Bonds Did It

[Concord]

I feel bad for Aaron that a cheater broke his record.

As far as baseball...I used to be a fan but over the years I've just stopped watching it.

There's just something very exciting about a game when I can get up go to the bathroom...stop and get a beer and hot dog walk back to my seat, eat my hot dog...drink my beer and the same batter is still fouling off pitches.

 

[joseephuss]

you could also make that arguement for babe ruth.

You can? Yankee stadium has a short right porch of 314' down the line and 353' to around the bullpen. It was actually shorter when it was first built. It was 295' down the line and 350' to around the bullpen. That is where a left handed hitter would hit most of their home runs. Ruth hit them everywhere in the park, but he mostly pulled his HRs. The original Yankee stadium had a huge center field, but that park was built for Babe Ruth and left handed power hitters.

Fenway Park is the same way and Ruth spent a few years there. He then played a few years in the Polo Grounds(prior to Yankee stadium being built), which also had a short right porch.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I have been a Baseball fan since I was a kid. I to remember watching Hank break The Babe's record. I remember a great many things about baseball that were memerable to me. It was great fun as a kid to play and even to watch the Big Leagues on TV. Back then, you didn't have cable so you only saw a couple games a week. Some of the best memories of my life are about baseball. Last night, I played Video Games with my oldest boy. He's going off to College soon and he was home, which is rare these days. I knew that game was on. I don't even like Video Games but last night that's what I did. I'm happy it's over. I congradulate Bonds for breaking the record. I look forward to his retirement, I hope the day comes that sports can find a way to test for drugs effectively but most of all, I look forward to seeing somebody break Bonds record.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't like Bonds. Not because of steroids, but because he is a jerk. He was a jerk before steroids and is one now. I didn't like him when he was a skinny Pirate.

I can appreciate his accomplishments. Just like his jerkitude he was good before steroids and is good now. Someone mentioned Griffey's sweet swing. It looks great, but Bonds probably has a perfect swing. It is short and compact. It is an amazing accomplishment and one I didn't think I would see. Even with steroids, it is still amazing that he accumulated 756. There is a lot of skill and luck involved to hit that many to go along with the steroids. And look at how many times he walked.

Steroids taints the record. I don't care that much about it having an asterisk because baseball is the one sport that involves so much more cheating or pushing the rules than the other sports. They also have that huge non-list of unwritten rules. When a guy like Gaylord Perry brags about his spit ball and people cheer him, I just don't see too much difference in steroid use. And steroids is not as bad as cocaine or other illicit drug. The purpose is to play their best. That is one plus from a bad thing.

If Bonds was a nice guy I don't think this issue is quite as big as it is today. It would be discussed and debated, but there is a genuine hatred and anger in some circles because it is Bonds. I think that would be there even if Bonds hit them legitimately. The guy is just unlikeable and add in steroids and it makes the situation worse.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Bonds Home Run King
Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron's all time home run record is fine by me.

I'm not upset because baseball allowed players to use steroids and helped create the problem.

I don't think Bonds is on the juice now. I do believe he used steroids in his career.

I'm also one of those who think he was a sure fire Hall of Famer before he started that stuff.

Is he a Hall of Famer now?

Great question. If Mark McGwire gets voted in, then Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Raffy Palmeiro should all go in as well. If you let one juicer get in, then let 'em all in. If you keep one out, then keep 'em all out.

Juice or no juice, I think Bonds is one of the ten best players in MLB history. The guy is an amazing talent. He used all five tools in his career.



Newy Scruggs
www.newdawg.com
Posted at 7:01 AM

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You can? Yankee stadium has a short right porch of 314' down the line and 353' to around the bullpen. It was actually shorter when it was first built. It was 295' down the line and 350' to around the bullpen. That is where a left handed hitter would hit most of their home runs. Ruth hit them everywhere in the park, but he mostly pulled his HRs. The original Yankee stadium had a huge center field, but that park was built for Babe Ruth and left handed power hitters.

Fenway Park is the same way and Ruth spent a few years there. He then played a few years in the Polo Grounds(prior to Yankee stadium being built), which also had a short right porch.

I don't know that I'd say the Polo Grounds were short, per say. Down the line is was pretty shallow but LC, C and RC were a long way.

280 Down the left field line, 447 to LCF, 480 to CF, 440 to RCF and 258 down the right field line. I mean, unless you were a dead pull hitter down the line, The Polo Grounds didn't do you any favors.

