think anyone right now is going through some of Bonds' old bats looking for cork?
the massive spike in HR's per year has always bothered me.
the home run spike is due to a confluence of things, smaller ballparks, lighter bats, bigger boys, harder balls perhaps, and the sad fact that striking out just isn't that big of deal anymore. it used to be if you had two strikes on you, you shortened up and just tried to make contact, hitters swing for the fences now with two strikes on them.
you can make twenty million a year striking out 200 times.
another thing, next time barry bonds or craig bigio comes up to the plate, look at the body armor they are allowed to wear! guys stand much closer to plate now, than thirty years ago.
there are no more corked bats in baseball now then thirty years ago. so the spike can't be explained away that way. steroids, now that's another thing, are more athletes using steroids now than a generation ago?
baseball is not a gentleman's game, it has a history of foreign substances, sharpened spikes, bigotry, sexism, gambling, you name it.
players look for advantages wherever they can find them.
it used to be if you had two strikes on you, you shortened up and just tried to make contact, hitters swing for the fences now with two strikes on them
I don't mean to turn this into a Bonds discussion, but in response to this last post, based on listening to SF Giants broadcasts (I don't watch many games on TV to see for myself), the commentators have always pointed out how Bonds will always adjust his grip and swing late in the count. In his past two successful seasons, while he didn't set any records for fewest strikeouts, he may have had fewer for the entire season than he has this season. (His father does have the record for most strikeouts.) Prior to his home run streak, Bonds was mostly known as a line-drive hitter. I have no idea what that might mean (supporting or refuting the supplements claim) but maybe someone else has insight on that.
Anyway, not to support Bonds, but based on my limited listening experience in the SF Bay Area, the previous post seemed to make too many generalities. Perhaps people from other parts of the country could disagree with or support my observation.
I don't mean to turn this into a Bonds discussion, but in response to this last post, based on listening to SF Giants broadcasts (I don't watch many games on TV to see for myself), the commentators have always pointed out how Bonds will always adjust his grip and swing late in the count. In his past two successful seasons, while he didn't set any records for fewest strikeouts, he may have had fewer for the entire season than he has this season. (His father does have the record for most strikeouts.) Prior to his home run streak, Bonds was mostly known as a line-drive hitter. I have no idea what that might mean (supporting or refuting the supplements claim) but maybe someone else has insight on that.
Anyway, not to support Bonds, but based on my limited listening experience in the SF Bay Area, the previous post seemed to make too many generalities. Perhaps people from other parts of the country could disagree with or support my observation.
of course they were generalities, it was an explanation for the rash of homeruns in recent years, ok, barry does not strike out much, sorry to offend you.
but in general strike outs are now responsible for about 20% of all outs, which is higher than it's been in the past.
by the way they just announced all 76 bats confiscated last night are cork-free.
bonds struck out an insanely low 47 times all over last year. all year! he had 93 the year he hit 73, but probably cause towards the end of the season he was trying to hit more out. please stop making generalizations. bonds and sosa are two of the best complete ballplayers ever. if you want to bitch about someone, then complain about that one-dimensional hack Big Mac.
think anyone right now is going through some of Bonds' old bats looking for cork?
the massive spike in HR's per year has always bothered me.
I attribute his homeruns to the fact that Bonds switched to maple bats 3 years ago, and he really tightened up his swing. Except Gary Sheffield, Bonds has the fastest bat in the majors.
They also juiced the balls. Bonds says they deadened the balls again this year.
Bonds also uses that big elbow guard, which lets him crowd the plate a bit.
Never again though... I can think of 198 reasons why Bonds didn't have 60+ homers last year.
I was actually at the game last night. People are blowing this SO far out of proportion it's ridiculous. While I don't believe for a second that it was an "accident" he had that bat out there, I also don't believe for a second the people who are saying / implying "oh no wonder his numbers have been so good, he used corked bats the whole time". Give me a break.
...if you took the top 30% of all major league sluggers and cut their bats open, I bet 20% of them would be corked this time of the year. The reason Sammy was using it is pretty obvious to anyone who's played the game: the ball doesn't carry for shit on 48 degree nights with a windchill that was probably close to the 30s (blowing in). Cold night, big game standings-wise, sammy tries to pull the ole cork-a-rooni on the opposition and get the fans a little excited. That's it.
The odds that anyone with his skill and strength would say, get caught with a corked bat in the middle of July or August are very small -- because there's no need. The ball carries a mile in hot weather. And I'm not even a Cubs fan, just someone who knows what it feels like to try and pound a baseball in cold weather. Also, these guys probably would never risk it at the *other* cold end of the season because a one week suspension of a key player in September could mean the difference between a playoff run and going home.
