And I'm open to real scientific evidence, if you've got it, that the ball is juiced. But I need more than just stats. That was the point I was making about the base stealers.
The "record-breaking" seasons have all been from National Leaguers, even though the AL is supposedly more of a hitter's league. Even McGwire suddenly increased his production by 20 percent, the moment he switched leagues.
Recently, Donn Clendennon, the old slugging first baseman from the Mets and Pirates, was in the booth during a Mets game, chatting with Seaver. Clendennon was complaining about watching some "145-pounder jacking the ball."
There seem to be very few routine fly balls any more. I've been watching major league ball since 1968, and from the sort of swing, the sort of pitcher, and the crack of the bat, I'm conditioned to the ball flying a certain way. So are the older announcers. Most "routine" fly balls, which a few years ago would die in the shallow outfield, keep carrying to the warning track, or out of the park, especially all these soft, opposite-field shots. And in August, I saw Derek Jeter fist a ball into Yankee Stadium's center field stands. Now, I am second-to-none in my admiration for Jeter, and yes, he's a strong guy. But no one's that strong.