HUH?

[Warpticon]

I was looking over some stats trying to prep for fantasy league drafts, and saw something that made no sense to me. What in the world happened to Pudge? I mean I knew he didn't have a great year, but GEEZ. .276/.290/.444? ELEVEN WALKS IN 504 ATBATS?! Against 93 strikeouts? Is that even possible?!

 

If anybody wants a reason not to spend big money on a free agent catcher over 30, well, there's your answer, I guess.

[beersoakedivy]

I'm not accusing here, but could it be post roids?.?.?. I really wonder just how many players were juicing a few years back.

[cubsavant]

I'm not accusing here, but could it be post roids?.?.?. I really wonder just how many players were juicing a few years back.

 

He really shrank last year. I remeber him saying he got smaller because he wanted to improve his quickness behind the plate, but he was under 200 lbs going into spring training last year.

[beersoakedivy]

I'm not accusing here, but could it be post roids?.?.?. I really wonder just how many players were juicing a few years back.

 

He really shrank last year. I remeber him saying he got smaller because he wanted to improve his quickness behind the plate, but he was under 200 lbs going into spring training last year.

 

I really do not like to accuse without solid evidence, but deep down I feel the number of players juicing a few years back would be mind numbing. I'm just glad that era is over because there is nothing I hate more than cheaters.

 

Did Bonds also say something recently about losing weight to benefit his game? Do these cheaters really think that we are that stupid?!?!?!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Was Pudge on those special "take more walks" roids?

[wade]

Was Pudge on those special "take more walks" roids?

 

Dusty found out he was, and for Pudge's own good hid them from him.

[fiver]

Was Pudge on those special "take more walks" roids?

 

While steroids wouldn't have increased his vision, they may have increased his bat speed. That said, he may have been making evaluations on which pitches to hit a bit more quickly last year...This is certainly speculation. However, the declining numbers and talk about dropping weight purposefully certainly lead one down the path of thinking he may have stopped taking steroids.

[Tim]

This is not really that out of character for Pudge. One reason why many here weren't excited about pursuing him a few years ago was his lack of patience. He's had seasons with 16, 19, 23, 24 & 25 walks back when he was in his prime years and was a much bigger offensive threat than today.

 

As far as a decline goes, I don't think it is necessary to point to steroids. He's a 34 year old catcher who has a LOT of innings behind the plate. It's actually amazing he's held up as well as he has. I think a dramatic decline shouldn't be surprising in the least. The fewer walks are probably due to pitchers being much more willing to be close to the plate than they were a couple years ago.

[muntjack]

Was Pudge on those special "take more walks" roids?

 

While steroids wouldn't have increased his vision, they may have increased his bat speed. That said, he may have been making evaluations on which pitches to hit a bit more quickly last year...This is certainly speculation. However, the declining numbers and talk about dropping weight purposefully certainly lead one down the path of thinking he may have stopped taking steroids.

 

How about the idea that pitchers no longer feared his abilities as much, so they quit trying to get him out out of the zone.

[fiver]

Was Pudge on those special "take more walks" roids?

 

While steroids wouldn't have increased his vision, they may have increased his bat speed. That said, he may have been making evaluations on which pitches to hit a bit more quickly last year...This is certainly speculation. However, the declining numbers and talk about dropping weight purposefully certainly lead one down the path of thinking he may have stopped taking steroids.

 

How about the idea that pitchers no longer feared his abilities as much, so they quit trying to get him out out of the zone.

 

Tim was on target by mentioning that he has never been one to take a lot of walks...I didn't realize that balls in play have always been such a large factor with respect to his once above average OBP.

 

His pitches per plate appearance were just a bit lower than his career average. He didn't strike out at a higher rate, and his groundball/flyball ratio was on par with his career average as well.

 

He still performed very well against finesse pitchers. He had a lot of trouble with the power pitchers. (350/365/617 and 270/281/426 respectively) He has traditionally had much more success against power pitchers...declining batspeed certainly is a factor.

[Warpticon]

This is not really that out of character for Pudge. One reason why many here weren't excited about pursuing him a few years ago was his lack of patience. He's had seasons with 16, 19, 23, 24 & 25 walks back when he was in his prime years and was a much bigger offensive threat than today.

 

As far as a decline goes, I don't think it is necessary to point to steroids. He's a 34 year old catcher who has a LOT of innings behind the plate. It's actually amazing he's held up as well as he has. I think a dramatic decline shouldn't be surprising in the least. The fewer walks are probably due to pitchers being much more willing to be close to the plate than they were a couple years ago.

 

It may not be that out of character--he's never walked a lot--but this is taking things to the extreme. In all of the above seasons mentioned but one, he had anywhere form 100-150 fewer plate appearances. 500+ at-bats and just barely single digit walks? For a player of his overall ability? That's crazy.

[Soul]

Looking at how he deflated physically and the massive falloff in numbers...

 

 

 

It's very suspicious. He's not the only one, of course. Not trying to single Pudge out. It's very suspicious, that's all.