It was 29 years in the past this month that Cal Ripken Jr. confirmed us what a Twentieth-century Iron Man regarded like. By which we imply this.
OTD in 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. took a victory lap for the ages after enjoying in his 2,131st consecutive sport and formally breaking Lou Gehrig’s historic streak 👏🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/hzfFD2ciNz
— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2024
However in case you hadn’t observed, it’s a really completely different time to be a baseball participant in North America. So on that word, right here’s what a Twenty first-century Iron Man appears like.
Matt Olson is closing in on his fourth profession season of 162 video games performed. (Dale Zanine / USA In the present day)
That’s Matt Olson, who is probably not as iconic as Ripken however nonetheless is a person with two present Iron Man claims to fame:
1) He has been an Atlanta Courageous for 3 seasons now. You possibly can find him at first base in each darned sport the Braves have performed in that span — all 473 of them, probably the most video games performed by anybody in baseball for the reason that begin of 2022.
2) However that’s not all, as a result of for those who roll the Iron Man clock again to his time in Oakland, Olson simply blew previous a really cool spherical quantity: 600 video games performed in a row.
So … solely one other 2,000, and he’ll be respiratory down Ripken’s neck hairs. Proper? You suppose he’ll take a kind of Ripken-esque victory laps when he breaks the Iron Man document … in 2037?
“What’s that — like, 18 years?” Olson mentioned, with a mathematically incorrect chuckle. “Yeah, if I’m enjoying once I’m 48, I’ll take a victory lap.”
Aw heck, it’s solely one other 13 years. So he’s nearly there. Or not. However overlook that Ripken stuff. We’re really calling your consideration to Olson’s streak as a result of he is about to move one other legendary title. And as soon as he does, he’ll carve out a slice of Iron Man historical past that will probably be all his.
This Thursday, in line with STATS Carry out, Olson is in line to play in his 477th consecutive sport as a primary baseman. And why is that so particular? As a result of he’ll tie Pete Rose that day for the longest streak of video games performed at first base within the final 80 years.
As soon as Olson passes Rose, he’ll personal the second-longest streak at first base since Lou Gehrig — behind solely Frank (Buck) McCormick of the 1938-42 Cincinnati Reds (652 in a row). And it should give Olson the fourth-longest streak at first of anybody within the trendy period not named Gehrig, trailing simply McCormick, Fred Luderus (533) and Gus Suhr (505).
“These are some cool names for certain,” Olson mentioned. “Particularly these days.”
Fortuitously for us, he then helpfully equipped his personal definition of “these days.”
These days, load administration has change into a factor on this sport, although, in Olson’s eyes, “we’re not full NBA.” And these days, matchups have additionally change into a factor. By no means in historical past have there been fewer true on a regular basis gamers, as extra groups play platoon-advantage, mix-and-match lineup bingo all around the diamond.
So let’s take into consideration this. Will there ever be one other Ripken? Will there ever even be one other Matt Olson? Is the entire Iron Man idea dying earlier than our eyes? And whether it is, is {that a} good factor — a wise, scientific, health-driven factor? Or is it one other once-romantic baseball phenomenon that’s being pushed out of the game by the brand new wave of deep, analytical pondering?
All Olson got down to do when he started this streak was play, and be there for his group. However his streak has additionally given us a cause to dig in on what this all means. So let’s try this, OK?
Let’s discuss historical past
Earlier than we get into why Matt Olson does what he does — and why the Braves are all-in on him doing it — let’s look deeper into simply how uncommon that is.
Life after Ripken — Do you know that since Ripken’s streak of two,632 consecutive video games performed led to 1998, Olson is simply the second participant to have a consecutive video games streak of 600 video games or longer? The opposite: Miguel Tejada, who performed in 1,152 in a row from 2000-07.
He’s properly positioned — However it’s the variety of video games Olson has strung collectively, whereas enjoying protection at his place, that actually separates his streak from nearly each different latest Iron Man streak.
Even Tejada performed “solely” 807 consecutive video games at shortstop (from 2000-05), in line with STATS. So Olson may move him, for the longest streak at any place since Ripken, by April 2027.
And by the tip of this season, solely six males would rank forward of Olson for the longest streaks at any place within the final 80 years:
|
SS Cal Ripken Jr. |
2,216 (1982-1996) |
|
SS Miguel Tejada |
878 (2000-2005) |
|
2B Nellie Fox |
798 (1955-1960) |
|
CF Richie Ashburn |
694 (1950-1954) |
|
SS Roy McMillan |
583 (1951-1955) |
|
3B Eddie Yost |
576 (1951-1955) |
|
1B Matt Olson |
481* (2022-24) |
(Supply: STATS Carry out; *projected complete at finish of season)
A related aspect word about that record: Simply two of these six gamers (Ripken and Tejada) compiled these streaks within the 162-game period, now six many years previous.
