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.
Addendum: Glancing at a NY Post article by Joel Sherman on the Yankees' risky strategy for 2021 this morning, the following verbiage in the article reminded me of the importance for Sandy & Co. to avoid the "I think we've got enough pitching" frame of mind when he finishes his pitcher signings. The frame of mind needs to be, "It is a rare year when pitchers don't get injured, and we have to build a squad based on that reality." The article said this:
"Cashman again mentioned pitching injuries to Paxton, Severino and Tommy Kahnle, and admitted to daydreaming that if the season were 100 games what might have happened with Paxton back from injury and German from a domestic abuse suspension. Except what probably would have occurred is more Yankee injuries with those extra 40 games — injury being the most consistent part of the team the past two years.
Plus(...)The Rays had more pitching injuries with a payroll one-third of the Yankees. Yonny Chirinos was as good as Paxton in 2019 and made two fewer starts (three) than Paxton in 2020. Add up Jose Alvarado, Jalen Beeks, Oliver Drake, Andrew Kittredge, Brendan McKay, Colin Poche and Chaz Roe and there is at least Severino and Kahnle."
A clear reminder that pitcher injuries are part of the game (just ask Thor and Betances), but wishful thinking should not be a strategy.
Second Addendum: Mets ought to consider Arenado? In that regard, SNY's Danny Abriano wrote the following:
"With the Colorado Rockies open to trading superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado, the Mets are reportedly high on their list of teams to engage in discussions.
"The team that I am watching very carefully -- that I was told even this week is the team the Rockies want to engage with -- is the New York Mets," Jon Morosi reported...on MLB Network.
As far as what a trade package from the Mets for Arenado could possibly look like, Morosi suggested that Robinson Cano could be part of a deal in order to help offset the massive amount of money still owed to Arenado. Beyond that, Morosi speculated that perhaps Brandon Nimmo and a prospect could round out a deal.
Arenado, 29, has six years and a whopping $199 million remaining on the eight-year deal he signed before the 2019 season."
Me? I think we'd be giving up too much. If trading Cano would only be saving the Mets $60 million, Arenado would still then cost roughly $139 million (net of Cano) over his remaining 6 seasons. That's still a lot. Why not instead trade JD Davis, Rosario and Cano (and no prospect) for the defensive genius Arenado? That I'd prefer. How about you readers?
THIRD (AND FINAL) ADDENDUM:
I saw an article headline that Binghamton has gotten nearly 3 feet of snow. Hopefully, it will all melt by opening day.
I can attest to the nearly 3 feet of snow in Binghamton. I have not measured it yet, but I don't believe I have ever seen as much snow as there is out there right now. (I am 12 to 15 miles northwest of the city). That was a massive dump last night. Gotta get to work - see ya by spring training!
ReplyDeleteBe careful 1969. Still snowing here in Albany as I type this.
ReplyDeleteBarry Bonds, if only...he'd be in the hall for sure right now, even without the HR records.
John and Remember 1969, just remember that 3 feet = tripod.
ReplyDeleteI just wonder about Barry going to Pittsburgh, even mid season, or like Wright did, at season's end. Could be a huge boost to their attendance. He'd have to be willing to try it. He may of course not be interested.
yea, early in the week they were calling for some snow on Wednesday . about 3 to 5 . . didn't realize they were talking feet.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the Mets can over-perform like Binghamton snowfalls do.
ReplyDeleteSome thoughts/questions on adding Arenado.
ReplyDeleteHow many big contracts can / will the Mets take on? de Grom is one. Adding Arenado would be two. Then the calls are for adding Bauer and Springer. That would be four. Granted the owner has deeper pockets, but I don't think he will spend like a "drunken sailor". Will these four contracts prohibit the team going forward and hinder extensions to Thor, Conforto, Smith, Alonso, Nimo? If Cano is included in the trade, there will be some salary offset. But how will that all work in the salary cap especially in the final three years.
Can Arenado adapt to hitting out of Colorado? I may be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that his batting stats out of Colorado are as a utility player. It is possible he can rework his swing and hit just as well like LeMahieu did for the Yankees.
I believe adding Arenado may be a subtraction by addition.
Adding Springer, moving Nimo to left and having Davis at third and McNeil at second can improve the current overall defense, allow the financial resources to upgrade the starting staff and complete the bullpen. All while allowing resources to upgrade at the trade deadline, do the necessary extensions and allow for upgrades next year.
Remember Bryant will be a free agent next year. Even with a bounce back season, I do not think he will cost as much as Arenado.
I would love to see the Mets become a team that is consistently competing for a title. This means adding the right players to a strong parent club, developing a strong minor league system and have the proper contracts on players to allow for flexibility in the future
Stephen, great points. Much of Arenado's value is his best-in-class defense. But who really knows what Cohen's budget limits will be. Drastic moves can drastically backfire - or work out great.
ReplyDeleteI think the Yanks have incurred somewhere in the vicinity of $400 million in luxury taxes to date, the Mets? Zero. Cohen may wade into that costly realm, but he won't do it cavalierly.
But to excise a now-horrible Cano deal by taking on the Arenado one? Worth considering.
As far as him hitting like a utility player on the road, he is a solid road hitter but far below his home numbers. That said, I read that Colorado messes up hitters when they go on the road. Arenado's hitting could improve once he adjusts to a city without altitude as his home base.
His 40 career WAR in 1079 games is sure attractive. David Wright had just 9 more WAR in 500 more games.