The Steroid Era, for all of the finger-wagging and disappointment from idealists, was one of the most popular times in MLB history. Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire produced one of the most memorable summers on record in 1998, simply because of their ability to hit home runs. Sure, the idea of a home run is a little bit silly but when a pitcher is throwing a 100 mph fastball at you, the accomplishment of putting the ball in the bleachers can make a stadium electric.
That time in baseball has long passed us by. But after a bit of a power outage, MLB is seeing a huge spike in home runs. Should baseball be concerned?
In the summer of 2000, when some of the most notable players from the Steroid Era were still smashing home runs, the league average for home runs per team per game was 1.17. In 2016, the number is the very same: 1.17. How the heck did we get here after some stunning lows throughout the 2000s?
The New York Times caught up with Stephen Vogt of the Oakland Athletics at this year’s All-Star Game, who had this to say:
“I’d like to say that guys aren’t cheating, everybody’s going to speculate — right? — when the home run numbers go up. But we are cleaning up the game, and I hope that’s not the reason behind it.”
Additionally, the Times spoke with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who assured everyone that there wasn’t anything to worry about.
“Major League Baseball does 22,000 drug tests a year, the World Anti-Doping Agency says we have one of the best testing programs in the world, let alone in professional sports.”
Putting the numbers from this year into a historical context will obviously turn a few observers’ heads, as the sanctity of baseball is on the line when steroids are discussed. The question I pose to you: why should you care? Baseball players at their very core are entertainers, putting on a show for the fawning public. Nobody wants to see bunts, they want to see home runs. Home runs bring excitement to a game that sorely needs it, from an outsider’s perspective.
Many newcomers to #MLB's 30-HR club in 2016: Dozier, Khris Davis, Bryant, Carlos Santana, Odor, Betts, Freeman, Duvall, Brad Miller, Gattis.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) September 22, 2016
Baseball appealing to wider audiences through home runs and giant spectacles means a greater chance at development all over the world. Headlines are made by hitting monstrous shots. Would anyone know the artist formerly known as Mike Stanton (now Giancarlo Stanton) if he wasn’t a hulk of a man that hit baseballs a quarter mile? The answer is no.
The league should be concerned about the uptick for the “sanctity” of the sport, without a doubt. But they are approaching numbers that rival one of the most successfully eras in sports. As long as protocol is still in place, I give the lamest answer of all: Who really cares? Let them play and get the heck out of the way.
