Would Barry Bonds have the same record today if he didn't use Steroids?

[Taverner]

Now I know this is going to ruffle some feathers, wad some panties and generally irk many...but I would say yes.

Steroids do many things: they make you grow real big, they add strength through the muscle mass and they also wear out your heart. There's also a bunch of other bad things they do but those don't show up until years after use.

However, the one thing Steroids don't have any effect on is accuracy. Taking steroids would never assist, say, a curling champ. Or a sharpshooter. In fact the steroids would inhibit your accuracy - being that there is a bunch of "dumb muscle" in the way, and it would be harder to hit, say a home run.

Now I'm sure many of you have played baseball. Anyone here has the strength to knock a ball out of the park - the dynamics of the bat vs the ball are what does it. Strength has very little to do with it. Now applying that strength - thats what makes a Barry Bonds from a Joe Schmo. Can you hit the ball accurately to the point of knocking it out of the park?

Anyway, my rant is done :)

[maveric]

1. Considering that before he allegedly started taking rids he was a # 1 or 2 hitter in the lineup.

And hit around 20-35 HR's a year. Then he goes the Bay Area and gets involed in BALCO...he bulks up fast, his head grows, and suddenly he's hitting 73 HR's...

Without the roids he may have hit 540 or so dingers, IMO.

[Taverner]

2. Are you sure that came from roids and not experience?

Most hitters get better as they age.

Now his running game, yes steroids would have a huge effect on that.

[LoveMyCali]

3. If they didn't have some effect

why would players use them? :shrug:

The added power may be the difference between a warning track shot or a home run, also they help reduce recovery time when there is an injury meaning less games missed so yes, I think they have a big effect on whether or not he got the record.

[Taverner]

5. Aye - recovery time would be quickened

But I still feel he deserves the record.

[Elidor]

6. They would also affect how quickly you can run

Making the difference between a base hit or being tagged out. No way he would be where he is without the roids.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. Nice try

:rofl:

[flvegan]

7. Hi, Tav. I'm going to say it...you don't know much about performance enhancement

in sports.

"Steroids" is a VERY generic term as you've used it, going from Bonds to curling to sharpshooting. Fact is, what you call "steroids" could enhance each of these activities.

Barry, btw, isn't just allegedly using "steroids" as there's HGH and amp in the mix as well.

That said, would Bonds have the same record w/out his alleged chemical enhancement? If we stipulate that he's used, then no, no he wouldn't.

[KitchenWitch]

8. His batting average would likely be the same(* see body), his slugging percentage would be less

and I am certain he would not have hit so many homers.

* His batting average would be about the same, with some adjustments for the times he reached on IBB.

[begin_within]

9. The truth will come out eventually

[TZ]

10. I actually don't believe so because of biology...

His atheletic abilities increased with age, something that is not natural but CAN be attributed to steroid use. Oh and steroids can HELP heal faster so its entirely possible age and physical injuries could have taken a toll on him and knocked him out of baseball years before getting close to the record

[Kutjara]

11. If you really want to tie your brain in a knot...

...ponder whether he would have the same record if neither he nor the pitchers he was batting against used steroids (or other performance enhancing drugs). :)

[GOPisEvil]

12. Maybe. What about all the pitchers that were juicing?

What if Babe Ruth had to face African-Americans? What if baseball hadn't expanded in 1960 and 1969? What if ball parks got bigger instead of smaller? What if the ball continued to be hand-sewn, instead ofmore machine made these days?

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. What if the British hadn't invented baseball? (n/t)

[GOPisEvil]

14. What if David never slew Goliath?

The sports world would be deprived of a cliche. Also, what if the horse that defeated Man O' War was named something other than "Upset"?

I have lots of questions, but no answers. :shrug:

[jakefrep]

15. Bonds was a hell of a player before the steroid clouds started swirling

And most of the guys caught using steroids are nobodies. Never mind that Bonds spent the latter stages of his career playing in stadiums more conducive to home run hitting than Three Rivers. I'm not sure that steroids made that much of a difference.

[madrchsod]

16. he would have been the best baseball player ever but

his ego got in his way. it`s not the steroids, it`s the other shit he was taking that gave him the edge.

[madrchsod]

17. it`s not steriods it`s the other shit he was taking

that made him faster and stronger than what he should have been for his age.

[madinmaryland]

18. The Truth is, Barry Bonds is an American Hero,

So just get over it....



:hi:

[Danger Mouse]

19. i want to kiss those twisted muscles...

:*

:puke:

[Danger Mouse]

20. I doubt it.

Bonds knew how to hit. The roids helped him make those hits into homers.
He also devours babies.