Tracking - Alonso, Grandal, Volquez, Boxberger, Sappelt, Wood, Torreyes

[RedsMan3203]

I've had EdE starting on my Fantasy Team all year.... (Great move, huh?)

But, he has been healthy ALL year... I think splitting time between DH/1B has done him wonders... Its given him a ton of confidence at the plate not having to deal with his defense issues and such...

[dougdirt]

Melky didn't look bigger. I imagine the "stuff" being used today isn't the same stuff used earlier. HGH, for instance, doesn't make you bigger, just quicker. I think we are naive to think the steroid era actually ended.

Did the 'stuff' really do something for Melky, or was it his BABIP being .379 that made his numbers look great? His career BABIP is currently at .309, and that includes this year. His peripherals look pretty much in line with what we have seen from him in other parts of his career. His power is up a tad, but he is also now 27 years old, so a .170 IsoP up from a previous high of .140 (before he got to San Fran, it was .165 in 2011) isn't really anything to suggest performance enhancers.

[kaldaniels]

Did the 'stuff' really do something for Melky, or was it his BABIP being .379 that made his numbers look great? His career BABIP is currently at .309, and that includes this year. His peripherals look pretty much in line with what we have seen from him in other parts of his career. His power is up a tad, but he is also now 27 years old, so a .170 IsoP up from a previous high of .140 (before he got to San Fran, it was .165 in 2011) isn't really anything to suggest performance enhancers.

Performance aside, I think the Melky comp was in reference to your "EE doesn't look bigger" remark. It was simply saying that by using PED's you don't necessarily look bigger. You may have a case based on EE simply reaching his ceiling, but I wouldn't use EE's size to "rule out" (<---for lack of a better term) PEDs.

[dougdirt]

Performance aside, I think the Melky comp was in reference to your "EE doesn't look bigger" remark. It was simply saying that by using PED's you don't necessarily look bigger. You may have a case based on EE simply reaching his ceiling, but I wouldn't use EE's size to "rule out" (<---for lack of a better term) PEDs.

Sure, but my comment was in reference to "EE is just lifting more" by Vottomatic.

[kaldaniels]

Sure, but my comment was in reference to "EE is just lifting more" by Vottomatic.

Got it.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Not worthy of a thread of it's own, but I saw this video interview with Dunner and just thought you'd all get a kick out of it. Funny stuff.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:8294782

[Vottomatic]

Sure, but my comment was in reference to "EE is just lifting more" by Vottomatic.

I was just kidding Doug.

EE is one of my favorite former Reds. Liked him when he was here, and thought he over-maligned by the fans. A guy who I thought would eventually put it all together, who maybe got traded before his potential matured into reality.

But it's all a moot point now.

[redsmetz]

This interesting piece from ESPN's "Elias Says" blog regarding Alonso's grand slam

From Elias: Imagine hitting a first-inning grand-slam home run - and when you touch home plate, you look up at the scoreboard and find that your team is still trailing! That's what happened on Friday night to Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso, who responded to the Rockies' five-run top of the first with a four-run blow. But those were the only runs that San Diego would score as Colorado won, 7-4.

But back to Alonso. He became the first major-leaguer in 53 years to hit a first-inning grand-slam and find his team trailing when he returned to his dugout. The last player to do that was Bob Cerv of the Kansas City A's on July 3, 1959; he connected off Cleveland's Herb Score after the Tribe had scored five times in the top of the first. Like Alonso's Padres, Cerv's Athletics never scored again, and Score wound up with a complete-game victory, 8-4.

[REDREAD]

Well, back to EdE.. I heard on the radio (I don't know who said this)
EdE is crediting his power surge to an adjustment that made his swing shorter.
Honestly, I don't know if this is true or not, but thought I'd pass it on.

[HokieRed]

Alonso update. 4 for 5 with a BB and 2 RBI's yesterday.

[CTA513]

Well, back to EdE.. I heard on the radio (I don't know who said this)
EdE is crediting his power surge to an adjustment that made his swing shorter.
Honestly, I don't know if this is true or not, but thought I'd pass it on.

I saw an article earlier this year that said he now keeps both hands on his bat all the way through his swing instead of letting one hand come off like he used to do here.

[Superdude]

I saw an article earlier this year that said he now keeps both hands on his bat all the way through his swing instead of letting one hand come off like he used to do here.

Can we trade Brook Jacoby for Dwayne Murphy?

[Wonderful Monds]

This. And there are those who want us to forget it already.

Yeah. And it seems like some teams are more ahead of the curve than others in that area. Toronto definitely. St. Louis is another one.

But, at the same time, we've heard Toronto has elaborate systems for stealing pitchers signs so it could be something like that instead.

[Superdude]

Yeah. And it seems like some teams are more ahead of the curve than others in that area. Toronto definitely. St. Louis is another one.

But, at the same time, we've heard Toronto has elaborate systems for stealing pitchers signs so it could be something like that instead.

Is there a point where you would not consider it a problem anymore? A high profile player just got busted for 50 games in a playoff chase, so it's not like MLB is still afraid to address the issue. How is it easier to believe that guys like Jose Bautista and Edwin are taking PED's that no one knows about, don't build any noticeable muscle, and don't show up on tests? I'm not expert on PED's, so maybe I'm naive, but this wonder drug seems a little far-fetched to me. And if it existed, wouldn't it be rampant throughout the league?

[Wonderful Monds]

Is there a point where you would not consider it a problem anymore? A high profile player just got busted for 50 games in a playoff chase, so it's not like MLB is still afraid to address the issue. How is it easier to believe that guys like Jose Bautista and Edwin are taking PED's that no one knows about, don't build any noticeable muscle, and don't show up on tests? I'm not expert on PED's, so maybe I'm naive, but this wonder drug seems a little far-fetched to me. And if it existed, wouldn't it be rampant throughout the league?

Couldn't tell you. Some people might just have connections or methods to beat the system, and would rather not reveal them to maintain the competitive edge.

There is more to building strength than just bulking up though. The eye test is probably the worst judge of whether or not someone juiced tbh. The ability to recover better and quicker makes a big difference.

If I had to guess though I'd owe it more to sign stealing than anything else. I re-read that ESPN piece where they investigated the possibility of sign stealing in Rogers Centre and the numbers were eye popping.