Posted by MikeT23 on 7/25/2014 2:07:00 PM (view original):
Posted by burnsy483 on 7/25/2014 11:57:00 AM (view original):
If a player could play 2B and hit, he was moved from 2B in 1970?
I know you're not as old as me but do you disagree that "Strong D up the middle" has a different meaning now?
Felix Millan has been replaced by Jeff Kent/Ian Kinsler.
Mark Belanger has been replaced by Cal Ripken/Derek Jeter.
Of course, this is impossible for me to prove, but don't you think the "glove first" at certain positions has given way to "Can his bat make up for his defensive restrictions?"
Mark Belanger isn't a HOFer. Cal Ripken and Derek Jeter are first ballot HOFers.
Players in the 50s/60s were certainly weaker hitters than they are now, so yes, there were fewer great hitting shortstops, 2nd basemen, 3rd baseman, etc. It doesn't mean that those positions aren't also still "defensive" positions in the sense that it's harder to find great hitters who can play those positions than it is to find great hitters to play 1st base and right field.