| 09 April 2010
Hank Aaron is talking again; this time it's about how players try to hit home runs too often. For a legend of the game his opinion should hold a lot of merit, but it doesn't. It's surprising to me how small of amount people perceive Hank Aaron's status in the game of baseball. Then again, I feel the same way.
I don't know what it is about Hank Aaron. Maybe he didn't have the flash or wasn't in the era that puts him on the pedestal to be one of the greatest players ever. When I talk about the greatest players in the game of baseball, Hank Aaron's name never comes up. Greatest hitters? You'd have to flip over my piece of paper to find him on the list. Then again, I never got to see him play.
That's just my perception of Hammerin' Hank though.
I try to be a student of the game. I wouldn't call myself a historian, but in the game of baseball you almost have to understand the history and the players that came before the players of today to really appreciate the game.
I do appreciate the game.
Maybe my perception is wrong, maybe everyone else does respect what he says. I could care less though. Other players like Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt or Cal Ripken Jr. say a word and people grab onto it, analyze it, and truly believe what these players have to say.
Hank Aaron doesn't have that luxury.
Maybe it's not Hank Aaron, maybe it's what he's saying. Yesterday Hank's comments included talking about how players don't understand their roles and how hitters think they can hit 40 or 50 home runs a year. Aaron also thinks that pitchers aren't dominating anymore because they don't pitch the whole game. He thinks games are too long and he is annoyed that players step out of the plate. He would also like the DH instituted in the National League and revenue sharing to be revamped as well.
Maybe Hank Aaron is right or maybe he's just a disgruntled old man.
Whatever your opinion is on the issues discussed above I don't think your rushing to judgment because Hank Aaron brought them up. Hank Aaron speaks and hardly anyone listens.
I'm listening. Not to the content, but to the character of the man stating his opinion.
Maybe I'm just too young to understand his relevancy. Maybe I'm just not in tune to the history of legendary players that played before my viewing days. Maybe I'm being too critical of an honorable player that played the game the right way.
All I know is that when Hank Aaron says something, I could care less.
