tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post3973250995136462242..comments2024-01-28T22:16:50.852-06:00Comments on Mr. Dilettante’s Neighborhood: Big Mac and Roids - VMr. Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920907647566015611noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-53476811095034365272010-02-24T21:02:47.553-06:002010-02-24T21:02:47.553-06:00Records really don't mean that much unless the...Records really don't mean that much unless there are standard measurements and criteria. I've always thought that the baseball home run stats can be misleading as the definition of a "home run" (i.e. hitting the ball out of the field of play in fair territory) is dependent on the size and configuration of the ball park.<br /><br />Consider how many more homers Harmon Killebrew would have if he had played his entire career for Boston or the Chicago Cubs. A lot of mile-high deep flyouts at the old Met (especially under the original field configuration) would have been long gone of a turn-of-the-last-century format stadium like Fenway or Wrigley. How many career homers would Jim Thome have if he had played his entire career with the Twins (and how many more on top of that if the Hefty Bag had not been erected after 1982)? The same argument could probably be made for how many less homers by some of the big guys if they played in a different park.<br /><br />There really isn't a good way to resolve this, short of standardizing ball parks and playing conditions (how much higher would Rod Carew's career average be if he had played his career on the fast Metrodome turf versus the thick, slow grass of Met Stadium?).<br /><br />Maybe the answer is to look at what happened with Pete Rose. The man had Hall of Fame stats but his conduct kept him out of the hall and it appears to really bother him.Right Hookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02381659078828845900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19838051.post-68549069040963903742010-02-24T07:21:16.293-06:002010-02-24T07:21:16.293-06:00I think the idea of applying some kind of metric i...I think the idea of applying some kind of metric is a good one. It helps us conceptualize what "might" have happened without getting lost in the details. More specifically, it allows us to see how non-cheaters might fit into the all-time greats. Seeing Ken Griffey Jr and Jim Thome so far up the list makes an impression.W.B. Picklesworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03187309512838841997noreply@blogger.com