Some players can't handle heat and humidity

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OldRed
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Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by OldRed »

Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
sikeston bulldog2
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by sikeston bulldog2 »

OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 07:47 am Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
I’m sure it’s not your only rant. Seems in the old days they played many more day games. That lends to your debate- more heat plus sun. .

As far as thirties is concerned, in baseball that’s beginning to age. There isn’t much cardiovascular endurance in baseball. So just getting used to it is tough.

As for night games, I agree, as for a profession, they shouldn’t have an issue. And most don’t.
scoutyjones2
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by scoutyjones2 »

Baseball players are in better shape now, than ever before...they are like peak racing cars...which also breakdown.
Jatalk
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by Jatalk »

A lot of folks are claiming SG can’t handle the heat. I doubt his endurance is much less than any other player. I agree players are in much better shape now than ever before. I know us old timers want to say we were tougher, lived in harder times, etc. let’s give it a break.
Absolut
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by Absolut »

Jatalk wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:16 am A lot of folks are claiming SG can’t handle the heat. I doubt his endurance is much less than any other player. I agree players are in much better shape now than ever before. I know us old timers want to say we were tougher, lived in harder times, etc. let’s give it a break.
My understanding is it’s an issue gripping the ball when he’s pouring sweat.
WaltsSuccessor
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by WaltsSuccessor »

OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 07:47 am Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
They all can “handle” it. But you’re talking about the best of the best players at the skinny tail of a bell curve. If the heat impacts them negatively by 1% more than the 24 year old, that’s all it takes to be the difference between success and failure.

And you’re kidding yourself thinking construction workers are working at max output in the dead summer heat either. MLB players of all ages show up to work and do their best in conditions just like those guys.
Ronnie Dobbs
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by Ronnie Dobbs »

WaltsSuccessor wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:28 amThey all can “handle” it. But you’re talking about the best of the best players at the skinny tail of a bell curve. If the heat impacts them negatively by 1% more than the 24 year old, that’s all it takes to be the difference between success and failure.

And you’re kidding yourself thinking construction workers are working at max output in the dead summer heat either. MLB players of all ages show up to work and do their best in conditions just like those guys.
This.

Baseball is hard, folks.
Absolut
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by Absolut »

WaltsSuccessor wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:28 am
OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 07:47 am Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
They all can “handle” it. But you’re talking about the best of the best players at the skinny tail of a bell curve. If the heat impacts them negatively by 1% more than the 24 year old, that’s all it takes to be the difference between success and failure.

And you’re kidding yourself thinking construction workers are working at max output in the dead summer heat either. MLB players of all ages show up to work and do their best in conditions just like those guys.
Hey, you Come in flat with that gravel and sand and the whole world notices.
WaltsSuccessor
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by WaltsSuccessor »

Jatalk wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:16 am A lot of folks are claiming SG can’t handle the heat. I doubt his endurance is much less than any other player. I agree players are in much better shape now than ever before. I know us old timers want to say we were tougher, lived in harder times, etc. let’s give it a break.
I’m no professional athlete but I take my fitness very seriously and stay in shape lifting all the time. I also walk 18 holes every weekend. I’m just a couple years older than Sonny. My golf scores were noticeably higher in July because I’d be physically and mentally spent on the last 3-4 holes each round from being soaked in sweat and sun beaten.

Yeah you’d expect pro athletes to be better conditioned than a weekend hack like me, but they’re still human. Some people just sweat more than others or handle the heat/cold better than others. They’re not robots.
OldRed
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by OldRed »

scoutyjones2 wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:06 am Baseball players are in better shape now, than ever before...they are like peak racing cars...which also breakdown.
Bob Feller once told me players today look like they are in shape, but they are not. Players today think lifting weights makes them look in shape. Players in the worked in the off season on real jobs like Richie Hebner who dug graves. Others worked on farms or had jobs that required strength.

Again, just my opinion.
Jatalk
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by Jatalk »

WaltsSuccessor wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:32 am
Jatalk wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:16 am A lot of folks are claiming SG can’t handle the heat. I doubt his endurance is much less than any other player. I agree players are in much better shape now than ever before. I know us old timers want to say we were tougher, lived in harder times, etc. let’s give it a break.
I’m no professional athlete but I take my fitness very seriously and stay in shape lifting all the time. I also walk 18 holes every weekend. I’m just a couple years older than Sonny. My golf scores were noticeably higher in July because I’d be physically and mentally spent on the last 3-4 holes each round from being soaked in sweat and sun beaten.

