Update: RYAN BRAUN added to A-Rod, Gio, Cruz, Melky, Colon, etc. implicated for PEDs

[mzh]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

I wish that "steroid era" would be called the "juiced ball" era. The ball had more to do with the explosion in home runs than PED's. PED's have always, and will always be rampant in sports. The ball was what separated that era more than anything. It really makes Pedro Martinez' numbers during that time even more brilliant. I really think he's the best pitcher I've ever seen.

Bull.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by mzh

Bull.

Players used PED's before that era and they're still using them. Why was that era unique? It was the ball. I remember watching a show where they were comparing the ball used in MLB and the ball used in Japan, they were completely different.

[mzh]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

Players used PED's before that era and they're still using them. Why was that era unique? It was the ball. I remember watching a show where they were comparing the ball used in MLB and the ball used in Japan, they were completely different.

Because Cap Anson, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, or anyone else you want to name until the mid 1980s didn't have access to high-tech anabolic steroids that Bonds et al did. Steroids and HGH are NOT the same thing as Speed or Greenies.

And yeah, MLB and Japan use slightly different sized balls. Our baseball hasn't changed since 1920, and whether it did even then is debatable.

[mzh]

For reference, here's Babe Ruth, Hank Greenberg, and Willie Mays.



Now here are Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa:



Spot the difference? Before the steroid era having the bicep circumference of a baby rhinoceros was probably considered a bit of a medical abnormality among baseball players.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by mzh

Because Cap Anson, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, or anyone else you want to name until the mid 1980s didn't have access to high-tech anabolic steroids that Bonds et al did. Steroids and HGH are NOT the same thing as Speed or Greenies.

And yeah, MLB and Japan use slightly different sized balls. Our baseball hasn't changed since 1920, and whether it did even then is debatable.

The ball during the steroid era is nothing like the ball they used then. The ball has changed a lot over the years. The ball during the steroid era was wound so tight that they seams were indented.

Players today are still well built and they're still taking PED's, but they're not hitting 70 HR's a year anymore. Why?

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

The ball during the steroid era is nothing like the ball they used then. The ball has changed a lot over the years. The ball during the steroid era was wound so tight that they seams were indented.

Players today are still well built and they're still taking PED's, but they're not hitting 70 HR's a year anymore. Why?

Back in 2009 Buerhle was saying that he thought the ball was wound tighter now than it was in the steroid era.

[SI1020]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

I wish that "steroid era" would be called the "juiced ball" era. The ball had more to do with the explosion in home runs than PED's. PED's have always, and will always be rampant in sports. The ball was what separated that era more than anything. It really makes Pedro Martinez' numbers during that time even more brilliant. I really think he's the best pitcher I've ever seen.

Some people are so effin dense when it comes to this issue. With that type of thinking many people hire, promote and fire, sit on juries and make judgements. It's scary.

[mzh]

Originally Posted by SI1020

Some people are so effin dense when it comes to this issue. With that type of thinking many people hire, promote and fire, sit on juries and make judgements. It's scary.

I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying into the idea that Brady ****ing Anderson hit 50 home runs because the seams on the ball were altered slightly.

[SI1020]

Originally Posted by mzh

I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying into the idea that Brady ****ing Anderson hit 50 home runs because the seams on the ball were altered slightly.

Yes I agree with you and you've made a great argument. Love those photos. Some just won't come off an entirely unreasonable and intransigent stance.

[mzh]

Originally Posted by SI1020

Yes I agree with you and you've made a great argument. Love those photos. Some just won't come off an entirely unreasonable and intransigent stance.

What I don't understand is the stance that we should just accept it because it happens. It'll never be a 'pure' game and it never has been, but that don't mean we shouldn't fight to preserve some sort of semblance of integrity.

[ComiskeyBrewer]

Originally Posted by mzh

What I don't understand is the stance that we should just accept it because it happens. It'll never be a 'pure' game and it never has been, but that don't mean we shouldn't fight to preserve some sort of semblance of integrity.

I skimmed over some of the thread, but i didn't see anybody saying that.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by SI1020

Some people are so effin dense when it comes to this issue. With that type of thinking many people hire, promote and fire, sit on juries and make judgements. It's scary.

What? I'm dense because I think the ball was juiced? Way to be an *******, bro.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by mzh

I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying into the idea that Brady ****ing Anderson hit 50 home runs because the seams on the ball were altered slightly.

The ball wasn't "altered" slightly.

For the third time, players are still taking PED's. Why aren't people hitting 70 home runs a year anymore?

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by TaylorStSox

The ball wasn't "altered" slightly.

For the third time, players are still taking PED's. Why aren't people hitting 70 home runs a year anymore?

Because the testing has been improved so much that guys can no longer inject themselves with drugs meant for horses. Guys are still using (and a lot of them are getting caught too) but they can't take the kind of steroids like stanozolol that make you look like in the incredible hulk anymore without getting caught.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

Because the testing has been improved so much that guys can no longer inject themselves with drugs meant for horses. Guys are still using (and a lot of them are getting caught too) but they can't take the kind of steroids like stanozolol that make you look like in the incredible hulk anymore without getting caught.

I honestly don't believe that for a second.