Lawyers, drugs and money
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1938586
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In 1999, Barry Bonds was already a Hall of Fame player. He had won three MVPs, and should have had a fourth. He hit .300 and averaged 36 homers a year in the '90s. He is such an intelligent hitter that teammates claim he knows every pitch that's coming, he's reduced the strike zone to the size of a nickel, and in the 21st Century has batted .306, .328, .370, .341 and .362, with on-base percentages of .440, .515. .582, .529 and .609. That's not chemical, that's simple greatness. But where he averaged 36 homers a year in his prime, he's averaged 52 a year in five years theoretically past his prime. WFAN's Christopher Russo interviewed a home run distance expert who claimed that prior to 2000, Bonds hit three homers longer than 450 feet; in the last five years, he has hit 26.
Interesting.....
Prior to 2000, who would you have considered the best hitter ever? Not Barry, he was a very, very good hitter, but not THE great one. In 1997 I was myself wondering what had ever happened to Barry Lamar Bonds, I hadn't seen too much of him on SportsCenter wearing the oversized forearm bands with his likeness on them, didn't see the large gold cross hanging from his ear, or the Darth Vader armor that allows him to hang over the inside part of the plate..... basically I wondered if he would retire soon, as most 35 year olds are begining to show signs of age and body fatigue, and drop in production in such a young sport.
Then a few years later I got my answer, man he was back and better and bigger than ever! Simply crushing the ball. Some of the 200+ walks may be attributed to the pitchers being only 60 ft away from a monster and not wanting a permanent dent in their forehead, or maybe they cared for their first baseman or second baseman, and didn't want to be responsable for denting their forehead as well.
I saw a stat this past weekend that showed by the age of 29 Bonds had 221 HRs(or so) and A-Rod had 348 HRs(or so, I can't find the article) by that same age.
GLOVEMAN
At the age of 29 that you use in the comparison what were the number of at bats for each player?
Also based on what we are seeing from the likes of Clemens, Randy Johnson, Bonds, Julio Franco and others baseball players are becoming like rock starts--they seem to go on for ever---35 years of age no longer seems to be the start of diminishing returns.
Is it possible that with the recent advent of more advanced physical training techniques, better diets and LEGAL supplements we all can lengthen our careers regardless of what they may be?
At the age of 29 that you use in the comparison what were the number of at bats for each player?
Also based on what we are seeing from the likes of Clemens, Randy Johnson, Bonds, Julio Franco and others baseball players are becoming like rock starts--they seem to go on for ever---35 years of age no longer seems to be the start of diminishing returns.
Is it possible that with the recent advent of more advanced physical training techniques, better diets and LEGAL supplements we all can lengthen our careers regardless of what they may be?
I wonder what the pitchers in MLB are thinking,
I would guess that they are a little upset. Barry will likely have to wear a good bit more amoror to protect himself.
Barry has instilled fear into every pitcher and manager he faced the last few years. I don't think they will be to happy about that.
I have a very hard time beliving that the steroid did not help him get more hits.
Early in his carrier he was just not the same hitter. Post chemical he cold hit any pitch to any field and he was not just hitting mistake pitches, he would hit a pitchers best pitch. The fact that he was walked so many times leads me to think he was seeing the ball better. Another thing that will have an effect will be that in past year if a pitcher brushed Barry back or heavan forbid hit him with a pitch the outcry was long and loud. I would guess that if barry sticks his body over the plate he will need to get those ribs wraped and I would imagine that he will not get any sympathy when he complains.
This comeing year might be a strain for him, just hitting 290 and 39 homers and 80 walks wont cut it. That might be fair and it might not I dont know but he will have to prove that he can play at the same level as he has the past few year or he will take a lot of heat.
I would guess that they are a little upset. Barry will likely have to wear a good bit more amoror to protect himself.
Barry has instilled fear into every pitcher and manager he faced the last few years. I don't think they will be to happy about that.
I have a very hard time beliving that the steroid did not help him get more hits.
Early in his carrier he was just not the same hitter. Post chemical he cold hit any pitch to any field and he was not just hitting mistake pitches, he would hit a pitchers best pitch. The fact that he was walked so many times leads me to think he was seeing the ball better. Another thing that will have an effect will be that in past year if a pitcher brushed Barry back or heavan forbid hit him with a pitch the outcry was long and loud. I would guess that if barry sticks his body over the plate he will need to get those ribs wraped and I would imagine that he will not get any sympathy when he complains.
