[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I'd like to know how Statistician Snowman would factor in cortisone, regarding Koufax. When we talk about performance enhancing drugs, in the literal sense, Koufax is a great example. Without that drug his career might've had about a 2 year peak. Grove came back from injury without such aid.

But on the other hand, Koufax might have been able to extend his career with advances in surgical techniques.

It's all just too speculative when one tries to make direct comparisons.

Another point that has occurred to me, today's pitchers I presume have access to data that literally analyzes every pitch a hitter has ever taken or swung at and I presume there are people who can turn that into useful information. In Koufax's day, they probably had little more than anecdotal information to go on, and in pre-team meetings came up with brilliant strategies like smoke him inside. Counterpoint, I guess, is that batters now have the same information about the pitcfhers.