When The Babe played at the old Yankee Stadium, it was 280.58 down the Left Field line, 395 to short LCF, 415 to Straight away LF, 500 to the gap in LCF, 487 to straight away CF, 429 to the deepest part of RCF, 350 to the Gap in RCF, 344 to short RF and 294.75 down the Right Field Line. That was a pretty big park. Today, Yankee Stadium is 318 Down the LF Line, 399 to striaght away LF, 408 to straight away CF, 385 to straight away RF and 314 dow the RFL.

 

[CowboyJeff]

Here's why Babe is the greatest of all time:

• Batting Average (.342 career):
  • In the Top 3 in the AL for 6 seasons.
  • Tenth highest career Batting Average.
• Runs (2,174 career):
  • #1 in the AL for 8 seasons.
  • Third on the career Runs leader board behind Rickey Henderson and Ty Cobb.
• RBIs - Runs Batted In (2,213 career):
  • # 1 for 6 seasons; in the Top 3 for 11 seasons.
  • Second only to Hank Aaron in career RBIs.
• On-Base % - Percent of times a player reaches base when at bat (.474 career):
  • #1 in on-base % in the AL for 10 seasons.
  • Second only to Ted Williams in career On-Base %.
• Slugging % - Total bases reached per at bat (.690 career):
  • #1 in the AL for 13 seasons.
  • Remains #1 today in career Slugging %.
• OPS - On-Base Plus Slugging (1.164 career):
  • #1 in the AL for 13 seasons.
  • Remains #1 today in career OPS.
• Total Bases (5,793 career):
  • #1 in the AL for 6 seasons; in the Top 3 for 11 seasons.
  • Fifth on the career Total Bases list.
• Bases on Balls (2,062 career):
  • #1 in the AL for 11 seasons.
  • Third on the career Bases on Balls list.
• Runs Created* (2,756 career):
  • #1 in the AL for 9 seasons.
  • Remains #1 today in the career total Runs Created.

ERA - Earned Run Average (2.28 career):

• #1 in ERA in the American League (AL) in 1916.
• 15th overall for career ERA.

Wins (65 career):

• Top 3 in the AL in 2 of his 5 full seasons as a pitcher.
• Won the most games of any left-handed pitcher in the Majors from 1915-17.

Win/Loss% (.671 career):

• 12th on the list for best career win/loss percentage.

Strikeouts:

• Top 5 in the AL in 2 of his 5 full seasons as a pitcher.

Shutouts:

• #1 in the AL in 1916.

And he did this not by taking steroids, but by chowing-down on hot dogs and beer while waking up in dumpsters outside of ***** houses!!!!

 

[joseephuss]

Bonds Home Run King
Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron's all time home run record is fine by me.

I'm not upset because baseball allowed players to use steroids and helped create the problem.

I don't think Bonds is on the juice now. I do believe he used steroids in his career.

I'm also one of those who think he was a sure fire Hall of Famer before he started that stuff.

Is he a Hall of Famer now?

Great question. If Mark McGwire gets voted in, then Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Raffy Palmeiro should all go in as well. If you let one juicer get in, then let 'em all in. If you keep one out, then keep 'em all out.

Juice or no juice, I think Bonds is one of the ten best players in MLB history. The guy is an amazing talent. He used all five tools in his career.



Newy Scruggs
www.newdawg.com
Posted at 7:01 AM

He never had a great arm. A good arm, but nothing special. Sometimes that arm looked down right horrible actually.

I agree in that if they let one steroids guy in, then they should all get in if qualified. If you forget about steroids are Sosa or McGwire Hall of Famers? I think it is debatable. There are guys that you don't hesitate and say they are HoFers, but I think there is a pause with both those guys. Sosa has the edge in numbers in hits, HRs, RBIs and batting average.

