Barry Bonds - You Can't Have It Both Ways

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/06/06/131659.php ^ | June 6, 2007 | Rick Vassar

[Rick Vassar]

There was a news report that came across the wire yesterday (4 Jun 2007) about a farmer in Germany who sued some kids who were lighting off firecrackers. The farmer claimed that it made his ostrich impotent. The judge ruled against the farmer, stating he could see no connection between the firecrackers and the impotent ostrich.

I read on and on with great amusement as the mainstream media tries to decide what to do about the Barry Bonds problem. The rumors have been swirling around Bonds since 2004, and the tide is rising these days to a crescendo.

His crime?

He is about to break the all-time career home run mark of 755 set by Hank Aaron. Many people think he is a nasty guy.

Here’s my take – If Bonds did anything illegal and you can prove it, charge him. If he broke the rules of baseball and you can prove it, suspend him. For Bud Selig and Hank Aaron to act all high and mighty and saying they won’t show to watch Bonds break the record makes them both look like petulant children.

And here’s why.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has known about the rampant use of steroids by professional baseball players for over ten years. Bud Selig knew about it. Hank Aaron, a prominent baseball guy, had to know it too.

Neither are idiots, but they are playing ones for TV.

Ten years ago, though, Bud and Hank didn’t know two things:

Steroids work. Steroids are bad for you.

When it became apparent that they may be working, MLB looked the other way because the increase in offense was creating a resurgence of interest in baseball, and this was much needed after they called-off the World Series in 1994.

Then, in 2005, Mark McGwire raised his right hand and told Congress he would not discuss his past. Rafael Palmeiro shook his finger at the congressional committee and declared he had never done steroids (although he did let his teammates stick a B-12 vitamin shot in his butt from time to time), and Sammy Sosa muttered unintelligibly.

The only credible witness was Palmeiro, who shortly after tested positive under the new enforcement program. He is now out of baseball.

So, who takes the fall? Well, somebody has to pay. In 2004, MLB decided it was Barry Bonds who would be their fall guy. He had the season home run record of 73, but at his age, there is no way he will get close to Aaron’s career record, right?

Wrong. Nasty, surly old Barry Bonds is going to break baseball’s greatest record, and Bud Selig stomps his foot and says he’s not going. Henry Aaron then stomps his foot and whines if Bud’s not going, I’m not going either.

Fools.

Why?

First of all, it is universally assumed that steroids make you better, and this is simply not true. If Barry Bonds did take performance enhancing drugs, is it a stretch to say that they may have hampered his production and he may have hit over 800 home runs by now?

If that isn’t the case, it is widely rumored that many pitchers in this era were juiced, and if their effectiveness was enhanced by steroids, wouldn’t this mean that the field should have been leveled by the use of steroids?

Has it been determined that steroids are more effective on hitters than on pitchers?

In 2007, pitchers on the disabled list (DL) in April were 14.4% higher than the same period in 2006. One writer stated that it couldn’t be steroids because of the added enforcement. I say that, because of the additional scrutiny, many pitchers stopped taking steroids to avoid detection, and the loss of muscle mass resulted in increased strain on the body, resulting in more trips to the DL.

Home run production is projected to be down about 18.2% from 2006 to 2007. Am I defeating my argument?

I’m not sure what the argument is anymore.

I don’t have enough evidence to indict or suspend, but based on how the conversation has been defined, I don’t need evidence.

Why?

Because Barry Bonds is going down, that’s why. And it’s not fair. The mainstream media today is projecting this issue based on whether they like or dislike Barry Bonds.

It’s akin to the politician who, when asked about his stand on illegal drugs, states 'I’m against them' Most people don’t like Barry Bonds, so they root against him.

Dick Meyer is the editorial director of CBSNews.com, and an example of how the media has determined that Barry Bonds is guilty regardless of the fact that he has never been indicted or suspended.

On May 24, 2007, Meyer wrote:

'…Bonds cheated…He is like all too many people in the public eye today.'

On October 19, 2004, Meyer wrote:

'…We now have the facts to be able to judge what he has done and not what he has said, or not said, about what he has done. That’s enough…'

In the first quote, he has taken all the allegations (not evidence) about Bonds and declared him guilty.

The second quote supports Mr. Meyer’s contention that there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein ever possessed weapons of mass destruction and declared him innocent.

Just like seventh grade, it’s all a popularity contest.

If you can’t prove that the firecrackers caused the ostrich to become impotent, then you have no case.

Note to Hank and Bud - Shut down the rhetoric and punch your ticket to San Francisco. The high and mighty thing ain’t working.

Note to the rest of us - Look at the full picture. You may reach a very different conclusion.

[discostu]

I don’t see a problem with Hank Aaron not showing up. He’s old, he apparently doesn’t travel much, and it’s not like he has anything to do with the steroid mess in baseball. Selig on the other hand is just being silly. He was in charge when the CBAs that wouldn’t allow for steroid testing were being signed, he let the PA keep steroids functionally OK, he also helped maintain a tradition of the commish being on hand for big records being broken. For him to get high and mighty now is hypocritical and preposterous, Bud needs to sleep in the bed he made.

