The big news today from the Cubs convention was the news that Carlos Zambrano is going to have laser eye surgery before the start of the baseball season. Somehow this is supports to add the 5 mph and nasty sink on his fastball that he has apparently lost the past 2 years. This procedure has actually improved many hitters ability to identify pitches. Denard Span of the Twinkies had the procedure last year allowing him to tear up AAA and secure a job in the majors. Consequently, both Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer are having the same prodecure done this winter.
I recommend something different, something better! In 2005, Brian Roberts started wearing special red contact lenses that helped him identify pitches better. Despite his season high of 5 home runs prior to the 2005 season, his 10 homers in April of 2005 seemed kinda strange. I thought this was the new steroid, but it never seemed to catch on. How awesome would it be if Big Z was starring down hitters with Bull red eyes and possibly a little more control
Laser Eye surgery is a BS Myth to "make players better"
ReplyDeleteCheck out these two links, in which deatils the players who "did something" and the results the following season
http://www.rotoauthority.com/2009/01/follow-up-sprin.html
http://www.rotoauthority.com/2009/01/follow-up-spr-1.html
I don't think you can say it is a myth. There may nothing proven behind a baseball player getting better, but it does make your eye sight better, which can only help you see the ball better.
ReplyDeleteBullshit irwin. It's been scientifically proven by Baseball Prospectus that these impacts are negligible.
ReplyDeleteRotoauth looked at just last yrs "we did somethings" and the results. 99% of the results were negative or no change
BP only had 2 instances of people getting laser eye surgery. One of them was an ex-basketball player who sucks, and the other is old and bad. Sample size! Dont compare fixing your vision to losing 15 pounds. Lots of guys lost 15 pounds after the mitchell report to "get into better shape". I'm pretty sure the best hitters in baseball history all had insane vision. Bonds, Williams, Stan Musial. haha
ReplyDeletei didnt read the original post or any of Eckstein's links but it would appear to me that Zambrano getting laser eye surgery will have absolutely no affect no Carlos Zambrano the baseball player. Maybe it will help him in his everyday life but not his baseball stats
ReplyDeleteRemember in the 1st two weeks of the season last year A.J. Pierzynski was #1 in BA with over .400 and everyone was talking about how he lost weight and attributed his awesome 2 weeks with his weight loss but over the course of an entire season his weight loss didn't mean shit. I think the analogous thing will happen with Zambranno and it will turn out the eye surgery over the course of 30+ starts wont mean shit
"How can instantly improving one's eye sight not be at the top of everyone's list?"
I think everyone must read this.
ReplyDelete