8 Players on Contemporary Era HOF ballot announced.

[VinnyH]

I'd like to throw out my feeling on peds with a visual.
We have all watched full seasons of our favorite teams and players, for years. Think about how many balls are caught on the warning track as the fans sigh. Then think how a stronger healthier player with peds is adding 3 feet to all those warning track outs. How many times did Cal Raleigh fly out to the track this year?

The fans who enjoy stats now have to deal with all the screwed up numbers. Sammy Sosa hit 60 homeruns 3 years. Was Sosa greater than Ruth, Aaron, Maris, Judge, etc.?

Peds messed up the sport and it's history,
Vinny

[JWBlue]

Preface what I am saying that Bonds deserves to be in.

He won't get in though and it is not b/c of steroids. It is how he treated people. He has two huge hurdles to overcome.

[Scottish Punk]

PEDS of course helps. Also, keep in mind that we had historic HR years just a few years ago. More than the PED spike. That was due to the baseballs being juiced. Those HR year totals are also inflated. All of this is just an impossible road to follow and parse out the data.

[VinnyH]

Some guys are just naturally bigger and stronger. They say Aaron had incredible wrist strength. Frank Thomas and Aaron Judge are just bigger and stronger than most. I also think eyesight is a key for some. They say Ted Williams, a wartime fighter pilot, had 10/20 vision.
Analytics, torpedo bats, computer pitching machines to workout on, iPad tendencies shown in the dugout, etc., and it will always be a battle to either hit or pitch better.
Vinny

[49ersSF]

Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds: I think it's time for Clemens and Bonds. Of all the steroid junkies, they are the only two who played at a level that would have gotten them in with or without the steroids. They should both get in on this vote.

Carlos Delgado: Much like Fred McGriff, he played a very steady game that was often overlooked because of all the steroid players getting attention. He is one player who is commonly looked at as steroid-free during the era. He will probably not receive nearly as many votes as he should and will fall short.

Jeff Kent: Offensively, he is one of the all-time greats at second base. His defense was solid enough to never warrant any criticism. Definitely worthy of the HoF. Much like Delgado, he's one of the most deserving on the list, but will fall short mainly because he lacks the popularity vote.

------

Dale Murphy: He's very borderline. A nearly identical career to that of Mike Trout. He, too, was impacted by an injury that derailed his surefire candidacy. He was a 5-time Gold Glove centerfielder who was a 5-tool player and considered one of the best to play the game in the 1980s. He has a definite shot as one of the most popular and talented players of his generation. The only thing holding him back is his career numbers.

Don Mattingly: For a 5 year stretch, there was no one better in the game. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career. He's a borderline candidate who often has been further away rather than closer to getting in. I don't see this changing and should fall short.

Gary Sheffield: By the numbers, he's in. The admitted steroid user's career would look quite different without the help of steroids, though. While Bonds and Clemens have a clear trajectory that puts them in the HoF with or without the help of PEDs, Sheffield's career looks much more murkier without the use of PEDs. Unfortunately for Sheffield, this is the main topic when it comes to his career and why he won't get in.

Fernando Valenzuela: As a lifelong Dodger fan, coming off another World Series ring, it might lead me to be sentimental towards one of my favorite players as a kid. However, while Fernando had a stretch from 1981 to 1986 that put him as one of the best starters in the game, his career went downhill after that. His chances of getting in are the lowest amongst those on this list.

[mfw13]

The problem is that there is no rhyme or reason as to what gets on these ballots in the first place. As I noted upthread, Dave Parker got on FOUR ballots before eventually getting elected, whereas Dwight Evans has only gotten on ONE ballot. Keith Hernandez hasn't been on ANY vet committee ballots!

So IMHO, the bigger issue is the need for a more open and consistent process for determining who gets on these veteran's committee ballots in the first place.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by rats60

That is because McGwire and Bonds were doping.

Here's a shirtless photo of Bonds in 1993 -- what are the signs that he was doping?:



He just looks like a 28-year-old professional athlete who regularly trained in the gym. His muscle tone looks natural to me. No six-pack. He doesn't look "shredded".

[TenaciousJDD]

Originally Posted by mfw13

The problem is that there is no rhyme or reason as to what gets on these ballots in the first place. As I noted upthread, Dave Parker got on FOUR ballots before eventually getting elected, whereas Dwight Evans has only gotten on ONE ballot. Keith Hernandez hasn't been on ANY vet committee ballots!

So IMHO, the bigger issue is the need for a more open and consistent process for determining who gets on these veteran's committee ballots in the first place.

Part of the confusion is because they keep reconfiguring the eras and changing the rules. This gives a pretty good primer on how things work currently:

Election Season: Bonds and Clemens Lead the Contemporary Baseball Ballot | FanGraphs Baseball https://share.google/5wz1LklrYHlfT62eI

The good news for fans of players omitted from this cycle is that one way or another the majority of this ballot will completely turn over when this era comes around again in three years.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[jdandns]

RIP, Vic...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...845e598&ei=178

No one can say he didn't have some serious juice in MLB.

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Here's a shirtless photo of Bonds in 1993 -- what are the signs that he was doping?:



He just looks like a 28-year-old professional athlete who regularly trained in the gym. His muscle tone looks natural to me. No six-pack. He doesn't look "shredded".

