reason for AJ's Power

[Reddy]

same as brian roberts, per rotoworld:

 

Brian Roberts - 2B - BAL

 

 

Brian Roberts attributes much of his early season succes on his new ''Max Sight- Amber'' contact lenses which enable him to see the baseball better during day games. The contacts block 90% of blue light, causing the ball to pop out from big league backgrounds.

We like to believe the contacts are the reason that Roberts, a lifetime .264 hitter, has had a breakout season, but at night, when the contacts aren't worn, he has hit .359, just 16 points off his daytime average of .375. Mike Timlin and A.J. Pierzynski are a few other ballplayers wearing the special contact lenses. Jun. 12 - 11:58 pm et

 

what are your thoughts... im not sure what i think about it... it seems like cheating to me... but... what do you think?

[Rowand44]

Meh, whatever I think aj just started wearing the contacts recently. He's hitting below his career average right now and the reason for his power ouburst is U.S. Cellular Field, period. Just check out how many homers he's hit at home this year.

[chimpy2121]

I dont see it as cheating. It just got passed by the FDA and will be on the market for everyone starting this summer. They are also making green/grey ones for golfers.

[knightni]

 

It's a fad.

 

Just like the eye exercises.. etc.

[AirScott]

Sports Illustrated had something about the lenses 2 or 3 weeks ago. the only one that had the big improvement was Roberts, and Roberts had been steadily improving since he came up. he had been an All-American at South Carolina, and hit 50 doubles last year, so I really wouldn't attribute his success this year to the lenses. as for AJ, someone before me said he's not hitting better, just with more HRs.

[Reddy]

kool kool, yeah i just thought it was interesting. and yeah someone along the line reminded me that gloves were prolly considered cheating at one point too so, whatev.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Catchers seem to develop power later for some reason. I agree tha the park is a big part of it. The lenses aren't cheating or immoral. I think an athlete should take every advantage he can inside the law and if it doesn't hurt him or the game in the long run

[rangercal]

not cheating. Do you consider lifting weights twice as much as everyone else cheating? Everyone has the chance to get these. Nothing agaist it in the rulebook.

[whitesox91403]

he had been an All-American at South Carolina

 

 

I don't want to knit pick, but I believe Roberts played for his dad at North Carolina.

[southsider2k5]

Meh, whatever I think aj just started wearing the contacts recently.  He's hitting below his career average right now and the reason for his power ouburst is U.S. Cellular Field, period.  Just check out how many homers he's hit at home this year.

 

I think this is it exactly. 7 of his HRs have been hit at home. And off of the top of my head, just about all of them have been to somewhere between the BP sportsbar and into the visiting bullpen, all of which would have hit the baggie in Minnesota for doubles.

[Dick Allen]

Scouts have long thought AJ would eventually develop good power.. He is 240 lbs.

[skidoochic]

I don't think it's cheating. A.J. has never claimed to be a homerun hitter and I believe he even said the stuff he's hit out of U.S. Cellular would have never been homeruns in Minnesota. Personally, I would rather see his beautiful blue eyes, but if the contacts help him hit - more power to him!

[southsideirish71]

I think this is it exactly.  7 of his HRs have been hit at home.  And off of the top of my head, just about all of them have been to somewhere between the BP sportsbar and into the visiting bullpen, all of which would have hit the baggie in Minnesota for doubles.

 

 

He started pulling the baseball. More homers in the Cell, lower BA and more likely to ground out to the right side. On a great note this week he started to spray the ball again all over the park. We dont need him to hit homers, we need him to keep the line moving.

[White Sox Josh]

Would you consider Greg Maddux cheating because he uses contacts. These are contacts. It's like lifting weights or using legal supplemants.

[Balta1701]

A.J.'s power surge to me is 95% due to ballparks, as said above. The other 5% might very well be because he knows he can get the ball out of the Cell, so he's actually trying to hit them.

 

Not only would about 8 of his home runs have hit the baggie in Minnesota, but San Francisco also has a fairly long porch in right field, so it's not exactly easy for anyone to hit the ball out of there unless they mysteriously add 50 pounds of muscle in the offseason like one who will not be named.

[maggliopipe]

Everyone has the chance to get these. Nothing agaist it in the rulebook.

 

Everyone had the chance to get steroids before they were banned. Were they cheating?

[Wedge]

Everyone had the chance to get steroids before they were banned.  Were they cheating?

 

Steroids were always banned, just not sufficiently tested for.

[southsider2k5]

Everyone had the chance to get steroids before they were banned.  Were they cheating?

 

One HUGE difference is that steroids have always been illegal. Does baseball need rules against murdering people and child porn too?

[BigNDfan80]

How could this be considered cheating? You can wear sunglasses to the plate if you want.

[maggliopipe]

One HUGE difference is that steroids have always been illegal.  Does baseball need rules against murdering people and child porn too?

 

well, i guess that's what i'm wondering. surely athletes were the first people exposed to steroids before the general public knew of them (for muscle development, that is). there must have been a period of time when baseball players were using them and they weren't yet banned.

