Are players aging better?
Skinpinch
Posts: 1,531
in Sports Talk
I was reading an interview with Bill James, and he was asked the question if players are aging better. Here was the question and answer...
QUESTION: There's a general perception in baseball that players are now aging differently and continuing to perform better for longer (players like Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds being obvious examples). Do you think this is actually true, or is it simply a matter of a few extraordinary outliers?
ANSWER: It's just outliers. Randy Johnson and Clemens and Bonds are not only the obvious examples; they are the whole basis of the argument. Clemens and Johnson were born in 1962, 1963, and are still pitching well, and this focuses attention on them. But if you make a complete list of pitchers born in 1962 and 1963, their value peaked in 1990 and has declined by more than 80 percent. Other pitchers of the same age include Mark Gubicza, Doug Drabek, Jeff Montgomery, Randy Myers, Sid Fernandez, Danny Jackson, Chris Bosio, Mark Portugal, Jeff Brantley, Eric Plunk, Bill Wegman, Bobby Thigpen, Jose Guzman, Scott Bankhead, Greg Harris, Les Lancaster, Greg Cadaret, Todd Frohwirth, Jay Tibbs, John Dopson, Jeff Ballard, Charlie Kerfeld, Urbano Lugo, and Calvin Schiraldi. Have you seen Chris Bosio lately? He's a pitching coach somewhere. ... Looks like he's about 63.
END.
I haven't looked at any complete list, and that anwer isn't exactly an in depth study, but it is kind of interesting when you lay out some of those names.
QUESTION: There's a general perception in baseball that players are now aging differently and continuing to perform better for longer (players like Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds being obvious examples). Do you think this is actually true, or is it simply a matter of a few extraordinary outliers?
ANSWER: It's just outliers. Randy Johnson and Clemens and Bonds are not only the obvious examples; they are the whole basis of the argument. Clemens and Johnson were born in 1962, 1963, and are still pitching well, and this focuses attention on them. But if you make a complete list of pitchers born in 1962 and 1963, their value peaked in 1990 and has declined by more than 80 percent. Other pitchers of the same age include Mark Gubicza, Doug Drabek, Jeff Montgomery, Randy Myers, Sid Fernandez, Danny Jackson, Chris Bosio, Mark Portugal, Jeff Brantley, Eric Plunk, Bill Wegman, Bobby Thigpen, Jose Guzman, Scott Bankhead, Greg Harris, Les Lancaster, Greg Cadaret, Todd Frohwirth, Jay Tibbs, John Dopson, Jeff Ballard, Charlie Kerfeld, Urbano Lugo, and Calvin Schiraldi. Have you seen Chris Bosio lately? He's a pitching coach somewhere. ... Looks like he's about 63.
END.
I haven't looked at any complete list, and that anwer isn't exactly an in depth study, but it is kind of interesting when you lay out some of those names.
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Comments
Absent the ever present chemical enhancement argument, what would allow someone to stay on top for 20 years? Superior genetics, mechanics, conditioning, mental toughness, luck, medical care, nutrition, etc. There are guys in all of the major sports who fit this bill. Unfortunately, they can all be matched by a chemical solution now.
Kind of a bummer that we have to question guys who are able to do it now, instead of marvel at them the way we could when Aaron hit his HR, or Bucyk held the Stanley Cup last, or Wilhelm, Perry, or Satchell Paige took the hill, or Darrell Green would outrun rookies. In 10 years, when they all look like Stallone in Rocky Balboa (gray and jacked), hopefully there will be a Wakefield (or anybody else likely above reproach) or two around to remind us of the old days.
Bosox1976
I havent, if I were still capable of lugging myself to the field and swingin' the bat, I'd keep doing it, esp if my goal was to retire with 3000 hits. If he gets it, and retires after this season I think its all well and good.