This is my take. Since steroids have taken over the record book, I see 3 people that can save baseball, ranked in order of probability.

1) Albert Pujols. Pujols came in a power hitter. It's not like Pujols was never supposed to hit for power. Bonds* came in a lead-off guy for Pittsburgh (I think). Pujols is a rare, natural talent and he has the chance to shatter every record in the book. There's no reason to even suspect Pujols of taking anything illegal at this point. He's a great defensive player, an absolutely awesome hitter, and one of the more exciting baseball players to watch. Pujols could take over the record book restoring the legitimacy of the modern record book.

2) Alex Rodriguez. Just hit 439 tonight (10th of the season) passing Andre Dawson and he still has quite a few years left in him. I think there's a real chance that Rodriguez could top Ruth, Bonds*, and perhaps Aaron.

3) Ken Griffey, Jr. Not likely but has a chance to restore legitimacy in a quicker fashion than either Pujols or Rodriguez. He's got a good 5 years left. If he stays healthy and continues to do what he does, then I think we could be celebrating 715 like the baseball should be celebrating Bonds'* 715 had he not completely screwed it all up.

It's ashame. As a true baseball fan, I wish I could be happy about Barry Bonds*. 700 home runs is an amazing feat. I used to read books as a kid about the Babe and Hank Aaron and I never thought I would see the day these records would ever be passed. I wish I could watch this chase as vehemently as I did the single season race back in 1998 (before we really knew what was going on). I wish I could watch in amazement at Bonds* hitting 715 or 756 like I did when Cal Ripken, Jr. played his 2,130 consecutive game passing the great Lou Gehrig. I wish I could be happy about this. I wish I could be amazed.

But I just can't.

5/22/2006 11:16:53 PM

ARod tried to swat the ball out of the first baseman's glove during the world series

he loses all credibility whatsoever

[Edited on May 22, 2006 at 11:19 PM. Reason : "Bonds*" is dumb...no one really cares anyway]

5/22/2006 11:18:24 PM

Ya, AROD is a bitch.

But add Andruw to the list. He's already to 300 at 28. Not to mention just now hitting his prime. You never hear anything bad about him either, unlike some others. Not that I'd put him over Pujols.

[Edited on May 22, 2006 at 11:25 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2006 11:22:00 PM

no one likes a-rod but he'll likely shatter aaron

griffey was the albert pujols of the 90s except better and even more likeable, but he's done now

however, pujols is going to hit 800+ HRs -- unless he really is 30

--

^ as much as i'd love to see it happen, and as likely as it is, i think andruw peaked last year

[Edited on May 22, 2006 at 11:23 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2006 11:22:23 PM

ARod is a bitch... however you can't deny his natural talent. I think we can respect that at least. If it were ARod and not Bonds* I would be happy about this.

I hope Andruw does produce more and more and more. If a Braves record has to be shattered, I hope it's by another brave.

5/22/2006 11:30:49 PM

and the "team" that can save baseball is the detroit tigers... yea im a bias fan... but its such a huge turnaround in two years for them making it actually uplifting and all that sappy bullshit

5/22/2006 11:33:37 PM

it would be a great story

but no one gives a fuck about the tigers

5/22/2006 11:36:45 PM

If the Cubs win the WS

5/22/2006 11:41:20 PM

no, I have listed the only 3 things that can save baseball. And I am right.

5/22/2006 11:42:06 PM

Quote :

"There's no reason to even suspect Pujols of taking anything illegal at this point."

why do you say that? of course there's a reason. he's blasting homeruns like a motherfucker. remember, the people taking the steroids are always one step ahead of the testers. hell, bonds never tested positive for them.

and yes, pujols is a stand up guy, but so were other players who took roids. its unfortunate, but in this day and age pretty much everyone is going to have doubts hanging over their heads.

5/22/2006 11:43:46 PM

if pujols is on roids that will destroy baseball

5/22/2006 11:46:20 PM

baseball doesnt need to be saved

/thread

5/22/2006 11:58:50 PM

Pujols hasn't changed physically. Bonds* came in as a freakin lead-off hitter. Never a power guy. Now he's the best power hitter the game has seen. Pujols hasn't tripled in size. We can't play a video lapse of Pujols and watch his already adult body grow into levels that are completely unnatural.

and you sir ^ are a fucking idiot. Just get the fuck out if you're going to troll like that.

[Edited on May 23, 2006 at 12:07 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2006 12:07:19 AM

bonds hit 400+ homeruns before his body started to become freakishly large.

all im saying is bonds was a great player before the roids took hold. and that has nothing to do with this thread. carry on.

