I’m only guessing, but I’m thinking the chances a gymnast gets a college scholarship are a lot better than a baseball player. To some that’s a much better bet than counting on making “millions” playing professionally.
Division 1 men's gymnastics scholarships available are only 100.8 total (16 programs). That's 6.3 scholarships per team.
There are no D2 or D3 for men.
How does this add up to more opportunities (for men) than baseball?
Apples to oranges.
Do you really think its so impossible for anyone with average hand-2-eye coordination to spend a week pumping quarters into a batting cage and not eventually be able to hit a 95MPH FB?
Yes, and here's a solid data point in my favor, http://www.baseball-reference.....cgi?id=green-002sha.
Originally Posted by jacjacatk:
Yes, and here's a solid data point in my favor, http://www.baseball-reference.....cgi?id=green-002sha.
I fail to see what that has to do with anything.
Yeah, I can understand how you wouldn't see any relationship between the near complete inability of a successful college-level athlete to even make contact with sub-95 mph fastballs and your assertion that a week's worth of quarters should get anyone with average hand-eye coordination hitting 95 mph fastballs.
In his defense, there are some rookie-ball pitchers throwing 95…
I'll try to wrap up the theme that seems to be the consensus in this rather odd thread:
Lastly, it's the offseason and typically the offseason brings about a slew of random/weird/Debbie-Downer style posts. If Roger Hornsby had the internet when he was staring out that window for all those winters, I'm sure he would've tried to pass his time figuring out what topics he could possibly talk about related to the game as well.
Don't know if this has been mentioned but bringing Hall of Fame players into this argument is not going to be a valid comparison with non Hall of Fame ML players necessarily. The Hall of Fame is overloaded with players from the 1920's and 1930's when the average player was smaller especially when the old Negro League guys almost all from that era are added in. There is a higher percentage of pitchers under 6'2" in the Hall because the players of the 80's 90's and of course this century are very under represented. In about 10 years when we have elected more "modern" players the height average will keep growing higher for Hall of Famers as well. I apologize if this has been already brought up as I didn't go back over every post in the thread.
I say all this despite the fact that my own son is only 5'9" or slightly below and I have a soft spot for smaller guys with talent.
stats: Do you really think its so impossible for anyone with average hand-2-eye coordination to spend a week pumping quarters into a batting cage and not eventually be able to hit a 95MPH FB?
Yes. Because the point isn't whether someone can make contact, as you well know.
This is a difficult thread to follow, but stats: do you really believe that statement, or did you perhaps let your passion override your reason?
Regarding Gymnastics and baseball, I agree with TPM. Nothing against gymnasts but if that gymnast was a good enough all around athlete why not play a sport that pays millions?
Simple answer? The kinesthetic experience of performing the elements of their sport brings them joy - they just plain like gymnastics more. Not every sports choice is about money...
I'd also suggest that an athlete who takes up a certain sport in a quest for dollars will always be at a certain disadvantage (ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL [capitalized for a reason]) to an athlete who carries a true passion and love for that sport in his heart.
