Interesting article on Bonds' "armor"

[Peregrine]

I found this pretty interesting because I didn't know that his armguard had actual mechanical motion to it that aids his swing.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003621797

[Crapshoot]

It has to be satire - I thought that was fairly obvious.

[Peregrine]

I don't think so, it's from a respectable source and I found an article on the Web about the author talking about how he's a mechanics freak and essentially worked his way into a job with the Cardinals by obsessively breaking down hitting and pitching mechanics.

I mean, it could be satire, but the guy appears to mean it.

[John Galt]

I thought it was satire too, but it lacks an ironic marker and isn't very funny.

[Shkspr]

Not only does it not read as satire to me, but I can easily see how it might have an effect on Bond's ability that is orders of magnitude above any biochemical aids he might have had. I'm pretty blah on the impact of steroid use on the game - I'm not a person who feels that Bonds' record needs to be denigrated because of any drug controversy - but from the description given of the way the armor works, I'd be very interested in followup research.

EDIT: Just moved from the piece to Baseball Prospectus where Will Carroll just blasted the piece as "ludicrous". It'll be interesting to hear the arguments.

[Karlifornia]

Can't anyone wear one of these..or can only Barry Bonds?

[stevew]

Can't anyone wear one of these..or can only Barry Bonds?

I think they significantly cut back on excessive body armor a few years back, so like the article said, only an injured guy could use it.

[Crim]

Can't anyone wear one of these..or can only Barry Bonds?

It's kind of like Mjollnir. Only Thor, or someone else who's "worthy" can use it. So, Captain America, when they end up bringing him back to life, he could prolly wear Barry's arm guards.

Just sayin.

[Tigercat]

It's kind of like Mjollnir. Only Thor, or someone else who's "worthy" can use it. So, Captain America, when they end up bringing him back to life, he could prolly wear Barry's arm guards.

Just sayin.

Damnit, use a f'in spoiler tag! Now seeing a zombie-resurrected Captain America on a comic cover sporting a baseball elbow guard will mean NOTHING to me. Thanks a lot, jerk! :mad:

[Chief Rum]

I'll bet the padding inside is soaked in the "cream".

[gstelmack]

Isn't this the armor he got so he could crowd the plate and worry less about getting hit because his elbow was sticking out of the batter's box and into the strike zone?