Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Adam,<br /><br />That is exactly my point -- the author's means or motives might not be pure BUT that doesn't mean that what they are saying is false. <br /><br />The same allegations were made of Canseco when his book was published (profiteer, turn coat, criminal, opportunist, scumbag, he wanted revenge on baseball, etc.). While all of these were true, the content in the book is proving to be true also.<br /><br />If the content of the new book were incorrect or false, Bonds would be suing on different grounds...<br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Jason</b><p>I dont have time to compile a complete list but a few are.....Ruth, Clemente, Bonds, Sosa, Pujols, Mays, Gibson, Guerrero, Palmeiro, Williams, Griffey, Aaron, Foxx, Wagner, Cobb,.....there is atleat half without really thinking about it.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Yuck!!! Palmiero?!?! Give me a break. A solid performer, but not a game changer. I hate Mantle, but even I don't dislike him that much to rate hium below Raffy. I'd probably put Mantle ahead of Jr too. If you keep coming up with more players like Palmiero, you may not convince too many people of your position.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>"We are seeking to have the credibility and integrity of the grand jury proceeding restored," Bonds lawyer Alison Berry Wilkinson told the judge during a 40-minute hearing in San Francisco County Superior Court.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Too bad Bonds' lawyer isn't concerned with the credibility and integrity of her client...

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Jason</b><p>OK maybe Plameiro was not better but he was equal.......Jr. is better than Mick.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Palmiero is not the equal of Mantle in any way, shape form except that he may have as good or better counting stats only because his career lasted longer. Palmiero is a boarderline HOFer, Mantle is a no-brainer.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Anson</b><p>Clearly biased, but Harry Heilmann was a better hitter than Mantle IMHO. I would add Jax, Eddie Collins, Frank Robinson, and Banks to the list.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>BONDS' SUIT ON DECK<br />BY T.J. QUINN <br />DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER <br />Friday, March 24th, 2006 <br /><br />If Barry Bonds' lawyer asks a judge this morning to seize the profits from the explosive new book "Game of Shadows," the authors' attorneys will be waiting on the courthouse steps to fire back with a lawsuit of their own.<br /><br />"He has no right to anyone's profits and he has no right to stop information," Eve Burton, general counsel for the Hearst Corporation, which owns the San Francisco Chronicle, told the Daily News yesterday. "I think his chances of success are close to zero."<br /><br />Michael Rains, Bonds' attorney, said yesterday he will seek a temporary restraining order against the Chronicle and reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, who co-authored the book, publisher Gotham Books, and Sports Illustrated, which published an excerpt of "Shadows" two weeks ago.<br /><br />Notably, the suit Rains is expected to file in California Superior Court in San Francisco is not for libel. Rather than challenge the facts in the book, Bonds' lawsuit is expected to argue that the writers got their information - including secret grand-jury testimony and investigators' notes - illegally. He wants an injunction to stop sales of the book and seize all profits from it.<br /><br />The authors will countersue under California's strong anti-SLAPP ("strategic lawsuit against public participation") statute, which prevents parties from using the courts to stifle free speech. Generally the law is used to keep large corporations from suing critics to silence them.<br /><br />Defendants suspect Rains is simply trying to find some way to let his client save face.<br />"He has to be able to say to his buddies, 'I sued 'em,' in order to resurrect his reputation," said a lawyer for one of the defendants, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "It's hard to win a libel case when the story's right."<br />The book's publishers also offered unconditional support for the authors.<br />"We at Gotham Books are shocked that Barry Bonds would take such a foolish step," Gotham said in a statement. "Any respected First Amendment lawyer in America knows that his claim is nonsense."<br /><br />The book, released yesterday, says that Bonds started taking hardcore steroids and human growth hormone before the 1999 season, contradicting claims that he unknowingly took steroids provided by the BALCO lab.<br /><br />Adam Warshaw, a California business and real estate attorney who has successfully sued under the SLAPP statute, said Bonds' lawsuit could easily backfire.<br /><br />"(The court) is going to look at whether there's truth to these accusations. Frankly, the guy's opening a real can of worms because he's going to have to testify about whether he's done these things," Warshaw said. "It sounds to me (like Bonds is saying), 'Do something, come up with something, can't you do something to stop this?'"<br /><br />Burton said that Bonds himself was recently partnered with the Chronicle in a SLAPP suit against one of his former physicians, Andrew Carver, who sued Bonds and the paper.<br />"We actually won that case with (Bonds) and he's about to deposit a check for it," she said. <br /><br />As for the brewing legal battle, she said, "This type of litigation does not strike me as ringing with validity."<br /><br />If Rains files the lawsuit today, then Hearst's attorneys will immediately file theirs, whether Bonds' request is successful or not.<br /><br />Fainaru-Wada, who appeared on Sportsnet New York TV's "Daily News Live" yesterday, said he isn't worried about any legal challenges.<br /><br />"We fully stand behind the reporting for the book and are confident in its accuracy," he said. <br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>davidcyclebackl</b><p>For Bonds, this is a horrible lawsuit for several reasons. First, he and his <br />lawyers will look foolish legally. Second, his suit will increase sales of the book<br />and scrutiny on him. Third, rightly or wrongly, this suit will give the general <br />public the notion that he thinks the facts in the book are largely accurate. Fourth, <br />it makes him look desperate.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>nice, a board member quoted in the article <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Still sounds like a bunch of spin from both sides. Sadly, common sense and the law rarely meet and common sense says that the authors should not be able profit from the illegally gained info from the grand jury testimony. It shouldn't really matter whether they are the ones that broke the seal or not. Even if they didn't commit the original crime, you know that they paid well for this information. This jsut leads to more people committing crimes to profit from it.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Anson</b><p>It certainly smells of tabloid tactics. One criminal act doesn't make another right.<br /><br />However, we can't go back in time now. It's too bad that Bonds looks like he's going to tarnish his image even more (hard to believe that's possible)

