Welcome to Snyder’s Soapbox! Here, I pontificate about matters related to Major League Baseball on a weekly basis. Some of the topics will be pressing matters, some might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and most will be somewhere in between. The good thing about this website is that it’s free, and you are allowed to click away. If you stay, you’ll get smarter, though. That’s a money-back guarantee. Let’s get to it.
One of my favorite old movies is ‘12 Angry Men’ (I promise, this will get to our topic at hand, so just bear with me). If you’ve never heard of the movie, it’s a jury of men on a murder case. I bring it up because there is one part where a few of the jurors lament about the younger generation, asserting how they haven’t earned a thing.
The movie was made in 1957. This critique is a recurring theme across generations.
Sports keep this criticism alive. I, as a baseball writer – of a certain age – experience the tendency to downplay the integrity of the game’s evolution.
Recently, Barry Bonds discussed current players, especially relating to Shohei Ohtani, stating,
“Ohtani is not gonna hit two home runs without seeing one go (by his ear) in my generation… it’s a different game back then.”
Bonds further elaborated:
“They should be better than us hitting-wise because they can hit a home run, throw their bat up in the air, run around, get a taco, come back down and have a limo drive them around…”
Translation: Bonds feels today’s players have an easier playing field than he did.
Despite some outlandish claims, it’s essential to question this insecurity about past eras. Today’s players confront different dynamics, especially regarding how the game is officiated and conditioned.
This inclination to compare past and present can hinder appreciation for the current players’ skills and achievements.
In conclusion, it’s vital former players like Bonds learn to value the current era of baseball. Throwing criticism only reflects insecurity. True fans appreciate all eras, understanding each has its challenges and triumphs.
