With the news that A-Rod, the man who was supposed to take back the most sacred number in all of sports, 755, tested positive for steroids, it has become clear that every offensive number since 1997 on is tainted. All the HRs, all the RBI, all the runs, all the increased batting averages, they are all meaningless. In my mind, the last decade should be taken out of the record book, none of the numbers should count. More should probably be taken out. Canseco's numbers certainly can't count.
That being said, what number remains sacred? Home runs can't count, the stat has been ruined. Total bases is perhaps the most important number for an all-around hitter, hitting for power won't get you to the top, you have to hit for doubles, singles, everything. Unfortunately, Bonds and Palmeiro are each in the top ten, so that number may well be tainted, especially with Sosa, A-Rod, and Sheffield in the top 50. As for slugging, it's kind of a bullshit statistic, so it can't count. Runs, perhaps? Nope, Bonds is ahead of both Aaron and Ruth. When it comes to RBI, Bonds is in the top five and A-Rod is poised to move to the top soon. Further, Sosa and Sheffield are also high on the list. While Aaron is still on top, thank God, I can't see that as the most important number in sports. Also, RBI depends heavily on the team you play for. If you don't have good players in front of you, you won't knock in a lot of runs. RBI, then, doesn't measure your ability as a player.
After considering all of those numbers, total bases has to be the most important of all. It is the natural choice to take over for home runs. Unlike RBI, it measures your ability as a hitter, it is not necessarily a reflection of those around you like RBI is. Even if no one good is on your team, players still put up good offensive numbers other than RBI. More important, despite all the steroids and all the cheating, Bonds, A-Rod, McGwire, Sosa, and the other scum couldn't take it away from Aaron. That number shows that playing good baseball, well-rounded baseball, and not focusing solely home runs, will still keep you at the top of the stat that recognizes the best all-around hitter. In my mind, 6856 is the new most important number in sports.
What do you think?
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2 comments:
I would argue, that before steroids, they did Coke, greenies, booze, whatever, just another drug.
I disagree w/that. W/greenies, you didn't really see any enhancement of skills/numbers. People used greenies just to stay awake. W/steroids, however, people hit and hit and hit and put up numbers that they had no business putting up. Big difference in my mind.
Also, alcohol = legal.
And don't drag Coke Classic into this!
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