Are the Baseball players of today too soft?

Question

For example from the Cubs camp the players are saying that Lou is too hard on them. Pitchers of today can not or very rarely go over 100 pitches. A guy gets a hangnail and he is out for a week. Theses guys just ( well most of them) don't play for the love of the game anymore. Just give me your thoughts. Thanks

I agree that some of these Contracts are just crazy. Nobody is worth 100 millon to play a sport. The Men and women fighting for this country make peanuts but thats a whole different topic.

I like they car answer. Thats a good way to put it.

Answer 1

Let me give you an analogy. If you wanted to bum around a busy town without worry or care doing errands, would you prefer a scuffed up, but dependable 2002 Toyota Camry or a 2007 Chrysler 300C?

Going to and from work, or driving around town... probably the Toyota Camry with its scratches and wear-n-tear. You would be less prone driving your Chrysler 300C without care or worry. Both cars would be capable of getting you around town, but you'd baby the Chrysler 300C because it would be more of an investment to you.

Same with baseball players. The teams are going protect their $50, $75, $100 million dollar player(s) from unnessary dangers. If it means sitting them for a week to avoid a more serious injury, they'll do it in a heart-beat.

Additionally, the introduction of the role player (starting pitcher, middle reliever, closer) allows managers to keep their expensive players fresh and minimize injuries.

Answer 2

I think for the most part players grind, and play hard everyday, but there is a line today that was not there decades ago. There is so much money in todays guys have to look at their bodies as investments. They can't be extremely reckless like guys like Pete Rose did, because it risks shorting their careers and costing them millions of dollars. I don't think it makes them soft, they just have a grip on the reality of todays game as a business.

As far as "Nobody is worth 100 millon to play a sport", I can not stand when people say that. Take a freakin economic course. Players will only make what the market can bear, MLB is a multi-billion dollar industry and the players get their share. That is why the NHL almost folded, because the market couldn't bear the players salaries. The market corrected itself with a strike and a unprecedented salary giveback from the players. Bottom line, players get paid what they are worth. If you got a problem with it, start a Communist country.

Answer 3

Baseball athletes are better trained than any other time in baseball history. To compensate for batters in better physical condition, pitchers have become specialists. Remember, the pitching mound was lowered in 1969 after Bob Gibson showed his supremecy on the mound. Today, a pitcher is outstanding if he has an ERA in the "3" range. The design of baseball parks has also lead to more "hitter-friendly" configurations. Fans would rather see a slug-fest than a pitchers duel.

Answer 4

Of course their too soft now. But that's true of other sports, too, namely the NBA. For one, I think the leagues like softer players because it's more family friendly. Guys hardly even try to run over the catcher now when he's blocking home. Pitchers suck now. Their arms never get stronger because their not allowed to pitch over 100 pitches.

Answer 5

I think it is defently a new type of game played today. I'm sure the majority of players still want to go out everyday and play. I think with some of the big contracts now, coaches and GM's may be afraid to run people out everyday in case they get serisouly hurt, then the club is out all that money. It sucks but I think money is the biggest issue in a lot of clubhouses.

Answer 6

Yeah I think they are. A-Rod is prancing around like a little girl. Managers take out the starter after just 5 innings when they're having a good night, Gary Sheffield cries that every white person in baseball is out to get him because he's black, etc.

Answer 7

Ye. When we went from Moose Skowron and Boom-Boom Kirkland to Tippy Marinez,it was all downhill after that.
Roger Clemens a tired groin? Come on!

Answer 8

uh no... becasue of todays media people hear more... i think players of yester year are over glorified. it seems no matter how good a guy from this era is, he is no competition for players from back then. just watch in 50 years players will be no competition for todays players.

Answer 9

Of course thay are. They are a reflection of society.