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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,131 comments Add your comment
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
1:33 pm
That 30 is the new 85…
That was a good one, give me a good chuckle but isn’t that the truth.
Snotboogie
May 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
You’re welcome scoots. I had B-R already open.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
Age is a huge factor (or the magical “30th” birthday) for some folks. Andruw Jones being the first that comes to mind. Dale Murphy had a big drop off in his early 30’s too. Some might include Chipper in the 30 drop off list.
Others thrive for years into their 30s. Of course in the steroid era, it’s hard to know why for some players. Barry Bonds had a good time in his late 30’s, but we think we might understand that one.
I think it is way too early to identify Uggla’s cold streak as somewhat age related. It could be, but it is entirely possible that it is not age related at all.
Most of us tend to attribute it to the pressure of the new team and the big contract. Anybody that’s ever been put in a similar situation can identify.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:35 pm
For anyone who cares about the evidence regarding how players generally age:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9933
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/how-do-baseball-players-age-part-1/
There are some nice graphs that make it rather easy to grasp that generally players decline rather gradually, starting somewhere around age 30 or slightly before.
Note that there are no graphs that indicate that generally players drop off a cliff at age 30…it’s a little more gradual than that, for those who want to equate declining with free-falling to support their biases and own points of view.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:35 pm
Let’s try to have a disparity in the numbers.Don’t want either one of us to say something like .197 and the other guy says .198.There should be a significant difference in numbers based upon our comments.
Gil In Mechanicsville
May 31st, 2011
1:38 pm
Isn’t it odd how a great golfer like Tiger Woods goes ballistic when someone snaps a camera shutter as he approaches a tee shot while folks expect a baseball player to be able to hit a ball with a round bat while said ball is moving and 50,000 fans are screaming at the top of their voice…
I really, really wish the Nationals would put up more of a fight against the Phillies….
Danga
May 31st, 2011
1:38 pm
Age-related decline means Uggla’s best days are behind him.
This is probably true. The season he had last season was damned good, and it will probably be the best one he’ll ever have. I don’t think anyone believed that the end of the his best days would be so dramatic though.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:42 pm
Danga, well, my whole point (before it was misconstrued) was that the decline isn’t as dramatic as it seems. Bad luck is another significant factor. Obviously Uggla can’t get younger but eventually his luck will probably turn.
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:44 pm
Anybody that thinks that bad luck and age are the only factors that could be affecting Uggla’s hitting problems have obviously never experienced a pressure situation.
Now, what are the stats behind bad luck???? Can a player be snake bitten ALL year? Or for two entire months??? I sure don’t think so.
Now, with my “bad” luck at reading the future, Uggla will probably never hit another dinger, and will retire on August 1st because he can’t shake the bad luck!
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:45 pm
think it is way too early to identify Uggla’s cold streak as somewhat age related.
Of course. Unless one subscribes to the theory that last year, at age 30 and beyond his “prime”, he still had enough left in the tank to have his career year, but, six months later, entered his “decline phase”. And that would have been a fairly sharp decline, seeing as he wnet .300/.850 in the last stinking month of the season.
In other words, balderdash.
ncscoots
May 31st, 2011
1:45 pm
Anybody that thinks that bad luck and age are the only factors that could be affecting Uggla’s hitting problems have obviously never experienced a pressure situation.
Wayne, please do not mention the p-word in mixed company. No good can come of it.
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:46 pm
Uggla has struggled because his mechanics are all screwed up and he’s trying to put every pitch into the stands and ends up lunging at outside sliders in the dirt and trying to jack pitches at eye level. He has exhibited no patience and little pitch recognition. The longer the slump goes, the more his head enters the equation. As someone mentioned, what he needs is a 4-4 game to set him straight and renew his confidence in his swing.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with age related decline. The Dude is in excellent physical shape and players skills don’t just drop off the table like that just because the calendar turns over a year.
And don’t point to Andruw Jones as an example.And Andruw was injured. His elbow was messed up and his knees shot to hell from wear, tear, diving for balls and bouncing off of walls for ten straight Gold Glove seasons – most without much time off. Pretty much the same for Murphy.
Earl Williams
May 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
We are on Page 12 of this Blog.I’ll assume if an answer to “Charity Contest” has not been posted by the end of Page 12 that we are just not going to do that.I’ll read Page 12 tonight.In the meantime I’ll again try real hard to be the only person not allowed to comment on Number 26,however, if I do read something along the lines of “He would be hitting a lot better if the balls dropped in”, I will still try to restain from commenting but it might be difficult.
Carroll Rogers
May 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
new blog is up!
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
Boy, I’m glad my San Francisco 49ers didn’t get rid of Joe Montana & Jerry Rice when they turned 30!
Fleming
May 31st, 2011
1:50 pm
Three of Chippers best OPS years were after age 30
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
1:51 pm
Didn’t Chipper win a batting title after age 30?
