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 Aarons 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 ...
Basebore...who cares? I quit caring as a kid when they went on strike in the 70s. I have no idea who even wins the series and really don’t care.
Some teams are just venues for opposing "old" school teams to show off their stripes.
For example... I went to a Tampa Devil Ray game at Tropicana Field two years ago (saw the D.R. play Baltimore and Boston)... these games were "home" games for the visitors. Must really be "fun" for the home team Rays when there are "boos" when the Ray's pitcher attempts a pick-off move to first.
Tampa held their own on the field, but they just don't seem to have the die-hard support.
Last Friday night I watched on tv the H-town Astros vs the Florida Marlins game. There must have been 4,000 total in attendance. Very much like the Expos games I saw in Montreal in '01. Brutal.
#23
It’s amazing how many people who “don’t care” about Bonds feel the need to take time out of their busy schedules and compose posts to let us all know it. ;)
I’m shocked, I tell you. Shocked!!!
Agreed. And, there's a very good reason for that....to many teams.
Cue the "Bionic Man" theme...
That is ridiculous that they grand fathered him.
I did not know that.
I need that about as much as another reason to vote against Hillary! Rodham (Clinton).
It's not like MLB is going to do anything about it.
hrm.. i woner if i can get one of these to help with my golf swing?
I'm getting tired of this. If the author wants to step his ass up to the plate and pop off the difference (655 home runs) go for it. Otherwise, shut up. Did Bonds use steroids? Don't know don't care. How would Hank Aaron have done today? Babe Ruth would have been kicked out of the league long ago for substance abuse.
I'm not looking to Bonds as some sort of idol. And if a kid does that says more about the parenting skills of the parent than whether or not Bonds is a good role model. In today's age, every player out there is doing something that makes them better and stronger than their counterparts from just 20 years ago. If the product is legally subscribed or can be purchased OTC then so be it. It doesn't detract one bit from what he's done.
A-Rod just cracked 500. Let's see what he's doing 5 years from now when he's chasing this record. And when he passes it (which he most likely will) all the naysayers of Bonds and busybodies can shut up about the 'damage' Bonds has done to the sport as the HR king.
She’s not that attractive.
My dad always said that baseball lost its appeal the day they took Dizzy Dean off the air.
Look at the “hands” on that self-styled mistress. Looks like any ‘roids he obtained went to feed the kitty. LOL.
As to story in chief, that Bonds had help, OK now all the Olympic track stars make millions of dollars in endorsements and appearance fees. (Jim Thorpe was stripped of Olympic gold medals for accepting a few dollars in a baseball game). They use starter blocks (Jesse Owens had to dig a little hole in the cinders track to stick his toes in). Look at the monster drivers golfers now use!
Yes, we are talking about games. So let us not get too carried away with it.
I consider his entire career bogus, who cares about this loser?
Gibson would have put one up his sizable butt.
Each time out.
imagine a fn protest where fans add an “*” next to his nme in books in bookstores
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