Nothing against Mac, Sammy, or Bonds

[WriterDom]

But are the baseballs juiced? or are the guys just bigger and stronger and benefiting from sports science and deluded pitching.


Complete AL Coverage
Bonds Ties Mark for Most HRs
by All-Star Break With No. 37
Giants Lose 4-3 in 15 Innings

By BERNIE WILSON
.c The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (June 20) -- Barry Bonds tied the record for most home runs before the All-Star break by hitting No. 37, but San Diego beat San Francisco 4-3 in 15 innings Tuesday night on shortstop Rich Aurilia's throwing error.

 

[CoolCucumber]

Hmmmmm. Interesting question. My opinion, is this. If the balls were juiced, guys like Scott Rolen, Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Bagwell, and Larry Walker would all have about 35 homers right now. Not only are the hitters stronger and faster, but so are the pitchers. While some pitching is a bit weak, think of the past. When Maris, and Mantle were slugging, a starting pitcher pitched 7 innings plus, therefore making it easier to hit in late innings as the pitcher wore down. Now, you've got specialized middle relievers, set-up men, and closers. When a batter is seeing several different pitchers with different styles and velocities every game, I think it is a detracting factor for the hitter. And one point of reference for Barry Bonds. This is his contract year, as he is a free agent after this season. Before the season, he was given what he thought was a low ball offer by the Giants for an upcoming contract. Barry, it seems always does best when he feels he is slighted by someone, be it the press, fans, or in this case, team officials. Just a few of my personal opinions.

-CoolCucumber

 

[Problem Child]

If pitchers now are fresher in the late innings as you say, and still throwing hard and with more control, wouldn't that make it HARDER to connect with the ball, thereby reducing the number of homers in today's game?

I think a more realistic answer is that with today's expansion the pitching has been watered down and less effective on a team basis. There may be just as many good pitchers as in the past, but they are spread out over more teams, and consequently batters face a really good pitcher less often.

Also, the average size of parks has been reduced, making it easier to knock it over the wall.

 

[CoolCucumber]

PC, No, I'm saying that for a power hitter it is harder to hit homers en-masse in the late innings of this generation of baseball than the past because 25 years ago a pitcher in the 7th inning or later was usually a starter. Now, you have a fresh pitcher, usually brought in specifically to retire a batter like a Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Griffey Jr., etc. While there are definately pitchers who do not belong at the big leauge level right now, I think in general the premier hitters are going to hit. Period. With the exception of Pedro, every pitcher in the bigs seems to get shelled. For every 20 strikeout game for Randy Johnson, he has a 4 and 1/3 game as well. But as I said, it's my opinion. I think that the premier hitters are going to hit. I'll be worried when guys like Edgar Renteria, Jose Vidro, Christian Guzman, etc. are popping 40 homers a year.

-CoolCucumber

 

[Problem Child]

Sorry dude...somehow I thought you were saying just the opposite.

That's what I get for skimming I guess...

 

[WriterDom]

For every 20 strikeout game for Randy Johnson, he has a 4 and 1/3 game as well. But as I said, it's my opinion. I think that the premier hitters are going to hit. I'll be worried when guys like Edgar Renteria, Jose Vidro, Christian Guzman, etc. are popping 40 homers a year.

-CoolCucumber

I'd take issue with your Randy Johnson comment. Here's his inning totals for the year. He's not as durable as Pedro, but still he's awesome to hit against. They are trying to rest him more this year.

7.0
5.2
7.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
7.0

 

[Thumper]

Juiced batters!

The hitters are much better athletes, with better coaching and more off season training options.

Hell, these guys could deposit a Ziploc bag of tapioca pudding into the upper deck.

Diluted pitching is not helping things either..

Imagine what the Babe could have done if he would have left the cigars, beer and hot dogs alone for awhile....

 

[Thumper]

I'd take issue with your Randy Johnson comment. Here's his inning totals for the year. He's not as durable as Pedro, but still he's awesome to hit against. They are trying to rest him more this year.

7.0
5.2
7.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
7.0

And one pigeon....

 

[CoolCucumber]

Writer Dom, the thing with Randy Johnson, is he's either on, or OFF. He gives up alot more runs than he used to. Some of those 7 innings pitched games he got tagged. He's dominant, but he's not Pedro either. Of course, Pedro can't solve the Yankees, LOL. I really like the lefties on Oakland's staff, Mulder and Zito. I think Zito might have had some sort of mechanics flaw early in the season, but I think he'll be dominant one day. The kid in Houston, Wade Miller is gonna be a good one too. I want to see if the Prior kid that the Cubs drafted will live up to the hype...speaking of the Cubbies, is it just me, or does Kerry Wood look healthier and healthier each time out? And is it me, or is Roger Clemens pitching more of a finesse game than the power pitching 15 K's a night outing I was used to a few years ago?

-CoolCucumber

 

[WriterDom]

Randy got killed in the second game against the cards giving up 9 runs. Take that away and his era would be about 2.01.

I'm a Braves fan. I just keep up with Johnson because I traded Mike Piazza for him early in the year in fantasy bb.

A.J. Burnett has been awesome so far for the Marlins. Him and Maddux square off tonight. Should be a good game.

 

[rambling man]

What is the difference between old schoolers who pitched every couple of days and sometimes both halves of a double header and pitchers today who start and regularly cant go past 5 or 6?

Athletes are better but mechanics and fundamentals are worse

 

[Weevil]

I think the reason we're seeing more homers is the emphasis on weight training. The guys are much stronger and with so much emphasis on bat speed + Big Muscles + Pitchers who throw more fastballs we'll see much more homeruns(Also, the bunches of hitting parks built in the last few years)