Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisAl
Some of the things you are relating from this Professor's book
may perhaps explain why hittig .400 nowadays is not likely to
occur. However, there are many other mitigating factors that
I see would favor a 400+ hitter in today's environment.
Smaller playing fields, Astro Turf, better physical condition,
flying (less fatigue), starting at younger age, diluted pitch-
ing staffs due to many more teams, equipment improvements
(bats and balls), etc., etc. All these factors actually lend
themselves to a higher probability of hitting .400 nowadays.
Yet, it is not happening. In the past 25 years only two guys
have approached .400....George Brett .390 and Tony Gwynn .388
I'm sorry, but I cannot fully agree with your author's theories
And his drawing "parallels from the world of biology and evolution"
and applying it to explain modern day baseball sounds somewhat
frightening to me.