Agassi as an MLB slugger?

[teedub]

How do you guys think Andre would have done as an MLB slugger? Personally I think he'd be way up there in the all-time count if he played MLB his whole life. Just a thought though. Your thoughts?

[sloe_torture]

Andre would have been a well-coordinated 5'10" slap hitter like Ichiro. I'm sure both have the power or mechanics (at least, Ichiro) to hit the long ball but they're more effective as hitters that bat for average.

[forzainter]

Originally Posted by sloe_torture

Andre would have been a well-coordinated 5'10" slap hitter like Ichiro. I'm sure both have the power or mechanics (at least, Ichiro) to hit the long ball but they're more effective as hitters that bat for average.

he wouldnt have been as fast though

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by forzainter

he wouldnt have been as fast though

Nobody is as fast as Ichiro.

I thought about this a lot, I figured Agassi for a good fielding 2B, who could hit for average and a bit of power (15-20HR).

J

[teedub]

Originally Posted by J011yroger

Nobody is as fast as Ichiro.

I thought about this a lot, I figured Agassi for a good fielding 2B, who could hit for average and a bit of power (15-20HR).

J

This specific question? Or how tennis players in general would do in a sport like baseball?

[Deuce]

What on Earth would provoke such a bizarre thought?

Agassi would not have been a good ball player. His lack of volleying ability betrays this.
And, I don't know why, but something tells me that he'd throw like a girl.

I think he would have been a hell of a bowler, though.

[teedub]

Originally Posted by Deuce

What on Earth would provoke such a bizarre thought?

Agassi would not have been a good ball player. His lack of volleying ability betrays this.
And, I don't know why, but something tells me that he'd throw like a girl.

I think he would have been a hell of a bowler, though.

I don't know. I honestly do not know enough about the physical requirements a hitter should have. But I imagine that his extremely good eye sight, ungodly hand-eye and the fact that he's able to bench 300+ would point towards a pretty good ability to hit the ball out of the park. I understand MLB pitches are insanely fast and have some major spin, depending on the type of pitch, but I would imagine Agassi's superb hand-eye and eyesight to make up for it.

I don't see how his volleying ability comes into play here - reflexes? Andre may not be a great volleyer but I'm not sure that means it's because his reflexes are poor, considering if you serve a huge 130+ serve into his strike zone he's going to get it back pretty cleanly. In MLB that's what they do, they don't have the luxury of going to your left or right and taking advantage of Andre's shorter wingspan, they have to throw it within that box or try to curve it such that it seems like it will make it through the strike zone and force swing + miss. I imagine what is necessary to defeat a good pitch(er) is an ungodly eyesight and hand-eye coordination which I would say Andre has.

Again I'm not sure, thats why I'm asking others for their input, like I said, I'm not a big baseball fan, but those are my observations from watching some ball games.

And btw, let's try to limit it to JUST his ability to slug, rather than play in the outfield or as a baseman. Also, I imagine that being shorter, 5'11, would make his strike zone a bit smaller, bit more difficult to strike him out?

thoughts appreciated.

[J011yroger]

This specific question, a friend of mine, former tour player, and current head pro was telling me how so few tennis players come out of the northeast.

And my reply was that this was baseball country, so any naturally talented athlete would play baseball because that is what is popular here. Then I used Agassi as an example of a tennis player who would do very well in baseball.

I mean look at most of your superstars. A-Rod was an star forward, a star quarterback, and a star shortstop, he just picked baseball.

Tons of current European tennis players are/were phenominal soccer players.

J

[J011yroger]

As far as your slugging theory, I don't see Agassi having great power numbers, I see him as more of a gap hitter. He just doesn't have the long arms or size.

J

[Volly master]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMsHTsEHnWE

enough said.

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by Volly master

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMsHTsEHnWE

enough said.

Swine Red Sox.

J

[AAAA]

Originally Posted by Volly master

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMsHTsEHnWE

enough said.

what tv commercial is that for?

[armand]

Originally Posted by Volly master

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMsHTsEHnWE

enough said.

LOL awesome, I've never seen that before.

[OrangeOne]

Originally Posted by Vollymaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMsHTsEHnWE

Funny / cool ad, but not what I was hoping it would be when I clicked on it.

I vividly remember seeing Agassi, I think early years, maybe in an instructional video, or an ad, or similar, tossing a golf ball in the air in front of him, taking a step or two forward and hitting it, cleanly, with a golf-club, 'baseball-style' out of clean air.

(I'm sure this was Agassi, well, 99.99% sure anyways, and I'm 99% sure it was a golf-ball and club. I seriously hope someone else remembers this, even if it's to correct my details if they need correcting )

Edit: Found it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfTARgd8XBg

^^There's the proof that he'd do at least 'ok' at MLB, but it does turn out he didn't air-toss it but run up and hit it instead. Seems my memory exaggerated a little!

[forzainter]

its for nike

[AAAA]

Originally Posted by forzainter

its for nike

thanks

.............................

[joeyscl]

2 reasons why AA cant be a Baseball player:

1) He'll be waiting for the ball to bounce before hes gonna hit it
2) He's gonna be trying to hit it with his single-handed forhand

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by joeyscl

2 reasons why AA cant be a Baseball player:

1) He'll be waiting for the ball to bounce before hes gonna hit it
2) He's gonna be trying to hit it with his single-handed forhand

1) Last I checked he had a pretty stout swing volley.
2) Not if he bats lefty.

J

[Breakaz54z]

Originally Posted by joeyscl

2 reasons why AA cant be a Baseball player:

1) He'll be waiting for the ball to bounce before hes gonna hit it
2) He's gonna be trying to hit it with his single-handed forhand

lol that'd be funny if someone tried to set up for a one handed forehand.

[herosol]

hmm i once read this about agassi i think on wikipedia that he went into batting cages and ran at the feeder to hit the ball that was going at like 95 mph+.

iono if thats real. but thats insane.