Otter's Journal: Barry Bonds' [Other] Advantage

Speculation about Barry Bonds' use of steroids aside, biomechanics expert Michael Witte discusses another edge he may have: mechanical advantage from the protective gear on his elbow. (A device illegal for most players.) Readers disagree, as does the maker of the device; Witte responds.

All I know is...

[Billosaur]

...he could clear the whole thing up by peeing in a cup and giving some tissue samples. The longer he avoids it, the longer he acts defensive, the worse it gets. Ask Mark McGuire. Nobody even talks about him anymore. Personally, as many have said, Barry Bonds had the advantage of not playing with death threats by the thousands, against weak pitchers, with juiced baseballs. Frankly, his eclipsing the record is no big deal, as in a few years, Alex Rodriguez is going to eclipse it and then some.

interesting

[stoolpigeon]

I'd read the first one, but not the follow up stuff. Thanks for the links. I personally don't care for the Giants - so I just avoid commenting on the whole thing. I know my opinion is heavily biased. I want the guy to have cheated because I don't like him or his team and would prefer to see the record stand.

Interesting...

[Shadow Wrought]

When I first saw what his advantage was I scoffed at the thought, but he does have a point. And then when you factor in how tight the toleances are in an at abt, and that advantage does really help. I think he was a hall of famer from his early careeer, but he would be nowhere close to the record had it not been for these advantages. That's the problem.