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>"...Bonds looks like he's going to tarnish his image even more (hard to believe that's possible)"<br /><br />Hahahahahahahahahahaha..... that would be difficult...

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Ryan Christoff</b><p>I only read a couple of the posts in this thread an got bored with it but I got curious when I saw there were 251 posts so I thought I'd check it out again. <br /><br />Is this really a thread where someone said that Sammy Sosa was better than Mickey Mantle?<br /><br />Probably time for this thread to die. <br /><br />-Ryan<br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Still sounds like a bunch of spin from both sides. Sadly, common sense and the law rarely meet and common sense says that Bonds should not be able profit from the illegally gained performance from the use of steriods/HGH. It shouldn't really matter whether he is the only one to do so. Even if he isn't the only one to commit the crime, you know that he paid well for this advantage. This just leads to more people committing crimes to profit from it.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Jason</b><p>Yes Sosa and Palmeiro. Palmeiro had over 500 HRs and over 3000 hits. Also he was more clutch. Now if Mantle would have stayed in better health there would be no question.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>David Smith</b><p>He loses the first round of his lawsuit and now might not play until opening day. Why is that? Scared of what the public might say or do to him??<br /><br />On another note, I think Bonds is still juicing. I think his trainer and BALCO cooked up something special just for Bonds other than the clear and the cream. Something only Bonds uses and nobody else. That way, if a test is developed that finds the clear and cream in either urine or blood tests, Bonds can say he is clean. However, the third steroid wont be found and Bonds can set records and get paid the big bucks and not be caught. Just my opinion.<br /><br />David

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Frank Evanov</b><p>Can't let this thing die without defending the Mick. How did this thread about steroid boy turn into a Mantle bashing??<br /><br />"Howard: I never liked Mantle. He always seemed to fail when the chips were down."<br /><br />Mickey's 18 World Series Homers attests to his ability to come through when it counted. That's a record that will likely never be broken. Speaking of records, Roger Maris batted ahead of Mickey in 1961. I don't think Roger would have hit 61 without Mickey in the on-deck circle.<br /><br />I don't want to get into a statistic contest here, but I will note that I respect Bill James' HOF stats [black ink, gray ink, HOF standards, HOF monitor]. Mickey is in the top 20 in all 4 categories. [Griffey Jr. is not in the top 30. Harry Heilman is not in the top 40, neither is Palmiero. Kirk Gibson is not even in the top 500.]<br><br>Frank

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Dave, one serious flaw with your conspiracy theory. There is no way a company is going to spend the money in R&D on a drug for just one athlete. Even Bonds doesn't make enough money to bankroll a personal steroid.<br /><br />in response to your post in the other thread, I hope your prepared to ban every player from 1990-2003. They are just as guilty as as Bonds. Oh wait, Bonds isn't guilty of anything. And how about those greenie popping drug addicts from the 50s-70s? Do we ban them too and toss them from the HOF because they got an unfair added advantage of that extra "pep" from the special little pill? How many fewer hits, HRs etc would Mays, Aaron, et al have without this wonderful little helper?<br /><br />Just remember, each record setter has a special set of circumstances that one else got to benifit from. Bonds may have used steroids, but he also face pitchers pumped up on the stuff too. Ruth never had to face juiced pitchers, or pitching specialists that came in the game for a batter or two.<br /><br />Records are meant to be broken. If Bonds does set the mark, I really doubt it will make Ruth or Aaron's numbers any less significant. The numbers they generated were done under different circumstances and the other may not have been able to duplicate them if they had swapped eras.<br /><br />so, get over yourself and realize that Bonds' numbers staggering relative to the era that he played in. Everyone else in this era had to face the same condition and most were juiced, so it doesn't diminish what he did. It actually makes it that much more more remarkable since most of the known steroid users have had careers that ended prematurely because their bodies broke down and their skills diminished. Bonds' body is only know starting to seriously breakdown, at age when most top athletes are feelingthis effect regardless of whether theyt used steroids or not.<br /><br />Jay<br /><br />WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Jason</b><p>Bonds HR production is not enhanced from steroids like everyone assumes. He is a greatly disciplined hitter. He has probably the best eye in he game.<br /><br />Jason

