by Harvey Stelman

Created on: January 20, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Take away the steroids, and the human growth hormone, and what are you left with? The simple answer is, who knows! The pitchers throw a fastball on the average of over ninety miles an hour. Is that after taking their meds, or before? Who knows the answer to that, maybe John Mitchell. Do the meds even play a part in it? If they do, why are the earned run averages so much higher? Is it all do to closer fences, lower mounds and a smaller strike zone?

Considering the batters are taking the same medication leaves us in a delimit. Do the meds help the pitcher more than the batter, or do they help the batter more than the pitcher? It would seem the batters must have a bigger advantage because of the home runs, and batting averages. Does that bring back closer fences, lower mounds and smaller strike zone.

The teams of the past were exactly that, teams. They played to get a victory for their team. Ask Barry Bonds to lay down a bunt to sacrifice a runner over, a manager wouldn't even think to ask him. Every team has its players that won't bunt. In the days of yore some of the best bunters were Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and many more. They even knew how to run the bases, and break up double plays. Simply put, they had better fundamentals.

Pitchers were able to throw a complete game! In the 60's one pitcher would throw more complete games than a whole team today. Your best reliever would pitch three innings. He could come in with no out, and men on base. He was expected to get out of the inning allowing no runs. Then he had to pitch two more innings. Today a "CLOSER" comes in, in the ninth inning with no runners on base. He is expected to mot allow any runs. Sounds kind of easy by comparison.

The names of the past still resound today. The names of today are under investigation. Without the meds todays players use, who can tell if they would even make the major leagues. There is no doubt in my mind the old guys would win. That's using the fields, and rules of today. If they used the old fields, and rules it wouldn't be a question who would win.

Learn more about this author, Harvey Stelman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.