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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: What ever happened to the Home Run being exciting? | ||||
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| GonzoStyle | posted on 08-18-2001 @ 12:18 AM |    | |||
| Hanger-On Registered: Jan. 70  | With mcgwire smacking 70 and then 66 in consequtive years and sosa also batting over 60 homers back to back seasons. Is the home run chase exciting anymore? I mean when babe ruth hit 59 homers in 1923 he hit more homers than any other team combined. He hit 60 in 1927. Then it took34 years to hit 61 (with an extended season) almost 40 years later mcgwire hits 70 not 62 but 70 and sosa hits over 60 as well in the same season. Wether it be the players are stronger the ball is juiced whatever. It is natural that people evolve look at boxing. Joe Louis who was a buge man for his day stood 6 feet and brely broke 200 pounds. rocky marciano barely broke 185 pounds as a heavyweight champ. Now you have fighters at 225 who look small. Now with barry bonds a man who never hit more than 49 homers in a single season with 53 already, is it that special anymore? Plus with people like mcgwire and griffey who don't even have 20 yet not even in the race does anyone care? Who the fuck is luis gonzalez anyway, lmao. Records are being broken left and right it's getting a tad ridiculous. Last year when fernando tatis hit 2 grand slams in the same fucking inning yet this year he is MIA something is wrong. I miss the days when the home run derby was something special you would tune in every year to watch the poetry of junior griffey's swing and pray for a junior and mcgwire show down. Now everyday seems like a home run derby.  If I could capture the rage of today's youth and bottle it Crush the glass from my bare hands and swallow it Then spit it back in the faces of you racists and hypocrites who think the same shit but don't say shit You Liberace's, Versace's, and you nazis Watch me, cause you thinkin you got me in this hot seat You motherfuckers wanna JUDGE me cause you're NOT me She-Mail Me Here | ||||
| Lord Duvious | posted on 08-18-2001 @ 12:22 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jul. 01 | I definitely agree. It's getting commonplace to have two 60-something bombers in a year. Do you realize it wasn't that long ago that Daryl Strawberry led the National league in homers with 39? Now 39 doesn't eve crack the top 10. One thing baseball fans will always have is records like Cy Young's career win record, Joe D's 56-game streak, a 30-win season for pitchers. While the excitement of the homer declines, the purists know that the homerun is not baseball.  Proud Graduate of the AFDude Academy Soldier of Freedom-Long Live the Socialist C-Bloc | ||||
| slackjaw The Cunt-Twat is my WORLD! The Great Pumpkin | posted on 08-18-2001 @ 12:23 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | Not to sound like AM, but I honestly believe the juiced ball theory. All of a sudden not just one or two, but several guys are all chasing the record. The same record that shattered a 40 year old record? Of course expansion has diluted pitching talent, but come on.... this is nuts. Baseball is still in trouble, and they know it. The McGwire / Sosa race was the only thing that jumpstarted the slumping sport, and that momentum has quickly faded. I believe that the league would absolutely do anything to keep their coffers full.  School's out, shouldn't you have a job? The Slackjaw School of Satire and Sodomy has completed the removal of all carcinogens..... now they are Tequila's mess! We are officially back in business, first new adoptee gets a lifetime pass to the new fun park facilities! Yes, yes, Spermie World is up and running! Two Slots open. | ||||
| BaLLooN NoT | posted on 08-18-2001 @ 7:17 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | i agreee there is way to many Homeruns in the game now but i still think that a HOME RUN is very exciting.... because my team doesn't hit them too often... but Big Mac Sosa & now Bonds & Gonzolaz there is just so many there is not a day you can go by with out @ least 1 of them hitting a Homerun... but what can u do... change the game??? E-Mail = E-Mail Me AIM = OABaLLooNNoT | ||||
| Rone | posted on 08-18-2001 @ 8:09 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | you know there's something wrong when clay bellinger hits 2 home runs in one game. but seriously, the game has changed and the players have gotten stronger, and theres nothing anyone can do about it. like duvious said, there are many more records that might never be broken, and that still makes the game exciting. personally, i'd rather see someone hit over .400 than hit 71 home runs. also, when the power hitters playing now retire, we will see a very cheapened version of the 500 home run club.  This message was edited by Rone on 8-18-01 @ 8:15 PM | ||||