What a joke. They should expell him from MLB, take away every record, and ban him from the Hall of Fame.
Come on you guys, I posted this to try and get some flame war hate responses, and I get NOTHIN'!!
Ah, big deal. Get caught with an illegal stick in hockey, you go sit by yourself for 2 minutes so you can think about what you've done, get a new stick, and get back on the ice.
wow, i can't believe there weren't more replies to that. oh well.
so there's andro, cork, flat-out steroid use....
kinda makes you wonder about all the records being broken lately.
Well, the whole 'Sosa/McGuire' homerun record deal ... the record they were breaking was set at a time when the number of games in a season was a lot less than today. So they also had more chance to hit those homers than some of the previous record holders.
you mean the guy who hit 49 homeruns his rookie year, and also won the golden glove (later)? that one dimensional hack?
yes. his defensive abilities were overrated, and everyone knows that Gold Gloves are given primarily to players w/ offensive dominance. just look at mr. viagra himself, palmeiro 3 or 4 years ago--the guy play what, a dozen games at first base all year? and still won the gold glove award. that award is a joke, and means nothing--nice try though.
Mac was a great homerun hitter, but not a good baseball player. he hit more homeruns than anything else and struck out more than i do trying to get dates. i'm sorry, but i've never liked the guy. the press loved him, but i still dont see why. he was a phoney. oh well...
Comments
What a joke. They should expell him from MLB, take away every record, and ban him from the Hall of Fame.
Originally posted by Earl
"That was just my batting practice bat!!!"
What a joke. They should expell him from MLB, take away every record, and ban him from the Hall of Fame.
a professional ballplayer can tell when he has a bat other than his "normal" bat.
the massive spike in HR's per year has always bothered me.
Originally posted by alcimedes
think anyone right now is going through some of Bonds' old bats looking for cork?
the massive spike in HR's per year has always bothered me.
i doubt bonds corks his bat. i'd suggest checking his substance intake though.
Bons has such a beautiful clean homerun swing. And he's ****ing huge. he doesn't need cork.
Originally posted by alcimedes
think anyone right now is going through some of Bonds' old bats looking for cork?
the massive spike in HR's per year has always bothered me.
the home run spike is due to a confluence of things, smaller ballparks, lighter bats, bigger boys, harder balls perhaps, and the sad fact that striking out just isn't that big of deal anymore. it used to be if you had two strikes on you, you shortened up and just tried to make contact, hitters swing for the fences now with two strikes on them.
you can make twenty million a year striking out 200 times.
another thing, next time barry bonds or craig bigio comes up to the plate, look at the body armor they are allowed to wear! guys stand much closer to plate now, than thirty years ago.
there are no more corked bats in baseball now then thirty years ago. so the spike can't be explained away that way. steroids, now that's another thing, are more athletes using steroids now than a generation ago?
baseball is not a gentleman's game, it has a history of foreign substances, sharpened spikes, bigotry, sexism, gambling, you name it.
players look for advantages wherever they can find them.
Originally posted by superkarate monkeydeathcar
it used to be if you had two strikes on you, you shortened up and just tried to make contact, hitters swing for the fences now with two strikes on them
I don't mean to turn this into a Bonds discussion, but in response to this last post, based on listening to SF Giants broadcasts (I don't watch many games on TV to see for myself), the commentators have always pointed out how Bonds will always adjust his grip and swing late in the count. In his past two successful seasons, while he didn't set any records for fewest strikeouts, he may have had fewer for the entire season than he has this season. (His father does have the record for most strikeouts.) Prior to his home run streak, Bonds was mostly known as a line-drive hitter. I have no idea what that might mean (supporting or refuting the supplements claim) but maybe someone else has insight on that.
Anyway, not to support Bonds, but based on my limited listening experience in the SF Bay Area, the previous post seemed to make too many generalities. Perhaps people from other parts of the country could disagree with or support my observation.
Originally posted by Skipjack
I don't mean to turn this into a Bonds discussion, but in response to this last post, based on listening to SF Giants broadcasts (I don't watch many games on TV to see for myself), the commentators have always pointed out how Bonds will always adjust his grip and swing late in the count. In his past two successful seasons, while he didn't set any records for fewest strikeouts, he may have had fewer for the entire season than he has this season. (His father does have the record for most strikeouts.) Prior to his home run streak, Bonds was mostly known as a line-drive hitter. I have no idea what that might mean (supporting or refuting the supplements claim) but maybe someone else has insight on that.
