Posted By:
RhettMr. Levine, I will never understand the argument that getting stronger would not affect ones bat speed, that just isn't logical. If you get stronger then you WILL be able to swing that bat harder and faster. Also, where do you come off implicating Jr. as a heavy roids user, did his trainer get hauled into jail when I wasn't looking?
Jay, I think that it ubsurd to group Hack Wilson and Hank Greenberg as possible roid users, why don't we throw Babe in there as well, and while we are at it lets throw in Gavvy Cravath as the first official 'roids user to play in the majors, I mean you never know!?! I think everyone most would agree that it's not only Barry Bonds that we/I have a problem with, it is every major leaguer that has used illegal performance enhancing drugs. Barry Bonds just happens to be THE poster child for somewhere finding the fountain of youth in his late 30's. His stats don't lie...Before 2000 (when Barry was 36, I think the same age Griffey is right now) he hit 40 or more 3 times in his life-each time in between 517-539 at bats each of those seasons. In 1998 Barry hits 37 in 552 at bats, then following the season (which saw McGwire and Sosa's HR race) he hits almost the same # of HR's as he had the previous seaon (34) in 54 less games and 200 less at bats. The following season he hits his all time high to that point of 49 in only 480 at bats. Then in 2001 he goes crazy and hits 73, 24 more than the season just before that in 4 less at bats!!!!!! His statistics from 1999-Present are a red flag for steroid use, especially those from 2001 to present. Nobody starts hitting 40-70 points better than their average AFTER 15 years in the league. If you take away Barry's career year in 1993 his recent statistics are for a completely different person than the artist formerly known as Barry Bonds.