Barry Bonds? A scant 2 ½ weeks ago, he was in the midst of a media maelstrom as he approached, then eclipsed the Major League Baseball (MLB) home run record. On Tuesday evening, August 7, 2007, Bonds hit his record-breaking 756th home run in the 5th inning of a game in San Francisco, against the Washington Nationals. The pitcher, indelibly and inextricably linked with Bonds in history; some guy named Mike Bacsik.
Quick, what is Bonds’ current home run total? When is the last time he hit a home run? Against what team and pitcher was his last home run hit? Talk about the currency of hateration. Did his alleged use of ‘roids prove to be a myth? Alternatively, does he simply have Michael Vick and Tim Donaghy to thank for knocking him out of the most reviled man in sports spotlight?
In reading about Bonds and the fallout over his well-documented fall from grace, I came across a novel hypothesis. As we confidently navigate the digital age, we like to lead with the statistics or data sets that make our various and sundry arguments bulletproof. Well a gentleman named Stan Ganz, writing in a publication known as The American, cites economist J.C. Bradbury of Kennesaw State University with having posited that economic theory, not steroids, explains Bonds’ homerun assault.
Among other things, Bradbury notes that in the mid 1990’s, baseball added four expansion teams, Tampa, Miami, Colorado, and Arizona. This infusion of employment opportunities resulted in over one hundred (100) former minor leaguers joining the ranks of MLB. This dilution included creating an entire class of pitchers whom, teams would never have brought up to the Bigs, prior to expansion. Many of my NBA fans-friends can relate to this theory, as we have discussed it frequently.
In summary, Bonds and other frequently questioned home run hitters “opportunistically” made big runs during a period their superior skills allowed them to tower over a larger than normal class of sub par competition. I am not sure which is worse; the potentially over-hyped drug allegations, or the diminution, albeit temporary, of the game’s vitality.
Yes, I said temporary diminution. There is a second major plank to the theory, which notes there was also a spike in foreign-born players entering the league in the late 90’s. This talent explosion, which is still occurring, will eventually overtake and erase the talent dilution problem.
Performance enhancing drugs are and have long been a part of sports. However, there is a fair amount of evidence that Bonds is a record-holder, not because of performance enhancing drugs, but because the Commissioner and owners, in executing a well-conceived plan to make more money for MLB created a perfect storm for Bonds. Go figure.
Holla back!
http://www.american.com/archive/2007/august-0807/bonds2019-economic-home-run
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2 comments:
The Bonds hype/distraction was to prevent Bonds from getting the record either through suspension or any other means necessary. Once the record was broken the real goal was thwarted. There is no story in Bonds padding the homerun record which he now owns. Thus, Bonds can now live in peace! Buster Brown
Buster:
I fully agree with you. It was intended and designed to be a mega-distraction. Mission totally "not accomplished!" Not only did he get the record, but the Bonds and the Giants played to sell-outs at every venue, regardless of whether Barry was in the line-up.
That simple mathematical...or shall I say financial truth, underscores why I believe Vick will return to the NFL. Yes, all the owners will detest his actions. But unless his throwing arm, or his legs are seriously injured during his legal time-out, he will be deemed too lucrative a commodity not to risk putting back on th field.
The bottom line, which is the bottom line, Vick will be rich...again, and some owner will be even richer.
Peace, out!
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