https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2021/12/14/watercooler-wednesday-16/
WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY.
Totally Tigers
Today, another chance for readers to have increased opportunities to discuss the hottest topics in a forum where thoughtful conversations and a variety of opinions are welcomed.
Let?s create some running conversation threads with not just comments but replies to others. And for those of you still going into offices, here?s a question to take with you ? or use via Zoom calls ? as you talk to your co-workers.
Here is today?s hot topic. For this blog only, a maximum of 10 sentences please.
MLB may be hibernating but the powers that be at the Baseball Hall of Fame are not. The latest ballots for induction have been sent out and are due back before the end of the year.
Which brings us back, once again, to the big controversy and the elephant in the room.
PEDs.
Substances that build muscle mass, endurance, increase power, improve hand/eye coordination as well as vision (ability to see the pitches better) and speed (both running and bat speed) ? to name a few.
Many already inducted in the Hall are opposed to any new members linked to PEDs. Joe Morgan made it his mission to fight against the induction of players who cheated using PEDs. Currently, it is being reported that many of those already enshrined in Cooperstown have told the Hall that they won?t attend the ceremonies if certain players are elected.
One of those players is Barry Bonds, infamous for his use of performance-enhancing drugs. It is widely accepted that his stats were padded because he took them to enhance his performance and career.
But there are some who say Bonds still belongs in the Hall because he was a great player even before his reported use of them starting in 1997. But was he really?
The issue for voting is twofold:
Writers are asked to include character in their decision-making.
How much of Bonds? stats are enhanced due to the PED use?
Let?s consider this last question.
Dan Szymborksi, created the ZIPS projection system, which is described as ?startling accurate? and endorsed and used by MLB. Simply, it uses past performance and trends, combined with the decline due to age, that predicts a player?s future performance.
Dan was asked to re-calculate Bonds? stats to replace those completed while he was using PEDs.
And he found a significant difference in almost every category.
In 2001, Barry hit 73 HRs using PEDS. He was projected to hit only 23 (plus or minus) that year. From 2001 through 2004, he hit 209 HRs. He was projected to hit only 66 during that same period.
His career HR total places him at 551, not 762. That would rank him at #15, just below Manny Ramirez (ironically).
Looking at OPS+ (ability to get on base and hit for power while adjusting for each ballpark), he was a solid player in the first half of his career. But his numbers went off the charts with the use of PEDS and he zoomed up the chart, landing at #4.
Without PEDS, his stats would have placed him tied for #30.
WAR (a complete summary of a player?s value to the team and estimation of how many wins a player is worth to his team) was also significantly impacted. With PEDs, he has a 164.4 WAR. Without them, it?s 128.7.
In summary, Bonds? stats are all significantly impacted by his use of PEDs.
Should Barry Bonds be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Choose from the 2 options below. To make it challenging, there?s no fence-sitting on this one!
And as always, feel free to explain your rationale in the comments section.
Should Barry Bonds be elected to the Hall of Fame?
Yes
No
VOTE
