Posted on 03/08/2006 2:14:46 PM PST by Neville72
PHOENIX -- In the end, there is only one question that needs to be asked:
Do you believe Barry Bonds, or the book?
If you believe Bonds, then you believe the third-leading home run hitter in the history of Major League Baseball is the victim of an unrelenting federal and media conspiracy designed to frame him for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
If you believe the excerpts of "Game of Shadows," then you believe that Bonds and his mind-boggling, bloated numbers of 1998-2004 (he missed most of last season with an injury) are a fraud.
I believe the book. I think Bonds is -- or was -- a human Walgreens, a grotesque and insulting example of better baseball through chemistry. And I think he should slither away, joining Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro in forced baseball exile.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
That "knee injury" of his came within days of BALCO being raided.
When he was transformed overnight from slim athlete to pumped up slugger, it seemed obvious that no amount of health food and exercise would have provided such results, so quickly.
Don't tell the Newsbusters guy. He cites the Today Show people merely questioning whether Bonds is a shoo-in as an eye-rolling example of their cluelessness.
If you factor in the liveliness of the baseballs and the distances for homeruns in their respective home ballparks and other variables, is Babe Ruth still the greatest homerun hitter ever? I seem to remember that Atlanta had some feature to it that made Hank Aaron's homeruns easier. But I don't know anything about Yankee Stadium in Ruth's time. Maybe it had a 250 ft right field area he hit his homers to. I know Candlestick park was definitely not a hitters park, so maybe Mays was the greatest when you factor that in. Anyone got some information on this?
I think any records he has should be immediately expunged. He brought shame on my favorite sport and that is unacceptable.
if Bonds doesn't sue the authors of the book, he's done.
And he better hope he doesn't get indicted for perjury before a federal
grand jury.
I thought it was going to be about the next James Bond movie. I saw the plural but thought it referenced the fact that several people have played james Bond.
What does that have to do with someone cheating? The ball park is what it is. They are all different.
One of two things needs to happen. (1) Bonds needs to be hounded from the game as Palmiero and Sosa were, or (2) create a Hall of Infamy where cheats like Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, Rose and the 1919 Black Sox can take their rightful places.
At the age of 34, he gained 15 lbs of PURE muscle in 100 days.
Yeah friggin right. He had maintained a similar weight (from around 180 to 200 lbs) for the entirity of his career, but then he goes from 200 to 215 and then on to upwards of 250 in less than a year?
No way.
I still believe baseball is a SKILL sport (batting: eye hand coordination...not muscle) and the only affect steroids would have on a player is hitting a home run out of what would have potentially been a long fly ball. So...you would be saying that Bonds must have had 73 "long fly balls" when he broke the record???
Go visit RFK stadium where the Nationals play....NO ONE can hit the ball out of that park. Not even Bonds
He wouldn't have had as many as 60 HRs. Thus, no single-season record.
But, he's a great player even if he never hits 500 HRs. So, if he doesn't get into the Hall, it's because he used the 'roids.
Maris' record should be reinstated since we know now the only three players to surpass it were all roided up.
Steroids are said to greatly improve bat speed. After Bonds started using roids, not only did his home run total go up, but his walk total went way up too. Why? Because his increased bat speed allowed him to wait that fraction of a second longer on a pitch and still swing with power.
From what I've heard, it's NOT just a matter of increased power. I think you need to look into it more before you claim that it only or mainly had an effect on his home run total.
at the time, Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was the highest in professional baseball at 1200 above sea level. the design of the stadium meant swirling winds were prevailing toward the outfield most, but not all, of the time, making hr's easier to hit, not that hitting one is easy by any stretch of the imagination.
My personal opinion is to put an asterisk by Bonds and McGwires HR totals and give the record back to Roger Maris..IMHO..
And, if you believe Bonds, you need some head gear.
Atlanta's elevation above sea level is the highest among major league cities, save for Denver. While that may have helped Hank somewhat, he was incredibly strong and had quick wrists. I've not seen anyone who could hit the ball so hard with just a flick of the wrists.
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