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p>Many several posts ago, John Kal posted with a reference to Major League Baseball's drug policy in the early 90s. Here is a link to the policy:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessofbaseball.com/docs/1991Memo_Baseballs_Drug_Policy_And_Prevention_Prog ram.pdf" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessofbaseball.com/docs/1991Memo_Baseballs_Drug_Policy_And_Prevention_Prog ram.pdf</a><br /><br />The prohibition mentioned in the June 7, 1991 document applied to "all illegal drugs and controlled substances, including steroid or prescriptions drugs for which the individual in possession of the drug does not have a prescription".<br /><br />I'm not sure if there were other policy statements that would modified or expand this.<br /><br />Max

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Jason,<br /><br />You're being facetious right (about the following statement)?<br /><br />"Bonds HR production is not enhanced from steroids like everyone assumes. He is a greatly disciplined hitter. He has probably the best eye in he game."<br /><br />The only reason I say this is because he SUDDENLY became twice as disciplined in a short period of time. HR production numbers of (about) HR/16AB to (about) HR/8AB would make it obvious that he had some type of hitters epiphany of sorts or he just might have started seeing the affects of performance enhancers. I can't recall any player that improved that much over a short period of time (and maintained the improvement). In other words there are flukes and aberations (Brady Anderson's 50 HR season, for example) that last a season but aren't maintained. <br /> <br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>The 1991 rule ahs been dicussed on the SABR-l. Basically, the rule was there, but MLB had no desire or intent to enforce the rulle. I wish had some of the posts pointing out how this rule was essentially useless and worthless.<br /><br />Judge, if you are going to use steroids to explain Bonds late life improvement, thenhow to explain Clemens latelife improvement? Once again, no one wants to takea serious look at St. Roger.<br /><br />Here are some interesting numbers posted on the SABR-l list:<br /><br />...performance at an advanced age,...Roger Clemens (best relative ERA of his career at age 42)and Craig Biggio (career high in HRs, HR pct, and HR pct relative to league at age 39 and 2nd highest HR total and 3rd highest HR pct of his career at age 38)<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Jay, I figure this is a Bonds thread so that's my comments have been pretty much limited to Bonds. Now, if Clemens was hitting homers at such an improved rate I'm sure I'd try to draw a comparison between the two. Roger still has ZERO homeruns in his career. But just for arguements sake, I don't see vast improvement in Rogers career in the last 5 years or so. Last year he did happen to dip below 2.00 for his ERA (only the second time in his career). His ERA for the last 4 seasons is over 3.00 and his strikeout totals are nothing abnormal. One other comparison is that it doesn't appear that Roger Clemens muscle mass has immensely increased.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>You don't need to do the gym work that Bonds does in order to make steroids effective. Bulking up is not going to make Clemens a more effective pitcher, but steroids will allow you get stronger, throw harder, throw faster and come back sooner. the majority of the players that have tested positive for steroids are pitchers, yet they make up roughly 1/3 of the roster. This should tell you something about steroids, their effectiveness and who they really help the most.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Jason</b><p>If steroids could make you hit homers everyone would be playing baseball. If this were the case we would have 200 players every year hitting 70+ home runs. Watch Bond's hit. He has become more disciplined. I suppose you would have to have played the game at a higher level at some point to understand.<br /><br /><br />Jason

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>Well-put!

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>or more to Jason's point, MLB would be overrun by the steroid freaks of the WWE and we'd be watching them blasting out HRs every night.Big Papa Pump could hit 100 HRs a season with those guns he had.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>This is starting to repeat itself. First off, you have to have the talent to hit a baseball coming at you from different angles and speeds (not to mention different trajectories). You can't just take anybody on steroids and make them a baseball player. To hit homeruns requires someone that can first hit the ball, PERHAPS that is why we don't see professional wrestlers hitting 100 homeruns a season. Bonds already had the talent to jack the ball, all he did was POSSIBLY (hahahaha) enhance himself to get that bat through the strikezone a little faster (and harder). He had the hand eye coordination already. You take a talent like that and mix in the clear and the cream and you get BONDS. I don't think there's a person that knows baseball that would say pre-CLEAR/CREAM Barry was an untalented ball player.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Anson</b><p>Judge, it's a dead thread. Obviously there are Bonds faithfuls and others that want to hang him. I find myself not liking the guy and certainly not believing he's clean. But, I do believe Jay is right in that there are many other folks to look at. Barry may be at the front of the line but I think there are SEVERAL question marks in MLB. <br /><br />Steroids make good players great and great players icons. There is yet to be a substance that makes bad players good. Baseball is a game that requires many different skills to be successful. Bonds, Clemens, etc... possess those skills, no arguement here.<br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p>"Steroids make good players great and great players icons."<br /><br />That's the one comment in the above post that I can't agree with.<br /><br />Alex Sánchez <br />Jorge Piedra <br />Agustin Montero <br />Jamal Strong <br />Juan Rincon <br />Rafael Betancourt <br />Rafael Palmeiro <br />Ryan Franklin <br />Mike Morse <br />Carlos Almanzar <br />Felix Heredia <br />Matt Lawton <br /><br />These are the major leaguers who have been suspended for steroids. There is ONE great player on that list.<br /><br />Now, I suspect that many of the monster players that have been discussed within this thread, and many more, have used steroids. I am much more inclined to believe Ken Caminiti, Jose Canseco and David Wells' comments on steroids than I am inclined to believe that steroid use has been limited to the eight or ten players who have become poster children for a game-wide problem (plus the 11 other nobodys on the above list).<br /><br />Why did the above 12 guys get caught and nobody else? I have no idea. Smarter chemistry, maybe?<br /><br />I think that steroids give a hitter the ability to get the bat through the zone quicker and hit the ball with more upper-body strength. I think they give a pitcher the ability to use his legs to drive harder off the rubber. I think they give all players the ability to recover more quickly from soreness and fatigue.<br /><br />But I don't think steroids are what give Barry Bonds the ability to dominate his peers the way he does. Over the last five years or so, NOBODY has come close to his numbers consistently. And we're talking about some monster players during the last five years.<br /><br />It may not be possible to make a clean comparison between Bonds and players of other eras, a point that has been made again and again in this thread. There are way too many variables to consider when trying to decide if Barry Bonds was a better player than Babe Ruth or Willie Mays.<br /><br />However, it is entirely possible to make a clean comparison between Bonds and the other players of his OWN era. Barry Bonds has been one of the top five players in the game throughout his entire career. From the late 90s to now, there's nobody close.<br /><br />So if A) the man has never tested positive, despite the fact that we all know he's used steroids, B) banishment from the game isn't even a penalty for testing positive if he HAD, C) steroid use has been widespread, and D) Bonds has clearly been the dominant player - or A dominant player - during his career, then how is it possible to question whether or not he is an obvious first-ballot HOFer? <br /><br />Is it because he's a jerk, or is it because he's managed to not get caught using steroids? Because neither one of those is sufficient reasons to keep a guy out of the Hall.<br /><br />-Al

