80s players

[texans]

Re: 80s players

Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew would be batting champs every year. Rob Deer and Dave Kingman would challenge Adam Dunn and Richie Sexson for whiff king. I think Bret Saberhagen would be nasty these days. I heard what someone said about Brett being a Yankee and laughed. Maybe Andre Dawson or Joe Carter too.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 80s players

Eddie Murray would be a top five 1B in baseball, IMO.

[TheLetterZ]

Re: 80s players

How am I the first person to bring up Dale Murphy? The man won back-to-back MVPs.

He'd probably hit 50 homers a year with 20-30 steals.

[dacubys]

Re: 80s players

can you imagine dawson on steroids...wow or maybe even canseco or mcgwire on um ster.....oh never mind

what about robin yount...wade boggs...don mattingly...man where have all the truly great hitters gone?

and can you imagine how good Roger Clemens would have be now if he was still playing in this era......oh no doy he did play in this era

[BGarrett7]

Re: 80s players

I guess someone has to play Devil's Advocate here... All of the comments thus far have been overly positive. Doesn't anyone thing that star players from the 80's would only have a moderate amount of success, or at least to a lesser extent than they had in their own era? I mean, sure, it's easy to sit back and say "wow, player X tore it up in '87, he would be even better now!" and sucks to think "damn, player X really had some flaws in his game that would be really prevelent now."

What if managers had to write Ozzie into the lineup knowing he was going to hit .250 and drive in 50 runs in order to get his superb defense? Would they be willing to do so in an era where your lineup almost has to be stacked top-to-bottom? Look at Corey Patterson, he put up power numbers much better than Ozzie's and still got ran of out Chicago for his lack of offensive production. Same goes for Brett Butler, Vince Coleman, et al. All of those little niche players who were marvelous in the 80's, but may not find a home so easily in today's game where you have to be a little bit more well-rounded.

What about the players on the '86 Mets? Would they really be able to make it today with their rampant drug use, and the increased media circus that has become New York sports? Hell, most of them couldn't even cut it then. Put that exact same team into 2006, and they probably become a 100 loss team with all the crap they went through and had to deal with.

What about all the out-of-shape players that prevailed in the 80's? Especially a certain two in Minnesota. Speaking of which, would a manager be willing to extend his starting pitcher into the tenth inning of game seven of the World Series like Tom Kelly did in '91? With owners and management like they are, would the Twins and Braves ever have made it out of the cellar and onto the game's biggest stage if it were 2007 instead of 1991. Honestly, in my opinion, probably not. Both teams would have been completely overhauled, all kinds of shifting of personnel, everything.

The list just goes on and on. For every "he would still be awesome!" comment there is a "well, he was never in the best of shape" side of the coin as well.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: 80s players

How am I the first person to bring up Dale Murphy? The man won back-to-back MVPs.

He'd probably hit 50 homers a year with 20-30 steals.

Good one. I always like watching Dale Murphy on TBS while growing up.

What about Danny Jackson? Always liked him when he was a Red. I think he'd be a solid pitcher if he were playing right now.

[theaub]

Re: 80s players

George Bell = Manny Ramirez

Think about it.

EDIT: With a bit less power obviously.

[SPTO]

Re: 80s players

George Bell = Manny Ramirez

Think about it.

EDIT: With a bit less power obviously.

...and with more violence. Remember the ol' Karate Kick to the head? I forget who the pitcher was that recieved that from him.

[Scottdau]

Re: 80s players

[QUOTE=bkrich83]

Butler had some good years with the Indians also.

Ozzie Smith would be the best defensive SS in any generation.

His best years were for the Giants. Man, he was great for us. When he left we had so many trouble finding a leadoff guy like him. But fuk him, he went to the Dodgers lol. But that is baseball. He would still be good today for any team.

[bkrich83]

Re: 80s players

[quote=Scottd]

His best years were for the Giants. Man, he was great for us. When he left we had so many trouble finding a leadoff guy like him. But fuk him, he went to the Dodgers lol. But that is baseball. He would still be good today for any team.