Yeah you’d expect pro athletes to be better conditioned than a weekend hack like me, but they’re still human. Some people just sweat more than others or handle the heat/cold better than others. They’re not robots.
Certainly true but when he has a poor performance I just doubt this is the primary reason.
Bomber1
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by Bomber1 »

WaltsSuccessor wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:28 am
OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 07:47 am Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
They all can “handle” it. But you’re talking about the best of the best players at the skinny tail of a bell curve. If the heat impacts them negatively by 1% more than the 24 year old, that’s all it takes to be the difference between success and failure.

And you’re kidding yourself thinking construction workers are working at max output in the dead summer heat either. MLB players of all ages show up to work and do their best in conditions just like those guys.
I spent 30 years calling on construction supply houses, architects, and contractors. I visited large commercial/civil jobsites probably 3-4 times a week.

Those guys are freaking tough.

Ballplayers spend the day in the a/c then go into the heat for 3 hrs, while being able to duck into the a/c between innings.

So no their “conditions” are not like construction guys.

And I’m not dissing ball players, just stating facts.
woofy25
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by woofy25 »

OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:35 am
scoutyjones2 wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:06 am Baseball players are in better shape now, than ever before...they are like peak racing cars...which also breakdown.
Bob Feller once told me players today look like they are in shape, but they are not. Players today think lifting weights makes them look in shape. Players in the worked in the off season on real jobs like Richie Hebner who dug graves. Others worked on farms or had jobs that required strength.

Again, just my opinion.
If players aren’t in better shape, then why are there guys today throwing 100mph on almost every team? Back in the 80s, throwing 90mph meant you were a fire baller. Back in the “glory days”’guys were smoking cigarettes, eating doughnuts, and swallowing gobs full of greenies. Please stop insulting the intelligence of people.
rockondlouie
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by rockondlouie »

Jatalk wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:16 am A lot of folks are claiming SG can’t handle the heat. I doubt his endurance is much less than any other player. I agree players are in much better shape now than ever before. I know us old timers want to say we were tougher, lived in harder times, etc. let’s give it a break.
S. Gray's issues w/the heat is he can't get a good grip.

His decline is due to this ....36 yrs old in Nov.
WaltsSuccessor
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by WaltsSuccessor »

Bomber1 wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:37 am
WaltsSuccessor wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:28 am
OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 07:47 am Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
They all can “handle” it. But you’re talking about the best of the best players at the skinny tail of a bell curve. If the heat impacts them negatively by 1% more than the 24 year old, that’s all it takes to be the difference between success and failure.

And you’re kidding yourself thinking construction workers are working at max output in the dead summer heat either. MLB players of all ages show up to work and do their best in conditions just like those guys.
I spent 30 years calling on construction supply houses, architects, and contractors. I visited large commercial/civil jobsites probably 3-4 times a week.

Those guys are freaking tough.

Ballplayers spend the day in the a/c then go into the heat for 3 hrs, while being able to duck into the a/c between innings.

So no their “conditions” are not like construction guys.

And I’m not dissing ball players, just stating facts.
Most certainly. I’m a white collar guy but my company has manufacturing facilities in STL that are not centrally heated or cooled. Wouldn’t trade jobs with those dudes ever. Respect for what they put up with and do. But I can tell you, the extreme temps absolutely impact their productivity on the floor. And I get it. Totally normal and reasonable to think it would.

Yet MLB players are still expect to perform at elite levels regardless. I have a lot of union guys who move at half speed in those conditions. It was just a weird comparison by the OP to me.
OldRed
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Re: Some players can't handle heat and humidity

Post by OldRed »

Bomber1 wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:37 am
WaltsSuccessor wrote: 23 Aug 2025 08:28 am
OldRed wrote: 23 Aug 2025 07:47 am Such a shame some players in their 30's can't handle heat and humidity. What if they worked outside on concrete jobs or road jobs for 8 hours in the heat of the day like so many in our hot humid summers.

Also, think of years past when most games were played in the daytime.

My rant for today.
They all can “handle” it. But you’re talking about the best of the best players at the skinny tail of a bell curve. If the heat impacts them negatively by 1% more than the 24 year old, that’s all it takes to be the difference between success and failure.

And you’re kidding yourself thinking construction workers are working at max output in the dead summer heat either. MLB players of all ages show up to work and do their best in conditions just like those guys.
I spent 30 years calling on construction supply houses, architects, and contractors. I visited large commercial/civil jobsites probably 3-4 times a week.

Those guys are freaking tough.

Ballplayers spend the day in the a/c then go into the heat for 3 hrs, while being able to duck into the a/c between innings.

So no their “conditions” are not like construction guys.

And I’m not dissing ball players, just stating facts.
Thank you.

My Dad worked in a steel mill and came home to a hot house without air conditioning. Many of those workers also played fast pitch softball 3 to 5 times a week in the evenings and weekends.
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