better than the specialists. Weightlifting is often overdone too.
Sid I think you are right. BTW what do you guys think of the Angels 2 way player Ohtani? He's off to a good start both as a DH and a pitcher. Do you think he can do both over the course of a season? If he does will that open it up for more two way players?
Outside of Little League, I have never seen anyone earn the Platinum Sombrero. Until now. In the last five games I have seen Giancarlo Stanton earn it twice !
One of my fantasy leagues has "keeper players". You get to keep two players from the prior season. Stanton was one of my keeper players. Ugh! Re: Ohtani. He's good for baseball. I don't know if he'll break the mold and free other players to do the same thing. Time will tell. Meanwhile it will be fun to watch him during his first MLB season.
I had to look up Platinum Sombrero...never heard of it till George posted it! Not an award that you want to earn!
I'm surprised a vet like Yadier Molina would get so out of control over being cursed at by the DBacks Manager. Also surprised that a Manager would go after a player like that, I get them getting after umps, but why the player. Luvullo did apologize after the game, but Molina was still steamed and wants him fined.
I see the Orioles pulled off a 1-2-5 DP, bases loaded and Yanks get zip, nada. BTW Baseball Trivia. So talking about Ohtani, somebody mentioned how cool it would be if he pitched a game and won it with his own HR. This has to have happened quite a few times in MLB. Name some pitchers who won games with their own HR.
If my memory serves me...about 50-60 years ago both Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain both won games hitting homers at old Braves Field on Comm Ave in Beantown.
June 23, 1971 Rick Wise vs the Big Red Machine of Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, George Foster, Tony Perez, etc. Hit 2 HR's and threw a no hitter. That's a heck of a game. According to the linked article : – Thirty-five times since 1913 a pitcher has recorded both a multi-home run game a complete game. Don Drysdale was a great hitting pitcher, I'd be surprised if the didn't at least knock in the winning run one time in his career. Current pitchers...look no further than Madison Bumgarner is a very good hitter and has jacked a lot of HR's. Remember Todd Helton? Well he was an ACE in college on the mound as well as at bat...of course he's never pitched in the Majors. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/phillies-pitcher-rick-wise-no-hitter-june-1971-062816
:idea: :arrow: re: Ohtani This week he did something that no one has done since Ruth: he hit three HRs on three consecutive days then took a perfect game into the 7th inning yesterday. On a team that includes Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, he is the star of the show...
Warren Spahn was a good hitting pitcher...hit 35 Hr's in his career. Maybe one of them did win a game. Can't find any reference to it. I did find this though. Were you at either of those games Joel?
Never saw many games at old Braves Field..on TV yes. Did see MISTER TEAM. Bob Elliot..and Sam Jethroe few times.
never saw Cy Young, Krebber...but I was at Fenway one very cold sept day in 1960 when THE GREATEST HITTER THAT EVER LIVED.crushed his final Home Run!
re: Dodgers slow start Poor hitting so far. Kershaw pitched well, but lost his opener 1-0 and he's received anemic support ever since. Kenley blew his first two save opportunities, including a three-run lead in the 9th with two outs. That's the whole story right now: a team batting slump...
:roll: chalk one up for The Krebman!! "Teddyball game!"...now lets go for two..BILL RUSSELL 11 time Champ..greatest ever with the roundball!?!