Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
And scored a whole 60 runs because he was dog-ass slow and couldn't get himself into scoring position via XBHs or steals.
And was again a bad defensive 1b in the process, at a position where you can easily find run production.
To say nothing of the fact that over the previous 5 seasons and 3,000 plate appearances he was a below replacement level player.
Anybody not writing his own lineups (or not named Pete Rose) would've been canned WELL before then.
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He still finished fourth in the National League in OBP and he's freaking 44-years-old. That's amazing.
You mention all the physical limitations of Rose, no surprise there. There's a reason why not many 44-year-old position players have been in MLB dating back to 1900 to begin with. Father time is undefeated. But he's at the top of the list or near the top of all-time seasons by a 44-year-old position player because of that .395 OBP.
Even with those age-related flaws you mentioned, I can't say Rose was a detriment. I can find a spot for him on a 25-man roster in 1981-85. He's one of the smartest ballplayers ever to step between the lines. I think he's an asset to a ballclub with his baseball intel.
That's saddest part about Rose's lifetime suspension, which was justly deserved, was it deprived baseball of having such a brilliant baseball mind in the dugout and in a teaching capacity.