Does dedication hurt?

[Virginia Giant]

Does playing every day hurt a players performance? Gehrig was one the of the best ever. Ripken is regarded as one of the best hitting SS to play. Arod and Tejada had great careers during their streaks.

 

So, would these guys have been better if they had taken a game off every couple weeks or so? Would Gehrig have hit .350 +? 500 home runs? Would Ripken have hit .300 for his career?

 

Would they have been even better fielders? etc.

[jranieli]

It is very possible. You never know the consequences of the fact if they were taking a few days off. In Ripkin's era, he could have DH a few times if needed but I don't believe if he did or not. He was just one of those guys who got very lucky not to get the injury bug until the end of his career. Very interesting topic and a very good conversation starter, but not with a girl.

[Virginia Giant]

It is very possible. You never know the consequences of the fact if they were taking a few days off. In Ripkin's era, he could have DH a few times if needed but I don't believe if he did or not. He was just one of those guys who got very lucky not to get the injury bug until the end of his career. Very interesting topic and a very good conversation starter, but not with a girl.

I always thought Ripken took 20 points off his BA by playing every day, well, maybe not 20. I watched a few interviews with him and he said he played hurt a lot. he said he just wanted to play every day, but i gotta think at around 100 games the streak became an obsession, same as it would be with anyone. Same with home runs, what did he hit? 400? If when you swing the bat and it hurts, thats gotta take some power away from the swing right?

 

 

 

Just something i always find myself wondering about, thought i'd put it on the shoulders of my fellow sportswrathians to figure it out for me.

[fringe]

How many minutes in a given game is a fielder actually in motion? Maybe 10 minutes total? If you don't get injured and you are in good shape, you should not wear down playing baseball unless you're a pitcher or catcher.

[Virginia Giant]

How many minutes in a given game is a fielder actually in motion? Maybe 10 minutes total? If you don't get injured and you are in good shape, you should not wear down playing baseball unless you're a pitcher or catcher.

Yeah, but take the rangers for example. The heat is regularly in the 90's, and your argument doesn't take into account the running in the field (for outfielders) and running the bases. If you run all out in short bursts, say 4 or 5 times a game, and stay i the heat for 3 hours, that has to take a toll.

[fringe]

Yeah, but take the rangers for example. The heat is regularly in the 90's, and your argument doesn't take into account the running in the field (for outfielders) and running the bases. If you run all out in short bursts, say 4 or 5 times a game, and stay i the heat for 3 hours, that has to take a toll.

aww poor little millionaires. people dig ditches in the hot sun too. granted, with ranger pitching, there's more running around. but i'm still sure it doesn't top 10 minutes.

[Virginia Giant]

aww poor little millionaires. people dig ditches in the hot sun too. granted, with ranger pitching, there's more running around. but i'm still sure it doesn't top 10 minutes.

You don't keep stats on how much/fast/or long you dig though. My argument isn't how much they work, it's how much playing everyday affects their play. Ditch diggers have vacation too.

[fringe]

You don't keep stats on how much/fast/or long you dig though. My argument isn't how much they work, it's how much playing everyday affects their play. Ditch diggers have vacation too.

they don't play everyday, they play 6 days a week.

[Virginia Giant]

they don't play everyday, they play 6 days a week.

6 days a week for 6 months. I'm not exactly sure what you do, but wouldn't you in your line of work be mentally drained if you worked 6 days a week for 6 months?

[RandolphScott]

6 days a week for 6 months. I'm not exactly sure what you do, but wouldn't you in your line of work be mentally drained if you worked 6 days a week for 6 months?

 

 

It's not like they can ask for a day off or anything like that.

 

You are acting like the grueling 3 hour work day is hard.

[Virginia Giant]

It's not like they can ask for a day off or anything like that.

 

You are acting like the grueling 3 hour work day is hard.

Ya'll are missing the point. i am not comparing what they do to what anyone who works for a living does. My only question is would they be better players if they too an extra day off every couple weeks?

 

 

As for their grueling 3 hour day. If I had to "warm up" by jogging around the park, do batting practice etc. then run in the neighborhood of 5 to 10 wind sprints during the game, and stay in the heat I'd be pretty fucking tired.

[fringe]

Ya'll are missing the point. i am not comparing what they do to what anyone who works for a living does. My only question is would they be better players if they too an extra day off every couple weeks?

Avtually you just did ask me to compare it to what i do.

 

As for their grueling 3 hour day. If I had to "warm up" by jogging around the park, do batting practice etc. then run in the neighborhood of 5 to 10 wind sprints during the game, and stay in the heat I'd be pretty fucking tired.