Cal Ripken Jr. jokes with Miguel Tejada in the course of the tenth anniversary celebration of his record-breaking 2,131st consecutive sport. (Matthew S. Gunby / Related Press)
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The place’s Garvey? We all know what you’re pondering: What about Steve Garvey, who famously strung collectively a 1,207-game streak from 1975-83, as the primary baseman for the Dodgers and Padres? Wonderful query!
Garvey’s streak is one among three 1,000-gamers (or longer) within the final half-century. However it didn’t make the record above as a result of he prolonged it seven instances with pinch-hitting appearances. Subsequently, it doesn’t qualify for the leaderboard of longest streaks enjoying first base. And that’s an vital distinction.
Who’s on first — Would it not shock you to know that it’s not out of the query that Olson may catch Gehrig himself? It surprised us. However we’re not speaking about Gehrig’s fabled 2,130-game streak that Ripken handed. This could be solely his longest streak whereas enjoying first base.
Do you know that Gehrig sometimes wore an outfield glove when the Yankees wanted him to? Look it up.
And since he did, his longest consecutive-games streak whereas enjoying first was “solely” 885 video games, from 1925-30, in line with STATS. That signifies that if Olson can maintain going, he may grind previous that Gehrig streak in July 2027 … and (amazingly) rank No. 1 within the trendy period. That might really occur.
At that time, solely two males within the trendy period would stand in entrance of Olson at any place:
|
Cal Ripken Jr. |
2,216 at SS (1982-1996) |
|
Everett Scott |
1,307 at SS (1916-1925) |
(Supply: STATS Carry out)
Are we getting forward of ourselves? After all we’re. However what the heck. Olson has no intention of pulling the plug on this streak any time quickly. So he’s nearer to big-time Iron Man historical past than anybody appears to have observed. Now let’s have a look at what drives him.
Why Matt Olson simply retains on posting
Lengthy earlier than Matt Olson started streaking towards Rose and Gehrig, he performed all 162 video games for the A’s again in 2018. He was 24. It was his first full season within the massive leagues. However he didn’t be part of the 162-Recreation Membership simply because the A’s had nobody else to play first. No, even again then, Olson was a person with a objective.
“It’s sort of how I used to be wired, rising up, somewhat bit anyway,” he mentioned. “However once I bought to the large leagues, Marcus Semien was there in Oakland. And he was adamant about enjoying every single day.”
You hear Semien’s title rather a lot when this topic comes up. Possibly as a result of the Rangers’ second baseman is about to rack up his eighth season enjoying 155 video games or extra, in simply 10 seasons as a daily within the massive leagues. What number of different gamers have achieved that over these final 10 seasons? Yep, none.
Semien has had three seasons in that span when he performed all 162 video games. That’s tied for probably the most amongst all energetic gamers. Wish to guess who’s tied with him? Proper. Matt Olson.
So whilst he was nonetheless determining how you can be an on a regular basis participant, Olson had Semien’s voice in his ear, preaching the which means of actually enjoying every single day. All these years later, that voice continues to be there. He was so aware of Semien’s willpower to will his means into the lineup every single day, it was exhausting for Olson — and the remainder of these A’s — to examine what would occur if anybody even tried to make Semien take a time off.
“I don’t suppose anyone wished to seek out out,” Olson mentioned. “I keep in mind he had, like, somewhat wrist factor occurring one time — some irritation, that form of factor. The employees wished to provide him a pair days off. I don’t know precisely the way it went. I simply know there have been some phrases exchanged. Then certain sufficient, he’s within the lineup that night time.
“What Marcus at all times preached was: You owe it to your teammates and the followers (to be on the market). And also you receives a commission to play. You’re not going to be 100% each sport. However you understand, a whole lot of instances, Marcus Semien at 85 % is best than a whole lot of different individuals’s 100%. So that you simply have to have the ability to discover how you can navigate it, perhaps reduce some workload down earlier than the sport … so that you discover a method to be on the market.”
Now, that’s precisely what Olson preaches to the gamers round him. He says that since he arrived in Atlanta, he has by no means as soon as needed to battle his means into the lineup — and has by no means been bodily hurting sufficient that his well being even turned a query.
