07-14-2009, 03:21 AM
So I looked around at some stats just now, comparing guys. I tried to find a way to prove just how steroids effect a hitter, and their overall power numbers. Using the perceived logic that steroids = home runs, I decided to look at doubles to compare.
Take Mark McGwire for instance, the most probable steroid user, along with Bonds. According to Canseco, they both juiced before it was a trend, so you can eliminate the "pre-juice" talk with Big Mac, because his numbers are power-heavy from his rookie year in 1987. If you look at doubles, my theory is that that is a truer statement of how good of a pure hitter a power hitter is. McGwire's career high in doubles was 28. Yes 28. That's average. Ryan Theriot had more in 2007, and will likely eclipse that this year.
Career numbers for McGwire:
583 HRs (avg of 50/season)
252 Doubles (avg of just 22.season)
When he hit 70 in 1998, he had just 21 doubles. That's insane. If a steroids make you a better pure hitter, they would improve doubles too. But they don't, they just boost home run totals.
Looking at Sammy now:
609 HRs (45/season)
379 Doubles (26/season)
In 1998, while hitting 66 bombs, he doubled just 20 times. That's ridiculous. You can't just be seeing the ball better if only your home run numbers improve.
Now, let's change it up and look at Derrek Lee's 2005 season, which is assumed to be steroid-free and one of the best seasons that any of us have ever seen.
46 HRs
50 Doubles
Using the same logic, that would make Lee a better hitter wouldn't it? And would it not show that he did not use steroids OR at least they didn't only enhance his power, thus breaking a trend.
Now Albert Pujols...
351 HRs (43/season)
364 Doubles (44/season)
Now to put the hex in the system...Manny Ramirez
536 HRs (41/season)
518 Doubles (39/season)
Now I know I practically made up this whole theory(unless someone else beat me to it that I didn't have effort of finding on google), but I think it would show that in terms of being a better overall hitter, Manny Ramirez trumps Sammy Sosa. Yes, without PEDs, they both belong in the all, and like Sheps said, those are the only reasons to keep them out. I'm just saying that to me, doubles have more to say on a hitter's ability than steroids itself.
Thoughts?
Take Mark McGwire for instance, the most probable steroid user, along with Bonds. According to Canseco, they both juiced before it was a trend, so you can eliminate the "pre-juice" talk with Big Mac, because his numbers are power-heavy from his rookie year in 1987. If you look at doubles, my theory is that that is a truer statement of how good of a pure hitter a power hitter is. McGwire's career high in doubles was 28. Yes 28. That's average. Ryan Theriot had more in 2007, and will likely eclipse that this year.
Career numbers for McGwire:
583 HRs (avg of 50/season)
252 Doubles (avg of just 22.season)
When he hit 70 in 1998, he had just 21 doubles. That's insane. If a steroids make you a better pure hitter, they would improve doubles too. But they don't, they just boost home run totals.
Looking at Sammy now:
609 HRs (45/season)
379 Doubles (26/season)
In 1998, while hitting 66 bombs, he doubled just 20 times. That's ridiculous. You can't just be seeing the ball better if only your home run numbers improve.
Now, let's change it up and look at Derrek Lee's 2005 season, which is assumed to be steroid-free and one of the best seasons that any of us have ever seen.
46 HRs
50 Doubles
Using the same logic, that would make Lee a better hitter wouldn't it? And would it not show that he did not use steroids OR at least they didn't only enhance his power, thus breaking a trend.
Now Albert Pujols...
351 HRs (43/season)
364 Doubles (44/season)
Now to put the hex in the system...Manny Ramirez
536 HRs (41/season)
518 Doubles (39/season)
Now I know I practically made up this whole theory(unless someone else beat me to it that I didn't have effort of finding on google), but I think it would show that in terms of being a better overall hitter, Manny Ramirez trumps Sammy Sosa. Yes, without PEDs, they both belong in the all, and like Sheps said, those are the only reasons to keep them out. I'm just saying that to me, doubles have more to say on a hitter's ability than steroids itself.
Thoughts?
I hate my pretentious sounding username too.