Hypothetical Question, could Ruth hit modern pitching

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by robw1959

So please explain how the Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams, who wasn't ripped or jacked could have hit a baseball over 500 feet to a painted seat in Fenway, and nobody else on the Red Sox, including super strong Big Pappi has even come close. Baseball has always been the "everyman" sport. Hitting has always been about load, swing path, and timing . . . not brute strength.

And your assessment of Babe Ruth in today's era is laughable. I suppose Satchel Paige couldn't have pitched in the majors today either, even though he had a heater so fast that he was known for sitting his outfield down from time to time, and pitching the entire inning without them.

You might want to actually check out how big Ted Williams was.

Oh my, Mr Paige doing that was more of an example of how poor his competition actually was during those exhibitions. To be clear there is zero chance Babe Ruth could magically appear and not look absolutely foolish against todays best pitchers.

Now if Mr Ruth was born 30 years ago and had all the benefits of todays training, food, supplements, and ate the horse meat he would still be one of the best to ever play.

The question was if Babe Ruth was transported to todays game could he hit. Not if he was afforded all the benefits of todays technology/training could he hit.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bnorth

You might want to actually check out how big Ted Williams was.

Oh my, Mr Paige doing that was more of an example of how poor his competition actually was during those exhibitions. To be clear there is zero chance Babe Ruth could magically appear and not look absolutely foolish against todays best pitchers.

Now if Mr Ruth was born 30 years ago and had all the benefits of todays training, food, supplements, and ate the horse meat he would still be one of the best to ever play.

The question was if Babe Ruth was transported to todays game could he hit. Not if he was afforded all the benefits of todays technology/training could he hit.

Funny how people keep changing the question, isn't it? And yeah, Paige could strike out the side therefore he must have been throwing everything in the 90s. There's a logical conclusion. BTW, from all I've read Paige also had an extraordinary arsenal of offspeed and trick pitches.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Funny how people keep changing the question, isn't it? And yeah, Paige could strike out the side therefore he must have been throwing everything in the 90s. There's a logical conclusion. BTW, from all I've read Paige also had an extraordinary arsenal of offspeed and trick pitches.

Don't forget about the "pea at the knee," which was his go-to pitch, his fastball.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by robw1959

Don't forget about the "pea at the knee," which was his go-to pitch, his fastball.

Well of course he had a great heater, but we don't know the actual speed and cannot infer it from his success.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by bnorth

You might want to actually check out how big Ted Williams was.

Oh my, Mr Paige doing that was more of an example of how poor his competition actually was during those exhibitions. To be clear there is zero chance Babe Ruth could magically appear and not look absolutely foolish against todays best pitchers.

Now if Mr Ruth was born 30 years ago and had all the benefits of todays training, food, supplements, and ate the horse meat he would still be one of the best to ever play.

The question was if Babe Ruth was transported to todays game could he hit. Not if he was afforded all the benefits of todays technology/training could he hit.

This is all patently false, with no evidence whatsoever. The barnstorming teams had some pretty elite competition, I believe, including such guys as Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, and Josh Gibson just on the Negro League side. On the MLB side, well, you had the stars of that era as well. How can you just dismiss and denigrate them all unless you wish to remain in denial about it?

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

What about the baseballs they hit back in Ruth's day? Spitballs, emery balls, scuffed balls but today the hitter gets to hit a new ball every other pitch.
Could these guys today have stayed in the box against the old headhunters without batting helmets and body armor and hitting back rounds? After all the only player ever killed while playing was in 1920.
Would they have done a Pete Reiser or Earle Combs and risked life and limb vs a concrete wall?
No DH back then either so it was 154 games in the outfield for Ruth and not doing the Ohtani just hitting 4 times and then sit on the bench and pick his nose.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by robw1959

This is all patently false, with no evidence whatsoever. The barnstorming teams had some pretty elite competition, I believe, including such guys as Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, and Josh Gibson just on the Negro League side. On the MLB side, well, you had the stars of that era as well. How can you just dismiss and denigrate them all unless you wish to remain in denial about it?

Are those the 3 players Mr Paige pitched against when he had his outfield sit down. If so that is very impressive if not why would you even mention their names?

I am not dismissing how amazing Babe Ruth was against others in his era. I am simply saying the technology and supplements have greatly improved athletes over the last 100 years.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by robw1959

This is all patently false, with no evidence whatsoever. The barnstorming teams had some pretty elite competition, I believe, including such guys as Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, and Josh Gibson just on the Negro League side. On the MLB side, well, you had the stars of that era as well. How can you just dismiss and denigrate them all unless you wish to remain in denial about it?

We don't really know the context of those anecdotes. It's highly unlikely any pitcher, even Paige, could have been sure of striking out the side in a real game all the more so with that type of opposition. There may have been an element of show there.

The story Buck O'Neill told of Paige walking the bases full to get to Josh Gibson, if indeed true, was awesome.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

We don't really know the context of those anecdotes. It's highly unlikely any pitcher, even Paige, could have been sure of striking out the side in a real game all the more so with that type of opposition. There may have been an element of show there.

The story Buck O'Neill told of Paige walking the bases full to get to Josh Gibson, if indeed true, was awesome.

It is a cool story but if you bring reality into the story it really isn't impressive at all. Even the greatest hitters have a lower batting average against the great pitchers. So realistically Josh Gibson had what a 20-25% chance of getting a hit. Pretty good odds for Mr Paige being able to put on a show that looks WAY more impressive than it really is.

[Yoda]

I think Ruth would have to adjust his batting styles to meet the new variety of pitches developed since when he was in his prime, eg. the split finger fastball and all its' variations. I think he would have been a major force but never hit 614 dingers lifetime I doubt he would have taken roids, even if he could find them,
since beer, hot dogs and women of loose morals were more his thing.
Who knows, he might have been Ohtani-like, a great hurler and DH on his days
off.
But, too, he was such a social force during the roaring 20's, but it a far different time these days.