| DiamondDust | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 10:44 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | Ever think that the hitters are just better? Ruth did in fact hit more homeruns than all other teams combined. (Granted there were only eight teams) But, don't believe any juiced ball theories, but believe these theories... 1. Too many teams, too little pitching (this is the reason that Orosco, Mulholland et al will always have a roster spot) 2. The stadiums are too small. 3. The players are stronger then ever. 4. The players are more prepared then ever. Granted Barry Bonds may have never eclipsed 49, but the fact that he has this year is not so suprising. He is a high fastball hitter, always has been. Add all the above mentions, along with the high strike zone, and he should be bitting that many. The game changes just like life... we the fans have to deal with it. Just another observation of insanity. This message was edited by DiamondDust on 8-21-01 @ 10:50 AM | ||||
| FeelMyFunBags | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 10:58 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | quote: Exactly...too many pitchers who would most likely be good relief pitchers are earning spots in the starting rotation. Look at how often teams have to go into the bullpen in the early innings. The more teams that baseball creates, the lower the quality of pitchers that will be playing. Just a quick something to ease everyone's minds...I read somewhere that when compared to the great players of today etc....no one comes close to being as great as Babe Ruth....regardless of what records may be broken.  why do I say I'm fine when it's obvious I'm not? why's it so hard to tell you what I want? why can't you just read my mind? | ||||
| Snoteater | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 11:06 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Apr. 01 | two things. The reason that Home RUns aren't exciting anymore is that they aren't as rare as they used to be. Everyone hits them now. I remember when hitting 30 homers was huge. now 30 is average. quote: It's because there lefty's  | ||||
| DiamondDust | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 12:12 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | You're right they are lefties... but they are only granted spots because the overall quality of pitching is poorer then ever. Just another observation of insanity. | ||||
| Lord Duvious | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 12:17 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jul. 01 | Everything brought here definitely has merit, especially the watered-down pitching theory. We also have to keep in mind that there are a lot of technological advances that aid hitters these days. Video is a great tool for hitters to break down their swings, scout picthers, etc. Imagine what Joe D or Teddy Ballgame might have done if they had these tools. I have always contended that it's almost impossible to compare players from widely different eras. There just seems to be too many varibles to make a fair judgement. Soldier of Freedom-Long Live the Socialist C-Bloc Minister of Information | ||||
| JJ G.O.O.F.B.A.H.G.S. Soldier of Fortune Spec Ops Division | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 7:41 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01 | I agree that the ball today is juiced and thats why these guys are hitting homeruns. Also that the players today are much stronger then they used to be. Examples of this would be Big Mac, Sosa, and Bonds. But Gonzalez isnt really that big. But when i was watching a game between the d backs and mets, they showed footage of how gonzalez changed his swing and now he gets on the ball better. Another thing though is a lot of his homeruns are line drives. Unlike Sosa or Bonds who hit towering blasts out of the stadiums they play in. Another thing is i agree that in some aspects u cant compare guys like Ruth and Joe D, with the players of today like Big Mac, and Bonds. It was a much different game back then than it is now. A lot has changed. I mean today the breaking ball plays a big part in the game today. Much more than it did when Ruth was playing. Another thing is that the balls today are juiced, back then they werent. Ive seen shows on tv that proved they are juiced. Theres also the ball parks these guys play in. That has a big impact as well. I mean some of the fences in these places are pretty close. And it was mentioned earlier by someone that todays players have the advantage of video tapes and scouting reports to help them determine how a pitchers pitchers. Back then all they might have had was a scouting report at least. thats it. I think today when someon hits a homerun its only exciting if its hit in a tight game situation or if its a game winner. Bottom line is that its not as exciting as it used to be. We're all just monkeys!! | ||||
