Barry Bonds: The New HR King...Tainted?

Barry Bonds: The New HR King...Tainted?
By Jake Bailey, TheSportsStand.com (8/7/07)

We all knew it was coming. It was going to happen sooner or later. Like it or not, Bonds has broken the record for the most career home runs in the history of the MLB. It is a historical day in the history of baseball, but it will be forever clouded with Bond's "alleged" use of performance enhancing drugs.

There's a lot of evidence against Bonds. First off, with the BALCO investigation, many names came up that used steroids. Barry Bonds was on that same BALCO program. Every training program in BALCO included the use of performance enhancing drugs. So obviously, everyone who trained with BALCO at least used it once. Next piece of evidence. Now, I'm not a trained doctor or anything, but I'm pretty sure you stop growing around the age of 18. Who gets bigger at like age 37? Trainers have said that his hat size and shoe size increased. Head and feet stop growing, I can see maybe a shirt size if you put on weight, but head and feet? No. Third. There is an abnormal increase in the amount of home runs he hit. Before 2001, the most he hit in a single season was 49. Then he went immediately to 73. What!? Before 2000, he averaged about 31 home runs per season. In 2000, he hit 49, then he hit 73. Didn't make sense to me either. Counting the year 2000 and after, he averages about 44 home runs a season. And that's even with his 5 HR year in '05 when he was hurt. He got better with age which usually never happens physically. Most athletes play smarter after age 30, but physical talents and athleticism usually decline after mid-30s. This guy got better in his late 30s. Just doesn't make sense. It's a plus 13 home run average. Finally, Bonds also admitted he used steroids...except he "didn't know". How do you not know what you're putting in your body? If I'm a professional athlete, and my performance and income depend on my body, I'm going to make sure I know everything that I put in my body isn't going to negatively affect it. Other evidence of steroid use can be detected in Bonds. Bonds seems more volatile now when spoken to in the media, especially when he's confronted. People who use steroids are easily angered. Bonds is also slowing down and he's breaking down, which is another trait of steroid use. Many teammates even commented on the physique of Bonds. After being overshadowed by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, he can back the next year bigger and stronger and was called "The Incredible Hulk".

Now, there's an argument that people use to defend Bonds. "You still need to hit the ball". Not true. Studies have recently shown that steroids can improve, speed, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination. It shows in Barry's stats as well. His batting average went up. His "At-Bats Per Home Run" also went up. Usually reaction time and such decline with age as well.

Barry Bonds is now the new home run king. He's still getting a lot of negative feedback. He deserves every last ounce of it. He tainted this day and moment by using steroids. And yes, I'm saying it. Barry Bonds used steroids. I always felt that Bonds would become one of the greats without the use of steroids. Now, he will always be the poster-boy for the steroid-era, and accused of cheating. Put that asterisk next to 756. It needs to be done. Bud Selig won't do it, however. He will continue to do what he's done for the past decade. Sit back and ignore the problem. Now that the record is broken, I guess all I can do is sit back and watch and hope Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols break the record. Both are on pace. If Alex Rodriguez plays for as long as Bonds has so far and continues at the same pace, he will have about 786 home runs. And he has been consistent all his career. Albert Pujols, if he continues at his current pace, he will have 861. Of course, their numbers will probably decline because right now it's obvious they're not on steroids. Hopefully neither of these players will not use them, because they can do it on their own. Note that these stats and projections are without the rest of the 2007 MLB season so statistically it can be more.

Is Barry Bonds the greatest HR hitter of all time? Not to me. I think that Hank Aaron is no doubt the best HR hitter. He had a pure swing, and they just kept going out. Many think that Babe Ruth is, and that he would have more if the stats were kept the way they currently are.

In conclusion: Congratulations Barry Bonds on breaking the record and enjoy the new tainted one.

The ball might end up on eBay but will no doubt arrive into the Hall of Fame. The only question now is which hat Bonds will put in the Hall of Fame.

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