Posted on 08/06/2007 10:19:31 AM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp
NEW YORK Beyond his alleged steroid use, Barry Bonds is unquestionably guilty of the use of something that confers extraordinarily unfair mechanical advantage: the “armor” that he wears on his right elbow. Amid the press frenzy over Bonds’ unnatural bulk, the true role of the object on his right arm has simply gone unnoticed.
This is unfortunate, because by my estimate, Bonds’ front arm “armor” has contributed no fewer than 75 to 100 home runs to his already steroid-questionable total.
Bonds tied Henry Aaron’s home run record of 755 on Saturday night and will go for the new standard this week back at home in San Francisco. As a student of baseball – and currently a mechanics consultant to a major league baseball team -- I believe I have insight into the Bonds "achievement." I have studied his swing countless times on video and examined the mechanical gear closely through photographs.
For years, sportswriters remarked that his massive "protective" gear – unequaled in all of baseball -- permits Bonds to lean over the plate without fear of being hit by a pitch. Thus situated, Bonds can handle the outside pitch (where most pitchers live) unusually well. This is unfair advantage enough but no longer controversial. However, it is only one of at least seven unfair advantages conferred by the apparatus.
The other six:
1) The apparatus is hinged at the elbow. It is a literal "hitting machine" that allows Bonds to release his front arm on the same plane during every swing. It largely accounts for the seemingly magical consistency of every Bonds stroke.
(Excerpt) Read more at editorandpublisher.com ...
Babe Ruth is still the greatest of all time.
He smoked cigarettes, drank like a fish and generally was a hard party’er while he was a player.
Hank Aaron deserves what he has achieved, after all he earned it. But he had to work for it, Ruth, Just went out and did it for fun.
One can only hope that an “*” will always reside next to the name “Bonds” in the record books
Last saturday Major League Baseball set an all time, one day attendance record: drawing 717,478 fans for 17 games, an average of 42,205.
The last two Saturdays have represented two of the three most attended days in MLB history. The previous Saturday, July 21, drew 639,628 fans for 16 games, the second-highest total before this weekend. No. 2 on the all-time list is July 3, 1999, when 640,412 fans attended 17 Major League games.
Major League Baseball remains on pace for a fourth consecutive year of record-breaking attendance. Through Saturday’s games, 49,999,879 fans had attended games this season at an average of 32,258 fans per game. Attendance through Saturday’s games is running 4.4 percent ahead of the total through the same date last season.
Lots of envious middle-aged men and former jocks out there. Leading with love, yep, that’s what our media does.
They played 154 games back then compared to 162 now. If he had hit 5.2% more home runs he would have been at 751. I can think of two players just ahead of that.
I was 13 in 1972 living in Erlanger, Kentucky and Bernie Carbo lived in an apartment about 2 blocks away. Used to go ring his doorbell in the off season with a bunch of other guys and he’d come out and play football with us. Great guy and the kind of person that boys idolize as heroes back then. Those were the days!
I’ve heard similiar stories about him all over Cincy. I had very similiar experiences with Tommy Casanova and Tom Dinkle in the early 1970’s when they were renting a condo together in Mariemont.
And Selig, well that bozo move, not that I watched, but heard about it the next day, calling the All Star game a tie.
The previous records by both Ruth and Aaron were achieved in the course and context of attempting to win games. The Bonds fiasco is a pure sideshow where the winning of a game or a pennant is secondary to the circus. I love the game, but hate MLB, players unions and agents.
I miss watching those guys play ball. My great grandfather and I used to either watch the Game of the week or listen to the Reds on the radio when they weren’t on the tube. The good ole days. Thanks for reviving those memories.
I like my potato gun.
And visa verca? Remember the Brooklyn Dodgers? IMHO that was one of the first clods of dirt on the coffin of "old time" baseball.
You don’t like it, take it up with the forum owner. Jim allows us to debate many issues - sports included.
Agree ........a mile is still a mile if your running for the record time. But more games per season, better gear, sports nutrition and ummmmmmm suspected prescription “enhancements / additives” etc ..........not a record to compare to Babe or Hank’s accomplishments.
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I miss watching those guys play ball. My great grandfather and I used to either watch the Game of the week or listen to the Reds on the radio when they weren’t on the tube. The good ole days. Thanks for reviving those memories.
Yep. 1970 - 1976 was a ‘golden era’ especially in Cincinnati.
Agree ........a mile is still a mile if your running for the record time. But more games per season, better gear, sports nutrition and ummmmmmm suspected prescription “enhancements / additives” etc ..........not a record to compare to Babe or Hank’s accomplishments.
Yep.
I want to see the Costas Now episode that has old big head Barry so upset.
Maybe someone “You Tube’d” it ?
Barry Bonds does have talent. He has MASSIVE amounts of talent! I remember when he was with the Pirates and everyone would oooh and ahhh over Andy Van Slyke (sp) when they had an astounding player in the form of Barry Bonds in the field.
The problem is though that Barry Bonds tainted his greatness and his records by the use of steroids. In addition he is generally regarded as being one of the biggest a**holes in baseball. If he had not used steroids he would have at least 550 home runs, possibly over 600 (This assumes that he stayed healthy. Another benefit of steroids is accelerated healing of injuries.). He would be a shoe in for first ballot into the Hall of Fame.
Barry Bonds is bad for baseball.
Barry Bonds is a bad example of humanity.
I wish I could say I wish him no ill will, but I would be lying.
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