1998 MLB Home Run Leaders -

[edjr 5,563]

Please explain to me how you guys are all so certain, without doubt ONE guy from this list didn't do steroids?

 

1: Mark McGwire (70)
2: Sammy Sosa (66)
3: Ken Griffey (56)
4: Greg Vaughn (50)
5: Albert Belle (49)
6: Jose Canseco (46)
7: Vinny Castilla (46)
8: Manny Ramirez (45)
9: Juan Gonzalez (45)
10: Andres Galarraga (44)
11: Rafael Palmeiro (43)
12: Alex Rodriguez (42)
13: Mo Vaughn (40)
14: Jeromy Burnitz (38)
15: Moises Alou (38)
16: Carlos Delgado (38)
17: Vladimir Guerrero (38)
18: Barry Bonds (37)
19: Shawn Green (35)
20: Nomar Garciaparra (35)
21: Tony Clark (34)
22: Chipper Jones (34)
23: Jeff Bagwell (34)
24: Javy Lopez (34)
25: Dean Palmer (34)
26: Mike Piazza (32)
27: Jeff Kent (31)
28: Henry Rodriguez (31)
29: Ray Lankford (31)
30: Andruw Jones (31)
31: Scott Rolen (31)

 

 

You're insane if you think, without a shadow of a doubt Griffey is the one guy that didn't juice.

 

I guess he was just naturally better than all the rest?

[posty 2,296]

I would think that Chipper Jones might be one that didn't do steroids...

[edjr 5,563]

I would think that Chipper Jones might be one that didn't do steroids...

 

Might not have? sure.

 

point is, you can't be sure, no one can be sure. That's my issue.

[posty 2,296]

point is, you can't be sure, no one can be sure. That's my issue.

Agreed...

[crackattack 513]

Chipper would have to admit it for me to believe he juiced. He always seemed like a "rules" type of guy.

[Voltaire 4,558]

Um, we're dumb schmucks on a FF site, not MLB certified urine/blood sample testers.

[edjr 5,563]

Chipper would have to admit it for me to believe he juiced. He always seemed like a "rules" type of guy.

 

That's silly.

 

If he did it, he's never admitting it.

[crackattack 513]

Um, we're dumb schmucks on a FF site, not MLB certified urine/blood sample testers.

Isn't newbie a piss expert.....or just pissed on?

[crackattack 513]

 

That's silly.

 

If he did it, he's never admitting it.

And? So I'll never believe he juiced then.

[edjr 5,563]

Um, we're dumb schmucks on a FF site, not MLB certified urine/blood sample testers.

 

Many, many never tested positive for anything. Yet, we are positive they juiced.

[edjr 5,563]

And? So I'll never believe he juiced then.

 

This list wasn't about Chipper.

 

I didn't want to leave anyone off the list.

 

This is about Griffey and so many being sure he was clean.

[crackattack 513]

 

Many, many never tested positive for anything. Yet, we are positive they juiced.

I'm only positive of the ones who tested positive. I do "believe" some probably did, but not sure. My opinion means little to their status or entry into the hall. I still believe Rose should be in, but doesn't mean crap.

[crackattack 513]

 

This list wasn't about Chipper.

 

I didn't want to leave anyone off the list.

 

This is about Griffey and so many being sure he was clean.

Never sure unless a positive drug test....like you said.

[patweisers44 697]

Jeff Kent's mustache certainly was on the juice.

[edjr 5,563]

Never sure unless a positive drug test....like you said.

 

are you sure Nomar did steroids? McGwire? Sosa?

[crackattack 513]

 

are you sure Nomar did steroids? McGwire? Sosa?

Not without a positive drug test. I think they did, probably did, but 100 percent positive.....no.

[Mile High Drunk 13]

Either way juice was good for the game. Just like it is good for football.

[Voltaire 4,558]

I ran the urine tests on McGwire personally. He was not pregnant in 1998.

[cbfalcon 824]

 

I guess he was just naturally better than all the rest?

 

Yes. Wouldn't anyone say he was naturally better than the rest?

 

Obviously there isn't anyone from the 80's until now that I would bet my life on being clean. But he is as good a bet as any IMO. He doesn't fit in with most of that list for a number of reasons.

 

- Wasn't he considered "the Natural" by like age 14?

- His body and face at age 18 was the same as when he retired.

- American....I know plenty of Americans cheated, but being latin ups the odds.

- And lack of transformation aside, he was never muscular.

- That swing...Yes, there have been great cheater swings, but he clearly has power via perfect rhythm. Think Jr is to Fred Couples as most the rest of that list is to Camillo Villegas.

- Even the books and gossip say he stayed clean and refused to join his childhood friend Barry Bonds, when both were in the exact same situation really. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2368395

- His timeline was more natural. His power kicked in when he was 24-25 years old and in his 5th season. It lasted 8 years and fell off at age 31-32, never returning. That is the historical norm.

 

100% clean? Never. But he had a pedigree from a very young age. He past the eyeball test in terms of where he power came from, along with passing the eye test in regards to his body never changing. There has never been a rumor of him cheating. And there are written accounts of him basically refusing to consider it, even when in the safest situation realistically possible. Basically, nothing about him says cheater beyond the era he played in.

[edjr 5,563]

 

Yes. Wouldn't anyone say he was naturally better than the rest?

 

Obviously there isn't anyone from the 80's until now that I would bet my life on being clean. But he is as good a bet as any IMO. He doesn't fit in with most of that list for a number of reasons.

