Sammy Sosa's batting incident

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by docetboy
If only Baseballs classic greats were still around...

umm . . . are you kidding?

Cheating is as old as the sport - from Cobb's sharpened spikes to Gaylord Perry's vaseline under the cap to (LEGAL!!!!) use of androstenedione and other supplements, it's a PART of baseball. When you get caught, you serve the time - some guys scuff balls, some guys cork bats, and sometimes guys get caught.

And, yes - this happened in the DiMaggio era, too, that's where the idea was originated, and why it was made illegal a little later.

As for the bats - some guys have 20 dozen bats shipped at a time. Why cork more than one at a time? If it breaks, you're dicked - so because 72 bats were clean, that doesn't absolve him.

Now, they did saw open the bat purportedly used for homer number 498, and it was clean - as were scans of the 5 bats from his run w/ McGwire in Cooperstown. That just means those homers weren't hit with corked bats - in 8000 at-bats, do you really think this was the first time he stepped to the plate with a corked bat, whether it be intentionally or unintentionally? I don't really know, but it does lower my image of Sammy Sosa in that he did something illegal, and will now have to sit his 7 to 10 days for it. He cheated, got caught, and that's what happens.

Now - I COMPLETELY agree with those who question the need for corking a bat. Actual scientific studies have shown that corking a bat adds exactly zero distance to batted balls, under lab conditions - any increase is placebo effect or the like. It's moronic for him to have put himself in that position, even if it was "for the fans", because it's simply not something that works, period.

Also - why isn't anyone mad that Sosa uses BP as an "exhibition for the fans"? It's PRACTICE - shouldn't the essence of competition be based in practice? Shouldn't all the people who jumped AI's back about that stuff be on Sosa too? It reeks of a double standard to my mind.

[Kevlar281]

That actually brings up an interesting point. BP pitches are gimmies. There’s no reason for a corked bat to put on a “show” when you’re warming up not avoiding a strike out.

[sunnygirl]

I am a Sammy fan, and he did make a mistake.

But, this happened/suspension comes at a very bad time (IMO, the WORST this season) for Cubbie fans. Cubbie fans know that the NY Yankees are coming to town this weekend, and this is the first match-up since DiMaggio and Gehrig played in '38.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by sunnygirl
I am a Sammy fan, and he did make a mistake.

But, this happened/suspension comes at a very bad time (IMO, the WORST this season) for Cubbie fans. Cubbie fans know that the NY Yankees are coming to town this weekend, and this is the first match-up since DiMaggio and Gehrig played in '38.

Sunshine Sammy got eight games, and he's appealing it. So the Dominican Daddy will play against Roger Clemens, pretty-boy Derek Jeter, fat David Wells & Co.

[sunnygirl]

I was happy to read that in the Trib today, but I would much rather talk/hear about this much-anticipated series than the Sammy situation on SC, in the Trib/Sun-Times, you know? It should have been a week to talk about the series than this unfortunate incident. Oh well.

[madmax]

Originally posted by KSig RC
umm . . . are you kidding?

Cheating is as old as the sport - from Cobb's sharpened spikes to Gaylord Perry's vaseline under the cap to (LEGAL!!!!) use of androstenedione and other supplements, it's a PART of baseball. When you get caught, you serve the time - some guys scuff balls, some guys cork bats, and sometimes guys get caught.

And, yes - this happened in the DiMaggio era, too, that's where the idea was originated, and why it was made illegal a little later.

As for the bats - some guys have 20 dozen bats shipped at a time. Why cork more than one at a time? If it breaks, you're dicked - so because 72 bats were clean, that doesn't absolve him.

Now, they did saw open the bat purportedly used for homer number 498, and it was clean - as were scans of the 5 bats from his run w/ McGwire in Cooperstown. That just means those homers weren't hit with corked bats - in 8000 at-bats, do you really think this was the first time he stepped to the plate with a corked bat, whether it be intentionally or unintentionally? I don't really know, but it does lower my image of Sammy Sosa in that he did something illegal, and will now have to sit his 7 to 10 days for it. He cheated, got caught, and that's what happens.

Now - I COMPLETELY agree with those who question the need for corking a bat. Actual scientific studies have shown that corking a bat adds exactly zero distance to batted balls, under lab conditions - any increase is placebo effect or the like. It's moronic for him to have put himself in that position, even if it was "for the fans", because it's simply not something that works, period.

Also - why isn't anyone mad that Sosa uses BP as an "exhibition for the fans"? It's PRACTICE - shouldn't the essence of competition be based in practice? Shouldn't all the people who jumped AI's back about that stuff be on Sosa too? It reeks of a double standard to my mind.

