Is Casey Stoner one of the best riders ever?

[Porkchop]

Originally Posted by askmrjesus

Rider? Sure. Put him in the front, and he goes like stink, no doubt about it.

Racer? Not so much.

I think the reason he's so fast at the front, is because he's scared to death of those icky people in the leather suits that are chasing him.

Additionally and plus, the stats comparing him to Roberts, Hailwood, Agostini, et al, fail to factor in the machinery used at the time. Stoner would curl up die of mysterious stomach cramps, if he had to compete on the beasties those guys raced on.

I'll give credit where it's due, but Casey is not on the same par as the "Great Ones". He's a runner, not a fighter.

JC

Shit, you play with the machinery you gots. Its like a Babe Ruth/Albert Pujols or Cy Young/Roy Halladay argument. Its almost not comparable, but you have to for the sake of numbers. I know many people argue that none of these kids would be superstars without the help of modern day electronics, but I dont agree. They got here for a reason, and if they didnt have electronics, they would have gotten there without them. You adapt to what you have and what you dont have. Thats why they're at the top of the game.

[askmrjesus]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

Shit, you play with the machinery you gots. Its like a Babe Ruth/Albert Pujols or Cy Young/Roy Halladay argument. Its almost not comparable

No, it's not.

Baseball, aside from being one of the most useless games in the world, is also one of the least changed since it's unfortunate invention. Bats are still made of wood, gloves of leather, and grass is still grass.

The big, heavy, (by today's standards) snarly two strokes, that handled like raped wolverines, would have killed Stoner in the pits, just by looking at him in a cross manner.

JC