cgator Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 Some tie steroid tests to drop in HRs NEW YORK, Sept. 22 ? Baseball?s biggest sluggers look as if they?ve lost a little pop in their bats. For the first full season since 1993, it appears neither Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa nor any of the game?s top power hitters will reach 50 home runs. COULD IT BE BECAUSE BASEBALL started testing for steroids this season? Some players think so. ?You look at the home-run numbers and you look at the averages that have gone down this year,? said Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox, a two-time American League MVP. ?I think it?s a telltale sign that it?s having a positive effect.? Before the 1994-95 strike, players hit at least 50 homers just 18 times. Babe Ruth in 1927 was the only one to hit 60 until Roger Maris had 61 in 1961. Then came an unprecedented power barrage. Since the strike, players have reached 50 homers 18 times. Sosa topped 60 in three seasons and Mark McGwire did it twice, hitting a record 70 in 1998. Then in 2001, Bonds hit 73. Going into the last six days of this season, Alex Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers led the major leagues with 47 homers. Bonds had 44 for San Francisco, tied for second with Philadelphia?s Jim Thome. ?There was a time when 60 was just an easy thing to do for guys,? Giants manager Felipe Alou said. Although the big bashers have dropped off, the overall average hasn?t. There has been an average of 2.14 homers a game this year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, up from 2.09 last season. Still, it?s below the three peak years: 2.28 in 1999, 2.34 in 2000 and 2.25 in 2001. ?Things go in cycles,? Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. Bob Costas, a longtime baseball broadcaster and author, says it?s too early to tell if there?s a link between drug tests and the power drop at the top. ?Is it possible that there will be some positive, long-range effect? Yes. But I wouldn?t jump to that conclusion yet,? Costas said. Bonds spent much of the season dealing with the death of his father, Bobby. The 39-year-old outfielder, who has repeatedly denied ever using steroids, has played in just 124 games, averaging a home run per 8.5 at-bats. Sosa has played 132 games, missing time because of a beaning and a suspension. He has 36 homers, an average of one per 13.8 at-bats. ?A lot of the big home run guys got hurt and had some time off,? said the Dodgers? Rickey Henderson, another former MVP. ?Barry Bonds had a real big tragedy, and Sammy Sosa?s been on the DL and got suspended because of a corked bat, so maybe it threw his timing off.? Former MVPs Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti have said many players use steroids. Last year, the players? association agreed for the first time to allow testing. All players gave urine samples this year as part of ?survey? testing, with samples taken twice from each player within a given week. In addition, the commissioner?s office had the right to test up to 240 players randomly. If more than 5 percent of players test positive for steroids this year, ?program? testing will start next season. If that happens, players who test positive would undergo treatment, and if they test positive a second time, they could be suspended for up to 15 days. Results of this season?s testing won?t be available until after the season. Cubs pitcher Mike Remlinger doesn?t believe there?s a link between testing and the power drop-off among top hitters, in part because players caught using steroids this season won?t get in trouble. Dodgers reliever Paul Shuey disagrees, saying the start of testing is the only explanation. ?I would have expected to see somebody hit 50 home runs after the way it?s been going the last few years,? he said. ?That?s the only change I could see.? Officials from management and the union downplayed steroid testing as a reason 50 homers might not be reached. ?There?s been talk about some guys showing up to camp slimmer, but I think a lot of the talk does players a disservice,? said Gene Orza, the union?s No. 2 official. ?Barry Bonds would have had 50 homers, but he was out.? Bob DuPuy, baseball?s chief operating officer, said it was simply another cyclical baseball trend. And, after all, pitchers have a lot to do with it, too. ?There are a number of very good young pitchers who are maturing and having an impact,? he said. ? 2003 Associated Press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expos Ranchod Posted September 23, 2003 Share Posted September 23, 2003 I wonder what the results were for Javy Lopez... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMillan Marlins Posted September 24, 2003 Share Posted September 24, 2003 FA yr = GET ROIDED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mephisto Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Thats not right. Lopez had a great year he's avg was over .300 and everything. It was he's best year ever. Just look at him the guy is not pump up like Sosa or Bonds. He just had a good year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugg Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Lopez got SMALLER this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotcorner Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Lopez was a bit of a shock, but at least people knew he could hit homers... At least there's no Brady Andersons this year, coming out of nowhere to hit 50 homers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJBurnett34 Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Javy Lopez doesnt take em....he puts good swings on the ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Selig Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Its all a cyclical process. There are times when homeruns are hit in great numbers and certain players put up amazing numbers. There are times when we enter pitching dominating eras. That is the beautiful thing about this great game, eras change seemingly overnight. As far as our drug testing policies, I do not think they have had much of an effect, as we have not had anyone test positive for steroids this year. Baseball is truly a great sport and I am proud to be representing this wonderful game and doing such great things for it, especially in these times of labor peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlins Posted October 14, 2003 Share Posted October 14, 2003 anything can happen on any givn day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaseballGoody2Shoes Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 I wish they'd make the damn things ILLEGAL...would love to see Fairy Bonds go without them for a change and watch him SUCK...maybe he'd finally pull his BIG head out of his arrogant @$$ and see he truly is not God! By the way, I wonder if Sosa's been corking his bat forever? Makes me wonder if he was corking it the whole time he and Big Mac were in the HR race. Why did Sammy the Pansy get off so easy? I am surprised nothing was said about his corking thing during the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPosey Posted October 21, 2003 Share Posted October 21, 2003 2002: 46 HRs in 403 ABs 2003: 45 HRs in 390 ABs Also, Bonds is now 39, which also makes a huge difference, plus he had to deal with injuries throughout the year as well as the death of his father I agree about sosa though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trz2003 Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 HGH....can't trace it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.