Comments on: McGwire Comes Clean

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:13:45 +0000

One last word on the subject: As long as Gaylord Perry is in the Hall, we shouldn’t even be debating whether steroid use should keep someone out. Baseball has a long history of tolerance when it comes to cheating. Personally, I’d let Pete Rose in too. If there was any indication that he had thrown a game, or even bet against his own team, I would feel differently but compulsive gambling is a genuine mental illness.

By: John Parent

John Parent — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:27:57 +0000

This is just a guess, but I’m thinking perhaps the bigger boost as far as pitchers are concerned would be with relievers. If we assume that steroids do help to rejuvenate the body, it makes sense that everyday players would see a benefit, as they would be able to stay stronger over the course of a season. The same then would apply to relief pitchers, who work 4-5 days per week. Starters have a built-in recovery period, so perhaps the benefit of steroids would not have been as great as to other players. I think it stands to reason that like greenies, steroids could have been used to maintain a level of physical strength that would have been otherwise difficult to maintain.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:21:04 +0000

I think if we accept the possibility that Canseco was not exaggerating, and the term ‘Steroid Era’ is an accurate description, then we have to look at the change in league wide stats from the eighties to now as largely the result of performance enhancing drugs. In 1989 teams averaged a full run per game less than in 2000, and a full strikeout less per 9 innings than in 2000. Homers per game went up by about 60% (from 0.73 to 1.17), and league batting average went up from .254 to .270. (It’s probably worth noting that these numbers have come down a little, but not all the way, since 2000.) The only point I’m really trying to make is that while I think you’re right that a lot of pitchers were using steroids or other substances, and quite possibly still are – which might help explain the increase in strikeouts – the batters seem to have gotten a much bigger boost.