Fark the home runs. I'm going to miss all the bench clearing brawls.

Maybe if they made steroids mandatory the game wouldn't be so freakin' boring.

Unlikely

I think it's more likely that they got a softer batch of baseballs this year.

I used to love baseball, but I stopped pretending to care this year. Stupid, boring and ancient.

*yawn*

I don't know what's more juiced, the baseballs or the players...

Maybe it's because the balls are smaller. Oh, wait ... no steriods ... I guess the balls are getting bigger again. I'm flummuxed.

Don't go hurting yourself jumping to conclusions like that.

The number of homeruns is actually slightly up, but no one is going to hit over 50 this year. Mainly cuz both Sosa and Bonds missed big chunks of time this year. I'm not saying that no one in the Major Leagues is taking steriods, but it's probably not as bad as everyone is saying.

I thought they quit playing baseball on each opening day of the NFL.

It also could have somethig to do with the fact that it seems like the overall amount of quality pitching has improved now that a lot of players who came in during expansion years and later are beginning to prove themselves.

I could be wrong, though.

Go Cubs, the curse of the goat is over.

Forecasting a trend based on one year of low HR totals is about as scientifically rigorous as predicting an ice age based on three days of low temperatures.

Meanwhile, I am not complaining about HR totals, as the 2003 Boston Red Sox are about to become the most powerful offensive lineup of all time. We've been spoiled in New England this year-- they score so many runs so often, I usually turn off the TV when they get to 10 runs, which happens all the time...

If they were allowed to use steroids, they wouldn't need corked bats.

Well now, the total number of home runs hits this year is actually up a shade from 2.09 per game to 2.14 per game. What's down is home runs by the superstar players at the top of each league.

So whoop dee.

Mandatory Steriods would be pretty sweet...may then they'd stop scratching their nuts on TV.

McGwire didn't use steroids, he used andro, which was perfectly legal.

And besides, steroids don't hit the ball for you. I think juiced balls and tiny-ass ballparks are the reason behind the home run explosion moreso than steroids.

You know, I remember reading an article about 15 years ago asking if the 50-home-run hitter was gone forever. George Foster did it in '78 (I believe) with the Reds, and Cecil Fielder didn't do it until '89 with the Tigers (giggle).
Funny how times change.

I don't care about home runs, I just want the Mariners to get into the playoffs.

The game is cyclical. Now we are in the age of the good young pitcher and the aging superstar slugger. That is all.

How is Javy Lopez getting away with it?

NotoriousW.O.P

I'm guessing that was about the same time that they said there would never ever be another great offensive catcher. And then Mike Piazza and Pudge came along. Baseball reporters seems to make any prediction, no matter how ludicrous, just so that they can say they are right if it actually does come true.

Would anyone compare this to the number of sacks in football. It would read NEWSFLASH...Number of sacks down in NFL after steriod testing is done in the NFL. I think baseball is going to have it's ups and downs as far as home runs go. Do you not think that there are any pitchers that are using steriods to throw the ball harder??

I used to love baseball, but I can't stand it anymore. Boring until the playoffs, and even then not so great. The last two World Series have been outstanding, but little else.

Not that they ever would, but shortening the season to say -- maybe 100 games (80 would be my choice) and having a longer post season -- adding one more round would make it much more interesting.

162 regular season games is just ridiculous.

TV in the bullpen helps them score runs at home, Don.

I see NotoriousW.O.P and I agree. There are lies, damn lies, and statistics. These stat-loving ass clowns can make the numbers say whatever they want. I'm sure they can link the introduction of steroid testing to stolen bases, triples, balks, and the Affleck-JLo split.

"Oh my Lord, Gigantism!"

"Its like there's a party in my mouth and everyone's invited!"

Torture numbers long enough, and you can make 'em say anything.
Sports reporters do like making absolutely ludicrous predictions just to see if they stick.

/former sports reporter

"Oh my Lord, Gigantism!"

Wanna feel old? Watch that episode on the DVD and think where all those guys are now.

Clemens-almost retired.
Mattingly-retired.
Sax-retired.
Ozzie-not only retired, but HOF.
Boggs-retired.
Scoscia-retired, managing the Angels.
Strawberry-retired, in and out of jail.
Canseco-retired, in and out of jail.
Griffey-still playing, yet with nowhere near the ability he had just a few short seasons ago.

Dr. Beergood

Javy Lopez is hitting HR's because it's his contract year.
The last time his contract was going to be up he was hitting them too.
Only to go back to living up to his nick-name which is "Out #3".

ElwoodCuse: Yeah, I was just thinking of that the other day.

"Mattingly, cut those sideburns you hippy!"

Ever since the strike, they really lost it. Who cares about baseball anyway.

popfreak -
I used to love baseball
When was this? In the 80s? I mean, of course, the 1880s. Before, you know, the 162-game schedule.

Not that they ever would, but shortening the season to say -- maybe 100 games (80 would be my choice) and having a longer post season -- adding one more round would make it much more interesting.

Shortening the season? You never were a baseball fan, you heretic!

162 regular season games is just ridiculous.