Anyway, not to support Bonds, but based on my limited listening experience in the SF Bay Area, the previous post seemed to make too many generalities. Perhaps people from other parts of the country could disagree with or support my observation.
of course they were generalities, it was an explanation for the rash of homeruns in recent years, ok, barry does not strike out much, sorry to offend you.
but in general strike outs are now responsible for about 20% of all outs, which is higher than it's been in the past.
by the way they just announced all 76 bats confiscated last night are cork-free.
Originally posted by alcimedes
think anyone right now is going through some of Bonds' old bats looking for cork?
the massive spike in HR's per year has always bothered me.
I attribute his homeruns to the fact that Bonds switched to maple bats 3 years ago, and he really tightened up his swing. Except Gary Sheffield, Bonds has the fastest bat in the majors.
They also juiced the balls. Bonds says they deadened the balls again this year.
Bonds also uses that big elbow guard, which lets him crowd the plate a bit.
Never again though... I can think of 198 reasons why Bonds didn't have 60+ homers last year.
...if you took the top 30% of all major league sluggers and cut their bats open, I bet 20% of them would be corked this time of the year. The reason Sammy was using it is pretty obvious to anyone who's played the game: the ball doesn't carry for shit on 48 degree nights with a windchill that was probably close to the 30s (blowing in). Cold night, big game standings-wise, sammy tries to pull the ole cork-a-rooni on the opposition and get the fans a little excited. That's it.
The odds that anyone with his skill and strength would say, get caught with a corked bat in the middle of July or August are very small -- because there's no need. The ball carries a mile in hot weather. And I'm not even a Cubs fan, just someone who knows what it feels like to try and pound a baseball in cold weather. Also, these guys probably would never risk it at the *other* cold end of the season because a one week suspension of a key player in September could mean the difference between a playoff run and going home.
Just take this for what it is: funny.
8)
Originally posted by _ alliance _
please stop making generalizations.
Please take your baseball player pissing fest somewhere else.
if you want to bitch about someone, then complain about that one-dimensional hack Big Mac.
you mean the guy who hit 49 homeruns his rookie year, and also won the golden glove (later)? that one dimensional hack?
Originally posted by Earl
"That was just my batting practice bat!!!"
What a joke. They should expell him from MLB, take away every record, and ban him from the Hall of Fame.
Come on you guys, I posted this to try and get some flame war hate responses, and I get NOTHIN'!!
Ah, big deal. Get caught with an illegal stick in hockey, you go sit by yourself for 2 minutes so you can think about what you've done, get a new stick, and get back on the ice.
I mean really, it's just baseball. Who cares?
(ok, THIS should get some flames)
MUAHAHAHA
Of course, I'm just kidding.*
*not kidding
Originally posted by alcimedes
wow, i can't believe there weren't more replies to that. oh well.
so there's andro, cork, flat-out steroid use....
kinda makes you wonder about all the records being broken lately.
Well, the whole 'Sosa/McGuire' homerun record deal ... the record they were breaking was set at a time when the number of games in a season was a lot less than today. So they also had more chance to hit those homers than some of the previous record holders.
Originally posted by alcimedes
you mean the guy who hit 49 homeruns his rookie year, and also won the golden glove (later)? that one dimensional hack?
yes. his defensive abilities were overrated, and everyone knows that Gold Gloves are given primarily to players w/ offensive dominance. just look at mr. viagra himself, palmeiro 3 or 4 years ago--the guy play what, a dozen games at first base all year? and still won the gold glove award. that award is a joke, and means nothing--nice try though.
Mac was a great homerun hitter, but not a good baseball player. he hit more homeruns than anything else and struck out more than i do trying to get dates. i'm sorry, but i've never liked the guy. the press loved him, but i still dont see why. he was a phoney. oh well...
Originally posted by bunge
Please take your baseball player pissing fest somewhere else.
ok, go make a thread so i can post in it. oh wait...this is the thread to be talking about baseball!
dumba*s...
Originally posted by _ alliance _
the press loved him, but i still dont see why. he was a phoney. oh well...
Perhaps because he was the picture of the All-American ball player. White and born in raised in the U.S.A. Where as Sosa is Cuban(?) and black.
Originally posted by _ alliance _
ok, go make a thread so i can post in it. oh wait...this is the thread to be talking about baseball!
dumba*s...
No, this thread was about Sammy's corked bat, dumba$$, not about which player is the best.