 

- Wasn't he considered "the Natural" by like age 14?

- His body and face at age 18 was the same as when he retired.

- American....I know plenty of Americans cheated, but being latin ups the odds.

- And lack of transformation aside, he was never muscular.

- That swing...Yes, there have been great cheater swings, but he clearly has power via perfect rhythm. Think Jr is to Fred Couples as most the rest of that list is to Camillo Villegas.

- Even the books and gossip say he stayed clean and refused to join his childhood friend Barry Bonds, when both were in the exact same situation really. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2368395

- His timeline was more natural. His power kicked in when he was 24-25 years old and in his 5th season. It lasted 8 years and fell off at age 31-32, never returning. That is the historical norm.

 

100% clean? Never. But he had a pedigree from a very young age. He past the eyeball test in terms of where he power came from, along with passing the eye test in regards to his body never changing. There has never been a rumor of him cheating. And there are written accounts of him basically refusing to consider it, even when in the safest situation realistically possible. Basically, nothing about him says cheater beyond the era he played in.

 

 

So he would have hit 56 dongs and lead MLB by 20+, if the cheaters weren't cheating?

 

 

Only person that ever lead MLB by that many was Babe Ruth for christ sakes

[cbfalcon 824]

 

 

So he would have hit 56 dongs and lead MLB by 20+, if the cheaters weren't cheating?

 

 

Only person that ever lead MLB by that many was Babe Ruth for christ sakes

 

I know most of the names on that list cheated, but do we know they all cheated in 1998? For example, Bonds didn't start til the following season by all accounts.

 

I tend to believe that many guys were cheating by that point. But numbers were up regardless due to the live ball era, lower mounds, etc......But then when Sosa and Mcguirre finished 10 and 14 HRs ahead of #3, and in doing so became national heroes, the rest of the league decided to join them. The next few years, everyone's numbers went up, whereas Junior's HR totals went -8, -8, -18 the next three seasons.

[edjr 5,563]

 

The next few years, everyone's numbers went up, whereas Junior's HR totals went -8, -8, -18 the next three seasons.

 

If I had to guess, I would guess Bonds started juicing around 93, the same time Griffey did.

 

Look at both their HR spikes

[DankNuggs 305]

Griffey had the most natural talent of anyone on that list.

[cbfalcon 824]

 

If I had to guess, I would guess Bonds started juicing around 93, the same time Griffey did.

 

Look at both their HR spikes

 

Players getting better in their 3-5 years in the league is pretty normal. I would guess we could name the 3 biggest stars in baseball, football, and basketball right now and that would be about the norm.

[edjr 5,563]

Griffey had the most natural talent of anyone on that list.

 

Bonds was right there and Manny was a freak of a hitter.

 

Griffey .284 career BA. Manny .312 Bonds .298

[edjr 5,563]

 

Players getting better in their 3-5 years in the league is pretty normal. I would guess we could name the 3 biggest stars in baseball, football, and basketball right now and that would be about the norm.

 

I'm grasping at straws, give me a break.

 

My point was we just don't know and looking at the list, it looks even more suspect.

[Drizzay 645]

That is a funny list.

[edjr 5,563]

That is a funny list.

 

Isn't it? It's unreal

 

No one can convince me Pedro wasn't juicing either.

 

5'8, 160 pounds throwing 95+

[Gepetto 985]

Chipper would have to admit it for me to believe he juiced. He always seemed like a "rules" type of guy.

He cheated on his wife so he probably cheated at baseball too.

[RaiderHaters Revenge 3,579]

fwiw Chipper followed the General rule of thumb when it came to players reaching their peak

 

his best year was in 1999 at the age of 27 with his next best power years, being 26, 28,29 then a steady decline in power, but an uptick in BA.

 

I wouldnt be surprised if he used Roids, but I wouldnt be surprised if he didnt

 

 

Griffeys best seasons were also during his age 26-30 seasons which could also just be coincidence

 

Bonds on the other hand had 34 hrs during his age 27 season, which was his 2nd lowest for his career going forward until his age 42 season

[crackattack 513]

He cheated on his wife so he probably cheated at baseball too.

Don't care about his love life.

[Mike Honcho 4,027]

Please explain to me how you guys are all so certain, without doubt ONE guy from this list didn't do steroids?

 

 

 

You're insane if you think, without a shadow of a doubt Griffey is the one guy that didn't juice.

 

I guess he was just naturally better than all the rest?

 

Yeah, he was naturally better than most players, or didn't you see him play? Seriously Ed, you need to let go of your obsession trying to prove everyone juiced and just accept Bonds is a low-life petty criminal, who could only accomplish what he did by cheating. HTH

[TD Ryan2 314]

 

are you sure Nomar did steroids?

not sure about anyone - but wouldn't count anyone out either.

Some - like Bonds and Nomar - looked so different physically that the eye-test told you to suspect them.

 

Nomar was a skinny, big-nosed geek one season and then ripping thru his uniform the next.

Proof? nope. But sure looked like it.

[Mike Honcho 4,027]

not sure about anyone - but wouldn't count anyone out either.

Some - like Bonds and Nomar - looked so different physically that the eye-test told you to suspect them.

 

Nomar was a skinny, big-nosed geek one season and then ripping thru his uniform the next.

Proof? nope. But sure looked like it.

 

FYI - Bonds acknowledged he took steroids, his defense was He didn't know they were steroids. It's not about suspicion, it's whether you buy his BS story that he thought he was taking 10,000+ dollars of flax seed oil monthly.