Looks like Barry Bonds is going after his own record.. (1 Viewer)

[BrettB]

He is on pace to hit 324 dingers this year

I think he's on pace now to hit about 216. The pressure must have gotten to him.

 

[Michael*K]

Just logged into ESPN's GameCast in time to see him end the game in the 10th with #5.

 

[Joseph S]

However, look at the past few seasons (98-01): I know of six seasons (Mcgwire 98 & 99, Sosa 98, 99, 01, Bonds 01) that would've broken Maris' 61 HR record. It took 37 years for someone to break his record. Then that record was broken in 3 years.

The crappy pitching has a lot to do with it. However, it has been shown in other cases that many of these barriers aren't physical, but rather mental. Take the 4 min mile for example. Once it was broken, others saw that it could be done and have since done so. Guys like Matt Williams and Griffey gave the HR record a run in the years prior, but the pressure got to them in the end.

Same goes for Gwynn, Carew, and Brett's attempts on the .400 mark. As soon as someone does it again another will likely follow rather quickly.

 

[SteveRS]

It looks like Barry is getting back in the groove again.

Here is ESPN's projection for Bonds' 2002 season.

AB- 594

R- 378

H- 378

2B- 54

3B- 0

HR- 270

RBI-594

BB- 270

SO- 0

SB- 54

OBP-.765

SLG-2.091

AVG-.636

 

[John Thomas]

Take the 4 min mile for example. Once it was broken, others saw that it could be done and have since done so. Guys like Matt Williams and Griffey gave the HR record a run in the years prior, but the pressure got to them in the end.

Problem with that is, no one even came close to 61 previously. You could say that when someone approached 50 that the pressure started to get to them, but we're talking about professional athletes here, too. Considering guys like Cecil Fielder, when he hit 50 back in '91(I think) for the Tigers, that was an accomplishment. He really didn't have the pressure on him to go for the record as he never even came close.

 

[RobertR]

Problem with that is, no one even came close to 61 previously

You could say exactly the same thing about Ruth's numbers. No one had come close to them before. I always find it interesting that Ruth is hailed as an "extraordinary athlete" for hitting more homers than anyone before him, but some people seem highly motivated to come up with reasons to minimize the athletic achievement of people who had the audacity to break his record (Maris suffered horribly from the "how dare you beat the Babe" types). You can BET that if Bonds hits 80 or more (far exceeding anyone else), some people will give him very little credit for his achievement.

 

[Ashley Seymour]

Bonds was clearly the best player of the 90's, and in several years he was the best player of that year, witness his MVP's. If he gets to 700 home runs, I think the argument that he is the best ever should be put aside. The only thing that may keep him around baseball, baring injuries like Mac, would be the prospect of hitting 800 home runs.