5/23/2006 12:10:32 AM

That's the unfortunate thing. Bonds* was a hall of famer before any of the physical changes. He was a great player, no doubt. It's ashame he's ruined it. But being a great player does not make you the greatest player. And unfortunately, he's passing the greatest players in the record book.

5/23/2006 12:12:47 AM

arod is even a worse mvp than nash

5/23/2006 12:20:06 AM

Quote :

""Bonds*" is dumb...no one really cares anyway"

Quote :

"baseball doesnt need to be saved /thread"

He's not trolling...baseball is doing just fine.

5/23/2006 12:20:51 AM

It does need to be saved. The ironic thing here is that the single season record chase back in the late 1990s saved baseball from the doom that the strike brought. The roids saved baseball, but now it is destroying it. For it to remain, it needs legitimacy in the record books

5/23/2006 12:22:25 AM

tv's ruined baseball

5/23/2006 12:24:57 AM

ok, this is a good thread. if you have nothing to input, please don't pollute with your inane comments.

5/23/2006 12:31:49 AM

this thread is on the same popularity level as baseball

5/23/2006 12:37:28 AM

night games ruined baseball

fucking shoeless joe said so

5/23/2006 12:40:50 AM

Quote :

"and yes, pujols is a stand up guy, but so were other players who took roids."

Raffy Palmeiro, Jason Giambi, Jose Canseco, Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds.

Which one of them is a stand up guy?

WTF are you talking about?

Albert Pujols is not on steriods. Newsflash, he has been kicking ass for 6 years now but is just now REALLY getting noticed because Bonds sucks ass now.

5/23/2006 12:59:42 AM

uh palmeiro, giambi, sosa, and mcguire were all well liked and respected by the players, fans, and media before the whole thing got out of control. plus the countless other players who used steroids but you and i never heard about.

5/23/2006 1:09:30 AM

Who the fuck is mcguire?

Get out.

He hit 70 home runs in one fucking year. How could you NOT know how to spell it?

5/23/2006 1:10:19 AM

k

terrific rebuttal

5/23/2006 1:12:49 AM

Palmeiro lied to Congress.

I never said Sosa but he prolly did roids too. Sosa used cork. What makes you think the players respected these guys? The fans sure don't.

How exactly do you get they are respected?

5/23/2006 1:16:22 AM

reading comprehension

Quote :

"uh palmeiro, giambi, sosa, and mcguire were all well liked and respected by the players, fans, and media before the whole thing got out of control."

5/23/2006 1:17:15 AM

Don't you mean:

uh palmeiro, giambi, sosa, and mcguire were all well liked and respected by the players, fans, and media before the whole thing got out of control truth came out

That looks more like it to me. But whatever Im not going to argue you because I know baseball and I know the game is fine. I could go on and on and I guarantee you I know the game better than you, but its just a message board.

5/23/2006 1:21:21 AM

the fuck are you talking about kid?

i suggest you re-read the entire thread, two times maybe, and then try again.

5/23/2006 1:22:46 AM

You are the one arguing me. I don't think baseball needs to be saved. It has the most diehard fans of any professional sport. I just wanted to know why you say those that have been suspected of steroids are stand up guys?

Canseco is hated even though he has came out and told the truth. I mean surely you don't think Bonds is a class act? Giambi possibly. Raffy no. Sosa not so much. McGwire is the only one.

5/23/2006 1:29:37 AM

christ jesus

first of all i never claimed baseball needed to be saved.

Quote :

"I just wanted to know why you say those that have been suspected of steroids are stand up guys?"

secondly, and i repeat, READING COMPREHENSION.

re-read it all, then try again, k?

Quote :

"and yes, pujols is a stand up guy, but so were the other players who took roids once were too. its unfortunate, but in this day and age pretty much everyone is going to have doubts hanging over their heads."

[Edited on May 23, 2006 at 1:34 AM. Reason : easier for you?]

5/23/2006 1:31:14 AM

God help us if he is on roids, but I feel 99% sure he isn't. Baseball is over if he ever tests positive. I mean Matt Lawton is the highest profile player to be suspended after Raffy. Juan Rincon and those kind of players haven't hurt the image much. Possibly some guys getting caught/suspended helps.

He will save baseball. Look at the current poll on espn.com. 60% will consider him the all-time home run king is he hits 62 this year over Big Mac and Bonds.

Hopefully Albert Pujols is going to break records without asterisks.

5/23/2006 1:38:42 AM

i think we all feel the same way

5/23/2006 1:42:11 AM

Baseball is beyond saving.

5/23/2006 2:41:09 AM

i say let the players take the roids if they want to...i dont really give a shit if they do or don't thats on them...honestly i think that 90% of fans would rather see a bunch of HRs than a pitching dual anyday (though now pitchers have been using roids too)

5/23/2006 9:00:41 AM

^ I would rather see a 1 - 0 pitchers duel anyday over a 13 - 10 game with multiple homeruns.