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Judge, the point is that these people make it seem like Bonds and other would never hit a HR if they weren't juiced. <br /><br />I'm not an expert in batting, but I do know about it, power is derived from bat speed, torso strength and torsion and the proper swing to hit the ball over the fence instead of line drives. Big arms don't make you a HR hitter. Just look back at Brian Downing. The guy had some of the most massive arms the game has ever seen. Yet he never hit 30 HRs in a season. <br /><br />Raw, brute strength does not get you HRs<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Jay<br /><br />This is getting scary....I'm agreeing with you too often, lately....Well said,<br />in your above post.<br /><br />And, I might add that athletes (big ones) from other sports cannot walk up to<br /> the plate, face major league pitching, and hit a BB effectively, much less a<br /> long distance. I do not care how good they are in their respective sport.<br /> Michael Jordon, as great a BasketBall player that he is, proved this point<br />when he tried playing BB.<br /><br />It takes at least 10 years to produce a professional ballplayer....BaseBall,<br />Tennis, Football, BasketBall.....you name it. I taught my daughters to play<br />tennis from age 6 and when they entered HS they were at the top of the team.<br />I started playing BB with my grandson when he was 5 years old. In HS he was<br />on the A-team and hit several HR's over 400 feet in inter-school games. And,<br />mind you, he is only 5:7 and 160 lbs.<br /><br />Jay, you are absolutely correct....bigness, bulk, whatever, has nothing to do<br /> with hitting HRs.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Jay,<br /><br />You're right! Bonds already had the talent to hit the baseball. The thread is about Bonds so he's getting hit pretty hard here. There are others that juiced so Bonds is not alone, he just happened to use the edge to better himself more than others have. I've posted it several times already, I like to watch Bonds hit the ball and I like to watch his at bats because they are somewhat mesmerizing. Although I don't think to highly of Bonds "the person", I do think he's added a lot of excitement to the game. Now on the subject of bulk and homeruns... a good example of raw power and bat speed without all the bulk is George Foster. Wow, he was fun to watch in a game. Actually, that whole Red Machine team was great to watch. <br /><br />Again, I'm not a big Bonds fan but I can admit that he's been fun to watch lately.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>So has anyone actually gone out and bought the book?<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>--

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Anson</b><p>"That's the one comment in the above post that I can't agree with."<br /><br />Alex Sánchez <br />Jorge Piedra <br />Agustin Montero <br />Jamal Strong <br />Juan Rincon <br />Rafael Betancourt <br />Rafael Palmeiro <br />Ryan Franklin <br />Mike Morse <br />Carlos Almanzar <br />Felix Heredia <br />Matt Lawton <br /><br />Well, most of these guys aren't GOOD players. Take away Palmiero and maybe Lawton, you're left with mediocre talent at best. <br /><br />Steroids don't positively help every ball player. But, for a top-notch talent like Bonds, it would make an outstanding player an Icon.<br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Does Schmidt also believe that the players that used greenies should be banned from the HOF too? Or did he conviently gloss over or ignore and important part his playing days that invovled an illegal substance?<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Brendan booth posted this excerpt from a radio interview with Bonds attorney on the SABR-l list:<br /><br />In an interesting interview on AM 680, KNBR out of San Francisco, with<br />Ralph Barbieri and Mark Ibanez last Friday, Bonds' attorney Michael<br />Rains described the case made by the book in contrast to the case put<br />together by the federal government against Bonds. He stated that the<br />main sources from the book are a jaded former lover, a criminal given a<br />break by the Government for testimony, and the Balco evidence. In<br />regards to the mistress, her stories have changed from statement to<br />statement and Mr. Rains has contradictory letters, sent over the course<br />of a couple of years, from the mistress who was targeting Bonds before<br />the authors got a hold of her, and it is all documented. The books<br />"unnamed source", a man named "Steven" (Rains' name, I haven't read the<br />book), has a long criminal history, and agreed to give the feds whatever<br />they wanted for reduced charges/immunity etc. Apparently, he has been<br />kept in the shadows because of his credibility, thus "unnamed source."<br />And what he revealed about the Balco "evidence" against Bonds was the<br />most compelling to me. He argued that the book paints a broad picture,<br />including stating that Bonds used steroids all throughout the year 2002.<br />However, for 2002, all the FBI could come up with from Balco was that a<br />"customer" was given a product in the latter part of the year, and a<br />"ballplayer" was sold a steroid in February. Nothing mentioned Bonds.<br /><br />Jay<br /><br />WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Jay,<br /><br />In an effort to keep this going so that you can be post #300 (this is post 278)...<br /><br />You've heard one side of the story via the book or SI now we get to hear Bond's attorney's side - maybe somewhere in the middle is a "better" truth. <br /><br />People that dislike Bonds will not accept his attorney's point of view and those that are Bonds fans will probably choose not to believe the book but deep down probably realize that Bonds juiced it. <br /><br />Just kidding about trying to stretch this thread to 300 posts...