DS1
May 31st, 2011
1:53 pm
Lew
In an indirect way, that IS age related. Those sort of injuries tend to appear or get worse with age. Not like a 22 year old blowing out his ACL. Those guys generally come back. The old aged injuries tend to never completely go away for some players.
Andruw’s biggest issue I think was his weight. He got progressively heavy, which makes for a tough time with the knees. And it got worse as he got older/fatter!
Murph
May 31st, 2011
1:53 pm
Bad luck is another significant factor.
So is Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
Bad luck is an excuse. It’s make believe. There is no such thing. It’s about as real as your imaginary girlfriend.
What happens, happens. There is no mystical force that applies to some players but not to others. If a player hits a ball that is caught at the wall it has nothing to do with luck, it has to do with physics. If a ball hits a rock and bounces over a glove it has nothing to do with luck, it has to do with physics.
For example, if I dragged you up to the top of a building and held you over the edge while AT drove a truck full of mattresses and feather pillows below, me pushing you and you going splat on the pavement below isn’t bad luck, it’s just physics.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
I guess it was all luck that I made it to the Major Leagues! Darn!
Lew
May 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
DS1- Well, if Andruw’s problems were because of not staying in shape, what is the reason for Uggla’s? His fitness certainly isn’t an issue. Plus, Andruw had played around twelve seasons by the time he turned 30 – Uggla, five.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
Unless one subscribes to the theory that last year, at age 30 and beyond his “prime”, he still had enough left in the tank to have his career year, but, six months later, entered his “decline phase”. And that would have been a fairly sharp decline, seeing as he wnet .300/.850 in the last stinking month of the season.
ncscoots, that’s oversimplifying things. Decline due to age is a significant factor but it’s not the only factor. Bad luck is likely another huge factor in why his stats are far off his norms.
Last year, at age 30, his skills probably weren’t the same as they were a year or two earlier but he was luckier. There is actually a strong indication that he was quite lucky last year, and he wasn’t far from his peak, which resulted in a career year.
Shaun
May 31st, 2011
2:00 pm
Murph, if you think bad luck isn’t real, call it something else. Crushing a ball right at the secondbaseman or a grounder that finds a glove instead of a hole in the defense is something.
Bobby Hill
May 31st, 2011
2:02 pm
Uggla doesn’t profile as a guy who is likely to age gracefully. Based on his body-type and limited athleticism compared to most middle infielders you can probably expect him to age quicker than most second basemen. At age 30, his best years are obviously behind him, but its hard to say his current slump is age related, and its not like the guy came to camp overweight or out of shape.
Wren trading for Uggla was masterful. But signing him to a huge extension before he had ever played a game for the Braves was a mistake. What was the hurry? Why couldn’t it have waited at least a few months? Sometimes teams/ players / coaches / cities just don’t mesh.
Arkansas Transplant
May 31st, 2011
2:03 pm
Murph, Luckily I ran out of gas on my way to the building.
Threadkiller
May 31st, 2011
2:07 pm
Bobby Hill..”Sometimes teams/ players / coaches / cities just don’t mesh” This is an excellent post!
DS1
May 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
Lew,
I think we are on the same page. I think Uggla’s issues are pressure and a new contract. I think Andruw dropped of the table due to his getting old fast. (or better stated, the effects of age)
Now if Uggla never comes back, then it was mostly age. Just way too early to determine.
Folks, I like most of you a lot. But this is some seriously boring shyt! I think I’m going to head out and get some shrimp taco’s!
Later, maybe………
Bo Graves!
BravePack
May 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
It’s amazing to me how some people continue to be negative and rip on a guy who everyone knows is struggling but not from a lack of trying. I’m sure Uggla is his own worst enemy right now and why would we as fans rip on the guy who needs all the support he can get right now. Everything I’ve seen from Uggla tells me he leaves it all out on the field every play, every game so why in the world would we as fans ever rip on a player like that. Guys like Escobar, who take plays off, most definitely. Do those of you on here ripping Uggla really think that hey maybe if I write something negative and say the sucks he’ll actually might start playing better? Braves need Uggla to get it going sooner rather than later and I bet that is going to come really soon and when it does the Braves offense will as well.
Walter3
May 31st, 2011
3:02 pm
Lew
Lew
boo
hoo
monty
May 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
DAP
May 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
monty, almost all pitches that get hammered are mistakes.
Not exactly, I will agree that most are. But how many times have you heard someone described as a mistake hitter? I have alot. Meaning that if you make a good pitch you get the guy out. Don’t leave one hanging over the middle. Chipper used to hit good pitches for hard singles and doubles in the gap. But kinda of my whole point was he’s not a guy who can hurt you anymore if you make a decent pitch to him. For example Votto can hit your really good pitches pretty often, and do so with authority. Chipper still demands respect, but he isn’t anywhere near the threat he used to be. Unless you make a mistake.
richbrave
May 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
Bobby Jindle