[wideawake]

(1) Just because Bonds was intelligent enough to dispose of the evidence better than Palmeiro does not mean he is innocent: it simply means that there is not enough evidence to convict him.

The pall that hangs over him is well deserved.

(2) the argument that some pitchers were probably using steroids too, so Bonds' malfeasance is "cancelled out" would not only likely fall apart under statisical analysis, but isn't even germane.

A cheater is a cheater.

(3) People aren't happy about Bonds surpassing Aaron because Bonds is a nasty, racist misanthrope who cheated. And they never will be happy with him.

He's taken what was potentially a fairly accomplished milestone and turned it into a sour, ugly mess.

[GB]

Call me unfair and hypocritical, and I may have to answer for what I'm about to say at the White Throne of Judgment, but I hope Bonds falls down a flight of stairs and breaks enough bones not to cripple him for life, but so he'll have to retire before passing Aaron. And it's for the sole reason that if you look up "horse's a**" in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, you'll find a photograph of his expanded cranium. So I guess you can say it's because I don't like him.

The ironic thing is that Henry Aaron, in reality, is not a very nice human being either, although he's Mother Teresa compared to Bonds.

Still, I agree that Selig ought to be there if the record goes down, and that he can't after the fact wash his hands of the stain that was put there when MLB was turning a blind eye to steroids for filthy lucre ... and every old-line baseball fan like me, with half a brain, knew what was going on and why it was being overlooked at the time.

[MrEdd]

…Bonds cheated…He is like all too many people in the public eye today.'

And those Duke lacrosse players. We don't need evidence, it's the seriousness of the charge.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

[Boston Blackie]

And those Duke lacrosse players. We don't need evidence, it's the seriousness of the charge

Barry Bonds testified to a grand jury that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring, but said he didn't know they were steroids.

Your Duke lacrosse players comparison would hold IF the lacrosse players had testified they had group sex with their accuser but didn't know it was rape.

[N. Theknow]

MLB looked the other way because the increase in offense was creating a resurgence of interest in baseball, and this was much needed after they called-off the World Series in 1994.

I have an "Official Ball" from the Never-was 1994 World Series in a plastic cube on my desk.

[GB]

One more thing ... I don’t know which entity makes it more difficult to be a free-market capitalist, the lords of Major League Baseball or the RIAA. :)

[MrEdd]

Were steroids Illegal at the time? Rape is an actual crime that didn't happen in the Duke case. MLB didn't ban steroids because they helped the games popularity and they were legal. When the popularity of the game was repaired somewhat, it became time for "Oh my! were they doing that? Why those charlatans!

Not buying it.

[GSWarrior]

Agree with your comment about Aaron. At the rate Bonds is hitting lately, who knows when he will eventually break the record. Is Aaron supposed to travel around the country with the Giants wating for Bonds to eclipse the record. It could be days or weeks of waiting.

[Boston Blackie]

Were steroids Illegal at the time?

Yes, steroids were/are illegal without a valid prescription.

Rape is an actual crime that didn't happen in the Duke case.

Exactly...the Duke players did not break the law...why would bring them into the discussion?

Not buying it.

Not selling it.

[Tallguy]

I say that, because of the additional scrutiny, many pitchers stopped taking steroids to avoid detection, and the loss of muscle mass resulted in increased strain on the body, resulting in more trips to the DL.

Tightly wound baseballs, smaller ballparks, better lighting for night games, not allowing pitchers to pitch inside... steroids. All are factors in the latest Home Run Era.

That said, I'm not sure that steroids help pitchers all that much. Steroids, as I understand it, aid in recovery from workouts. Their effect is on muscle fibre. I would think most pitching injuries occur in the connective tissue of the shoulder & elbow. Not sure steroids are going to do diddly there.

Older pitchers often have trouble with their legs & back. I can see steroids extending a pitchers career to a certain extent.

[donaldo]

Bonds is a scum bag, pure and simple. No one will ever convince me that a few extra repetitions in the gym accounted for his 73 home runs in a season when his previous high was only 46. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade here but no one and I mean no one can touch what the Babe did. Get a copy of Jenkinson’s book on Ruth if you want an explication of pure batting power. Ruth was a neuro-muscular freak. He hit 714 home runs with 4,000 fewer at-bats than Aaron. The guy hit more 500 feet home runs than anyone in history. And get this, Ruth stole home more times than Lou Brock! Say what???????? Look it up if you don’t believe me.

[HeadOn]

The season that McGuire hit 70, we were in St. Louis when The Cards were playing the Giants, and Bonds was in left field.

During warm ups between innings, Bonds consistently teased the KIDS in the left field stands by cocking his arm as if to toss the ball to them before that half inning got underway. He did that several times, laughed, and never threw it up there.

He’s a jerk no matter whether he’s juiced or not.