Baseball and steroids

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Posted By: Cy

Rhett,

The point I was trying to make is that the kind of effects that steroids give to a player may not enhance a baseball player. Sure any athlete needs to be conditioned and have strength. But I believe that longer, leaner muscles will enhance an athlete more than power-lifting muscles.

In a classic swing, incredible size is not that important. If you don't have a classic swing, if you have more of an arm swing, size is essential. An example of this type of swing might be Harmon Killebrew's swing. However, with the classic, smooth swing I feel it is more important to have strong forearms rather than strong biceps and triceps, which steroids would enhance. The forearms need to be strong to allow the wrists to work quickly, explosively. Prime examples of this type of swing would Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and, in today's game, Gary Sheffield. Each of these guys would flick their wrists at the last instant before impact to give the most acceleration through impact. And face it, home runs follow Newton's F=ma equation of Force = mass times acceleration. And acceleration of the bat can be most effective with explosive wrist action. Barry Bonds has this type of swing. It is compact and only explosive at impact. I don't think steroids would enhance that type of swing.

It may seem like larger muscles make more power but lets look at the numbers (6' 0" 180 lb.; 6' 1" 180 lb.; 5' 11" 180 lb.; 5' 9" 170 lb.; 6' 0" 188 lb.; 6' 1" 195 lb.; 6' 3" 205 lb.). These heights and weights don't seem to be incredibly large or incredibly muscular as a physique that steroids would give. But they are the heights and weights of Aaron, Banks, Mays, Ott, Palmeiro, F. Robinson and Ted Williams, respectively. These are all 500 home run hitters. Only one is over 200 lbs and that is the 6' 3" Ted Williams. This is why I feel that steroids might have little effect on hitting home runs. These guys aren't large comparatively and they hit the ball with the best of them.

I know there may be exceptions. But when you watch Rafael Palmeiro swing and the power he generates you can see that it is the acceleration of the bat at the last instant. If not for that explosive release the ball would go nowhere. Instead, it rockets off his bat. I don't think steroids would do a thing to enhance his explosiveness. And, from the list of wrist hitters that I mentioned above, I do think it's possible that steroids may have a negligible effect on their home runs.

One last comment, the argument that "Why would so many try it if it doesn't work?' doesn't necessarily hold true. If you are a golfer you know that millions of golfers used to wear a copper wrist band to enhance their golf game. Why? I don't see that having an effect unless it is psychological. But millions tried it and whoever thought that up went laughing all the way to the bank. The fact is people will try anything and if they think it works they will continue doing it whether it helps or not.

Cy