by Benjamin Hook

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 31, 2009

Does an old baseball player have the same focus and desire as a young star? Maybe. Does as old baseball player have the same physical abilities and potential? Absolutely not. More teams are pushing the old out and drafting the young in. There are a few obvious exceptions like Roger Clemons, Julio Franco, and Randy Johnson. But they are the EXCEPTIONS. It's highly unusual for a player to be any good when they climb into their 40's, unless they stop by the performance enhancing supplement store.

David wright obtains all the greatest virtues and attributes a young player can accompany. He has the sharpest eye in the game, swings with a lot of power, maintains a high batting average, and is blessed with a superior arm. these are all qualities where the young have the significant advantage. The only thing a older player can utilize is their experience. I just don't think that experience can make up for everything they have lost in their deteriorating body. Frankly put, a younger player gets better while a older player only really gets worse.

In 2007, there was 25 major league baseball players 40 years or older. That is the most amount in the last 50 years. To think that this is a huge deal when only 3.3% of the major league roster is the old guys. THREE PERCENT! This goes to show that the major leagues is all about the young guys when there is an uproar due to 3 percent of the league being 40 years or more. Plus, the league has turned more and more to who can hit the long ball, and the younger, stronger player are the ones with the ability to achieve this.

Would you rather have a 45 year old pitcher who throws high 80's, but can locate extremely well with nice off speed, or the young gun who can top out at 100 mph but whose off speed pitchers are still a work in progress? Yes its a rhetorical question. Everyone wants the young guy with unlimited potential instead of the sagging old man with average stuff. Why invest money in someone who is 10 to 15 years off their prime when you could put money on a quality young starter who may flourish at any moment. This is why you see the young players emerging instead of the older guys being resigned.

Overall, you can see the lopsided argument is one not worth arguing. The upside of a young guy combined with undeniable physical advantages just doesn't make it possible for out-of-their-prime old guys to compete.

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