Bonds and 755 ... and Beyond

[HighPsi50]

This is a baseball heavy topic, so if you're not into baseball it probably seems like a lot of junk

Im interested in you guys and gals take on Bonds and his imminent overtaking of Hank Aaron's home run record. In the next week he will most likely break the record by hitting his 756th home run, and I would imagine we would see him retire at the end of the season maybe 8-10 hr over the record at most.

I know that most people think that he has cheated the game of baseball with use of steroids, although (at least to date), nothing has been proven. Maybe some even go as far as to place an asterisk next to his name in the record books. But at the same time I cannot help but feel a sense of baseball history taking place. Bonds sits 5th on the all time RBI list (Aaron leads in first by about 300 over Bonds), and there are no current players on the list until you reach Ken Griffey, Jr. at 21st (about 300 behind Bonds). That in itself is a great baseball achievement.

I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

I don't think his record will be stripped no matter what is found later on. Rose got to keep his hits record even after he was permanently banned from the game on the Hall of Fame. Previous admitted steroid uses (McGwire, Canseco), have not been penalized against their baseball records.

For the record, I think he certainly used steroids during his career. But mainly, I'm curious if others think this invalidates his home run and other record achievements.

 

[Ronstang]

Out of reverence to a real icon of American athletics I think all teams from here on out should intentionally walk Bonds at every at bat until he quits.

 

[bGIveNs33]

pete rose's betting on baseball didn't contribute to how well he hit.

mcguire never actually admitted to using steroids and canseco doesn't hold any records worth mentioning. If it ever did come out that he used steroids, I would imagine that baseball would do the right thing and take it away from him.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: HighPsi50
I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

This much

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Im under the belief that people have been cheating for years and its just that this one is more noticeable.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HighPsi50
I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

This much

perfection. It's not that he used steroids, it's the fact that he's an asshole, and doesn't deseve to be recognized as a sports legend.

 

[LegendKiller]

Bonds should be expelled from baseball, stripped of all records, and exiled from society for trying to surpass real athletes through artificial means. He was a good baseball player, but far from great. He shouldn't be allowed to make that leap through sheer chemistry, it belittles the greatness of those who were not fake.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Bonds should be expelled from baseball, stripped of all records, and exiled from society for trying to surpass real athletes through artificial means. He was a good baseball player, but far from great. He shouldn't be allowed to make that leap through sheer chemistry, it belittles the greatness of those who were not fake.

A username has never been more appropriate.

 

[BoldAsLove]

If he was a real man, he'd retire right now.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove
If he was a real man, he'd retire right now.

He had to take the steroids because he wasn't a real man so I don't expect him to act like one now. He will always be an asterisk.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HighPsi50
I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

This much

Exactly. The guy not only played better AFTER he turned 35, he played lights out after he turned 35. I wonder what happened. At a time when most unassisted athletes experience a down turn in their abilities, he expereinced a very remarkable upturn.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=jinx

It's going to happen. In a perfect world it will happen in LA to deafening boos. There will probably be a lot of pressure to sit him in that series if he doesn't do it against Florida tomorrow. I hope he plays.

He's an asshat and a cheater. I don't mind the asshat part so much as I abhor the cheater. But the combination of the two makes him especially despicable. There are lots of other cheaters out there but they aren't honing in on epic, mythical records. Hank Aaron not only did it clean, he did it against tremendous social resistance (to put to mildly). Barry Bonds can sit and spin. I'll never recognize him as the rightful home run king.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HighPsi50
I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

This much

Exactly. The guy not only played better AFTER he turned 35, he played lights out after he turned 35. I wonder what happened. At a time when most unassisted athletes experience a down turn in their abilities, he expereinced a very remarkable upturn.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=jinx

It's going to happen. In a perfect world it will happen in LA to deafening boos. There will probably be a lot of pressure to sit him in that series if he doesn't do it against Florida tomorrow. I hope he plays.

He's an asshat and a cheater. I don't mind the asshat part so much as I abhor the cheater. But the combination of the two makes him especially despicable. There are lots of other cheaters out there but they aren't honing in on epic, mythical records. Hank Aaron not only did it clean, he did it against tremendous social resistance (to put to mildly). Barry Bonds can sit and spin. I'll never recognize him as the rightful home run king.

