Speed

CaLíKrAzY · 12-04-2002, 08:48 PM

Havent really been paying attention but anybody know if as players get older some of the speedsters start to develop their power more and loose speed due to aging? Like a pct of players 30 or older to get slower or is it just luck of the draw?

-Johnny

Draft Dodger · 12-04-2002, 10:31 PM

some players will slow down as they get older.

ctorg · 12-05-2002, 12:42 PM

What I'd like to see is more of the aging guys developing power as they get older. Sure, some guys like Ozzie Smith just never did and some guys like Rickey Henderson just stay fast. But there are quite a few guys who have started out as leadoff types and later become pretty good power hitters, even when that particular ability was nearly absent previously.

I can't think of names and don't have stats in front of me right now, but Steve Finley and Dante Bichette come to mind.

Alan T · 12-06-2002, 03:48 PM

How about Barry Bonds?

He started off as a leadoff hitter for the Pirates..

Goes to show what *cough* working out *cough* does for you....

CaLíKrAzY · 12-06-2002, 08:38 PM

Im streaming through alot of great homerun hitters stats on Baseball-Reference. Im noticing guys loosing speed (guys with tremendous power) in steals in their 30's (not even late 30's). Only exception would be Willie Mays who stole 23 when he was 40. Seems like guys 35+ who have always hit 20-30 homers throughout really decline in the speed department.

Andre Dawson (22) stole 20+ bases from 1977-83 then hits 49 HR in 1987. In 1990 he stole 16 bases at 35. The last time he stole 16 or more was in 1986 before he hit 49. He stole 30+ in 79', 80', & almost had 40 in 82'.

Jeff Bagwell Stole 30 bases in at age 31 in 1999. Jeff Bagell has not stolen more than 11 since. Bagwell has hit 117 homers since the start of 2000.

Dave Parker another example of totally abandoning his speed. stole 19, 17, 20, 20 (age 25-28). Then averages 20hr 1985-1990 at age 34-39.

Larry Walker average 19.7 stolen bases from 1990-98. He then hits 37, 38 homers at age 32 & 34 (33 was plagued w/ injury) averaging around 12 sb.

Ellis Burks steals 32 in 1996. He goes on to hit 32, 21, 31, 24, 28, 32 at ages 32-37 averaging 6 bases stolen a season.

Chili Davis averaged 15 stolen bases in his first 6 seasons. He would go on to average 20 homers each yr and never reach 10 stolen bases in a single season again.

Rogers Hornsby averaged 14 his first 7 seasons. The next 7 seasons he would avg 20+ homers and never get 10 sb in a season.

Looking at Arod's player card he looks like another one to abandon the run game and hit for power but we will find out down the road.

12-04-2002, 08:48 PM	#1
CaLíKrAzY All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Costa Mesa, CaLí Posts: 722	Speed Havent really been paying attention but anybody know if as players get older some of the speedsters start to develop their power more and loose speed due to aging? Like a pct of players 30 or older to get slower or is it just luck of the draw? -Johnny

12-04-2002, 10:31 PM	#2
Draft Dodger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: formerly of the OTBL Posts: 4,113	some players will slow down as they get older. __________________ Draft Dodger (Anarchy: Anything goes. The Draft Dodger viewpoint.) Sophmoric[sic] Member of the OOTP Boards (It's not OOTP; it's your computer) 15 GB Webhosting for $6.95 a month IMO we are best off abandoning that sinking ship that is Off Topic to the rats infesting it and just starting a whole new Baseball Forum from scratch.

12-05-2002, 12:42 PM	#3
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	What I'd like to see is more of the aging guys developing power as they get older. Sure, some guys like Ozzie Smith just never did and some guys like Rickey Henderson just stay fast. But there are quite a few guys who have started out as leadoff types and later become pretty good power hitters, even when that particular ability was nearly absent previously. I can't think of names and don't have stats in front of me right now, but Steve Finley and Dante Bichette come to mind.

12-06-2002, 03:48 PM	#4
Alan T All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mass. Posts: 1,963	How about Barry Bonds? He started off as a leadoff hitter for the Pirates.. Goes to show what cough working out cough does for you....

12-06-2002, 08:38 PM	#5
CaLíKrAzY All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Costa Mesa, CaLí Posts: 722	Im streaming through alot of great homerun hitters stats on Baseball-Reference. Im noticing guys loosing speed (guys with tremendous power) in steals in their 30's (not even late 30's). Only exception would be Willie Mays who stole 23 when he was 40. Seems like guys 35+ who have always hit 20-30 homers throughout really decline in the speed department. Andre Dawson (22) stole 20+ bases from 1977-83 then hits 49 HR in 1987. In 1990 he stole 16 bases at 35. The last time he stole 16 or more was in 1986 before he hit 49. He stole 30+ in 79', 80', & almost had 40 in 82'. Jeff Bagwell Stole 30 bases in at age 31 in 1999. Jeff Bagell has not stolen more than 11 since. Bagwell has hit 117 homers since the start of 2000. Dave Parker another example of totally abandoning his speed. stole 19, 17, 20, 20 (age 25-28). Then averages 20hr 1985-1990 at age 34-39. Larry Walker average 19.7 stolen bases from 1990-98. He then hits 37, 38 homers at age 32 & 34 (33 was plagued w/ injury) averaging around 12 sb. Ellis Burks steals 32 in 1996. He goes on to hit 32, 21, 31, 24, 28, 32 at ages 32-37 averaging 6 bases stolen a season. Chili Davis averaged 15 stolen bases in his first 6 seasons. He would go on to average 20 homers each yr and never reach 10 stolen bases in a single season again. Rogers Hornsby averaged 14 his first 7 seasons. The next 7 seasons he would avg 20+ homers and never get 10 sb in a season. Looking at Arod's player card he looks like another one to abandon the run game and hit for power but we will find out down the road.