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>leonl</b><p>and it gets locked <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> just kidding...it could go to 500 for all I care...

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>For incentive, my favorite movie is 2001. Luckily, my favorite isn't 20,000 League Beneath the Sea

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Mitchell to head steroid investigationESPN.com news services<br /><br /><br /><br />ESPN has learned that George Mitchell, former U.S. Senate majority leader from Maine, will be hired by Major League Baseball to head an investigation into past steroid use by major-league players, most prominently Barry Bonds.<br /><br /><br />Mitchell will not be the lead investigator, but he will head the investigation effort.<br /><br /><br />ESPN's confirmation of Mitchell as the head of the investigation comes after Wednesday's New York Times reported that commissioner Bud Selig was on the verge of announcing an investigation into steroid use by Bonds and other players as detailed in the book "Game of Shadows" and that Mitchell's name was being floating around baseball circles as the outside person to head such an investigation.<br /><br /><br />ESPN has learned that Bonds and any other current player who may be part of this investigation will be allowed to play while the investigation is ongoing.<br /> <br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>--

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>David McDonald</b><p>The New Yorker, April 3, 2006: "Bigger than the Game"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.network54.com/Realm/3dglasses/NewYorker_Biggertheanthegame.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/3dglasses/NewYorker_Biggertheanthegame.JPG"></a><br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Kenny Cole</b><p>So long as ALL potentially culpable parties are investigated. That would include the Commissioner, the players union, the owners, and the players. After all, since we're looking to preserve the "sanctity" of the game (something that I believe was lost long ago, if it ever really existed), we certainly need to insure that not only are the actual cheaters not allowed to prosper, but that those who knowingly prospered off of the cheaters who prospered are properly sanctioned as well. Certainly, it cannot seriously be argued that only the players are tasked with preserving whatever "sanctity" the game presumably possesses. Above and beyond all else, isn't that the job the Commissioner is supposed to have?<br /><br />In that regard, if the powers that be in baseball were aware of this steroids thing and did nothing about it because, say just for the sake of example, it was bringing TONS of money into a game that was near death due to a strike, it seems to me that those powers are equally culpable. So, shouldn't we punish them equally? If an owner or commissioner had "guilty knowledge" [to use K.M.Landis' explanation for banning Buck Weaver]of the use of steroids, give them the boot too. While I realize the concept loses a lot of meaning when you are talking about professional athletes and owners, isn't it nonetheless supposed to be true that here in America, not even the REALLY rich and powerful, like owners, are above the righteous hand of the law?<br /><br />Give me a break. I haven't weighed in before because reading all of the inane BS about the sanctity of baseball's records and whatnot has just made me tired. None of those records are sancrosact, and none of them were achieved by saints. Perhaps this is a news flash, but practically every one of the records we so worship was recorded by someone who cheated, somewhere, somehow. Unfortunately, when the lynch mob mentality gets whipped into a frenzy, as it is now, we tend to forget that fact. However, it is almost indisputable.<br /><br />I guess you can argue about degrees of cheating, and you can argue about whether some types of cheating are more honorable than other types of cheating. That's what this discusion boils down to, and I'm simply not smart enough to figure out what type of cheating by the pantheon of record setters is/was best and least deterimental to the game. Moreover, I frankly don't care. What I am convinced of is that all of our heros cheated, or at least gave themselves some sort of undue advantage, in some form or fashion. That's why they set records. For "baseball" (or anyone else for that matter) to point the finger at Bonds, while ignoring all of those others who stood to prosper from his alleged misdeeds much more than he did, in my opinion, is the height of hypocrisy.<br /><br />If all of the "wrongdoers" are treated equally, I'm all for a full scale investigation. Somehow, I don't think that's gonna happen. <br /><br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>I totally agree with Ken and this exact point was brought up by Olberman and numerous others, that if this is to bea truely legit investigation, then they also need to find out when what the commissioner and owners knew. They are just as guilty as the players for turning a blind eye to what was going on. <br /><br />I can remember back in 1987 when I was living in SF, there were all sorts of rumors about Canseco and McGwire using steroids. So it's not like there weren't hints of this problem until 2 years ago.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>Great art; I wonder if Bonds will sign it? <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>John J. Grillo</b><p>I don't buy into investigating owners and the commish as well. We live in an era where individual responsibility cannot be fully accepted--we must find a way to blame others (or solely blame others) as well.<br /><br />Bonds, McGwire and others may have taken illegal, performance-enhancing drugs and if an investigation reveals that they in fact did so, they (and only they) should be held responsible imo. Don't blame the owners. While they may have turned a blind eye, they are not the ones who shot some juice into their own veins. Bonds and McGwire are big boys--they should've known right from wrong.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>I am one of the biggest propopents of personal responsibility. The difference here is that the owners benefited greatly from these players juicing. People don't want to see Bonds, et al benefiting or profiting from from doing this, so why should the owners benefit and profit if they knew their employees were doing something illegal? They should have stepped in and put an end to it, but there is no way they are going to kill the cash cow, so they are just as culpable.<br /><br />It's all part of our "win at all cost" society. <br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>I don't like Bonds as a person but...<br /><br />He's the poster child for steroid abuse in the majors. He's definitely not the only one but he's argueably the one player that has made the best use of his enhanced ability and his raw natural talent.<br /><br />There have probably been a number of players that have used performance enhancers (like HGH and steroids) and have not seen the results of Bonds but that only goes to show how talented Bonds was before the juice. Unfortunately, Barry is a focal point. Does he deserve it? Perhaps, but singling him out isn't fair either. <br /><br />I couldn't imagine that owners and managers didn't know that their players were juicing - these are professional sports teams and the people that are in these organizations can't all be that naive. <br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Cy</b><p>There is talk with this new investigation of placing asterisks on the records if players juiced. My first question is, if a player hits a home run off a pitcher who juiced, does that player get a <i>positive</i> asterisk?<br /><br />Secondly, if there was irrefutable evidence that Aaron took greenies, would you strip him from his home run title as they want to do with Bonds?<br /><br />Cy