Yep, Bonds gets nothing in my mind. It's also amazing how many people forget how great Ruth truly was. The "Bonds Is the Greatest Ever" lines ESPN and the like throw around make me sick. Ruth would have likely made the Hall of Fame as a PITCHER if he hadn't given that up to become the greatest hitter the sport has seen.

 

[anxi80]

in a perfect world he never breaks the record. unless a near miracle occurs though it looks like that wont happen. but in my eyes hammerin' hank will always be the all-time leader, regardless of bonds hit 800 homers when he retires. i have myself convinced roger maris is still the single season homerun champ so im sure i could do the same for the career record. i hope the truth comes out eventually and the numbers are wiped. i mean hank's story is such a great one in that he sat on 713 during a whole off-season while he received death threats and had racial slurs yelled at him. under all that pressure he still came through and inspired many. bonds doesn't leave that same kind of lasting impression in my mind, so thats why with all the controversy and the way he carries himself that he doesnt deserve anything.

 

[jackace]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HighPsi50
I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

This much

picture says a thousand words. If you can't tell something is wrong by looking at the picture just look at his stats. When you combine the 2 it's obvious as hell he cheated.

 

[Miramonti]

A loser who hits 755 homers is still a loser.

 

[LordMorpheus]

*

 

[Kadarin]

:syringe;

 

[manly]

Bonds Home-Run Pursuit Becomes Feel-Good Sports Story Of Summer

 

[mithrandir2001]

Although it is entirely unlikely I hope whoever catches #756 throws it back onto the field.

 

[child of wonder]

It's one thing to be a cheater and perform well in baseball but Bonds is such an amazing douchebag and asshat that it disgusts me to know he will break the record.

His retarded shit such as blaming the media for the steroid scandal or claiming a report about his mistress was everyone's way of "hurting him."

Here's an idea you worthless cum bubble: don't use steroids and don't cheat on your wife!!

Here's my own version of an old saying: "I hate it when good things happen to bad people."

 

[shabby]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: HighPsi50
I guess the crux of the question is .... "If Bonds did indeed use steroids, how much did it help him?"

This much

He just got fat...
Didnt he actually get a bit taller?

 

[rchiu]

Well, nobody has proved in the court of law that Bonds used steroids. Up until now, all I've seen is some people say this and that in interviews/books (most likely being paid for the interviews/books too). Until somebody proved beyond reasonable doubt that Barry Bonds uses steroids, he should be treated like anybody else in the baseball and his records should be respected.

But if MBL is interested in the integrity of the game, they should do something to either prove or disprove Bonds's guilt and give him the proper respect if he is not guilty or kick him off the league if he is. The way this thing is going, there will always gonna be people questioning him, the record and the league, and that's not a good thing.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

This is just an example of how queer and messed up baseball is - the records are more important that the sport. When Peyton Manning broke the single season passing TD record, it was only a footnote and ultimately a relatively worthless achievement when he didn't win the superbowl that year (a major reason why so many people look over Marino when considering the greatest QBs of all time - he never won a championship).

The fact that Bonds is still playing baseball tells me he deserves the record if he breaks it. I don't really give a rat's ass. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if half the pitchers hes facing are juiced up or at least have been at some point in time when pitching to him. If the integrity of the records is what really matters we really need to have regular tests (like on a weekly basis or something) for all players to see if they're doped up or not. Not like the players couldn't afford a hit from their multi-million salaries to do it...otherwise its all fair game until they actually kick him out or something. It really is pathetic that there's all this concern over statistical records when the emphasis really should be on whether or not any of his potential cheated helped his team into the playoffs or hurt other teams and their own chances...but as I said before, this is baseball and the actual 'sport' means nothing.

 

[Juno]

let him break the record. i predict a-rod will break his record. he's only 32 and is one home run short of 500.

 

[caivoma]

i believe that in modern baseball, everybody is juiced. It is a cat and mouse game, if new testing come out then there will be no drug. Look at Arod, i think that dude is juiced too (imo). Bond deserved the record.