The guy on the left with man boobs and a gut tested positive for steroids following this fight, ironically he’s also in the HOF lol:

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Noles939913

The guy on the left with man boobs and a gut tested positive for steroids following this fight:

Yeah, but look how massive his arms were -- Bonds' arms weren't bulging.

Here's also a photo of Mark McGwire from his rookie season -- pretty pedestrian looking body:

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Yeah, but look how massive his arms were -- Bonds' arms weren't bulging.

Here's also a photo of Mark McGwire from his rookie season -- pretty pedestrian looking body:

Okay this notoriously skinny fighter tested positive for steroids following this fight:

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Noles939913

Okay this notoriously skinny fighter tested positive for steroids following this fight

Anderson Silva -- tested positive for steroids in 2015 at the age of 40. Testosterone levels naturally decline in your 30s -- he was probably just offsetting his body's natural decline.

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Anderson Silva -- tested positive for steroids in 2015 at the age of 40. Testosterone levels naturally decline in your 30s -- he was probably just offsetting his body's natural decline.

Now do this skinny guy:

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Here's a shirtless photo of Bonds in 1993 -- what are the signs that he was doping?:



He just looks like a 28-year-old professional athlete who regularly trained in the gym. His muscle tone looks natural to me. No six-pack. He doesn't look "shredded".

You’re beyond out of your depth here.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Noles939913

Now do this skinny guy:

Donald Cerrone -- tested positive for a banned diuretic in 2007.

[Mephisto]

Originally Posted by TBTC Baseball

<Luis Gonzalez and Brady Anderson have entered the chat>

Throw Steve Finley in there. He gets overlooked way too often for his power surge. 47 career home runs through age 30 despite playing 7 seasons already and 6 as an everyday player after his rookie season. The year his teammate Ken Caminiti wins the MVP Finley all of a sudden nearly triples his career high in home runs with 30 (previous high was 11) along with a career high 45 doubles. Finley then finishes his career with over 300 home runs despite entering his age 31 season with just the 47.

It’s reminiscent of what Nelson Cruz did except he broke out a little younger and had played less games before his power surge…and he of course was eventually suspended for PEDs.

[dlouisb1313]

I'd vote for none of them. Mattingly while a good guy it seems, just doesn't have the numbers. Dale Murphy wasn't that great.
Bonds and Clemens, should never ever be anywhere near the Hall of Fame. The other aren't Hall of Fame worthy either.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by jdandns

RIP, Vic...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...845e598&ei=178

No one can say he didn't have some serious juice in MLB.

His impact on the game of baseball was far from undetectable…

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Here's a shirtless photo of Bonds in 1993 -- what are the signs that he was doping?:



He just looks like a 28-year-old professional athlete who regularly trained in the gym. His muscle tone looks natural to me. No six-pack. He doesn't look "shredded".

Chuck Knoblach admitted to using steroids and, I believe, was on the Mitchell Report and he never looked "shredded."

[Noles939913]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Yeah, but look how massive his arms were -- Bonds' arms weren't bulging.

Here's also a photo of Mark McGwire from his rookie season -- pretty pedestrian looking body:

Bonds’ arms weren’t “bulging” because he was relaxing with his hands in his pockets lol. James Toney’s arms weren’t ever “massive” but he’s also essentially flexing as he’s getting ready to throw a punch.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

Chuck Knoblach admitted to using steroids and, I believe, was on the Mitchell Report and he never looked "shredded."

He used HGH is 2001 -- not anabolic steroids.

[WillBaseball]

Friendly reminder;

All of these people are already in the Hall of Fame. The museum. It’s great. Robust as you all suggest it should be.

None of these people are members of the Hall of Fame.

It’s interesting to see people’s opinions in 2025 about Bonds and Clemens. They should get in, probably won’t, as you can see here, youth tends to be forgiving and the old dogs won’t budge.

There is no one else on this list. It’s crazy to see people talking here about sold seats! Bloody sock! He was around baseball for 30 years! Fernando-mania!

You’re talking about the content of a museum inside of which there is a small room honoring members of a super elite club that unfortunately has gotten too generous a few times. And it’s due to human error, like not having set quantifiable standards for the Hall, or the strike zone …until I guess next year.

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by WillBaseball

Friendly reminder;

All of these people are already in the Hall of Fame. The museum. It’s great. Robust as you all suggest it should be.

None of these people are members of the Hall of Fame.

It’s interesting to see people’s opinions in 2025 about Bonds and Clemens. They should get in, probably won’t, as you can see here, youth tends to be forgiving and the old dogs won’t budge.

There is no one else on this list. It’s crazy to see people talking here about sold seats! Bloody sock! He was around baseball for 30 years! Fernando-mania!

You’re talking about the content of a museum inside of which there is a small room honoring members of a super elite club that unfortunately has gotten too generous a few times. And it’s due to human error, like not having set quantifiable standards for the Hall, or the strike zone …until I guess next year.

You probably shouldn’t post after drinking.

[Athey49]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Here's a shirtless photo of Bonds in 1993 -- what are the signs that he was doping?:



He just looks like a 28-year-old professional athlete who regularly trained in the gym. His muscle tone looks natural to me. No six-pack. He doesn't look "shredded".

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Yeah, but look how massive his arms were -- Bonds' arms weren't bulging.

Here's also a photo of Mark McGwire from his rookie season -- pretty pedestrian looking body:

I suggest you clear your internet history before your wife gets a look at it.