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>ChuckkieB</b><p>Greenies never turned a 390 ft fly ball into a 450 ft home run. <br /><br />Is investigating Bonds and other players, and discussing potential asterisks next to records "too little, too late?" Of course it is, but what else can Selig and MLB do at this point??? The alternative of MLB sitting on it's hands and doing nothing is not an option. People criticize Selig and MLB for doing NOTHING for years, but now also criticize them when they finally take action??? It's a complete contradiction. In the end, it will be impossible to "out" every player that did steroids, but investigating Bonds and all of the other players implicated in the BALCO scandal is a good start, and it starts MLB down the path to cleaning up the problem for the future. Along the way, if anyone is found to have done steroids, they should be dealt with in the harshest of terms, and their records should be removed completely from the record books - no astersisks. <br /><br />More stringent drug testing should be the next step. <br /> <br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Chuck, <br /><br />Nice post...<br /><br />"The alternative of MLB sitting on it's hands and doing nothing is not an option." <br /><br />I don't think they sat on their hands. I think they had their thumbs up their arses.<br /><br />Thank you for pointing out that greenies probably didn't turn a routine fly out into a tape measure shot (at least not on any consistent basis).<br /><br />As far as expunging records I think that would be a bit drastic because it wouldn't be fair/right to only go after the players that made the most of their enhancements. The ones that improved slightly would fly under the radar. The fact is that the enhanced power hitters did hit the HRs in real games. <br /><br />As much as it bothers a lot of people I figure removing the records would be a waste because how would you explain that an old box score showed that a player hit a homerun, really didn't hit that homerun. It would be like pretending that several games were never really played...<br /><br />As mentioned, more strict testing policies and harsher penalties would really go towards cleaning up the game. But then what about Steve Howe who was suspended (drug policy, ok a different type of drug) at least 6 or 7 times only to be reinstated time and again. <br /><br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Frank Evanov</b><p>What would Kennesaw do?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.marys-corner.com/ebay/60FLandis.jpg"><br><br>Frank

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p>"Greenies never turned a 390 ft fly ball into a 450 ft home run"<br /><br /><br />Nope. But they may well have turned a 30 HR season into a 40 HR season, and even more. They may have turned groundouts into base hits, singles into doubles. They may have created stolen bases, added 50-100 AB per season, etc.<br /><br />Greenies help a player get over fatigue. Where a player in the middle of July may be exhausted to the point of not being able to play, or to the point of dragging through a meaningless game, amphetamines pump a guy up and eliminate the fatigue. Instead of asking for an off day, he goes out and plays, maybe goes 2-for-4. Instead of jogging down to first on a base hit to left-center, maybe he hustles out a double. Instead of getting forced out at second base, maybe he steals second instead.<br /><br />Over the course of a 20 year career, if greenies give a guy enough gas to hit just 5 more HR a year, that's 100 HR. Turns a superstar with 655 home runs into an icon with 755.<br /><br />-Al<br /><br />Edited for clarity

