MLB Home Runs Hit A coughcoughsteroidscoughcough 15-Year Low

Has baseball finally gone through the looking glass in regards to steroids? This year’s final home run numbers have hit a 15-year low, with Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera hitting a paltry 37 dingers to lead the AL, while Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard having a more robust year with 48 in the NL. But what about that overall dip? What’s to account the precipitous drop since 2000 when games were averaging 2.34 as opposed to the 2.01 in ‘08? Well, according to Cabrera…

“I think it’s the bigger stadiums…”

Ok, sure there are bigger stadiums in the AL than the NL, but that doesn’t account for everyone in the Bigs to be coming up short on dingers. We sorta kinda side with the Angels’ Torii Hunter on this one.

“I think the steroid testing has something to do with it,” [Hunter] said. “If there were any guys who were taking it, they’re not taking it anymore. I’d say it’s a small percentage, but of course it’s going to have an impact.”

If that’s the case, then there must’ve not been as many pitchers on ‘roids, in comparison to hitters, trying to match their opposition. Oh well, sure we won’t be able to talk about 9-7 games as often, but at least we can marvel at players like Howard and Cabrera now without wondering how they hide their track marks so well.
Angels’ Hunter says MLB’s homer dip result of steroid testing [ESPN]
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