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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2007-08-08

Regarding Asterisks 

If memory serves, Roger Maris had an asterisk next to his name and the number "61" for years.

Barry Bonds might have an asterisk, as well. And that's too bad.

You can say what you want about the man--he's not the most outgoing, media-friendly guy in the bigs.

You can say what you want about the weight gain in the last ten years--yeah, it's a bit abnormal for a man to bulk up like that at his age.

Me, I've been "bulking up" a bit in the last few years, but it has very little to do with home run power.

But just look at the numbers. No matter what you think of the 756, you have to consider this:

:a very good major-league career lasts eight to ten years
:a good major-league season is one in which a man hits 30 home runs; at 30 home runs per year, it would take a man 26 seasons to get to 756
:a very good major-league season is one in which a man hits 40 home runs; at 40 home runs per year, it would take 19 seasons to get to get to 756;
:a great major-league season is one in which a man hits 50 home runs; at that rate, 15 seasons
:a record-style season is one in which a man hits 60 home runs; 13 seasons

You cannot diminish either the volume of home runs or the astonishing consistency with which Bonds has played for the better part of his 22 years. If it was all steroids, Bonds would have had a few amazing seasons, with several interesting ones marked by lengthy stints on the DL (a la McGwire). But people forget that there was a time, when he was still a skinny little guy as renowned for his base-stealing as anything else, that Bonds legitimately contended for the triple crown.

So, congratulations to Barry Bonds on setting the home run record tonight. Do I wish a better spokesman for major-league baseball had accomplished this feat? Sure. But I'm just happy I was around to see the record.

Besides, A-Rod's going to break the record in six years, anyway.
Posted by: Michael / 8/08/2007 12:35:00 AM

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