Why the All Star Game just isn't the same any more:

[cboy4]

(Barry Bonds, 1996 Home Run Derby Champion, Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia)

Barry @ 2007 All Star Game, AT&T Park, San Francisco

[trumad]

1. Yeah---the good old days---

when Steroid infested players like Bonds, McGuire, Sosa, and Giambi would put on a show for the gullible masses...

[JonLP24]

2. Oh please 1998 and 1999 Home Run derbys were better

His swing is the sole reason why he hit so many home runs.

[Upton]

4. The reason Griffey hit so many HRs

is because he played in hitter friendly parks. First it was the Kingdome, a little leaguer could have gone yard out of there, and then the Great American Ball Park which is a bandbox where the ball just flies.

Also, I wouldn't be so sure Griffey wasn't roided up part of his career either..

[JonLP24]

7. Oh please he was not

He is not very big and there wasn't any significant change in size and his name wasn't mentioned in any of Canseco's books, plus his swing was damn near perfect. It wasn't like McGwire where he used power behind his swings. Some parks are hitter friendly and some aren't, he played half his games away from the Kingdome while in Seattle. Plus as a left handed batter he won the home run derby at Fenway which is right handed batter's park.

I'm pretty sure Griffey wasn't roided and those who dispute otherwise I say prove it.

[Upton]

10. Incorrect

Griffey played almost all his games in the Kingdome, he only played 1 year at Safeco, while in Seattle...the bulk of his cheap HRs were hit right there at home. In fact, he sulked when Safeco was built because he found out it was not a hitter friendly park. This, despite his claims of family, was the driving force behind him leaving Seattle.

EDIT: change, or lack thereof, in body type is not a always a good indicator when looking at possible steroid use...look at A-Fraud.

[JonLP24]

11. Playing in hitter friendly parks is part of the game

Just like kickers and punters do well in Denver because of high altitude as well as playing tennis can be difficult playing in high altitude locations or the ball traveling slower on clay courts. Besides he hits more home runs in hitter friendly parks then other baseball players look at the home run derby at Coors for example. He hit more then the other home run hitters. Plus he hit 48 home runs in Safeco not exactly sulking and believe whatever you want to believe. Griffey knows better then you do why he left in Seattle only to come back to Seattle.

As far as A-Rod I don't have height and weight to compare from 1995-2003 so I really don't know. Griffey Jr has always been about average size for someone 6'3 but as far as muscle tone A-Rod has far more then Griffey.

[Upton]

14. Safeco didn't open until July of '99

halfway through the season...that number of 48 for that year is somewhat jaded. Also, Griffey put up HR numbers while playing in the Kingdome, including back to back years of 56, that he never came close to after he left. Sure injuries had a lot to do with it, but the Kingdome was ridiculous...I've been there, medium deep fly balls in most places were HRs.

If Griffey had played in Safeco for 10 years instead and moved on to somewhere like AT&T Park his career HR total would easily be 100-150 less. I'm not saying he wasn't a great player in his prime but I am saying his power numbers are inflated.

[JonLP24]

15. No way

Maybe a few of the ones that barely went over the wall may not have been hit if played anywhere else but you exaggerating the 100-150 less number. Injuries played a major factor in why he doesn't have 150 extra home runs because he lost a lot of lower body strength due to the hamstring injury which contributes to his fluid swing. He still hit 35 home runs despite it during the 2005 season.

As far as AT&T Park it probably is a pitchers park but they have a high number of triples and doubles. Ichiro hit an inside-the-park homerun at the 2007 All Star game so every park his it's advantages and disadvantages.

[JonLP24]

17. I forgot to add what I was going to add

He was the only player ever to hit the warehouse behind the right field wall at Oriole Park so he was very good at what he did which is hitting home runs.

[Upton]

22. I never said he couldn't hit HRs

I said his numbers, due to playing in hitter friendly parks most notably the Kingdome, are inflated..to what extent one can only speculate.

[hughee99]

31. So when I hear that the Giants have the best pitching staff

would be fair to argue that it's only because their ERA is deflated because of AT&T?

[trumad]

12. Nice try douche...

and the reason Bond's hit so many???? Oh yeah---the cream.

[Upton]

18. Thank you so much for your input

on a subject you obviously know nothing about...which in itself isn't that unusual.

[trumad]

20. Oh---and you do?

What a douche.

[wilt the stilt]

3. you are a freakin' looney

the all star game was great until Selig got involved and started interleague play. because the leagues were divided it heightened the meaning of the game. secondly, and I'm not against free agency but that also helped to take out the rivalry of the game. Probably before your time there was a player by the name of Hal McCrae. He couldn't start on the big red machine. he was an all star in the American league. This turned out to be trash talk between the leagues and especially the Reds dissing the American league.

If you watched the games through the eighties it was played with the ferocity of the World Series. Pete Rose running down Fosse was expected and I agree with Pete(as opposed to George"ignoramus" Will. "I play to win".

[ProfessorGAC]

28. Agreeing But In A Different Way

The solution to the situation in Milwaukee was far more simple than Buddy made it.

They simply should have admitted it is OFFICIALLY an exhibition game and it will go 9 innings. If the game is tied at the end of 9, game over. It's a tie.

Making it the home field deteminant for the World Series is a world class stupid idea pretending to be solution for which there wasn't a problem.
GAC

[TZ]

5. Actually I think people wanted to see THIS guy more;

The man who single handedly saved baseball...

He ALWAYS got voted in, no matter his numbers.

[Upton]

9. Not me..anyway he's not above suspicion

I'm sure you know the story involving Ripken's wife, Kevin Costner and the lights mysteriously going off at Camden Yards...all so the great white hope could maintain his consecutive game streak.

[TZ]

16. No I don't .

And I find that label "great white hope" to be offensive actually, in a reverse racism kind of way...

[Upton]

19. Reverse racism?

LOL isn't that what the Republicans have been claiming about Sotomayor? I guess I'm in good company then.

[TZ]

21. You know what.

Just because Repubs use it as an excuse doesn't mean it doesn't exist..It does...And using terms about someone's skin color in a DEROGATORY WAY is racism pure and simple.

[cboy4]

25. Don't be so sensitive in the sports forum

It's a movie title.

[JonLP24]

23. Great White Hope was a pretty good movie

Also did you happen to find this movie offensive?

For the record I think Great White Hype was a funny movie.

[Upton]

6. Barry was great..

all true Giants fans know and appreciate his tremendous accomplishments...look at the way he gets a standing ovation whenever he appears at AT&T Park.

The Bonds haters can say what they wish but Barry holds the records and will forever be known as one of the greatest that's ever played.

[TZ]

8. But only in San Fran.

He's loathed everywhere else. Somehow I don't see the same phenomenon with Hank Aaron.

[trumad]

13. Exactly---

[cboy4]

24. It's interesting how nobody is yelling and screaming that Barry isn't

the true 1996 home run derby champion.

Huh come?

[Forkboy]

26. How often do you stare at him one handed?

[JonLP24]

27. You owe me a new keyboard

I got Pepsi all over it. :rofl:

[Onceuponalife]

29. Oh no you dint!

:spray:

[trotsky]

32. LOLOLOLOL

:thumbsup:

[PVnRT]

33. OH SNAP (n/t)

[cboy4]

34. At ligst it hshvt efljtd my vsjn

[MrSlayer]

30. Bonds always lit up The Vet.

I got to see him win the Home Run Derby in person and cheater or not, he was awesome to watch that day.