No, the wild-card is just ridiculous. As is your idea of adding another round of playoffs. The whole reason that a 162-game schedule is meaningful is because the teams that have the balls to make it to the top during a long season such as that are the only ones who deserve to get in. Now, with the the 3-division leages, a wildcard is mandatory, but any baseball fan (and it doesn't matter how old they are, it matters if they know anything about the history and majesty of the game) knows that the whole setup we have now was created to increase revenue. Look how many teams now have an undeserved shot at the championship. The 1997 Marlins and last year's Angels come to mind. If you can't win your division, you aren't good enough to contend for the title!

Arrrggh. People who claim to be fans of a sport that is being diluted beyond recognition, yet clamor for more dilution are not fans of the sport at all. You may have had a favorite team, but you were no fan of the game...

/baseball-geek rant

The only way any of this could be worse is if Ben Affleck played baseball.

DON LOCKWOOD
If you turned off the TV when the Red Sox Gave up 10 runs or more,especially the bullpen, instead of when they scored 10 runs or more, you could pretty much get rid of your TV.

/Red Sox suck and alway will. Go Yankees.

Why is it that whenever someone bashes the BoSox, they're invariably a Yankee fan, or vice versa? I know there's a rivalry and all, but how come you never see this: YANKEES SUCK!!! GO ORIOLES!!! WOOT!!!

The day professional golfers start hitting the juice you know we're headed to hell in a handbasket.

Barry Bonds would never have the record if they had tested for steroids before.

Nobody grows three hat sizes in that short of time without taking something!

Goddamn, nuckleheaded, you sure are a purist.
Now, don't get me wrong, I think that the DH is an instrument of Satan and games are meant to be played on grass (in the afternoon whenever possible...there's nothing quite like blowing off work for a ballgame).
The extra round of playoffs are a revenue-generator, but they've also made the game more exciting. I mean, really, would anyone give a shiat about the National League if there weren't three divisions and a wild card? The Giants and Braves would've had it sewed up by Labor Day (whether or not the lack of competition is a function of the greater imbalance in baseball is a debate for another day).
I can't squawk about the wild cards or the expanded round of playoffs. It holds my interest. Now that rule about the All-Star game deciding who gets home field advantage in the World Series? Now that's a load of shiat.

I don't give a rat's ass if they use steroids or not, but at least own up to it. Check out pictures of a young Sosa, Bonds or McGwire. They were sticks back then. Sure McGwire had those big ol' forearms, but I tyhought that was because he was out dancing with Rosie Palmer and her five sisters a little too often. Building up that much muscle later in life, like in your late 20's and early 30's seems unlikely without some juice. It makes me laugh that Sammy Sosa would call a press conference to absolutely deny he uses steroids. He even said, "I wish I could take a test right now to prove it to you." Then a sportswriter, maybe Steve Rushin or some othere Sports Illustrated guy stood up and said, "Sammy, I have a doctor ready to test you about 5 minutes from here." Sosa got as befuddled as me at age 10 trying to ask a girl out on a date. He made up some bull shiat and got the hell out of Dodge.

I miss the days when I was a kid, when 30 homers was good, 40 was outstanding, and 50 was a huge event. Now weak-ass lame-o's like Brady Andreson (wtf?!?!) hit 50? That sucks!

I think the home run surge could be attributed to a number of factors.

From a business angle, the strike really affected people's view on baseball, so they lowered the pitching mounds, juiced the balls, and brought the fences in. More homeruns = bigger fan base = more $$$ brought in.

But the only thing i know that changed this year is the steroid testing. Yeah, the balls could be a little less juiced, but it doesnt solve the mystery of quite a few players having off years.

My case in point: Billy Koch. With the A's last year he had 50+ saves and a fastball in the high 90's. This year with the ChiSox, he's 15 pounds lighter, lost about 5-6 mph on the fastball and sucking horribly.

sahnhennessy, blame the East Coast bias. I'm sure it is at fault somehow. Darn Notre Dame.

cdo, it was Rick Reilly.

NuckleheadEd:

I agree. This whole wildcard thing sucks.

Speaking of fans, here's one for ya. Last year when the Angels won the WS, I wore a shirt to work the following days that had the WS Champion logo, trophy, etc. A customer asked me if I had gone to any of the WS/ALCS games.

I said, "No. I was a real fan and went during the regular season. Were you at the 14-inning game versus Toronto where Eckstein hit the grand slam to win it? 'Cause I was."

Anaheim baseball fans...*sigh*

HoodooGuru

Yeah, but 43 homers by a 34-y.o. backstop? Bill Dickey and Johnny Bench were done by his age.

He's not human. He feels no pain. He can't be reasoned with.

/Beavis & Butthead

contract year = big numbers

I agree that Bonds seems suspiciously larger lately, yet still whiny. I prefer the kind of bonds that mature.

I don't give a rat's ass if they use steroids or not, but at least own up to it. Check out pictures of a young Sosa, Bonds or McGwire. They were sticks back then.

Is it me or has Frank Thomas' physique remained pretty much the same since he started playing? Sweet swing, that guy. No steroids for him - I hope.