i wrote-in for Ruth
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 6 October 2022 13:22 (one year ago) link
I actually kinda believe in the juiced ball theory explaining why HR numbers suddenly jumped off the charts in the 90s. Dunno if it's been proven one way or another but I've read some pretty convincing articles in support of it. I actually think that makes more sense than attributing it solely to steroids. I'm not really convinced the extra muscle mass matters all that much. A lot of prolific HR hitters are tall skinny dudes. IMO what's more important is that they help players heal from injuries much quicker. when Ryan Braun got off the roids it wasn't like he dropped any muscle, he was just constantly battling hand & back injuries which kept him out of the lineup half the time.
― frogbs, Thursday, 6 October 2022 13:39 (one year ago) link
the juiced ball theory was floating around years before the record got broken, too. i think the 1994 season I read speculation on it in the news, but how exactly they'd pull that off idk. change the material and not tell anybody?
― stank viola (Neanderthal), Thursday, 6 October 2022 15:32 (one year ago) link
no one imagined the could do that before 2018 or whatever
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Thursday, 6 October 2022 15:35 (one year ago) link
so yeah i would think that they totally thought no one would notice
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Thursday, 6 October 2022 15:36 (one year ago) link
regarding roids, cheating in baseball is literally ingrained into the sport's history, so I find it weird to draw the line at steroids. Mickey Mantle's autobiography described the way Yogi Berra would intentionally nick the ball on his shinguard before throwing it back to Whitey Ford, to make the ball 'move' more. lots of players took amphetamines, which gave performance advantages of a different variety (they called em 'greenies' then). Bobby Thomson hit the game winning home run due to his coach stealing signals w/ a telescope...etc etc
― stank viola (Neanderthal), Thursday, 6 October 2022 15:40 (one year ago) link
bonds' at bats during the 2002 playoffs and world series were the most exciting and amazing at bats i have ever watched. seemed like every game it was 3 intentional walks scattered around one at bat where they decided oh well we'll pitch to him BLAM home run!
― oscar bravo, Thursday, 6 October 2022 15:44 (one year ago) link
didn't he get intentionally walked w/ bases loaded once
― stank viola (Neanderthal), Thursday, 6 October 2022 15:49 (one year ago) link
Yup
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 6 October 2022 16:23 (one year ago) link
The '51 Giants had that legendary closing stretch -- and were stealing signs and relaying them with electronic equipment. If anything it was worse than what the Astros got punished for. And yet nobody is advocating for anything stupid like booting Willie Mays from the HOF for his role in the whole thing.
The biggest HR seasons in history happened in the last decade, not during the "steroid era". I really don't think steroids affect hitting all that much, besides helping to keep injury prone players on the field (as frogbs noted).
Congrats to Aaron Judge on an amazing season, but his "record" is nearly meaningless. Voted Bonds, of course.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 6 October 2022 20:00 (one year ago) link
I mean you can argue that Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa don't count but I highly doubt anyone out there in baseball land really feels like a record was broken. they can say they do but I bet they don't mean it. it's kind of bullshit for Judge that half the talk about his insane season has to be about steroids. as though there's anything more to say on the topic
― frogbs, Thursday, 6 October 2022 20:47 (one year ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Friday, 4 November 2022 00:01 (one year ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 5 November 2022 00:01 (one year ago) link
Bonds wuz robbed!!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 5 November 2022 03:56 (one year ago) link