 

Granted there was probably some blanket rule against anything providing an unfair advantage and not explicitly banning roids, but then these contacts would seemingly be covered by that too.

[Balta1701]

well, i guess that's what i'm wondering.  surely athletes were the first people exposed to steroids before the general public knew of them (for muscle development, that is).  there must have been a period of time when baseball players were using them and they weren't yet banned. 

 

Granted there was probably some blanket rule against anything providing an unfair advantage and not explicitly banning roids, but then these contacts would seemingly be covered by that too.

 

They weren't banned specfically in baseball until the early 90's, before the Strike. I can't remembe rthe exact year. Although, I think they may have been made illegal to the general public before that.

[TheBlackSox8]

Would you consider Greg Maddux cheating because he uses contacts.  These are contacts.  It's like lifting weights or using legal supplemants.

using my avatar.....lol

[JUGGERNAUT]

Seriously I think it is something the league needs to worry about. The game tries to play with a purity of God-given talent only. That's why Selig recently spoke about adding amphedamines (speed) to the banned substance list.

 

The only way to tell if these contacts provide a significant advantage to where they should be banned is with clinical trials. But how do you do that? Winter leagues. Those numbers are not sacred. Spend the money to do the trials.

 

Most of the legal substances & training is rooted in hard work. If a player puts in the hard work to enhance their physical atrributes that's ok. It's more than ok. It's what the game demands. But if a player enhances their game in the absence of hard work (contacts, guards, roids, speed tablets, etc.) that's bad & should be banned from the game.

 

Did Bonds become a better hitter because the game allowed him to where some armor around area's of his body he worried about? I think so. Fear can make you less decisive & slow your reactions. Remove the fear & you're better for it.

 

Adding the DH was a good rule. It gave the advantage to the team & not the player for extending the life of a MLB hitter. That's a far cry from allowing players to where armor, specialized contacts, stickum on their gloves, or any other advantage gained in the absence of hard work.

 

Speaking of the DH I would like to see it modified & adopted by both leagues. The modificatin being that the DH can only hit for a starter. Once the starter is removed from the game so is the DH. At that time he becomes a bench player & the spot in the order is assumed by the relief pitcher. I think it would add new excitement to the game & better balance the leagues. Removing a starter would mean removing a potent bat from the lineup. That would sure add drama & excitement to the game.

 

It would likewise make Thomas the last HOF from the DH position as their AB's would decrease off HOF levels. (Assuming of course Thomas makes it in.)

Edited June 13, 2005 by JUGGERNAUT

[nvxplorer]

Seriously I think it is something the league needs to worry about.  The game tries to play with a purity of God-given talent only.  That's why Selig recently spoke about adding amphedamines (speed) to the banned substance list.

 

The only way to tell if these contacts provide a significant advantage to where they should be banned is with clinical trials.  But how do you do that?  Winter leagues.  Those numbers are not sacred.  Spend the money to do the trials.

 

Most of the legal substances & training is rooted in hard work.  If a player puts in the hard work to enhance their physical atrributes that's ok.  It's more than ok.  It's what the game demands.  But if a player enhances their game in the absence of hard work (contacts, guards, roids, speed tablets, etc.) that's bad & should be banned from the game.

 

Did Bonds become a better hitter because the game allowed him to where some armor around area's of his body he worried about?  I think so.  Fear can make you less decisive & slow your reactions.  Remove the fear & you're better for it. 

 

Adding the DH was a good rule.  It gave the advantage to the team & not the player for extending the life of a MLB hitter.  That's a far cry from allowing players to where armor, specialized contacts, stickum on their gloves, or any other advantage gained in the absence of hard work.

 

Speaking of the DH I would like to see it modified & adopted by both leagues.  The modificatin being that the DH can only hit for a starter.  Once the starter is removed from the game so is the DH.  At that time he becomes a bench player & the spot in the order is assumed by the relief pitcher.  I think it would add new excitement to the game & better balance the leagues.  Removing a starter would mean removing a potent bat from the lineup.  That would sure add drama & excitement to the game.

 

It would likewise make Thomas the last HOF from the DH position as their AB's would decrease off HOF levels.  (Assuming of course Thomas makes it in.)

Interesting take on the DH. I doubt it will ever happen, but interesting nonetheless.

 

As far as substances go, anything that's legal should be allowed. Amphetamines are legally available by prescription only, and I can't imagine why a baseball player would have a legitimate need for them. Many legal substances are stimulants, and it would be impossible to limit their use. Others, like vitamins, amino acids and creatine are essential to physical health and strength.

 

I'm torn on the issue of guards. I agree with your opinion, but I also don't blame players for protecting their bodies. The elbow guard is one I could live without. A couple years ago I saw a Giants player lean into a pitch with his elbow. He was awarded first base, which was the wrong call, but without the guard the issue is moot.

[dasox24]

A lot of older players get that laser eye surgery to get perfect vision, and I see no difference b/t that and using these new contacts. Plus, contacts cause no harm, whatsoever, to the body, like steriods do, so you can't compare the two.