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Around SBN: Kentucky Wildcats 66, Alabama Crimson Tide, 55: Postmortem

Joe Posnanski and Bill James attempt to break down why players tend to fall off once they turn 33. It will give you pause as a Cubs fan, especially when you consider some of the long-term contracts on the team.

7 months ago 1985_500_logo_tiny Trey2317 9 comments 0 recs  | 

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Yes, players tend to slow down as they age

However, some of Bill James’ examples are misleading, if not downright ludicrous. Hack Wilson, Al Simmons, and Mickey Mantle were hard core alcoholics, and Mantle was plagued by bad knees. It’s not surprising they had precipitous drop-offs in production. Also, until fairly recently, players didn’t do a lot to keep in shape during the off season and were considered “old” at 35 or 36. Hell, until the last couple of decades, baseball players didn’t age well at all well, and when they werein their thirties often looked ten or fifteen years older.

While I agree with the general premise, there isn’t a whole lot in the article that’s really new. What I’d like to see is an explanation of why so many left-handed pitchers have their best years in their thirties and even forties.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Jun 30, 2009 10:59 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Yeah, it's not their age that causes decline...

It’s merely the age-related decline in health and fitness.

by Jerry Mumphrey on Jun 30, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree with this.

If this study were done 20 years from now, looking back that age cutoff would have to be raised by at least two years.

Consider this: in 1969 Ernie Banks, who had just turned 38, was the oldest position player in the National League. There have to be a couple dozen older than that today, many of whom are still capable players.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jun 30, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That had alot to do with the fact that most major leaguers were paid a pittance

Salaries exploding exponentially has been biggest reason for longetivity entering into the game. That and steroids unfortunately. Health, nutrition and better fitness are consequence of the salaries exploding.

$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.

by BLou on Jun 30, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I blame age decline

on a lack of good drugs. Some guys just need better suppliers.

;)

I have nothing funny or creative to write.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Jun 30, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The photographs of Charles M. Conlon

Charles M. Conlon was the foremost baseball photographer of the first half of the 20th Century and took many of the iconic pictures of players from that period. A few years ago, I picked up an absolutely fascinating collection of his pictures called, “Baseball’s Golden Age – The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon” by Neal and Constance McCabe. It includes quite a few examples of pictures taken both at the beginning and end of various players’ careers, and it’s truly amazing to see how quickly they aged back then. A prime example is Al Simmons. In the picture taken at the end of his career, when he was about thirty-five, he looks a good fifteen or twenty years older. Many others fared little better. If you ever get a chance to get this book, I can’t recommend it enough.

I didn’t realize that Ernie Banks was the oldest position player in the N.L. in 1969, but I remember how the Cubs announcers often affectionately referred to him as the “old man.” I was only twelve in ’69 and people in their twenties seemed old to me, but Ernie definitely seemed much older than present day players of the same age. In fact, the way the announcers talked about him at the time, it seemed almost miraculous to me that he was still able to swing the bat, run the bases. and slide without breaking a hip. Little did I realize then that the late thirties is still very much the prime of life.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Jun 30, 2009 2:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Of course...

… nutrition and health care are much better than they were decades ago. People in their 40’s now are probably in as good shape as people in their 30’s were, forty years ago.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jun 30, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Only 5 1/2 more years of Alfonso Soriano !!!!

$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.

by BLou on Jun 30, 2009 7:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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