Minnesota Sports Forum

Do I think Mike Trout is a better overall player than Kirby Puckett? Sure!! But comparing their numbers and overall team success would never lead me to believe I should compare Trout to the Babe Ruth s and Barry Bonds of the sport . Baseball used to wow me with the numbers on the back of their cards. Now having an Ops above .900 ,a huge contract and a fan base makes you great.

Kirby would have 200 hits , 30 doubles, 20 homers , 15 steals and be a huge factor in a World Series run and no one would bat an eye.

I feel like for better or worse Kirby for me will be remembered more by his moments than his stats. It is so hard to compare players across generations and I think baseball is no exception.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I feel like for better or worse Kirby for me will be remembered more by his moments than his stats. It is so hard to compare players across generations and I think baseball is no exception.

Kirby played in a time where offensive numbers weren't close to what they are now.

His 162 game avgs
208 hits
97 runs
99 rbis
19 hrs
38 doubles
2300 hits in 12 years. Well on his way to 3000 hits when his career was cut short. He was actually on pace to be in the top five of the fastest to 3000 all-time and he was still playing at a high level. I would argue offensively he was playing the best ball of his career.

It is interesting looking back at those numbers. Not many guys hit 40 home runs in that era.

I wonder how the workhorse pitchers would translate to today's game. How would have Nolan Ryan been treated?

bleedspeed177 wrote:It is interesting looking back at those numbers. Not many guys hit 40 home runs in that era.

I wonder how the workhorse pitchers would translate to today's game. How would have Nolan Ryan been treated?

Despite steroids... the Twins did not have a 30 HR hitter in any season from 1987 - 2006.

Five players hit 30+ HRs on the 2019 squad.

bleedspeed177 wrote:It is interesting looking back at those numbers. Not many guys hit 40 home runs in that era.

I wonder how the workhorse pitchers would translate to today's game. How would have Nolan Ryan been treated?

I remember listening to interview with Troy Glaus about how much the game has changed. He said when he was rookie the average fastball was 91-92 mph but the tone he retired it was 94. Basically you only saw one or two flamethrowers a week. Now you see one every game.

What would happen with a guy like Greg Maddux today?

bleedspeed177 wrote:What would happen with a guy like Greg Maddux today?

He'd look a lot more like Brad Radke?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:What would happen with a guy like Greg Maddux today?

He'd look a lot more like Brad Radke?

He might also add more velocity.

The league had flame throwers back then. They also did it without pitch counts. Players play less and get paid more and I believe it's been to the detriment of the game. It's an old man ( get off my lawn) opinion but I know what I've watched and I know what gave me so much joy watching the game. I don't have that experience anymore. But, to each their own!