Posted on 08/06/2007 10:19:31 AM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp
NEW YORK Beyond his alleged steroid use, Barry Bonds is unquestionably guilty of the use of something that confers extraordinarily unfair mechanical advantage: the “armor” that he wears on his right elbow. Amid the press frenzy over Bonds’ unnatural bulk, the true role of the object on his right arm has simply gone unnoticed.
This is unfortunate, because by my estimate, Bonds’ front arm “armor” has contributed no fewer than 75 to 100 home runs to his already steroid-questionable total.
Bonds tied Henry Aaron’s home run record of 755 on Saturday night and will go for the new standard this week back at home in San Francisco. As a student of baseball – and currently a mechanics consultant to a major league baseball team -- I believe I have insight into the Bonds "achievement." I have studied his swing countless times on video and examined the mechanical gear closely through photographs.
For years, sportswriters remarked that his massive "protective" gear – unequaled in all of baseball -- permits Bonds to lean over the plate without fear of being hit by a pitch. Thus situated, Bonds can handle the outside pitch (where most pitchers live) unusually well. This is unfair advantage enough but no longer controversial. However, it is only one of at least seven unfair advantages conferred by the apparatus.
The other six:
1) The apparatus is hinged at the elbow. It is a literal "hitting machine" that allows Bonds to release his front arm on the same plane during every swing. It largely accounts for the seemingly magical consistency of every Bonds stroke.
(Excerpt) Read more at editorandpublisher.com ...
>>>Well, all I can say is congratulations to Henry Aaron for hitting 755 home runs!<<<
Hank Aaron is THE MAN (in Baseball), like Walter Williams is THE MAN (in conservatism).
Perhaps Bonds has used, or is using, a drug that there currently is no test for.
Babe Ruth at the peak of his career would today be a hopeless fatass who couldn't even make the cut for concession stand operator for the Bowie Baysox AA minor league team.
One of the most ignorant comments that I've ever read.
aren’t there hints about Payrod’s use of steroids?.......
And your point?
Has any mentioned Ray Chapman to you? Has any mentioned that vicious headhunting started once batters started walking up to the plate wearing plastic on their heads?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Ruth#Career_pitching_statistics
He had a lifetime batting average of .342.
He is 2nd in career on base percentage.
As a pitcher, he had a career record of 94-46, with an ERA of 2.28. He started 148 games, and completed 107 of them. In 122 1/3 innings, he gave up only 10 HRs.
No, The Babe was not just a power slugger.
‘I mean our 7 and 8 batters had averages close to .300! No one to pitch around. No one.’
Indeed that was the case when you played the Big Red Machine. And waiting on the bench were some very good hitters if needed.
Instead of mere speculation, I’d like to see some empirical research on the “Bonds device.” You’d think that amateur baseball players might be interested in the thing just like amateur golfers often use balls that are bouncier than regulation.
‘Carbo was a BOSOX not a Cincy guy, right?’
He came up with the Reds, which made his late inning heroics in game six of the 1975 series even more noteworthy.
I did not know that...thanks
How anyone can take baseball seriously is beyond my understanding.
Amen.
How the hell you doin?
When people talk about the Aaron vs. Bonds, they forget that Aaron didn’t have to face potentially juiced up pitchers.
What was the speed of a fast-ball then, vs. now? Honest question - I’m truly curious. I honestly don’t know if pitchers have advanced in their delivery or not, but I’m sure some baseball geek can give provide data to the 72nd decimal place.
Also, roids were available since the 30’s and they weren’t outlawed until the late eighties / early 90’s. Would we even know if Aaron or any of the other “greats” used them?
Most of the “asterisk” crowd exposes their ignorance and bias whenever they discuss this stupid stuff.
It is a game afterall. Make them all take roids in my opinion. Make theme keep playing as their liver falls apart and their joints seize up. Make them play with no pants too, so we can laugh at their tiny pee pees. This would be more fun, and funny, to watch. They should earn their millions.
All true, but lets not forget Aaron played his last few seasons as a DH.
I did not know that...thanks
No problemo. I cling to my memories of a time when baseball actually meant something.
Per the article other hitters can not use the device:
At the moment, Bonds' apparatus enjoys "grandfathered" status. Similar devices are presently denied to average major leaguers, who must present evidence of injury before receiving an exemption.
Bionic man on steroids?
Hank played the first seven years of his career under the 154 game format and only played more than 154 games a few times. Ruth of course started out as a pitcher so played far fewer games than aaron or bonds.
What was the speed of a fast-ball then, vs. now? Honest question - I’m truly curious. I honestly don’t know if pitchers have advanced in their delivery or not, but I’m sure some baseball geek can give provide data to the 72nd decimal place.
100 mph fastballers have been around alot longer than you think. Walter Johnson’s fastball was once “measured” at 100 mph in 1914. (albeit not by a radar gun)
This mantra by some that todays baseball talent is so far ahead of the 1920’s and 30’s players is pure bunk.
I would argue the other way around.
What was the speed of a fast-ball then, vs. now? Honest question - I’m truly curious. I honestly don’t know if pitchers have advanced in their delivery or not, but I’m sure some baseball geek can give provide data to the 72nd decimal place.
100 mph fastballers have been around alot longer than you think. Walter Johnson’s fastball was once “measured” at 100 mph in 1914. (albeit not by a radar gun)
This mantra by some that todays baseball talent is so far ahead of the 1920’s and 30’s players is pure bunk.
I would argue the other way around.
I’d say the ability to set any speed you want on pitching machines makes that a tad overrated, but then again I don’t follow baseball, haven’t for almost two decades because I find it as ‘real’ as rasslin’.
All thats missing is the flower boa’s, and some bleach bottle blond in ‘come hither’ heels traipsing around the basepaths between innings.
“I didn’t look it up, but how many extra homers did Aaron hit because of implementing the DH? Maybe there should be an asterisk on his record, too.”
Good point.....hadn’t thought of that one! ;>)
Walter Johnson once attended a game pitched by Bob Feller, whose fast ball was measured at about 99 mph by radar. He was asked if he was faster? Johnson, a modest man who didn’t talk much, hestitated. Finally he said: I was faster. Somewhere I read something about Babe Ruth’s bat speed, as it was calculated by someone. Phenomenal. But of course, the crucial fact is that the Babe did not play the outfield for, what three or four years? Had he done this he easily could have hit a hundred more homers.
On the other side, Ruth never had to play night games, and Bonds, to give him all due credit, has worked fanatically on his physical conditioning. The easy life finally got to the Babe.
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