A Steroid Diary...and an angle that hasn't been explored.

by PopeFlick on Jul 26, 2006 6:57 PM CDT

First:

Home run stats from 2001, the last year before steroid testing.

Now look at this....

Current HR stats, which seem on pace to finish in the same neighborhood.

Now, whatever happened to Jason Grimsley? The pitcher that sang to the Feds? After being a major brouhaha it really has slipped under the radar unless I missed something.

Many stats are out there regarding the % of pitchers that were supposedly juiced. I posted the stats above to illustrate something I think we'll be talking about by the end of the year: pitchers were on steroids so much so, that now that the league is cleaner (I _won't say cleaned because of masking agents and tests that don't exist) due to the increased punishments it's clear that, in fact, with less pitchers on the juice hitting HR's is actually coming easier to many players. Said players are going to be getting a bounce in their totals.

No one will hit that guady 73, but in 2000 only 12 major leaguers clipped 40. This year (and yes there's still a lot to shake out) you right now have over 30 players already at 20, and 20 players are 16 or less away from 40.

Like I said, I don't think it's getting much press now but it's an angle that should begin entering the news soon: less steroids means better hitting numbers in the game. Who would have thunk it?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Correction:

in 2001 only 12 players hit 40+, not 2000.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

by PopeFlick on Jul 26, 2006 6:59 PM CDT reply actions

I would like to see

information on top level pitchers compared from then and now. I am too lazy to look myself since I really hate looking at stats. But I would love to see how many teams had their best pitchers on the DL back then compared to today. The hitting surge could be due to lack of quality pitching across the board since everyone has their best pitchers on the DL it's a hitter's paradise.

The definition of insanity is repeating the same actions over and over and expecting a different result.

by sandbergfan on Jul 26, 2006 8:34 PM CDT reply actions

No offense...

But it's been explored. I think most people now realize that pitchers were juiced as well as hitters, and maybe they were helped more than the hitters, who knows...

by ontheuptick on Jul 26, 2006 9:36 PM CDT reply actions

I try to ignore the subject...

Because when you think about what a multi-million dollars business baseball is, one would figure that somewhere out there people are working to dodge testing.
With all the drugs out there, and all the people dodging tests, it just seems like someone would be a step ahead of the game, as baseball has typically acted a step slow.

by thekansasian on Jul 27, 2006 2:28 AM CDT reply actions

I stay off of the subject...

..because unless there is proof, then no one has the right to judge a player.

I'm sure that everyone has worked with someone who is just way too energetic all of the time. Does everyone accuse them of being on cocaine?

There are people who are genetically capable of having natural physical strength....until there is proof, I think that it is absurd for any of us to throw out accusations.

Mean people suck!!!

by santo for prez on Jul 27, 2006 3:25 PM CDT reply actions