Well, now that they've destroyed that ball, nothing can top the Cubs. Though adding Maddux to their rotation will probably do more for them than last night's ritual...
Meanwhile, back in Yankeeland, looks like Bernie Williams will be out of action for a while. Thank god, Andruw Jones is nailed down in Atlanta--I'm sure Steinbrenner is uneasy right now.
Well, it looks like the (expletive deleted by author) is hitting the fan re steroids: Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield seem especially vulnerable.
I wonder what will come of it. My prediction: not much...
its a quandary for MLB: should they eradicate their long-kept dirty little secret, or continue covering it up for the sake of gate sales?
It is indeed a problem. I'm sure the powers-that-be are rooting for Bonds to make a strong effort to break Aaron's career homer record. Aaron has already made a statement about something being done about steroids.
The tension will be between pleasing the fans (many, if not most, could probably care less as long as the big guys hit homers) and the integrity of the game. Whatever that means anymore...
Anybody got a current picture of the slimmer/trimmer Giambi
Jason Giambi, 1991:
Jason Giambi, 2003:
To be fair,
I was a lot thicker in my thirties than in my twenties (and certainly now in my forties), so there's no way to be sure without testing...
...take a look also at Jeff Bagwell, who is by his own admission, down 22 lbs. from last season and noticeably smaller all over...
PD, he supposedly reported to 2004 spring training much slimmer and trimmer....
It's true that we thicken as we age, but steroids create a certain kind of thickening, I believe. Bonds is a good example. He is, shall we say, a bit oddly proportioned...
you mean, not like the Babe who got his proportionality from beer
Yeah, the Babe earned his shape the old-fashioned way. What he achieved in that regard, though, I doubt helped him too much as a power hitter!
Actually D' the Babe didn't fall off real bad until he was in his last two full years when he was 38 and 39........
http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/ruthba01.shtml
True, Bill. I just meant that indulging in beer and hot dogs, though they changed his shape, probably didn't improve his game. In other words, he did well despite his diet...
Wow, what do you think he would have done with proper behavior, diet and 'roids
If I remember correctly, he died at 50...............
he looks like a frickin' string bean!
if the babe had a personal trainer and lived a squeeky-clean lifestyle he probably would've hit upwards of 1000 dingers...
From the Astros Grapefruit League HQ in Kissimmee (read as I ingested my ginseng, CoQ10, and glucosamine/chondroitin):
Quote:OK, so who's next up to fall under the spell of 300-game winner Roger Clemens? Wade Miller? Tim Redding? Perhaps you, Roy Oswalt?
Andy Pettitte was taken under Clemens' wing shortly after the Rocket was dealt to the Yankees before the 1999 season, the two became workout buddies and the rest is history. They won two World Series together (1999 and 2000), they played in four Fall Classics together (2001 and 2003 in addition to '99 and '00) and now they're riding in like the Lone Ranger and Tonto to inject some adrenalin into their hometown. So how about it? Anybody going to join Clemens -- and Pettitte now, too -- in their now legendary workout program? "I might -- after I get in shape more," Oswalt joked. He added, though, that he may watch one of their workouts before actually deciding whether to participate. As for Clemens, look out: One thing he noticed Sunday was a lot of junk food bags near some of the younger players' lockers. "There's nothing wrong with fast food, but I see all of these wrappers," Clemens said. "I remember I'd eat a cheeseburger on purpose in front of Dwight Evans (in Boston) in the locker room and then go out and pitch a shutout, and he's doing the ginseng. That's where I'm at now."
That Astros staff could be scary this coming season!
Re Giambi: I read in today's NY Times that his trainer will not be rehired by the Yankees. I didn't even realize that the team paid for his personal trainer. Took about deep pockets...
i thought i had read that they both came over from oakland together, and that giambi was paying the salary, not the yanks.
That's what I thought too, Region, but today's Times suggests otherwise...
semantics:
yanks pay giambi.
giambi pays trainer.
ergo yanks pay trainer, and reserve the right to fire trainer...
Well, the paper says he was Oakland's strength and conditioning coach and come to NYY with Giambi. The Yankees employed him as a batting practice pitcher last year, which sounds like a way to keep him on the payroll while he catered to Giambi's needs.
Maybe I'm splitting hairs here; it wouldn't be the first time!