| Spuds_Buckley | posted on 08-21-2001 @ 8:03 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | I subscribe to two, TWO! newsletters. One being bad pitching, the other being bad ballparks. Bonds is a left handed hitter with a right field porch only 305' away (not an exact number). Enron Field has a left field porch around the same distance is it coincedence that Jeff Bagwell bats right and pulls the ball that same short porch? Just like the Ruth hitting to the yankee right field box seats (314')...parks are built to certain hitters. Camden Yards is less than 300' down the left field line...where do all of Cal's homers go? All of this plus you get stadiums like Turner Field, Coors, and the Ballpark in Arlington (air very thin, ball flies far) it makes for some ridiculous home-run totals. Kiss Me I'm Duff! | ||||
| I Rooned It | posted on 08-22-2001 @ 12:42 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jun. 01 | I think getting a triple is definately more exciting then hitting one over the fence. At least for a triple, you have the hit the ball far and in a place where the OF's have difficulty fielding it, and more importantly you have to have speed to strech one for an extra base. That is more exciting because you can almost always bet on a close play at 3rd. You Give Me Head, It Makes it Worse. Take out Your Fucking Retainer, put it in Your Purse. ---Jello Biafra | ||||
| DiamondDust | posted on 08-22-2001 @ 10:22 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | Spuds nailed it... People don't realize how much of an impact home stadiums have on players stats. The examples of Bagwell/Enron and Bonds/Pac Bell are perfect examples. Stadiums like Dodger Stadium, Shea, Comerica and Safeco will never host 50 homerun seasons. On a similar side note... here's a scenario for all of you tools to ponder. Imagine if Ted Williams and Joe Dimaggio switched teams. Williams with the close right field porch, and Joe D with the Monster. Their stats would be so over inflated. At the same time they both posted great stats, despite having played in the parks they did. But just imagine. Better yet... what if Mays didnt play in the Polo Grounds with its 490' (60 foot high) center field fence with 450' power alleys? Just another observation of insanity. | ||||
| Thrillhouse Alkey gave me my bonus points back. | posted on 08-22-2001 @ 12:06 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Aug. 01 | i agree with you on the home park, but put bagwell in any park and that guy is going to hit a ton. Adopted by AFDude - A member of the WGWNGN | ||||
| Metalfan | posted on 08-22-2001 @ 2:01 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Sep. 00 | GS, is it more exciting when a young filipino boy hits a home run? TOG E-Mail Me  Don't just stare at it, eat it.... King Nothing is now under the watchful eye of the reaper.... Psycho Bitch may now wander the land at her own risk. | ||||
| JJ G.O.O.F.B.A.H.G.S. Soldier of Fortune Spec Ops Division | posted on 08-22-2001 @ 7:38 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01 | quote: That had to be the most ridiculous park ever. i mean 490 to the wall? no way anyone was gona hit a homerun that far back then. And even if they did itd jus barely make it out. We're all just monkeys!! | ||||
| GonzoStyle | posted on 08-24-2001 @ 5:22 PM | | |||
| Hanger-On Registered: Jan. 70 | quote: No it's more exciting when i try to pick up chicks in AIM while my wife and kids are in the other room, TOG. If I could capture the rage of today's youth and bottle it Crush the glass from my bare hands and swallow it Then spit it back in the faces of you racists and hypocrites who think the same shit but don't say shit You Liberace's, Versace's, and you nazis Watch me, cause you thinkin you got me in this hot seat You motherfuckers wanna JUDGE me cause you're NOT me She-Mail Me Here | ||||
| mrbungle | posted on 08-28-2001 @ 9:37 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Mar. 01 | Consipiracy theories abound...all points have been good, but no one happened to mention the fact that "working out" in the 50's and 60's was the walk from the hotel to the bar...McGwire's a fucking monster, he should be wrestling, not hitting a ball lol Guys today are bigger and a lot stronger than they used to be, their conditioning has improved and and with all that, their hitting power has increased...and that's all she wrote...  It's not funny, my ass is on fire.... Thanks to the lovely Jolene for my sig pic... Official gentile member of the HLJC... | ||||
Displaying 1-19 of 19 messages in this thread. |