Babe Ruth 2006

[Dan H]

This is a bit old but it's been percolating in my mind.

Colin Cowherd went on a rant about Babe Ruth. Basically, his stance was, who cares when Bonds passes him up, because Ruth would have been a scrub if he played today.

I totally don't buy this. Here's a few of my takes as to why.

1) Pitching talent is far diluted from Ruth's day. There are more teams, for one, and for another, teams use way more pitchers - five-man rotation versus four, heavy dependence on bullpens and closers, etc.

2) Physically Ruth would be in much better shape in 2006. I'm not saying he'd be svelte, but training techniques, better understanding of nutrition, improved medical care, etc., would all do their part to put him on a level playing field with today's players. You can't train somebody to see the ball as instinctively as Ruth did, not to mention his reaction time and reflexes.

That said - where would the Babe play in 2006? Pitcher, or elsewhere?

 

[AZZenny]

Colin Cowherd is an idiot. Stopped listening to him a long time ago.

 

[Scott MS]

Impossible to make those kinds of comparisons, but in general athletes have progressively gotten better over the decades. About the only thing you can compare across decades is timed events (track and field, swimming, speed skating, etc.)

World records get lower and lower every year.

 

[BC867]

That said - where would the Babe play in 2006? Pitcher, or elsewhere?

Probably the same as 80+ years ago, he might have gone through the ranks as a pitcher until they discovered his skill with the bat. They say that, despite his girth, he was a pretty good baserunner, too.

Of course, "booze and broads" of his day would probably have yielded to "booze and broads" in these times and/or drugs and/or steriods, as well.

Lack of self-discipline hasn't changed over the years. But the Babe's homerun hitting was so far ahead of the rest of the league that he was in a class by himself.

I wonder if Gehrig hit third and Ruth cleanup, instead of vice versa, would Lou have been the one setting the record. Like Maris hitting in front of Mantle.

Then, Gehrig's number would have been 3 and Ruth 4, instead of the opposite.