Hey all,
Followed the the whole discussion here on his steroid use, etc. I found the T-Nation perspective extremely enlightening on the whole subject. Just noticed this today and I don’t think anyone has posted it:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003621797
Basically, the short of it is that he had a mechanical assistant attached to his elbow during games. Just wondered what everyone thinks.
Is this legitimate? What are the ramifications?
I don’t know enough about physics and the physics of hitting to refute or agree with what is said in the article…
I can say it does seem like he’s reacahing, though.
I’m far from a defining source of physics knowledge but last I checked your rotator cuff wasn’t in your elbow, I fail to see how it is locking him into a perfect plane of motion. That’s the only one I can refute without really thinking atm.
i think his elbow armor looks bad ass
If his ‘elbow armor’ was responsible for 75-100 home runs, I’d be willing to bet we’d be seeing a shitload more players wearing it. It’s not as if Barry has it trademarked or anything, that type of device is available to any player who wishes to use it.
The continual crucifixion of Bonds is really getting old. I get it, he’s kind of a jerk. So are 90% of professional athletes, and 99.9% of those jerks aren’t as talented as Bonds. Give it a rest.
[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
The continual crucifixion of Bonds is really getting old. I get it, he’s kind of a jerk. So are 90% of professional athletes, and 99.9% of those jerks aren’t as talented as Bonds. Give it a rest.[/quote]
90%? I’d say the asshole:normal guy ratio in pro sports is the same as it is in real life, except their money and fame makes them bigger assholes than they normally would be, which makes it seem like everyone is an asshole.
[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
The continual crucifixion of Bonds is really getting old. I get it, he’s kind of a jerk. So are 90% of professional athletes, and 99.9% of those jerks aren’t as talented as Bonds. Give it a rest.[/quote]
Amen to this. Let Barry be.
A-Rod also has some elbow armor guys, guess the fast start to his career was just a hoax created by his mechanical advantages!
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
90%? I’d say the asshole:normal guy ratio in pro sports is the same as it is in real life, except their money and fame makes them bigger assholes than they normally would be, which makes it seem like everyone is an asshole.[/quote]
I’d disagree. The vast majority of pro athletes have been head and shoulders above their peers in terms of talent throughout their entire lives, and have been treated better and have made to think of themselves as better than others during that lifetime.
My own athletic career didn’t go past the collegiate stage, and even there it was incredibly evident. Then again, that huge amount of ego/confidence may have something to do with their success, instead of being a result of it.
A strength coach that has worked with pro athletes once said to me “I’ve never met a single dominant pro athlete who doesn’t think they’re the absolute shit”. Probably true.
[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
If his ‘elbow armor’ was responsible for 75-100 home runs, I’d be willing to bet we’d be seeing a shitload more players wearing it. It’s not as if Barry has it trademarked or anything, that type of device is available to any player who wishes to use it.
The continual crucifixion of Bonds is really getting old. I get it, he’s kind of a jerk. So are 90% of professional athletes, and 99.9% of those jerks aren’t as talented as Bonds. Give it a rest.[/quote]
Nailed it!
The steroid thing and the general perception of the general populace does bug me. I wish the average joe would educate themselves before speaking on the topic, but since the mainstream press continues to pound the issue, I see how the average person can form their opinion.
This however, is just stupid. You can’t achieve an unfair advantage from a device if any other player has access to that same device. I they choose not to use it, their choice. With the speed of those major league pitches, I’d wear one. If it helped the swing at the same time, then, “RESULT”!
[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
Steel Nation wrote:
90%? I’d say the asshole:normal guy ratio in pro sports is the same as it is in real life, except their money and fame makes them bigger assholes than they normally would be, which makes it seem like everyone is an asshole.
I’d disagree. The vast majority of pro athletes have been head and shoulders above their peers in terms of talent throughout their entire lives, and have been treated better and have made to think of themselves as better than others during that lifetime.
My own athletic career didn’t go past the collegiate stage, and even there it was incredibly evident. Then again, that huge amount of ego/confidence may have something to do with their success, instead of being a result of it.
A strength coach that has worked with pro athletes once said to me “I’ve never met a single dominant pro athlete who doesn’t think they’re the absolute shit”. Probably true.[/quote]
It’s evident. Makes absolute sense. You are the height of human physical development, why not act like it? It’s G-d given talent most of the time (genetic). Some actually work harder than most for what they get and those are the ‘humble’ ones.
Oh and yea fuck all the Barry Bashers. This theory seems like, uhmm, HORSE SHIT. It might be credible if he actually spoke to the manufacturers of this ‘machine’.
Supposedly the rest of the league is not allowed to wear armor like Barry’s unless they have a provable injury or had been wearing it before the rule change.
Barry is still allowed to wear his because it was “grandfathered.”
Much ado about nothing.
I watched all 73 of Barry Bonds’ home runs in 2001 today on Baseball Tonight…
I noticed that on a majority of them his front arm wasn’t locked. Wasn’t that the main argument in this article, that the armor was helping him lock his arm, etc…?
It has nothing to do with mechanics. It’s for protection. Does anyone really not know this???
[quote]on edge wrote:
It has nothing to do with mechanics. It’s for protection. Does anyone really not know this???[/quote]
agreed this is the dumbest thing ever. perfect plane of motion ? they’re not playing t-ball you know.
The author never mentioned the small puff of smoke coming from the elbow armor with each swing. Nor did he mention the laser designator that locks in on the ball and guides the bat towards the optimal impact zone.
I read the whole article and it is one of the most outrageous sports pieces I’ve ever read. This is all serious load of crap. The guy purports to be a serious student of baseball and physics, yet I can’t believe he’s ever played baseball given his assessment of the mechanics of hitting.
Apparently, this armor has the ability to help BB fully extend and lock his right arm on pitches out over the plate, while at the same time, giving him the ability to keep the arm in tight and turn on an inside pitch to generate maximal force “like a figure skater?”
As for the consistent swing plane, maybe it has more to do with swinging the same way more than a million times over his life than with an elbow pad.
This is utter bullshit. BB was always a very skilled hitter with power, even when he was skinny.
DB