Who knows what he'd do with better access to dieticians and proper training. But there is no arguing that he would have had close to 900 homers if he didn't pitch for the first 4 years of his career and took care of his body better. He not to forget, he was hitting ****ty, re-used baseballs playing all day games after traveling on a bus/car for hours on end, and he was still knocking them out on fields that were on average about 5-10% larger than they are now.
Around Baseball 2024 edition
- Thread starter Tapate50
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Who knows what he'd do with better access to dieticians and proper training. But there is no arguing that he would have had close to 900 homers if he didn't pitch for the first 4 years of his career and took care of his body better. He not to forget, he was hitting ****ty, re-used baseballs playing all day games after traveling on a bus/car for hours on end, and he was still knocking them out on fields that were on average about 5-10% larger than they are now.
I have to agree that if all time greats were exposed to modern training/diet/facilities/treatment/competition from birth they would still be all time greats in any era. I'm talking the true inner circle guys like Ruth and Aaron and Walter Johnson. Maddux would have trained for more velocity, and would have used analytics to be even smarter.
Take fat slob Ruth from history and drop him in the modern game and he would obviously be terrible. Take Maddux slinging 89 mph sinkers and put him against a modern lineup and he would be destroyed. However, 2024 Ruth wouldn't be a fat slob, and 2024 Maddux wouldn't be throwing 89 mph sinkers.
Take fat slob Ruth from history and drop him in the modern game and he would obviously be terrible. Take Maddux slinging 89 mph sinkers and put him against a modern lineup and he would be destroyed. However, 2024 Ruth wouldn't be a fat slob, and 2024 Maddux wouldn't be throwing 89 mph sinkers.
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Hudson2
Well-known member
Agreed. The balls were complete trash. If the guys today used the same balls over and over we would really be complaining. Ruth use to have a cooler of beer in the dugout to.
Maddux was dominating when around 5 or more players were hitting 50-60 bombs on a yearly basis. I think it's safe you drop prime Maddux just as he was into today's MLB, and he would be just as dominant today as he was in the 90's, if not more. Maddux not only had excellent movement on his pitches, his command was just about the best you'll ever see.
The documentary on Maddux airing on MLB network really digs into how smart he was as a pitcher.
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Roided out guys hitting 50 bombs off pitchers who didn't understand why 95 without spin wasn't as effective as 92 with spin.
This argument can go round and round forever. Maddux would almost certainly be throwing harder in 2024 because he would have trained his entire life to throw harder. He would be mixing cutters and changeups all over the place because he would understand that's how to get out modern hitters trying to hit flyballs.
bravesnumberone
Well-known member
Started free trial of the MLB Network/At Bat app to watch the Maddux documentary. Couldn't catch it live. Do they not have their stuff on-demand? What a joke.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
I have a 40 dollar bet with a White Sox fan that they’ll reach 40 wins. I’m still confident, but this is some bull ****.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
They can do it to the Braves, why not the Mets?
Your losing 40 bucks bro
msstate7
Well-known member
Until snit is on waivers, nothing matters. 2021, snit wasn't in charge in the playoffs... it was obvious when DA was pulled with no hitter
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
It only shows the catch, but what Jankowski did reminded me of a catch Jerry Royster made when he was with the Braves.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Pham and Grossman claimed by the Royals
Hudson2
Well-known member
Would be higher if Acuna and Strider were healthy.
I imagine this is exactly what the MLB had in mind when they expanded the playoffs. In the NL, it's likely that all 3 WC teams will finish with at least 90 wins. The top team out will likely finish with at least 88 wins. The AL playoffs are basically determined aside from seeding, though the Red Sox and Tigers have a very slim chance.