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Unclescam777
Now I never suspected steroids from Piazza and still don't. I've met the guy in person and can say that his muscles were natural, like treetrunks instead of bulky. So I'm trying to figure out why he looks less muscular and slimmer this year, thinking that it may have something to do with his decline in ability (aside from catching all those years of course).
What do you guys think? Is there a cause for a smaller Piazza and is it a significant reason why he is down this season? I'm thinking his new wife had something to do with it...
Mike Piazza looks smaller this year
July 27, 2005 at 04:34PM View BBCode
I'm a lifelong Mets fan and still watch about half of their games (whenever Direct TV plays night games). Since Piazza is having a subpar year I decided to watch him closely. Something I noticed right away, aside from his new slouched over batting stance, was that he appeared slimmer. It's really noticable in his forearms and thighs.Now I never suspected steroids from Piazza and still don't. I've met the guy in person and can say that his muscles were natural, like treetrunks instead of bulky. So I'm trying to figure out why he looks less muscular and slimmer this year, thinking that it may have something to do with his decline in ability (aside from catching all those years of course).
What do you guys think? Is there a cause for a smaller Piazza and is it a significant reason why he is down this season? I'm thinking his new wife had something to do with it...
Unclescam777
July 27, 2005 at 06:08PM View BBCode
I honestly don't suspect Piazza of past roid abuse. He's never been that kind of hitter, plus his body structure is different than a juicer tends to have.
barterer2002
Johnny Bench drove in 100 runs five times and hit 30 home runs four times but never after turning thirty. He retired at age 35.
Yogi Berra had five 100 RBI seasons and 2 30 home runs seasons but none after age 31. He hung on a little longer playing in the outfield but was essentially done as a catcher by age 34.
Gary Carter had four 100 RBI seasons, but was non productive after the age of 32
Mickey Cochrane may have extenuating circumstances but was retired at the age of 34.
Bill Dickey had four seasons, age 29-32 where he hit 20+ home runs and drove in 100+ RBIs. He never reached double digits in home runs again and topped out at 71 RBIs.
Roy Campanella's career ended due to an accident at age 36 but even in the previous two seasons he hadn't managed to hit .250 and was clearly fading.
Ted Simmons was able to prolong his career by moving to DH at the age of 33 but still was a shadow of his former self after that age, reaching highs of .277, 12, 76.
Piazza has actually lasted a little longer than most of the stud offensive catchers through history. He was a productive hitter up to age 33, although now, at the age of 36, the end is near.
In baseball history, really only two stud catchers, the aforementioned Fisk and Gabby Hartnett, had productive seasons after the age of 35.
July 27, 2005 at 06:36PM View BBCode
Piazza's slowing down because he's very old for a catcher. If you'll look at great offensive catchers through history, most were done in their early thirties. Carlton Fisk would be a notable exception but most of the catchers who were catching late in their careers were there as defensive specialists.Johnny Bench drove in 100 runs five times and hit 30 home runs four times but never after turning thirty. He retired at age 35.
Yogi Berra had five 100 RBI seasons and 2 30 home runs seasons but none after age 31. He hung on a little longer playing in the outfield but was essentially done as a catcher by age 34.
Gary Carter had four 100 RBI seasons, but was non productive after the age of 32
Mickey Cochrane may have extenuating circumstances but was retired at the age of 34.
Bill Dickey had four seasons, age 29-32 where he hit 20+ home runs and drove in 100+ RBIs. He never reached double digits in home runs again and topped out at 71 RBIs.
Roy Campanella's career ended due to an accident at age 36 but even in the previous two seasons he hadn't managed to hit .250 and was clearly fading.
Ted Simmons was able to prolong his career by moving to DH at the age of 33 but still was a shadow of his former self after that age, reaching highs of .277, 12, 76.
Piazza has actually lasted a little longer than most of the stud offensive catchers through history. He was a productive hitter up to age 33, although now, at the age of 36, the end is near.
In baseball history, really only two stud catchers, the aforementioned Fisk and Gabby Hartnett, had productive seasons after the age of 35.
DougB
(not that there is anything wrong with that)
:D
July 27, 2005 at 09:34PM View BBCode
well loprosy is a new one. at least nobody started a rumor he was gay.(not that there is anything wrong with that)
:D
Duff77
Still, an increase in strength is an increase in bat speed, and that often results in an increase in production--especially if you're a pretty good hitter already. This might be the story with Giambi. He--to my eye--looks much smaller, and if that's the case, then he may have had to re-learn how to hit with the decreased mass. But he's a good hitter all the same, and he can make the adjustment.
All the more reason we'll never really be able to say for sure who was or wasn't juicing. Roids or no roids, you have to be a pretty damn good hitter to be a superstar, so a lot of these guys will be able to adjust. Even Sammy Sosa is starting to figure out how to hit (and he looks A LOT smaller now). It's the boderline guys where it'll be the most obvious.
Bret Boone: From 1992 to 2000, this guy was a .230 hitter with 10-20 HR power at best. That's eight full seasons of pretty much the same kind of production. Then, in 2001, he suddenly turned into a .290 hitter with 25-35 HR power. Now, in 2005, he's right back where he started: At .224, and on pace to hit about 15 HRs--EXACTLY the kind of season he had from 92 to 2000. Yes, he's aging, but he also looks smaller, and either way it's glaring.
Point being, EVERY SINGLE PLAYER has something to be gained from increased strength. Arguably, the little guys have more to be gained from it than anything, since it can be the difference between AAA and the majors. If Boone was juicing, and even if that juicing only added a moderate amount of strength, it still could easily account for his increase in production between 01 and 03.
July 28, 2005 at 06:07AM View BBCode
I think this is a major misconception about steroids. Steroids don't automatically turn you into Mark McGwire. It still depends on your body type and how you work out. It's entirely possible that Piazza is just a slimmer guy naturally, and that even with steroids, couldn't become freakishly huge.Still, an increase in strength is an increase in bat speed, and that often results in an increase in production--especially if you're a pretty good hitter already. This might be the story with Giambi. He--to my eye--looks much smaller, and if that's the case, then he may have had to re-learn how to hit with the decreased mass. But he's a good hitter all the same, and he can make the adjustment.
All the more reason we'll never really be able to say for sure who was or wasn't juicing. Roids or no roids, you have to be a pretty damn good hitter to be a superstar, so a lot of these guys will be able to adjust. Even Sammy Sosa is starting to figure out how to hit (and he looks A LOT smaller now). It's the boderline guys where it'll be the most obvious.
Bret Boone: From 1992 to 2000, this guy was a .230 hitter with 10-20 HR power at best. That's eight full seasons of pretty much the same kind of production. Then, in 2001, he suddenly turned into a .290 hitter with 25-35 HR power. Now, in 2005, he's right back where he started: At .224, and on pace to hit about 15 HRs--EXACTLY the kind of season he had from 92 to 2000. Yes, he's aging, but he also looks smaller, and either way it's glaring.
Point being, EVERY SINGLE PLAYER has something to be gained from increased strength. Arguably, the little guys have more to be gained from it than anything, since it can be the difference between AAA and the majors. If Boone was juicing, and even if that juicing only added a moderate amount of strength, it still could easily account for his increase in production between 01 and 03.
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