 

[joseephuss]

Here's why Babe is the greatest of all time:

Batting Average (.342 career):

In the Top 3 in the AL for 6 seasons.
Tenth highest career Batting Average.
​

Runs (2,174 career):

#1 in the AL for 8 seasons.
Third on the career Runs leader board behind Rickey Henderson and Ty Cobb.
​

RBIs - Runs Batted In (2,213 career):

# 1 for 6 seasons; in the Top 3 for 11 seasons.
Second only to Hank Aaron in career RBIs.
​

On-Base % - Percent of times a player reaches base when at bat (.474 career):

#1 in on-base % in the AL for 10 seasons.
Second only to Ted Williams in career On-Base %.
​

Slugging % - Total bases reached per at bat (.690 career):

#1 in the AL for 13 seasons.
Remains #1 today in career Slugging %.
​

OPS - On-Base Plus Slugging (1.164 career):

#1 in the AL for 13 seasons.
Remains #1 today in career OPS.
​

Total Bases (5,793 career):

#1 in the AL for 6 seasons; in the Top 3 for 11 seasons.
Fifth on the career Total Bases list.
​

Bases on Balls (2,062 career):

#1 in the AL for 11 seasons.
Third on the career Bases on Balls list.
​

Runs Created* (2,756 career):

#1 in the AL for 9 seasons.
Remains #1 today in the career total Runs Created.
​

And he did this not by taking steroids, but by chowing-down on hot dogs and beer while waking up in dumpsters outside of ***** houses!!!!

Babe is great. There are also things that you have to consider when you evaluate what he did.

There were fewer games played in a season. Those few extra games a year can wear a player down.

There were no night games.

There was no extensive traveling. No teams west of the Mississippi. Even by train, it was not as bad as flying to the west coast.

There were no African-American or Latin American players.

There was no pitching specialization. Pitchers threw a lot of innings. If you didn't get them early, they could get tired and you could get them late in a game. And how about late in a season when a pitcher has thrown a lot of innings?

I won't question that Babe is one of the greats. I think Willie Mays is the greatest. It is just hard to compare players when they play in different eras, different ball parks and with different teams.

 

[CowboyJeff]

Babe is great. There are also things that you have to consider when you evaluate what he did.

There were fewer games played in a season. Those few extra games a year can wear a player down.

There were no night games.

There was no extensive traveling. No teams west of the Mississippi. Even by train, it was not as bad as flying to the west coast.

There were no African-American or Latin American players.

There was no pitching specialization. Pitchers threw a lot of innings. If you didn't get them early, they could get tired and you could get them late in a game. And how about late in a season when a pitcher has thrown a lot of innings?

I won't question that Babe is one of the greats. I think Willie Mays is the greatest. It is just hard to compare players when they play in different eras, different ball parks and with different teams.

actually, scratch that - Josh Gibson in the negro leagues was probably the best home run hitter of all time.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Someone mentioned Griffey's sweet swing. It looks great, but Bonds probably has a perfect swing. It is short and compact.

Before 92-93 he was a line drive hitter. His swing was short and compact but it was not a HR swing. You look at his stats and they prove it out. Griffey has a natural HR swing. It is not as efficiant but because of his superior ability, IMO, it is better. Compare the two players side by side and you will see that Griffey's production was better then Bonds. In the mid 90s, you started seeing Bonds line drives leave the yard. That was simple strength. His swing really didn't change much. He was simply stronger and those balls started leaving the park because of it. You also start seeing his Stolen Base numbers decline. With Griffey, that swing is a natural long ball cut. To me, if your just talking about a guy who is going to hit dingers, there is no question, Griffey has the better swing. JMO but the numbers will bare this out, IMO, if you just look at what both players did at a young age. Take out Griffey's injury seasons and Bonds later seasons where he is suspected of juicing.

 

[CowboyJeff]

Before 92-93 he was a line drive hitter. His swing was short and compact but it was not a HR swing. You look at his stats and they prove it out. Griffey has a natural HR swing. It is not as efficiant but because of his superior ability, IMO, it is better. Compare the two players side by side and you will see that Griffey's production was better then Bonds. In the mid 90s, you started seeing Bonds line drives leave the yard. That was simple strength. His swing really didn't change much. He was simply stronger and those balls started leaving the park because of it. You also start seeing his Stolen Base numbers decline. With Griffey, that swing is a natural long ball cut. To me, if your just talking about a guy who is going to hit dingers, there is no question, Griffey has the better swing. JMO but the numbers will bare this out, IMO, if you just look at what both players did at a young age. Take out Griffey's injury seasons and Bonds later seasons where he is suspected of juicing.

Hmmm....I better start taking some of that "flakseed oil."

 

[joseephuss]

actually, scratch that - Josh Gibson in the negro leagues was probably the best home run hitter of all time.