Statistically, I think his best years were in Cleveland.

[SportsTop]

Re: 80s players

• Bob Welch would've never won 20 games, let alone 27 games.
  
• Dale Murphy would still be underrated.
  
• Tony Gwynn would still be the best pure hitter.
  
  And most importantly:
  
• Willie McGee would still be the ugliest player in the league.

[Dice]

Re: 80s players

I guess someone has to play Devil's Advocate here... All of the comments thus far have been overly positive. Doesn't anyone thing that star players from the 80's would only have a moderate amount of success, or at least to a lesser extent than they had in their own era? I mean, sure, it's easy to sit back and say "wow, player X tore it up in '87, he would be even better now!" and sucks to think "damn, player X really had some flaws in his game that would be really prevelent now."

What if managers had to write Ozzie into the lineup knowing he was going to hit .250 and drive in 50 runs in order to get his superb defense? Would they be willing to do so in an era where your lineup almost has to be stacked top-to-bottom? Look at Corey Patterson, he put up power numbers much better than Ozzie's and still got ran of out Chicago for his lack of offensive production. Same goes for Brett Butler, Vince Coleman, et al. All of those little niche players who were marvelous in the 80's, but may not find a home so easily in today's game where you have to be a little bit more well-rounded.

What about the players on the '86 Mets? Would they really be able to make it today with their rampant drug use, and the increased media circus that has become New York sports? Hell, most of them couldn't even cut it then. Put that exact same team into 2006, and they probably become a 100 loss team with all the crap they went through and had to deal with.

What about all the out-of-shape players that prevailed in the 80's? Especially a certain two in Minnesota. Speaking of which, would a manager be willing to extend his starting pitcher into the tenth inning of game seven of the World Series like Tom Kelly did in '91? With owners and management like they are, would the Twins and Braves ever have made it out of the cellar and onto the game's biggest stage if it were 2007 instead of 1991. Honestly, in my opinion, probably not. Both teams would have been completely overhauled, all kinds of shifting of personnel, everything.

The list just goes on and on. For every "he would still be awesome!" comment there is a "well, he was never in the best of shape" side of the coin as well.

I agree with you. I don't think every player in the 80's would be a superstar in today's game. I did make the statement that Ozzie Smith would not get any credit for being a top notch SS because he only would hit 2-3 homers a season. Even though he'd win the Gold Glove and bat over .300 and steal 30-40 bases. In today's game of the long ball he'd unfairly get 'x'ed out of the conversation of best SS because of his lack of power.

I will say this about 80's players, the catchers would not be good defensively in today's game. One of the reasons I think speed was emphasized on offense was the lack of strong armed catchers in the 80's. Now I'm not saying there wern't any BUT not as many as today. That's why steals are down in today's game. There are more strong armed catchers in today's game.

[redskinrussell]

Re: 80s players

• And most importantly:
  
• Willie McGee would still be the ugliest player in the league.

Beautiful comment, but Otis Nixon would give him some competition for that title.

[snepp]

Re: 80s players

Steals aren't down because catcher's arms are better. They're down because no one runs anymore. Earl Weaver baseball at its finest, get on base and wait around for a homerun. 80's baseball, much like 80's basketball, was more entertaining IMO.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: 80s players

...and with more violence. Remember the ol' Karate Kick to the head? I forget who the pitcher was that recieved that from him.

From the George Bell entry on baseballLibrary.com:

...No stranger to discord, the hot-tempered native of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic had incurred the hatred of Boston fans by directing a karate kick at Red Sox pitcher Bruce Kison, who seemed to be throwing at Blue Jay batters. ...

I vaguely remember the incident. I'll remember George mostly because on his 1984 Topps card, his name was spelled Jorge Bell (someone must have eventually Americanized it), and I remember him going deep three times on Opening Day.