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>This is post 295 Jay. Are you going to be 300?<br /><br />Devils advocate - <br /><br />Greenies - amphetamines - <br /><br />I'm not sure if a player could continually use amphetamines because one side affect would be (believe it or not) fatigue. <br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>296<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>297<br /><br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>298<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>299 cheatin like the Judge did <img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Greenies weren't taken every day, just when you played a night game and then had an afternoon game. They were also taken, as pointed out, when the drag of the season started slowing you down. They weren't an every day thing, but they give players an advantage that players before them never had.<br /><br />I really doubt you will see any records removed or given astericks. Every era has is it's quirks and phobioles that allow those records to happen. Do we erradicate or the single season win and strikeout records because the conditions that allowed those records no longer exist? There all sorts of examples like this.<br /><br />Anyone that is knowledgable about baseball can figure out why most records came about. Most casual fans look at the true pitching records with a glazed look because of the unreal numbers and think youa re kidding becuase most pitching records that arre quoted are those established after 1900. Most fans can disern the difference betweenn Deadball era, the lively ball era of the 30s, the greenies era of the 50s-70s and todays current steroids era.<br /><br />Jay<br /><br />WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>OK, I really didn't want to further this discussion, but now I must.<br />Now they dug up George Mitchell to come and "save the day"....1st of all,<br />he has a serious conflict of interest, being that he has financial inter-<br />rests in the Boston Red Sox....2nd, he did not do much for the state of<br /> Maine when he represented it. My daughter lives up there and I've spent<br />much time up there since 1961. Between, Mitchell and Selig this investi-<br />gation will result in a "feel good - totally ineffective" conclusion.<br /><br />Where is the ghost of Judge "Kennesaw Mountain" Landis......we need you<br />Judge ?<br /><br />I sometimes think the sad, untimely death of Bart Giamatti made more of im-<br />pact on BB than we'll ever know. He would have been a great Commissioner,<br />as he loved and really understood the game. And, I think he would have been<br />independent enough to control this situation......that has gotten so out of<br />control that it will affect BB for sometime.<br /><br />Excuse me for reiterating......Mitchell and Selig will be totally ineffective in<br />this matter.<br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>howard</b><p>the percentage of players who took greenies? If, at it seems from what I've heard, everyone took them do you think that negates the advantage that any one player got from them? If so then taking greenies is a far cry from using steroids which I'm sure a large number of players have never used.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p>Even if 100% of the players took greenies (which I wouldn't doubt), I don't think it negates the advantage. Mostly because I don't think amphetamines give you an advantage over other players - I think they gave players the ability to play hard in games where they otherwise may have dragged through, or not even played.<br /><br />In that respect, I think a great player who used greenies to get through 20 or 30 games during a season would just have had the same stats in those games as normal. However, a guy hitting a home run every 18 at bats who used greenies to get through 30 games would have hit, statistically speaking, about 6.7 home runs in those 30 games. If he played those games when fatigued, or sat the bench, perhaps his stats wouldn't have been as strong. Perhaps they would have. Who knows?<br /><br />-Al

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>I wasn't thrilled when they named Mitchell either. Just Selig is far from an impartial commissioner, Mitchell is going to be far from an impartial head of this investigation. Putting someone who has an interest in a team means that most likely there will be little or no investigation as to the culpability of the owners and the commissioner in this whole mess.<br /><br />Judge Judy would have been a better choice than Mitchell.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred (Fred)</b><p>Jay,<br /><br />It's good to see you had post #300 but... that was cheating... I think I'm going to have to have one of the moderators investigate this... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />It's only fitting that the biggest thread (in terms of responses) is one about steroid and HGH use... ok, maybe not...<br /><br />The debate continues... <br />

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>We can just think of our blank posts as this threads version of steroids, making it bigger than it really is<br /><br />Jay<br><br>WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p>I do think it makes sense to launch an investigation into all of Jay's posts in this thread, as well as all his previous posts. Not making any accusations or anything, but if it's discovered that he did anything that might be construed as cheating, moderator dude should mark post 300 in this thread with an asterisk, and consider wiping all the rest of his prior posts off the board.<br /><br />-Al

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>We could bring in Kooz to head up the investigation. Even if you delete the bump posts, I would still have post #300 <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Jay<br /><br />WOW upsidedown is MOM. Mom upsidedown is what dad wants to see.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Cy</b><p>You ponted out that greenies may not have given the player an advantage. Others made this comment too. I am using your post because it is the most recent.<br /><br />Bonds is being singled out because he is considered a cheat. But if a person tries to cheat but it backfires on him or it doesn't work in any shape or form, isn't that player still a cheat because he tried? If a pitcher puts vaseline on the ball but he is not good at throwing the spitter, he still cheated even though he didn't get the results he wanted.<br /><br />Whether a player of the 60's actually received any true assistance from the greenies, he took them because he thought they would give him an enhancement. And that is the same situation that Bonds is in right now. There have not been any studies that truly assert that steroids will make someone a better baseball player. (OK, I do believe they will.) But there is no concrete proof. So for all practical purposes, steroids may have the same (non)affect on baseball players as greenies did. But the main issue is that the players of the 60's took them just as the players of the 90's took steroids, because they thought it would help them. This, to me, makes either both eras cheaters or neither era cheaters.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Cy