The scientist that concluded that corking doesn't add distance is a moron. Corking does add distance. Why do you think Sosa was using the corked bat in the first place? Sosa essentually said it adds distance, when he admitted to using a corked bat to impress the fans at batting practice. Corking lightens the bat which allows the batter to generate greater bat speed which results in more distance. The cork itself does not increase the distance but the increased bat speed does increase the distance.

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Fifty or sixty other bats tested OK. I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Me too, plus he made a good argument that pro golfers use non regulation clubs for driving exhibitions because that is part of crowd entertainment, and people come to see him hit balls, so that is why he had ONE out of 68 bats that was not regulation. Also, I don't think he grabbed the bat. It was probably a bat boy who saw him use the bat earlier (to show off for fans) and gave it to him.

[CatStarESP4]

He received an 8 game suspension and is appealing it. I think he made a mistake and the media is making a big stink about it.

[PSK480]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CatStarESP4
[B]He received an 8 game suspension and is appealing it. I think he made a mistake and the media is making a big stink about it.
QUOTE]

The Enron Execs made a mistake, so did Martha Stewart, Richard Nixon, etc. What they all did was illegal, but they were held accountable for it. Why not hold Sosa accountable? Is it because he is Sunshine Sammy?? Everyone needs to be heald accountable, no matter who they are or what they do. Say you work at a firm and you take home a stapler's worth of staples, or maybe a stack of paper. It's illegal wrong and you get caught you're punished. Sammy is no different, he did something that is illegal in his profession and got caught, he should be penalized and the media should make a stink, if they don't make a stink over him then why did they over Nixon, Enron, Martha, etc?

[Hootie]

Yeah I agree with PSK...how many people get the chance to say, "Sorry I made a mistake...don't hold it against me."? Not a lot. Most NORMAL people are held accountable for their mistakes. Mistake or not if you break the rules then you have to expect to be punished for it. Otherwise people could say that rules can be broken and bended to suit certain people. And where would be the fairness in that?

[docetboy]

You were actually one of the 3,000 or so people to go to the game each night???

I tell you this - if they tear down Rosenblatt, I will be super super mad.

(and that corked bat is hilarious...what timing!)

Edit - just saw the bat on the news...in honor of sammy sosa they did it - how hilarious!!!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Sammy Sosa made a mistake and is being punished for it. The had a poll on he news. it was pretty even. About one third thinks the punishment is too severe, on third think it is too lenient, and one third think that it is just right.

[polarpi]

Originally posted by madmax
The scientist that concluded that corking doesn't add distance is a moron. Corking does add distance. Why do you think Sosa was using the corked bat in the first place? Sosa essentually said it adds distance, when he admitted to using a corked bat to impress the fans at batting practice. Corking lightens the bat which allows the batter to generate greater bat speed which results in more distance. The cork itself does not increase the distance but the increased bat speed does increase the distance.

The same day that it happened, ESPN did it's "Did You Know?" about corked bats. They said that a corked bat adds about 1.1 mph to the bat swing, which is a 1% increase. Based on those numbers, if a person would hit a homerun 400 ft with a non-corked bat, he would only hit it 404 ft with the corked bat. The corks do add distance, but not too much that it makes a very noticeable distance (unless you hit a ball only 318 ft with a corked bat )!

[madmax]

Originally posted by polarpi
The same day that it happened, ESPN did it's "Did You Know?" about corked bats. They said that a corked bat adds about 1.1 mph to the bat swing, which is a 1% increase. Based on those numbers, if a person would hit a homerun 400 ft with a non-corked bat, he would only hit it 404 ft with the corked bat. The corks do add distance, but not too much that it makes a very noticeable distance (unless you hit a ball only 318 ft with a corked bat )!

I don't buy that.

1. I heard a number of ex players interviewed after the Sosa incident and they all said the ball jumps off of a corked bat.

2. Sosa's own comments don't even support the conclusion of of a 1% increase. He said that he uses the corked bat in BP to impress the fans. Who is going to be impressed with a 404' homer vs 400'. That is such a small increase, a fan couldn't even see it by eye.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by madmax
I don't buy that.

Who is going to be impressed with a 404' homer vs 400'. That is such a small increase, a fan couldn't even see it by eye.

For the most part, I agree. On the other hand, in a game, if the wall is 401 ft. away, the corked bat could win or lose it.

Same in batting practive, there's something more exciting about at 401 ft. homer than a 399 ft. "almost."

I'm still willing to give the benefit of the doubt on this, though.

Although dumb, it could happen.