HR this season: Bonds or Sosa

[Appling]

Which old-timer will hit more homeruns THIS YEAR?
Bonds or Sosa?

[Westlake]

Bonds will hit twice as many HR that Sosa does.

[wickedcurve093]

Bonds :baseball:

[DTF955]

I pick Bonds with 20, he'll have some injuries and start to decline some, but unlike last year won't have the big stretch where he got back on track to break the record. (Remember when he seemed like he might not get 20 last year?). Then, everyone will walk him like crazy like in 2002.

I think Sosa will come close, but press a bit as he nears 600. He'll hit 15-18, but being off a year will have hurt a lot. Still, an okay season.

[CuriousBoston]

Both cheated. All of their stats are void. My one cent.

[slugger33]

Bonds will hit 35+. Sosa will hit less than 20.

[iPod]

Both cheated. All of their stats are void. My one cent.

I can kind of sort of understand that if you felt like steroids are a particularly heinous form of cheating, like hitting one too many times in blackjack and busting, or something like that. That's another whole debate, but at least your comment could be swept cleanly into a specific point of disagreement. But I really cannot see how you could write something like that solely on the basis that it's "cheating" and you hate all cheaters. There have been so many players famous for cheating over the years (mostly through bat corking and ball scuffing, but also binocular sign-stealing, field alteration, drug usage, and other, more imaginative types...) that you'd be throwing a not insignificant portion of players completely out the window. I guess if you're willing to say Willie Mays' numbers should be thrown out because he was on the '51 Giants, or that Tim Raines is irrelevant because he used cocaine during games for energy, you can say Bonds and Sosa are "void" because they cheated. I don't think that's what you mean; I think you're just offended by steroid usage. You can be offended by steroid usage, but don't justify your anger by alluding to some imaginary idea that baseball despises cheaters. It doesn't.

[Francoeurstein]

Hate to say it, but Barriod. He can hit 20+ homers. (Hopefully not 22 :( ). And Sammy with the orioles hit only 14 and had a terrible season, and didnt play major league ball last year, so in conclusion; the hated Barroid.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

No question Bonds.

I may not like the guy and despite his decline, I seriously doubt Sosa, even after a monster spring.

Just wait...he'll be designated for assignement or released before the 100-game mark.

[CuriousBoston]

I can kind of sort of understand that if you felt like steroids are a particularly heinous form of cheating, like hitting one too many times in blackjack and busting, or something like that. That's another whole debate, but at least your comment could be swept cleanly into a specific point of disagreement. But I really cannot see how you could write something like that solely on the basis that it's "cheating" and you hate all cheaters. There have been so many players famous for cheating over the years (mostly through bat corking and ball scuffing, but also binocular sign-stealing, field alteration, drug usage, and other, more imaginative types...) that you'd be throwing a not insignificant portion of players completely out the window. I guess if you're willing to say Willie Mays' numbers should be thrown out because he was on the '51 Giants, or that Tim Raines is irrelevant because he used cocaine during games for energy, you can say Bonds and Sosa are "void" because they cheated. I don't think that's what you mean; I think you're just offended by steroid usage. You can be offended by steroid usage, but don't justify your anger by alluding to some imaginary idea that baseball despises cheaters. It doesn't.

I'm not angry. I did not say that baseball despises cheaters. I did not allude to "baseball." I stated my opinion, very simply.

Please don't tell me how to think. I simply stated that their stats mean nothing to me, because, to me, both are cheaters. Perhaps you overread a bit.

[Old Sweater]

I'm not angry. I did not say that baseball despises cheaters. I did not allude to "baseball." I stated my opinion, very simply.

Please don't tell me how to think. I simply stated that their stats mean nothing to me, because, to me, both are cheaters. Perhaps you overread a bit.



You did not know your intitled to your own opinion by some around here......lol

Some specialize on twisting your words even though they know your veiw on the matter.

Voted Bonds, I don't think Sosa will stay as a starter.

[Skin & Bones]

You did not know your intitled to your own opinion by some around here......lol

Some specialize on twisting your words even though they know your veiw on the matter.

Voted Bonds, I don't think Sosa will stay as a starter.

I think he was pointing out the fact that steroid users aren't the only cheats, and if you " ignore " their stats, why not other ignore cheats stats?

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that way.

[Old Sweater]

I think he was pointing out the fact that steroid users aren't the only cheats, and if you " ignore " their stats, why not other ignore cheats stats?

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that way.


