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Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would struggle

Posted: December 11 18, 8:05 am
by Jocephus
"I had an argument with a coach in Triple-A about Babe Ruth's effectiveness in today's game," Ottavino said. "I said, 'Babe Ruth, with that swing, swinging that bat, I got him hitting .140 with eight homers.'

"He was like, 'Are you nuts? Babe Ruth would hit .370 with 60 homers,' and I'm like, 'I would strike Babe Ruth out every time.'

"I'm not trying to disrespect him, you know, rest in peace, you know, shoutout to Babe Ruth. But, it was a different game, I mean the guy ate hot dogs and drank beer and did whatever he did. It was just a different game."
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2550 ... -babe-ruth

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 8:46 am
by thrill
Shout out to Babe Ruth, indeed.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 8:51 am
by Spider John
Ottavino is probably right. Of course, the Babe would be 123 years old if he was in today's game.

Yes, that's an old joke.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 8:56 am
by Big Amoco Sign
Adam O sounds cool. Agree with him obviously.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 9:00 am
by MAGA
We can't assume he couldn't hit a slider or more velocity if he grew up with those things and had better training methods.

I'm not convinced if you plucked him from that era in a time machine and dropped him into a game today he wouldn't excel if given enough time to adjust.

We have no evidence he couldn't do well. There have been plenty of overweight players in the modern era who clearly did well in spite of their diets and training.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 9:11 am
by lukethedrifter

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 9:12 am
by Fat Strat
If Ruth were playing the game today, he would be downing protein shakes and eating grilled chicken and kale from his personal chef like the other major leaguers. He would also probably be taller and stronger, have better coaching and access to much more information. His swing would likely be different. His bat choice would be different. He would just all around be different. If he displayed the same kind of perceived nonchalance about his body, then he would never reach the majors. But, if he was the same person with the same genes born in today's world with today's advantages, Ottavino would not be able to K him every time. I don't know that he would hit 60 HR's, but he wouldn't be a pushover player.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 9:22 am
by TheTimeIsNow
I am absolutely with Ottavino on this one. Babe Ruth would not even make the Majors if he played in 2018.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 9:27 am
by TheTimeIsNow
While we're on the topic, imagine LeBron playing professional basketball in the 1920s.

Re: Ottavino says game is different now and Babe would strug

Posted: December 11 18, 9:57 am
by heyzeus
I tend to forget that we let Ottavino get claimed off waivers. Oops.