Considering that a lot of his decline prior to 2014 was injury related, I think the rest did him some good. And it isn't like he wasn't working out and taking BP.

But we'll get to find out in about 7 months, when Arod begins the season as the starting 3rd baseman for the Yankees.

Posted by bad_luck on 10/1/2014 12:18:00 PM (view original):
But we'll get to find out in about 7 months, when Arod begins the season as the starting 3rd baseman for the Yankees.

Unless his aged body breaks down in ST and he starts the season on the DL.

Posted by burnsy483 on 10/1/2014 12:08:00 PM (view original):
I believe potentially being in better shape, and resting, is better than not doing those things for 2015. Unless you believe that his hand/eye coordination and reflexes are worse not just because of age, but ALSO because he didn't play in 2014. Which I suppose is possible.

I would assume he's taken batting practice, fielded grounders and thrown plenty.   I also assume none of this was in a game.    So do I think his h/ec and reflexes are worse for not playing?  No, he's done some work.   But the game speeds up in game situations.    I'm sure you know this.   You can practice all day but game situation is different.

Posted by MikeT23 on 10/1/2014 1:03:00 PM (view original):

Posted by burnsy483 on 10/1/2014 12:08:00 PM (view original):
I believe potentially being in better shape, and resting, is better than not doing those things for 2015. Unless you believe that his hand/eye coordination and reflexes are worse not just because of age, but ALSO because he didn't play in 2014. Which I suppose is possible.

I would assume he's taken batting practice, fielded grounders and thrown plenty.   I also assume none of this was in a game.    So do I think his h/ec and reflexes are worse for not playing?  No, he's done some work.   But the game speeds up in game situations.    I'm sure you know this.   You can practice all day but game situation is different.

It's not so much different that a guy who was one of the greatest of all time will be suddenly unable to keep up. He'll be fine. Probably a better than the .258/.318/.396 2014 major league average for third basemen.

Somebody who was one of the GOATs, suddenly unable to keep up:

Willie Mays, age 40: .271/.425/.482
Willie Mays, age 41: .250/.400/.402
Willie Mays, age 42: .211/.303/.344

Heck, he may be the Yanks best hitter next year. Not one Yankee who had 200 ABs managed a .750 OPS this season. They were just brutal. I mean, they were all excited about Gardner, who ended the season at .256/.327/.422!

Posted by tecwrg on 10/1/2014 1:42:00 PM (view original):
Somebody who was one of the GOATs, suddenly unable to keep up:

Willie Mays, age 40: .271/.425/.482
Willie Mays, age 41: .250/.400/.402
Willie Mays, age 42: .211/.303/.344

.271/.425/.482 is all-star level for a third baseman in 2014. .250/.400/.402 would still be well above average.

Didn't another 40 y/o Yankee just come back after effectively having a year off?    Yankee fans may wax poetic about his game winner in his last AB at home or ending his career on his manufactured last AB with a hit but, the fact is, Jeter wasn't very good.   Well below career norms.    Like most other HOF-quality players who played into their 40s.   Couple that with the "ARodness" of ARod and there would be no reason to give him 6m to find out if he had anything left in the tank.

Posted by MikeT23 on 10/1/2014 2:02:00 PM (view original):
Didn't another 40 y/o Yankee just come back after effectively having a year off?    Yankee fans may wax poetic about his game winner in his last AB at home or ending his career on his manufactured last AB with a hit but, the fact is, Jeter wasn't very good.   Well below career norms.    Like most other HOF-quality players who played into their 40s.   Couple that with the "ARodness" of ARod and there would be no reason to give him 6m to find out if he had anything left in the tank.

Arod has always been significantly better than Jeter.

Posted by MikeT23 on 10/1/2014 1:03:00 PM (view original):

Posted by burnsy483 on 10/1/2014 12:08:00 PM (view original):
I believe potentially being in better shape, and resting, is better than not doing those things for 2015. Unless you believe that his hand/eye coordination and reflexes are worse not just because of age, but ALSO because he didn't play in 2014. Which I suppose is possible.

I would assume he's taken batting practice, fielded grounders and thrown plenty.   I also assume none of this was in a game.    So do I think his h/ec and reflexes are worse for not playing?  No, he's done some work.   But the game speeds up in game situations.    I'm sure you know this.   You can practice all day but game situation is different.

My point is that ARod probably isn't the average 40 year old; the year off probably helped him, relative to other 40 year olds in baseball. 

Posted by tecwrg on 10/1/2014 1:42:00 PM (view original):
Somebody who was one of the GOATs, suddenly unable to keep up:

Willie Mays, age 40: .271/.425/.482
Willie Mays, age 41: .250/.400/.402
Willie Mays, age 42: .211/.303/.344

Mays had a better year at age 40 than he did at age 36-39.  Age 41 was better than age 36 and 38 (although he only played half the season).  Not the best example.

I don't necessarily expect ARod to fall off a cliff like Jeter.  I didn't expect Jeter to fall off the cliff that hard.

Posted by bad_luck on 10/1/2014 1:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by tecwrg on 10/1/2014 1:42:00 PM (view original):
Somebody who was one of the GOATs, suddenly unable to keep up:

Willie Mays, age 40: .271/.425/.482
Willie Mays, age 41: .250/.400/.402
Willie Mays, age 42: .211/.303/.344

.271/.425/.482 is all-star level for a third baseman in 2014. .250/.400/.402 would still be well above average.

Shockingly, you're missing the point.

When dropoff of performance happens for players approaching the end of their careers, it can be quite significant.

Mays' OPS dropped from .907 to .802 to .647.

ARod's age 39/40 season could see the same kind of dropoff that Mays saw from age 41 to age 42., especially when you consider his year off and his bad hip.

Posted by burnsy483 on 10/1/2014 2:17:00 PM (view original):

Posted by tecwrg on 10/1/2014 1:42:00 PM (view original):
Somebody who was one of the GOATs, suddenly unable to keep up:

Willie Mays, age 40: .271/.425/.482
Willie Mays, age 41: .250/.400/.402
Willie Mays, age 42: .211/.303/.344

Mays had a better year at age 40 than he did at age 36-39.  Age 41 was better than age 36 and 38 (although he only played half the season).  Not the best example.

I don't necessarily expect ARod to fall off a cliff like Jeter.  I didn't expect Jeter to fall off the cliff that hard.

Based on how you misjudged Jeter, maybe you should think about if you're misjudging your expectations for ARod.

Or are you just being stubborn?

Posted by burnsy483 on 10/1/2014 2:13:00 PM (view original):

Posted by MikeT23 on 10/1/2014 1:03:00 PM (view original):

Posted by burnsy483 on 10/1/2014 12:08:00 PM (view original):
I believe potentially being in better shape, and resting, is better than not doing those things for 2015. Unless you believe that his hand/eye coordination and reflexes are worse not just because of age, but ALSO because he didn't play in 2014. Which I suppose is possible.

I would assume he's taken batting practice, fielded grounders and thrown plenty.   I also assume none of this was in a game.    So do I think his h/ec and reflexes are worse for not playing?  No, he's done some work.   But the game speeds up in game situations.    I'm sure you know this.   You can practice all day but game situation is different.

My point is that ARod probably isn't the average 40 year old; the year off probably helped him, relative to other 40 year olds in baseball. 

I'm assuming most HOF-quality 40 y/o baseball players are not average 40 y/o baseball players.