Had Barry Bonds not done steriods, he would still have hit over 600 career homers, so why cheat?

Question

He never would have set the single season mark, nor would he ever break 700 homeruns, I dont think he would have passed willie mays either, but he would have finished 4th on the career list, still not bad, so why would he cheat and take the chance that his whole career becomes tainted ? whats your thoughts.

Answer 1

Interestingly enough, two of the players that have beaten Roger Maris' single season HR mark were both steroids users (McGwire and Bonds). The third, Sammy Sosa, was suspended for using a "corked bat". So none of the players that beat that mark did it legitimately. Bonds' 73 HR season accounted for 9% of his career total, and he never hit more than 49 any other season. Since his home run streaks from his Pittsburgh years did not match those of his Giant seasons, I believe he started using them in 1993, when his total jumped by 12 from the previous year. From those numbers, I estimate he would have hit a little over 600 by this time in his career. Why he cheated is between him and his conscience, and now he must stand for his actions and face ridicule for possibly the rest of his life.

Answer 2

Barry Bonds would have passed 600-700 HR's anyways because even without drugs, his swing mechanics are such where even though he's not perfect, his swing is as close to it than anyone else in baseball.

If Barry Bonds "cheated", why are the other players that took the same chemicals not hitting massive amounts of HR's or pitching no hitters like everyone claims steroids will do for those that are taking them?

Also, baseball and Barry's career is not "tainted", nor did he disgrace the sport, because last I saw, people still attend games and could care less about controversy because HR's are what put people into the seats!

If only people could provide solid proof that people commit such crimes, so that questions like these can be at least 1/2 as believeable.....

Answer 3

According to the journalistic grapevine, during the 1998 season when McGwire and Sosa were getting all the attention, Bonds became extremely jealous. He felt he was being overlooked and vastly underrated in terms of his ability and accomplishments. There was talk at that time that about 25% of baseball was using some form of performance enhancing drugs but it really wasn't a main topic of conversation.

Everyone was fixed on the home run race. Baseball loves it because it was still recovering from the 1994 strike. It needed all the good carma it could get.

It was then that those closest to Bonds said he desided to do whatever it took to put the spotlight on him and away from everyone else. Thus HGH became the "breakfast of champions". Bonds reportedly pumped himself full of the juice in order to go after, not only McGwire's 70 home run mark but also Henry Aaron's career 755 home runs. The rest, as we know is infamous history.

I did my own calculations some time ago and came up with a home run figure somewhere in the 580's. I think you're estimate is right on! He would have easily reached the hall of fame without the need of drugs. Unfortunately his ego got the best of him and now he finds himself on the outside looking in. As far as I'm concerned he should never have the privlige of being elected into the hall of fame.

Maybe he needs to ask himself if all of this was worth it.

Answer 4

In theory, there still isn't any proof he cheated but...

apparantly he saw what McGwire was doing to the record books and how well baseball was rewarding him and he basically said screw being human, I'm getting big and getting mine.

My opinion on Barry, which doesn't mean squat because I have no knowledge of what really went on, is that Barry wanted to do whatever it took and likely explained *wink wink* that he didn't want steroids to be involved and bought into what he and others were telling him. I think Barry *knows* what he was doing, but doesn't want to know that he did anything wrong. Not because he didn't want others to find out, but because he doesn't want to believe he did anything wrong.

Of course, my general arguement is that he wasn't breaking the rules of baseball at the time and we all know that baseball is a game where the rules are written so that if you get away with something that isn't allowed and don't get caught, its okay and therefore not cheating.

Answer 5

I dont know, its sad that he had to do that. He was such an exciting player. I don't like how people say that he wouldnt have reached that mark or he would or wouldnt have done this and that because there is no evidence of it. Its not like it improves eyesight and hand-eye coordination. I am not protecting Barry though, what he did was wrong and he should be punished for it but I dont think it is fair to say what he would have done without any proof. Who knows (even though is very unlikey) maybe he would have hit 800...(just kidding)... Theres just no way to tell. It was all Macguire and Sosas fault to begin with. I dont even think Sosa is athletic, maybe because I say the latter years of his career more than the early but I just dont like the guy...

Answer 6

The circumstantial evidense of steriod use is astounding, yet there's no evidence of cheating. the entire MLB game enthusiasts might have used steriods and lots greater of them did than maximum individuals will ever get to hearken to approximately. Why? because of the fact the an embarassed league likes the entire undesirable press approximately steroids being directed at one scapegoat. they do no longer want all people speaking correct to the placement the entire one hundred MPH fastballs went or why so few game enthusiasts are hitting 30+ homestead runs now. basically carry speaking approximately Bonds.

Answer 7

You've just explained so well the part that really bothers me: He didn't have to do it. Which is why I have no problem with anyone making a special example of him: If we can put the hammer down on Barry Bonds, we can put the hammer down on Joe Shlabotnik or any other scrub.

As for the names on the Mitchell list, if there's proof, punish 'em. If they cooperated and apologized, punish 'em and then forgive 'em.

Answer 8

He might of broke 600 but i doubt he could even come close to 700. And no e would not have broken willie mays.

Answer 9

According to Book of Shadows, it came down to Bonds's ego being unable to deal with not being the best - or at least not being recognized as the best. While most players would be satisfied with being great, Bonds considered himself a failure if anybody was better than him.

Answer 10

when he started doing steroids, i feel the league overlooked it and he felt that he can get away with it forever.. i think now that the league is getting put under a magnifying glass, they aren't standing up for thier players that they once allowed to use the steroids. everyone was doing it and he felt he could be that much better...