Is the GOLDEN AGE of Baseball upon Us?

[Mandy1320]

I've said for a while that the second golden age was from 2004 to 2016... During that timespan, we got:

-Red Sox break curse and win WS
-Barry Bonds breaks HR record
-Yankees play last game in historic stadium
-Miguel Cabrera winning Triple Crown
-Emergence of Trout
-Cubs break curse and win WS (most entertaining WS in recent memory)
-Countless offensive milestones

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Now, the percentage of black Americans playing MLB continues to decline, so it could certainly be argued that the game isn’t benefiting from a more robust participation by a significant portion of the US population. However, the talent from Latin America is crazy good, and plenty of good-to-great players keep coming from Japan and South Korea. So, overall, the talent pool is strong.



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On my social media feed, I've seen multiple posts of local teams doing sign-ups for youth football. I've seen multiple posts about specialized position camps, 7on7, etc. I've seen maybe 1 all year for youth baseball sign-ups. I understand part of that is ease of play. There are just so many more problems locally in California that are obstacles for all children to play baseball.

[eye4talent]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

On my social media feed, I've seen multiple posts of local teams doing sign-ups for youth football. I've seen multiple posts about specialized position camps, 7on7, etc. I've seen maybe 1 all year for youth baseball sign-ups. There are so many more problems locally in California that are obstacles for all children to play baseball.

True. In my hometown (also in California), where the high school has been a bit of a local baseball powerhouse, we have half the little league teams as when I was growing up. In this case, it’s due to the rising popularity of lacrosse. It’s just one example, but it helps illustrate the challenges that baseball faces.


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[larry25]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

I think this is a misperception of the talent. I’d say it’s as strong as ever. The difference is that the overall talent is so much better, and scouting analysis is so much more advanced, that the game is more difficult.

That’s why the shift was banned, for instance. And average pitching velocity keeps going up, with fresh arms constantly being brought to the mound—which is why a three-batter limit was implemented. These changes weren’t made because players need to be babied. They were made because of imbalanced advances in certain facets of the game.

It’s also why launch angle and three true outcomes have become things: these are the results of players and organizations trying to adapt to these imbalances.

Now, the percentage of black Americans playing MLB continues to decline, so it could certainly be argued that the game isn’t benefiting from a more robust participation by a significant portion of the US population. However, the talent from Latin America is crazy good, and plenty of good-to-great players keep coming from Japan and South Korea. So, overall, the talent pool is strong.

Also, It’s been 25 years since any new teams were brought into the mix, making this is the longest that MLB has gone without expanding since expansion started becoming a thing in 1961. People tend to moan about there not being talent in the league to expand. But I’d argue that the dilution that occurs upon expansion serves as a boost. There’s a congestion problem that builds up over time, and so adding two teams would help clear things up so that the league’s better hitters can have more opportunities to feast on pitchers with less experience or fastballs in the low 90s.


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Great post, and very well said! I'm clearly just a brat, wishing to be entertained a la Reggie and Barry again. I think the giant leaps in analytics and technology have also tamed the game and the talent quite a bit. Whatever the case, I'm still watching, and I'm excited to see where all this leads and which players will truly outpace the rest.

[nothinbefore]

the goldin age will be upon us once the yankees win the world series and anthony volpe is mvp

[jduds]

Originally Posted by Mandy1320

I've said for a while that the second golden age was from 2004 to 2016... During that timespan, we got:

-Red Sox break curse and win WS
-Barry Bonds breaks HR record
-Yankees play last game in historic stadium
-Miguel Cabrera winning Triple Crown
-Emergence of Trout
-Cubs break curse and win WS (most entertaining WS in recent memory)
-Countless offensive milestones

It's a great one, but the allure of baseball just went out the window for so many fans post-steroids that I'd choose some other time. My guess is most consider the "golden age" to be whenever they were seven to twenty or so.

[larry25]

Originally Posted by jduds

It's a great one, but the allure of baseball just went out the window for so many fans post-steroids that I'd choose some other time. My guess is most consider the "golden age" to be whenever they were seven to twenty or so.

FWIW, I have always considered the post WWII to 1960s the Golden Age of baseball. Mantle, Mays, Aaron, etc. And not in that order necessarily. Koufax, Gibson, Ford, Marichal. Ted effin Williams. Kaline, Clemente, even a little Charlie Hustle.

[jhssketchcards]

We’re in the 14k Gold Plated Era
Guys anointed HOF after 2-3 great seasons.
Recent HOFers who are in the $1 and 50 cent bins.
Steroid users accepted and lauded.
Pitchers going 4-5 innings per game.
Hitters who bat .200 but hit 40 HR celebrated.