“The best way I have a look at it, you’re both harm harm, otherwise you’re capable of go,” he mentioned. “So knock on wooden, I haven’t had a whole lot of these, like, midway accidents — you understand, one thing the place they inform you relaxation would assist however you’re not completely harm.”
So he’s a agency believer within the previous Marcus Semien adage: If it’s not damaged, you possibly can play. However he additionally has seen sufficient of his teammates go down round him that he is aware of how lucky he’s that every one that stuff that may occur in baseball hasn’t occurred to him.
“There’s a ton of luck concerned with that,” he mentioned. “You already know, shoot, simply have a look at our final 30 video games, of (all of the) guys getting hit by pitches.”
There was sooner or later in September 2022 when his supervisor, Brian Snitker, didn’t begin him, on a Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. It was Recreation 152 of Olson’s first season in Atlanta. So his streak wasn’t a subject but. And Snitker acknowledged he wished to provide his first baseman some sort of breather — however knew getting into it nearly actually wouldn’t be for all 9 innings.
“I mentioned (to him): ‘You already know what? We’ve bought to win, like 12-0, for you to not play in that sport,” Snitker recalled.
So certain sufficient, he subbed Olson in for protection within the eighth inning. Olson has began every single day since. However that may solely occur if his group buys into the which means of that. So let’s have a look at …
Why the Braves are on board
Matt Olson admires a house run. “The gamers are those that set the tradition,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. (Brad Penner / USA In the present day)
Is much less actually extra? Folks might imagine that means now within the internal sanctum of most franchises. However in Atlanta, they’ve a distinct motto:
Extra is extra.
Nowhere else in baseball is the idea of posting up extra ingrained within the tradition than it’s within the heartbeat of the Atlanta Braves. Bear in mind 2021, when their total beginning infield performed between 156 and 160 video games, lacking 13 video games mixed? That wasn’t an aberration. It’s what they do.
Most seasons of 157+ video games, 2018-23
|
Braves |
14 |
|
Royals |
7 |
|
Blue Jays |
6 |
Most seasons of 162 video games, 2018-23
|
Braves |
5 |
|
Different 14 NL groups mixed |
5 |
So a part of why he’s so dedicated to going on the market, Olson mentioned, is that he grew up in Georgia as a Braves fan … “and that’s simply what they’ve achieved eternally. Possibly it’s as a result of perhaps I grew up watching the Braves, and I liked seeing the blokes within the lineup every single day.”
That work ethic was preached by Chipper Jones, again when he was enjoying greater than 150 video games in eight seasons in a row. It was handed right down to Freddie Freeman, who had six seasons as a Courageous during which he missed 5 video games or fewer. Now, it’s Olson … and Austin Riley … and Ozzie Albies … who maintain that tradition alive, damaged bones however.
“I don’t consider that it’s the group that’s setting the tradition,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. “The gamers are those that set the tradition. That’s impacted by what gamers we purchase. However look, the ‘Video games Performed’ column is one thing we checked out with Matt Olson. … Clearly, he’s an excellent participant, however that’s a part of what drew us to him as properly.”
And by no means have the Braves appreciated that high quality greater than this yr, when it feels as if some form of freak damage has knocked out everyone on the roster … besides Matt Olson.
However it isn’t simply the Braves’ damage epidemic that Olson has needed to dodge this yr. It’s a power that may generally be even tougher to keep away from:
The Noise.
If you hit 54 homers with a .993 OPS one yr … after which sag to 25 homers with a .764 OPS the following, it’s wonderful how all these standing ovations can flip into The Noise. When your OPS plunges by greater than 200 factors, The Noise can flip a man’s dedication to enjoying every single day into an entire completely different narrative: He’s egocentric. He wants a relaxation. He’s killing that group. Blahblahblah.
That noise is on the market. But when the Braves hear it, or care about it, they’re doing a wonderful job of disguising it.
“I hear it,” Snitker mentioned. “However I don’t take note of it, as a result of I’ll discuss to the participant. And if he seems like he wants a time off, then I’ll. However I by no means (thought that), watching (Olson) and the way he dealt with every little thing. It wasn’t going like he actually wished. However you understand what? He got here to work every single day, the identical man, and I by no means noticed that he was drained. … So I simply by no means felt like he wanted it.”
Olson, not surprisingly, seconds that movement.
“You by no means know when your day goes to be,” he mentioned. “You already know, if it’s going unhealthy, certain, I can see the advantage of generally sitting again and watching the sport. However it doesn’t clear up the issue. The one factor you are able to do is go on the market and work your means out of one thing that’s not going properly. So it’s by no means been one thing that’s actually crossed my thoughts.”
