No,.. Because if it were just about brute strength, then it would only be a matter of time when some scout or some owner would draft a trained gorilla into his team, and it just wouldn't be the same.
And if the pitcher got reckless and should hit the gorilla with his fast ball,.. Well, that would be the end of that pitchers career. Because you need arms in order to pitch.
It would be funny though to watch that fucker round the bases. And if he gets it into his mind to steal second, the only way your going to be able to keep that monkey on first would be to hold out an orange, or a banana.
Other than that, there would be no stopping him.
But if it were my team, I'd put the monkey third in the line up. Let a couple of guys get on base first, and then let the monkey take a swing at it. And boy if he connects, it would be like trying to catch a mortar shell in mid air! You'd be a fool to try.
And even after a few ground balls, there wouldn't be much that you could do with the turf after that except maybe plant corn in it.
We agree that the game is not better now than it was. :)
As for the gorilla... sounds like something Bill Veeck would try. He loved publicity stunts. ;D