I think he should get consideration. It would have been great if he and Ruth could have played in the same league. While Ruth did not get to face the great players of the Negro Leagues, Gibson did not get to face the great players of the American League or the National League.

 

[CowboyJeff]

I think he should get consideration. It would have been great if he and Ruth could have played in the same league. While Ruth did not get to face the great players of the Negro Leagues, Gibson did not get to face the great players of the American League or the National League.

anyone know who hit the longest home run in Yankee Stadium history? (no Bonds-ing)

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think he should get consideration. It would have been great if he and Ruth could have played in the same league. While Ruth did not get to face the great players of the Negro Leagues, Gibson did not get to face the great players of the American League or the National League.

This is a very good point. In the Major's, there were no bad ball players. Only better ones. Gibson played against a lot of teams that were not nearly as talented. This is not to say that he wasnt' a great player because clearly he was. He also saw some very good players in his time in the Negro leages. He faced guys like Satchel Page, Judy Johnson, John Henry Lloyd, Willie Foster, just to name a few. However, we will never know who was better only because the compatition was not he same between both leagues. Unfortunate really.

 

[joseephuss]

anyone know who hit the longest home run in Yankee Stadium history? (no Bonds-ing)

I doubt if anyone truly knows. Maybe Mickey Mantle or Reggie Jackson.

 

[WoodysGirl]

N.Y. fan emerges from bleacher bedlam holding lucky ball

By JASON DEAREN, Associated Press Writer
August 8, 2007

WATCH VIDEO: Barry Bonds' home run number 756 hit Aug. 7 in San Francisco. (Getty)




SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- With the crack of the bat a brief stillness settled over the right-center field bleachers at AT&T Park as Barry Bonds' record-breaking homer rocketed toward the crowd.

Then the scrum was on.

As the specially marked baseball landed a few rows up in the fifth inning Tuesday night, dozens of fans wrestled for it and the promise of riches it carried. Suddenly, the metal bleachers vibrated with energy. Grunts, cheers and the cries of frightened children broke the silence as parents sought to shield their youngsters from the chaos.

In the middle of it all was 22-year-old New Yorker Matt Murphy, who emerged from beneath the pile holding the ball Bonds hit for career home run No. 756. His face was bloodied and his clothes stretched and torn from his battle in the bleachers.

A team of San Francisco police officers moved in, extracted Murphy from the crowd, and quickly led him through a tunnel and into a secure room.

As he high-fived other fans, Murphy, wearing a New York Mets jersey and cap, slid the ball into the back pocket of his plaid Bermuda shorts.

Reporters screamed questions, but all he managed to say was, "I'm Matt Murphy from Queens, N.Y."

"I just hope he didn't get hurt," Bonds said after the game, which the Giants lost 8-6 to the Washington Nationals. He said he had no interest in getting the ball back for himself.

"I don't want the ball," Bonds said. "I've never believed a home run ball belonged to the player. If he caught it, it's his."

Murphy and a friend were en route to Australia and in San Francisco for a one-day layover, a Giants spokesman said. They purchased tickets just before the game.

He and the friend, dressed in New York Yankees regalia, were razzed by nearby Giants fans. "Hey, this isn't New York!" one shouted. Murphy and his friend just laughed it off before settling into their seats.

Murphy declined to make himself available to the media.

Baseball memorabilia experts have pegged the ball's value at $400,000 to $500,000. That's well below the $3.3 million fetched by Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball in 1998.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I doubt if anyone truly knows. Maybe Mickey Mantle or Reggie Jackson.

There is a story about Josh Gibson hitting one out of Yankee Stadium but it can not be substantiated. It has been researched and there is no record of a HR that was hit and left the park. The longest recoreded HR by Josh Gibson, in Yankee Stadium is 430 feet. Some say it was Micky Mantle who hit one off the Facade on the roof in right field. It's said that the ball was still rising when it hit. Estimated distance is something like 620 feet. However, I think it might have been Jimmie Foxx who hit the longest shot in Yankee Stadium. He too hit a ball of the facade on the roof of Yankee Stadium but he hit his to Left Field as opposed to Right Field. Everybody knows that Left Field was much deeper in those days. It is said that he hit his just 3 feet shy of leaving the park, according to reports filed of the Home Run.

Who knows?

 

[gazmc_06]

all hail Barry, I am a huge Barry fan and very happy to see him get this record...congrats Barry.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

good

now I hope he chokes to death