FANTASTIC article (objective) on Bonds and the whole issue...

[Avsfan]

http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2007/08/roid_monster_or.php

Guy hates Bonds as a person, but pretty much points out some extremely objective statements to counteract alot of the bond's hating that's been going on.

[mweb]

Yeah, very good article. I like the Bill James part especially.

[geschinger]

Great article although there are some head scratchers included. I'm not sure I understand the thinking behind the career shorterning theory. I'm not sure we can say that guys who played well into their mid 30s suffered a permature end to their careers. I also think Bonds is legitimately the HR king. I don't like the analogy of the presidential election as I don't think there are multiple or no truths. Bonds has the record... period. No asterisks necessary

Other than those minor quibbles I thought the article was great. Personally I think the treatment of Bonds should be analogous to that of Perry in the long run. No asterisks, noone questioning his numbers but also noone ignoring the less savory aspects of how he put them up. By the same token I believe that eventually McGwire and Palmeiro deserve to make the HOF and it would be fair to also treat them similarly to Perry.

[66-70-83-??]

Great article although there are some head scratchers included. I'm not sure I understand the thinking behind the career shorterning theory. I'm not sure we can say that guys who played well into their mid 30s suffered a permature end to their careers. I also think Bonds is legitimately the HR king. I don't like the analogy of the presidential election as I don't think there are multiple or no truths. Bonds has the record... period. No asterisks necessary

Other than those minor quibbles I thought the article was great. Personally I think the treatment of Bonds should be analogous to that of Perry in the long run. No asterisks, noone questioning his numbers but also noone ignoring the less savory aspects of how he put them up. By the same token I believe that eventually McGwire and Palmeiro deserve to make the HOF and it would be fair to also treat them similarly to Perry.

You may be right about that. We will have to wait and see.

I think it is too early to tell. I don't think the last chapters in the stories about Bonds or the "steroid era" have been written yet. We may never know the extent of the problems. Or a big-time player (or several) will "out" themselves and spill the beans.

Either way, fans will always identify Bonds and this era with the proverbial asterik (steroids) and rightfully so.

[geschinger]

You may be right about that. We will have to wait and see.

I think it is too early to tell. I don't think the last chapters in the stories about Bonds or the "steroid era" have been written yet. We may never know the extent of the problems. Or a big-time player (or several) will "out" themselves and spill the beans.

Either way, fans will always identify Bonds and this era with the proverbial asterik (steroids) and rightfully so.

I wish MLB would offer a steroid amnesty to every player that comes forward to try and determine the true extent of the issue. Add the caveat that MLB will do whatever is in its power to punish those severely for whom evidence of usage is uncovered who did not take advantage of the amnesty.