Over the years in sports, we've seen old guys do well.
Sometimes it is the stuff of fictional movies.
Rocky comes back for a big fight decades after retiring, and unloads.
Mike Tyson? Murderous. Fighting Roy Jones Jr. this month.
Mike is 54, Roy is 51. And George Foreman's last title fight was at 48.
In real baseball life, we had Satchel Paige playing on...and on and on...effectively, and well into his 50s (at least). Supposedly, he retired at age 59. Me? I don't believe obituaries - Satch is still pitching somewhere, of that I have no doubt.
Julio Franco last played in an indy league at age 55 and hit .222 over 7 games.
What would the greatest offensive player of all time be able to do?
Barry Bonds retired in 2007 at age 42, in year where he had a .480 OBP. Or a .520 off base %. Amazing. How much was steroids vs. immense natural talent? Ask Barry, I dunno.
And he was always an even better hitter (as a lefty) against righties.
It will never happen, I'm sure...but I think it would be cool (at least for me) to see if Barry, at age 56, could return to the place he started, Pittsburgh, and show us what he can still muster as a DH against righty pitchers. Assuming, of course, if the NL comes to its senses and keeps the DL.
Why? Because as you get older, you are supposed to concede to age. It would be thrilling to see if Barry could return from a 14 year hiatus at age 56 and hold his own against the best. Without juicing, of course.
Crazy - I know, But it is just a game, isn't it??
P.S. Getting back to that great final year OBP by Bonds. Do you realize who led the majors in OBP this year? Juan Soto of the Mets rival Nationals. .490. At age 21. Half Bond's age in that final year. That Soto output is totally sick.
So, for you guys who want the Mets to proceed more boldly than in Wilpon times, but still cautiously, consider the greatness of the opposition you'll have to defeat, very, very carefully.
Me? I want the Mets to stock up with the very best this off season.
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