However there’s a much bigger query on the market — and it isn’t solely about Matt Olson. So let’s simply ask it …
Is it OK to disregard load administration?
If Cal Ripken Jr. was simply arriving within the massive leagues in 2024, what would the percentages be that he’d be chasing down Lou Gehrig’s document sometime? What do you suppose … 10 %? … 5 %? … 0 %?
I requested that query of one among baseball’s brightest workload-management authorities, Casey Mulholland, the opposite day. He discovered it simply as intriguing as you’d think about.
“It might form of rely upon what group he’s enjoying for,” Mulholland mentioned. “It might rely upon how a lot they worth the concept of him being a franchise participant for them.”
Would he be enjoying for a group that didn’t consider anyone ought to play greater than 150 video games? Or would he be enjoying for a group that did what Ripken’s Orioles did again within the day — take heed to him all these instances when he mentioned: “I’m probably not harm. Let me play. I can do that.”
“Gamers are nonetheless having that dialogue,” mentioned Mulholland, the founder/lead developer at KineticPro Efficiency in Tampa, Fla. “Simply now, it’s turning into rather more scientific, a way more mathematical dialogue, versus, ‘Hey, I really feel good,’ and we’re going to speak (about these) emotions and put them again on the market on the sphere. I feel that’s the distinction.”
You in all probability can guess the place the Braves stand on the load-management spectrum. However when Snitker was requested, level clean, whether or not he believes in load administration, he didn’t hedge.
“No,” he replied, succinctly. “I feel these guys practice to do that every single day, proper? As a result of (that’s) the Braves’ tradition. … We’ve had guys with damaged bones and issues like that. However (that mindset of enjoying every single day), I feel that retains them from getting the soft-tissue stuff and pulled muscular tissues and every little thing.
“I’ve realized that over time. I used to suppose that, however after being with these guys and speaking to the blokes which might be doing it every single day, yeah, they’ve made a believer out of me.”
It’s best to know that although Snitker is 68 and a baseball lifer, he usually shows a steadiness between new-age analytic ideas and age-old baseball knowledge. However which of these is “Much less is Extra”? We ask as a result of there’s no less complicated method to clarify the concept behind load administration than that: Much less actually could be extra. And the science proves it.
Mulholland usually makes use of the analogy of a man operating a marathon who had by no means educated to run these 26 miles. Everyone knows how that works out.
“So then guys get fatigued, after which guys get harm,” Mulholland mentioned. “And that’s the concept of load administration. We’re making an attempt to keep away from fatigue.”
However to be achieved proper, load administration must be nuanced. Wearable know-how can present vital, detailed data on what athletes are and aren’t able to. However Mulholland asks: Are groups really utilizing that information? Are these athletes even granting them permission to make use of it? And if not, and groups are simply utilizing arbitrary limits — 100 pitches for each pitcher, 150 video games a yr for each place participant — that may create an entire completely different set of points.
Or then there’s the much more primary query: What if this man has educated to run that marathon?
And that’s precisely how Anthopoulos appears at Matt Olson — as simply the most recent star participant he’s been round who has devoted his life, on and off the sphere, to the concept that it’s vital to play every single day.
“So if he’s not on the damage report and he’s not complaining of something,” Anthopoulos mentioned, “we’ve simply had too a few years and too many examples of (what he’s able to). The man was a top-four MVP candidate final yr, and performed every single day. … He’s been an elite participant with all these video games performed. So it’s exhausting to simply impulsively level to that and say he wants a relaxation.”
If fatigue was the issue this yr, how will we clarify why August was Olson’s greatest month (eight residence runs, .573 slugging share, .912 OPS) of the season?
The Braves have regarded lengthy and exhausting on the idea of load administration. However additionally they consider within the worth of a centerpiece participant who sends a message to everybody round him that the hunt for greatness begins with work ethic.
“It’s all simply been a mentality,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “And look, clearly, a few of it’s luck. You may get hit by a pitch, and so forth. However these guys that submit and play every single day, yr after yr, I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence. I don’t suppose it’s luck. There’s positively a standard trait to all these guys.”
And Matt Olson is all about that trait. He is aware of his streak will finish sometime, as a result of all streaks do. However when it does, it gained’t be as a result of he and his group all of a sudden have found a newfound perception in load administration.
“I’m not a fan of it,” Olson mentioned. “I imply, I can see the explanations for it. It’s a protracted season. However it’s additionally a sport of rhythm and move. And I’d fairly simply proceed to go.”
— The Athletic’s David O’Brien contributed to this report.
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(High photograph: Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