This comeing year might be a strain for him, just hitting 290 and 39 homers and 80 walks wont cut it. That might be fair and it might not I dont know but he will have to prove that he can play at the same level as he has the past few year or he will take a lot of heat.
Some more food for thought
Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were in college at about the same time--look at pictures of them in college and look at both of them now-- tell me what you see when you do that
Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were in college at about the same time--look at pictures of them in college and look at both of them now-- tell me what you see when you do that
Roger looks like a 40ish big guy that kept himself in good shape. Barry looks like a guy on steroids.
Bonds ages 21-29
Year Age AB HR BB BA
1986 21 413 16 65 .223
1987 22 551 25 54 .261
1988 23 538 24 72 .283
1989 24 580 19 93 .248
1990 25 519 33 93 .301
1991 26 510 25 107 .292
1992 27 473 34 127 .311
1993 28 539 46 126 .336
1994 29 391 37 74 .312
Rodriquez ages 18-29
1994 18 54 0 3 .204
1995 19 48 5 6 .232
1996 20 601 36 59 .358
1997 21 587 23 41 .300
1998 22 686 42 45 .310
1999 23 502 42 56 .285
2000 24 554 41 100 .316
2001 25 632 52 75 .318
2002 26 624 57 87 .300
2003 27 607 47 87 .298
2004 28 601 36 80 .286
Total ABs for Bonds in that 9 year span ages 21-29 , 4514, HRs 259
Total ABs for ARod in 11 year span ages 18-28, 5496, HRs 381.......BUT in an 8 year span from age 21-28 ARod had 4793 ABs and 340 HRs
Info obtained from www.baseball-reference.com, and painstakenly put together here
Year Age AB HR BB BA
1986 21 413 16 65 .223
1987 22 551 25 54 .261
1988 23 538 24 72 .283
1989 24 580 19 93 .248
1990 25 519 33 93 .301
1991 26 510 25 107 .292
1992 27 473 34 127 .311
1993 28 539 46 126 .336
1994 29 391 37 74 .312
Rodriquez ages 18-29
1994 18 54 0 3 .204
1995 19 48 5 6 .232
1996 20 601 36 59 .358
1997 21 587 23 41 .300
1998 22 686 42 45 .310
1999 23 502 42 56 .285
2000 24 554 41 100 .316
2001 25 632 52 75 .318
2002 26 624 57 87 .300
2003 27 607 47 87 .298
2004 28 601 36 80 .286
Total ABs for Bonds in that 9 year span ages 21-29 , 4514, HRs 259
Total ABs for ARod in 11 year span ages 18-28, 5496, HRs 381.......BUT in an 8 year span from age 21-28 ARod had 4793 ABs and 340 HRs
Info obtained from www.baseball-reference.com, and painstakenly put together here
I see a difference in a 38" (Roger) waistline and a 34" (Barry) waistline.
And it's been rumored for years here in Texas that Roger did a couple of cycles during the off season.
Excerpt from Peter Gammons Piece:
This is not only about home runs. Many in the game believe that in this decade the percentage of pitchers juicing is higher than hitters; check those relievers that have thrown 88 mph all their lives, show up out of the Indies ringing 96 on the radar guns, then two years later are back in surgery.
This is not only about home runs. Many in the game believe that in this decade the percentage of pitchers juicing is higher than hitters; check those relievers that have thrown 88 mph all their lives, show up out of the Indies ringing 96 on the radar guns, then two years later are back in surgery.
"LAWYERS,DRUGS, AND MONEY"
What a title. You're gonna kill the reputation of drugs and money.
What a title. You're gonna kill the reputation of drugs and money.
As far as the pitching staff for the Angels last year goes, I'm willing to bet that Scott Shields and Ramon Ortiz didn't juice - too skinny. Colon, no - too heavy. Brendan Donnelly, hmmm...
Man those pesky lawyers are ruining the reps of those respected drug dealers.
Well seriously saw a ballplayer who got released from affilaited baseball do steriods and now throws 94-95 mph and is a derange pysco from ROID range. He blew out his arm in winter ball.
Even medical prescribed steriods has bad side effects saw someone take them and in 3 days punching walls and eating everything in site.
After 3 days she got off them for everyone saftey.
Well seriously saw a ballplayer who got released from affilaited baseball do steriods and now throws 94-95 mph and is a derange pysco from ROID range. He blew out his arm in winter ball.
Even medical prescribed steriods has bad side effects saw someone take them and in 3 days punching walls and eating everything in site.
After 3 days she got off them for everyone saftey.