- Jun 8, 2016
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I guess in the last 20 years Ichiro was sort of similar but he also didn't come up through the US minor leagues
That’s for sure.You still have your moments....
Probably a little bit of both. Relieve pitching is so much different now. Every bullpen has a bunch of effective arms. In the 80s starters still went deep into games. then in the 90's there were lots of ineffective middlemen. Lots of teams with one (or less) reliable pitcher coming out of the bullpen. Of course, as you note, batter intent is so much different as well.Lets put it this way, do you think Boggs, Gwynn, Carew, etc were such unique talents that nobody in the last 20 years has that same ability to hit for such a high average..or is it the game has changed where nobody is allowed to anymore...I don't know the answer, just asking.
Definitely agree. Which is why I said previously that Gwynn's average wouldn't be as high in today's game but still would probably be better than everybody else if he had the same approach to hitting. In addition to the better arms out of the BP, I think the fact that hitters now rarely get to see a pitcher 3 times in a game makes a difference.Probably a little bit of both. Relieve pitching is so much different now. Every bullpen has a bunch of effective arms. In the 80s starters still went deep into games. then in the 90's there were lots of ineffective middlemen. Lots of teams with one (or less) reliable pitcher coming out of the bullpen. Of course, as you note, batter intent is so much different as well.
I agree with this as a general statement, but Gwynn made a compelling argument against it. He hit almost .400 in 260 career at bats against Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. I just think the dude is an outlier. He hit almost .400 against Curt Schilling and in 45 at bats Pedro Martinez never struck him out. He hit .315 off Pedro.Definitely agree. Which is why I said previously that Gwynn's average wouldn't be as high in today's game but still would probably be better than everybody else if he had the same approach to hitting. In addition to the better arms out of the BP, I think the fact that hitters now rarely get to see a pitcher 3 times in a game makes a difference.
Certainly possible. I would be curious to see what his average was per AB in a game (1st AB vs 2nd AB vs 3rd AB, etc) against the same pitcher. Like I said, he would still hit for a higher average than everybody else but it is hard to believe when the league BA has dropped 25 points since he played, that his wouldn't have dropped a little.I agree with this as a general statement, but Gwynn made a compelling argument against it. He hit almost .400 in 260 career at bats against Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. I just think the dude is an outlier. He hit almost .400 against Curt Schilling and in 45 at bats Pedro Martinez never struck him out. He hit .315 off Pedro.
I think he could have hit todays middle relievers.
You are like the epitome of the "get off my lawn" persona...Since MLB changed the baseball to make it fly 15 to 20 ft further than when he played, I would put money on his avg and power numbers being even better.