Tricks of the memory

[Valen]

The memory can play tricks on you. This card set illustrates that quite well. Many these days talk about the dilution of talent, especially pitching as if every team back in the day was loaded with a deep rotation. Y

Yet I look at this set and only see half a dozen true stud starters. And several more I now think of as great pitchers and even HOF candidates who I do not consider worth having on my team in this set. That would tend to indicate pitching was more scarce than our memories might lead us to remember. This has really underscored in my mind the fact that the quantity of quality pitching is greateer today than it ever has been in the past.

[216 Stitches]

I think expectations have changed. And pay has changed.

People were a lot happier about .500 pitchers back in the day.
Above .500 was everything, and nobody cared about WHIP and
people overlooked ERA if the W's came in.

Now a 2nd, 3rd or 4th starter who throws for ininnings but can't
reach .500 still gets paid million$. We used to praise this type of
pitcher, but now we grumble they are overpaid.

Finally this was on the downside of some pitchers careers.
Morris and Blyleven come to mind. 1986 was not their best years.