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[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

Steroid users accepted and lauded.

Word of the Day

Lauded


lauded
/ˈlôdəd,ˈlädəd/
adjectiveFORMAL
highly praised or admired.
"a lauded author"
.

[awz50]

If baseball continues its upswing in viewership and attendance, yes we could see another golden age

[awz50]

Player wise, we are seeing some superb players and Ohtani is doing things that have not been done before

My only gripe is the pitching is kinda meh to watch

[WillBaseball]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

True. In my hometown (also in California), where the high school has been a bit of a local baseball powerhouse, we have half the little league teams as when I was growing up. In this case, it’s due to the rising popularity of lacrosse. It’s just one example, but it helps illustrate the challenges that baseball faces.


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Baseball faces challenges for sure, like soccer in the Midwest, took over all the fields I grew up playing on. Still, my feed shows constant baseball drills, skills camps, showcases, coaches, tournaments, etc; that’s all just AI serving what the hive mind thinks you want to see.

Youth baseball is alive and well, coast to coast, it has just changed. Yes, half of the local teams as yesteryear admittedly, but they truly are doubly as good as teams were 30 years ago. And there’s 4 different skill levels (a,aa,aaa, major) of organized baseball from 12yo and on, not including local park “house baseball”. And high school ball is less incredibly important and instead just a piece of the puzzle now. Travel team and tournament teams are often the programs that train the kids year round. The HS season is short comparably.

Great topic here and some really good posts!


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[SupermanBrandon]

Originally Posted by WillBaseball

Baseball faces challenges for sure, like soccer in the Midwest, took over all the fields I grew up playing on. Still, my feed shows constant baseball drills, skills camps, showcases, coaches, tournaments, etc; that’s all just AI serving what the hive mind thinks you want to see.

Youth baseball is alive and well, coast to coast, it has just changed. Yes, half of the local teams as yesteryear admittedly, but they truly are doubly as good as teams were 30 years ago. And there’s 4 different skill levels (a,aa,aaa, major) of organized baseball from 12yo and on, not including local park “house baseball”. And high school ball is less incredibly important and instead just a piece of the puzzle now. Travel team and tournament teams are often the programs that train the kids year round. The HS season is short comparably.

Great topic here and some really good posts!

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It will be interesting to see the effects of Travel Ball down the line. While I know its everything right now, what's it doing to/for these kids longterm and for the future of the pro game? While I see parents and coaches raving about it, Ive also seen a bunch of negatives around it. Too much time spent playing games, traveling, etc when you could be really working on your skills.

[Rage]

Yes we are.
Exhibit A: Shohei Ohtani
Exhibit B: Savannah Bananas
Case closed.

Other answer considered:
We are in the golden age...of umpiring!

[danimal875]

Anyone spend much time around kids 7-14? Sports are barely an afterthought.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by danimal875

Anyone spend much time around kids 7-14? Sports are barely an afterthought.

I text with my 11 and 14 year old nephews about baseball all the time.

[awz50]

Originally Posted by danimal875

Anyone spend much time around kids 7-14? Sports are barely an afterthought.

I would say this is incorrect

[BigRedMachine80]

Originally Posted by Mandy1320

I've said for a while that the second golden age was from 2004 to 2016... During that timespan, we got:

-Red Sox break curse and win WS
-Barry Bonds breaks HR record
-Yankees play last game in historic stadium
-Miguel Cabrera winning Triple Crown
-Emergence of Trout
-Cubs break curse and win WS (most entertaining WS in recent memory)
-Countless offensive milestones

I consider this the garbage era. I actually stopped watching baseball during the whole Bonds/Mcgwire who can roid out the hardest era and didn't get back in it until 2014.

[Mandy1320]

Originally Posted by BigRedMachine80

I consider this the garbage era. I actually stopped watching baseball during the whole Bonds/Mcgwire who can roid out the hardest era and didn't get back in it until 2014.

Well McGwire was out of baseball after 2001 but I know what you're trying to say.

[Biohazarddfl]

Originally Posted by BigRedMachine80

I consider this the garbage era. I actually stopped watching baseball during the whole Bonds/Mcgwire who can roid out the hardest era and didn't get back in it until 2014.

Same here. I'd consider that the worst era in my 40+ year lifetime.

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[no10pin]

Originally Posted by danimal875

Anyone spend much time around kids 7-14? Sports are barely an afterthought.

Generic statements are generic. My kids are grown, but I have several friends with kids that age and two nephews in that range, and they are all into sports 100%.