My prayers are with Pujols. I hope he can stay healthy and continue. The minute he passes Roger Marris with 62 is the minute I consider him the single season record holder.

Baseball does need saving. But maybe history will give us someone to remember from this era instead of gigantic bodies and needles.

Quote :

"It has the most diehard fans of any professional sport."

And dude, I love baseball and that should be evident from my posts here. But baseball does not have the most diehard fans of any professional sport. I don't think it has the most diehard fans of any American professional sport. Soccer, hands down, has the most diehard fans. THey kill eachother over matches. And I think first place in America would have to go to the NFL.

But that takes nothing away from my admiration for the beautiful game of baseball. And it is truly a beautiful game. It is perfect in almost every sense. If the bases were > 90 feet apart, ground ball outs would be too easy, < 90 feet, to difficult. Modify those dimensions and stealing bases would be way too easy or way too difficult. You have people standing 60 feet away throwing a ball in the 90s at a target that is 12 inches wide which gives you between a 1 and 1.5 second timeframe to make a decision... if those dimensions were anything else, it would favor the batter/picther too much. Baseball is one of the few true defensive games. 3/10 makes you a pretty decent hitter. If a QB throws 30%, he's off the team.

Baseball really is a magnificent game.

[Edited on May 23, 2006 at 9:05 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2006 9:04:38 AM

the * thing is really gay

5/23/2006 9:07:04 AM

jesus christ go to chit chat with your shit please or was that one of the cool dares your frat brothers made you do?

5/23/2006 9:07:35 AM

i'm not in a frat

TKE are my initials


having that said, nobody cares about your opinion. baseball is doing VERY well right now

[Edited on May 23, 2006 at 9:11 AM. Reason : ,]

5/23/2006 9:10:22 AM

Quote :

"TKE are my initials"

well thats good, I was worried you were a TKE

5/23/2006 9:13:58 AM

Quote :

"ARod tried to swat the ball out of the first baseman's glove during the world series"

ALCS, brah, ALCS

5/23/2006 10:08:49 AM

^^^haha

tim wins the thread with that one

5/23/2006 10:19:49 AM

Quote :

"honestly i think that 90% of fans would rather see a bunch of HRs than a pitching dual anyday "

that is ridiculous man


and yea, mlb still gets very high ratings.

5/23/2006 12:15:57 PM

Quote :

"ARod tried to swat the ball out of the first baseman's glove during the world series"

personally... i've been railroaded many times at first with runners trying to knock the ball lose on a close play ...


I'd much prefere they just tried to swat my glove:x

5/23/2006 1:15:57 PM

what do ya'll think of railroading? I remember back in the early 1990s Atlanta catcher Gregg Olson was railroaded and had to be carted off in an ambulance. I know the catcher's objective is to obstruct the path and the runner's objective of course is to unobstruct it... it just seems that it could be really really nasty... it has been really really nasty.Personally, I'm glad Pierzynski got punched. The catcher didn't even have the ball yet. He didn't need to knock it loose from anywhere. I'da decked him.

5/23/2006 1:19:12 PM

So what if it's really really nasty; they're professionals. It's a risk they should be willing to take in exchange for making millions to play a game.

Quote :

"If the bases were > 90 feet apart, ground ball outs would be too easy, < 90 feet, to difficult. Modify those dimensions and stealing bases would be way too easy or way too difficult. You have people standing 60 feet away throwing a ball in the 90s at a target that is 12 inches wide which gives you between a 1 and 1.5 second timeframe to make a decision... if those dimensions were anything else, it would favor the batter/picther too much. Baseball is one of the few true defensive games. 3/10 makes you a pretty decent hitter."

A couple things here - first of all my feeling is that if the bases were 92 feet apart, ground balls would take a little longer to get to the infielders; then throws to first would take more time. This should make up for the extra step it would take baserunners to get to first. Similarly for 88 ft. basepaths - it's about proportions.

And the 1-1.5 second timeframe thing - if the strike zone or distance from the mound to home were changed - making the batter or pitcher were favored more - we would just accept that 5/10 (if the batter were favored) or 1/10 (if the pitcher were favored) makes you a pretty decent hitter. 3/10 is a rather arbitrary ratio based on how likely it is to get a base hit, it doesn't mean that if it were to change, the batter or pitcher would be favored "too much."

5/23/2006 1:35:35 PM

5/23/2006 1:36:35 PM

DAN GLADDEN

5/23/2006 1:38:09 PM

someone dig up some attendance/television numbers

5/23/2006 1:39:01 PM