I agree with IPods post about cheating. If you haven't done sort of cheating as a player you haven't been a baseball player.

Curious just said Sosa and Bonds didn't mean squat to him and IPod go's on to analyze the opinion of Curious.

Same thing happened to me in a poll not long ago like I wasn't entitled to my own opinion.

[AMG]

Have to go with Bonds here.

[Cubsfan97]

IDK, every stat in the world right now says Barry, but then again, how many stats last year showed Frank Thomas with an MVP type season?

[iPod]

I think he was pointing out the fact that steroid users aren't the only cheats, and if you " ignore " their stats, why not other ignore cheats stats?

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that way.

Yeah, that's exactly it. "Cheating" isn't her problem, it's steroid usage specifically. Saying that you will totally write off the numbers of any cheater is a pretty radical opinion, and I'm guessing that's not what she meant.

[CuriousBoston]

Not what you think I meant. :hyper: :rant:

The poll was about Bonds and Sosa. My answer applied to Bonds and Sosa. For the record, I do not believe that, paraphasing, to be in baseball is to cheat. Torre, Yaz, Varitek, Papi, are not cheaters, among others.

Note: this is my opinion. You must provide PROOF to change my mind. A statement that to be in baseball is to cheat is a generalization, which is not provable. And a slur on the non-cheaters.:ughh

Okay, now I've added four plus more players to the discussion, made it clear (I hope) that I type exactly what I mean, not one word more, or less.:rant: :think:

It's really amazing to have people believe they know what I might be thinking. Why don't you ASK? If you ask about many players, my answer will be: no data. :shrug:

[slugger33]

I can't believe even 4 people voted for Sosa. I said that Bonds will hit 35+ home runs in another post, but I am going with 41 homers for Barry now.

[-Kyle-]

I can't believe even 4 people voted for Sosa. I said that Bonds will hit 35+ home runs in another post, but I am going with 41 homers for Barry now.

I just see Sosa commiting himself and having an amazing season this year.

[slugger33]

I just see Sosa commiting himself and having an amazing season this year.
It's possible.

[iPod]

Not what you think I meant. :hyper: :rant:

The poll was about Bonds and Sosa. My answer applied to Bonds and Sosa. For the record, I do not believe that, paraphasing, to be in baseball is to cheat. Torre, Yaz, Varitek, Papi, are not cheaters, among others.

Note: this is my opinion. You must provide PROOF to change my mind. A statement that to be in baseball is to cheat is a generalization, which is not provable. And a slur on the non-cheaters.:ughh


First of all, I don't see what makes you so confident that Torre, Yaz, Varitek, and Ortiz aren't cheaters. Of course we shouldn't accuse them of cheating if there's no proof, but the default assumption that nice guys like Mark McGwire would never cheat is what got everyone's hearts broken in the first place.

Second, I never wrote that "to be in baseball is to cheat". Where did I write that? I wrote that there are lots of cheaters, to such a great extent that attempting to shut them all out of your mind just doesn't seem feasible.

There is a book out called "The Cheater's Guide to Baseball," by Derek Zumsteg, about, obviously, the history of cheating in baseball. I don't own it, but here is the summary on amazon.com:

"Ever see Mike Piazza block the plate? Or Derek Jeter slide hard into second? Illegal. But it happens every game. Baseball’s rules, it seems, were made to be broken. And they are, consistently and creatively, by the players, the front office, and even sometimes the fans. Like it or not, cheating has been an integral part of America’s favourite pastime since its inception. But how do they do it, right before our eyes? The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball will show you how cheating is really done. In this lively tour through baseball’s underhanded history, readers will learn how to cork a bat • steal signs • hurl a spitball • throw a world series • and win at any cost! In the end, they’ll come to understand that cheating is as much a part of baseball as pine tar and pinch hitters. And it’s here to stay. The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball is essential reading for even the most casual fan."


It's really amazing to have people believe they know what I might be thinking. Why don't you ASK? If you ask about many players, my answer will be: no data. :shrug:

It seems like I did have it right, and that our point of disagreement is the extent to which baseball players cheat. A no-tolerance policy against cheating would be much more feasible if cheating weren't such a widespread historical phenomenon. I'll ask: is this where we disagree?

[BigShowBaseball]

This is a ridiculous question.

People are insanely underrating Bonds. He's the greatest hitter ever and he's not human like other guys. He's going to absolutely amaze people with what he does this year. I think he's already doing that.

Sosa is washed up hacker. He'll be lucky to not get cut by the end of the season.