Fascinating column by Joe Posnaski

[Sportsforever]

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/08/06/what-if-we-are-wrong-again-about-steroids/

Posnaski is one of my favorite writers and this column is pretty interesting. I had to read it, think about it, and go over it again before I didn't write it off as crazy.

The one thing I will add is this: I don't think that PED's necessarily made players hit more home runs because of strength, but I do think that PED's allowed for players to remain fresh/bounce back each day during a long season and not wear down. Most players will tell you that when you hit August/September, you just don't have the legs you had in May/April, but with PED's they were able to maintain the pace with fresher legs.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Fascinating column by Joe Posnaski

I don't know if its the ball itself or not, but interesting article indeed.

I definitely agree that steroids/HGH are performance-enhancing in that they keep players fresher.

[ryan36]

Re: Fascinating column by Joe Posnaski

I think that HR's are down...and that's a good indicator steroids helped...despite what Posnaski says

[Speedy]

Re: Fascinating column by Joe Posnaski

I read that this morning. I think it's extremely naive to think PEDs do not help a player hit balls farther. Particular players have amazing hand/eye coordination (such as Tony Gwynn) but not the power so what if he DID take PEDs...

I do agree however that the HR significantly increases baseball exposure and is the highlight of a game. More HRs = better baseball...(remember the commericial Chicks Dig' the Long Ball )

[dalnet22]

Re: Fascinating column by Joe Posnaski

Would MLB revert to a less aero-dynamic ball in an effort to make it look like steroids are no longer a part of the game? Would they risk lowering the home run totals to do such a thing?

If you don't think MLB would tamper with the ball to lessen home run numbers, then you're saying that the ball that's been used since the mid 90s is the same today.

If that's the case, then something else has to explain the drop in home run numbers.

Home runs are not hit with strength as much as they are hit with proper mechanics and solid contact. A healthy body, quality eye sight, and adrenaline make it easier to step up to the plate without fear of the pitcher. Adrenaline makes it easier to withstand getting hit by the ball. Eye sight makes it easier to see the ball's spin and align it with the bat. A healthy body allows you to effectively transfer energy via sound mechanics.

Strength could also make it easier to lift a larger, heavier bat.

PEDs help immensely. Even if the ball was changed in the mid 90s, the drop off in home runs the last four years says something about the power of steroids.

[imapotato]

Re: Fascinating column by Joe Posnaski

Hate that writer

If he isn't picking one set of stats to prove a house of cards argument he takes a far out opinion from someone with less credibility then himself to try and garner headlines.

But I appreciate him telling us expansion caused more homeruns...what a revelation (eyeroll)

This is the same drunk standing against a lampost statistic that the government uses to show unemployment numbers declining when they aren't. The government just plugs in the employed from the Navy and Army...tada...employment.

So instead of trying to prove steroids are not harmful (nice moral compass Joe) why not get physicists in there to show how the ball was juiced by the higher ups in baseball?