Frankly, I think they are coddled way too much and exhaustion is used as an excuse for slumps, etc. Take Pedro Feliz, for example (please take him) . Last year, he had a good first half RBI wise and they said he wore down in te 2nd half from playing every day. Truth is, he's a slop swinger who got lucky in the first half of last season. He came back this year well rested and still swinging at slop. Pitchers and catcher, absolutely need rest. Older players, definitely. But between 20 and 33, you're superman.

[so-cal dub]

Yeah, but take the rangers for example. The heat is regularly in the 90's, and your argument doesn't take into account the running in the field (for outfielders) and running the bases. If you run all out in short bursts, say 4 or 5 times a game, and stay i the heat for 3 hours, that has to take a toll.

The heat is better for you.

[Virginia Giant]

The heat is better for you.

When I worked construction working on metal roofs in the sun wore me out.

[so-cal dub]

When I worked construction working on metal roofs in the sun wore me out.

Definetly wears you out, but is better on injuries.

[Virginia Giant]

Definetly wears you out, but is better on injuries.

No doubt. Better for injuries worse for playing everyday in.

[feefifoefum]

6 days a week for 6 months. I'm not exactly sure what you do, but wouldn't you in your line of work be mentally drained if you worked 6 days a week for 6 months?

 

If you call playing baseball "work", maybe. I'm pretty sure that ditch digging is a little more strenuous than baseball.

 

Baseball players spend more time lounging in the dugout than doing anything athletic. And they only "work" for 3 hours a day.

[feefifoefum]

When I worked construction working on metal roofs in the sun wore me out.

 

That may be because you didn't have the luxury of hanging around in a shady dugout in between 5-20 minute work intervals.

 

That and the fact that you actually had to work, and I'm sure the metal roofs helped make it doubly draining.

[Virginia Giant]

If you call playing baseball "work", maybe. I'm pretty sure that ditch digging is a little more strenuous than baseball.

 

Baseball players spend more time lounging in the dugout than doing anything athletic. And they only "work" for 3 hours a day.

 

Again, go out and run 5 - 10 wind sprints when it's 90 degrees out, then sit in the "shade" where it's still 90 degrees.

 

Also, once more. Did they start keeping stats in ditch digging? Do they count how many shovel fulls you dig? How full the shovel are? How fast you shocel? If so, that would be a shitty job.

 

 

That may be because you didn't have the luxury of hanging around in a shady dugout in between 5-20 minute work intervals.

 

That and the fact that you actually had to work, and I'm sure the metal roofs helped make it doubly draining.

 

 

Ever see the temps on field vs in the stands? it's usually about 10 degrees higher. Point is they run all out several times per game, their "shade" is still hot as fuck, and I think this affects their level of play. Again, while the amount of work they do compared to ditch digging may not be as strenuous, playing in the weather 6 days a week instead of taking an extra day off every 2 or 3 weeks has to affect their level of play.

[fringe]

maybe we should extend the roster to 50 so each player only has to play 3 days a week at the most.

i really don't see a valid argument here, vg. you could argue just as well that since hitting is about timing, the day off could affect you negatively as well.

[so-cal dub]

Again, go out and run 5 - 10 wind sprints when it's 90 degrees out, then sit in the "shade" where it's still 90 degrees.

Pay me millions of dollars a year, and I'll gladly run 20 wind sprints in that weather.

[LorfTVP]

I don't get all the sarcasm. VG has a good point. I agree with you, Rangers fan, but I will continue to say that the problem in baseball today is a complete lack of dedication. A player who completely dedicates himself to the game is bound to do incredibly well. Look at these young guys who have improved by leaps and bounds by dedicating themselves to the game...Jose Reyes for instance. I don't feel like getting in a full argument right now because I'm losing sperm by the minute with this laptop in my lap though. Kudos to Zack Greinke though if we're talking about dedication. He went through some tough times, anxiety, depression, etc. but he's come back and has looked pretty damn good in his first two starts. Tejada needs a day off.

[Virginia Giant]

Pay me millions of dollars a year, and I'll gladly run 20 wind sprints in that weather.

OK, but then do you think you can keep up the same level of play?

[Virginia Giant]

maybe we should extend the roster to 50 so each player only has to play 3 days a week at the most.

i really don't see a valid argument here, vg. you could argue just as well that since hitting is about timing, the day off could affect you negatively as well.

Alright, so why have there only been 2 players to play in 2,000 straight games? I guess they were the only 2 players to never getr injured playing baseball. Damn they're lucky.

[fringe]

Alright, so why have there only been 2 players to play in 2,000 straight games? I guess they were the only 2 players to never getr injured playing baseball. Damn they're lucky.

as they get older, they need time off. i already said that. also, it's about matchups. the righty lefty thing. also, every hitter has their nemesis pitcher, one that they cannot hit, so they get the day off.