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p>Cy, I guess I wasn't very clear with my last post. I think Barry Bonds is the greatest player I've ever seen, I think he's a sure-fire first ballot HOFer, and I can't wait for him to break Aaron's record. Simultaneously, I do believe Bonds used steroids, and I support baseball cleaning itself up.<br /><br />My point about greenies was that I don't think the use of greenies gave one player an advantage over another player. I just think they enabled players to beat fatigue and possibly be less lethargic in certain games, or take the field in games they ordinarily would have been rested.<br /><br />Incidentally, I didn't realize that baseball banned amphetamines this year as well until I just read it in SI. It will be interesting to see if there is an across-the-board decline in games played per player this season, as opposed to past seasons.<br /><br />-Al

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Multiple sources told CNN that a federal grand jury has been hearing evidence for more than a month about whether Bonds perjured himself during his Dec. 4, 2003, testimony. CNN reporter Ted Rowlands told ESPN Radio on Thursday night that it took a month for the network to get corroborating sources for the story.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>If they go after Bonds for perjury it will be a huge joke. Palmiero perjurs himself in front of congress, on tape, and they claim there isn't enough evidence. <br /><br />Palmiero: lied on tape and tested positive for steroids<br /><br />Bonds: no proof he lied, let alone on tape and has no positive drug tests<br /><br />You lawyers out there tell me who has a better chance of being prosecuted successfully.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I like to sit outside, drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home, I would be arrested. So, I go to baseball games and fit right in.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Mark Rios</b><p>..figured I waste more time by writing something to extend this worthless thread.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>And where is he today? Barely hanging on to his .300 lifetime BA @ .2997; soon to relinquish his .600+ slugging average in the quest for the holiest of holies. And if he achieves that pinnacle will he be half the man his predessesors were?

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>even if he gives all those things up, to him it will all be worth it if he gets the HR record. Besides, most people aren't going to think any less or more of him if he had retired before the season or if stays around and breaks the record. Opinions about him are going to be the same, regardless.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I like to sit outside, drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home, I would be arrested. So, I go to baseball games and fit right in.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Jay, I think a perjury case against Bonds is much easier to prove than one against Palmiero. While Raffy claimed under oath that he had never done 'roids, his positive test occurred after his testimony just leaving circumstantial proof that he had actually lied before Congress. I'm also unsure how many independent witnesses exist against Raffy who could testify that at the time he testified before Congress he was doing steroids. Bonds, on the other hand, while not having a positive test has a plethora of witnesses and documentary proof that suggest that he was doing steroids at the time and before he testified before the Grand Jury that he had never knowingly taken 'roids. Also, for what it's worth, the baseball hearings before Congress - while causing all that testified to take an oath - were not nearly as serious as the Balco/Conte Grand Jury. In addition, Bonds has the tax/money laundering criminal issues that may also be part of the same indictment should charges ever be brought. My general feeling is, as a defense attorney, that lying under oath during a Congressional hearing on steroids in baseball hardly shakes the foundation of our society; but evading taxes, laundering money and lying before a Grand Jury does have a grave impact on society. That being said, in my opinion, unless the Feds have the goods on Bonds with the tax and money laundering issues, no indictment will result against Bonds because I think the Feds were ultimately not stymied by his purported perjury in the Grand Jury (everyone they wanted to indict was indicted it would seem) and Bonds surely is being punished in ways that no ordinary perjurer would be, i.e., his treatment by fans, press, etc.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Mark</b><p>Gilbert, I'm sure Bonds appreciates your worrying about his lifetime stats. Are you worried about Mike Piazza as well who is batting just .214 with one home run?

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>I found Piazza interesting until he played against the United States.

Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
 

Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Some interesting tidbits from a SABR-l post:<br /><br />I know it's early in the season and things may settle down, but there are more<br /><br />(1) Runs/Game this year than last: 10.32 vs. 9.18 (increase of 12%)<br />(2) HRs/G: 2.45 vs. 2.06 (+19%)<br />(3) HRs/ABs: 0.036 vs. 0.030 (+20%)<br /><br />And although there're also small increases in<br />(4) BA: .2694 vs. .2645 (+2%)<br />(5) OBP: .338 vs. .330 (+2%)<br />(6) SLG: .4442 vs. .4189 (+6%)<br /><br />there's a big increase in<br />(7) ISP: .175 vs. .154 (14%)<br /><br />And there's a decrease in<br />(8) Runs/HR: 4.213 vs. 4.450 (-5%)<br />(9) Hits/HR: 8.768 vs. 7.522 (-14%)<br /><br />All of these data point to a greater number and greater influence of HRs this year than last year (and most previous years, too).<br /><br />So if MLB's new policy on steroids testing has truly eradicated steroids from the game, then these data seem like an indictment of pitchers having used them more than hitters (assuming, of course, that steroids affect performance).<br /><br />Does this mean that asterisks should accompany HR records set by hitters during the steroids era indicating that the hitters had their totals artificially suppressed by the use of steroids by pitchers?<br /><br />JP Caillault<br /><br><br>I like to sit outside, drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home, I would be arrested. So, I go to baseball games and fit right in.