People's Champ
Bleeding Teal
Baseball is a unique sport. While others like the NFL and NBA look ahead to their future, baseball always looks to their past. They have always been more proud of their rich history and their great players. The future has never been on the forefront of baseball. Which had been fine. Until the Steroids Era.
Yes between 1996 and 2004 (roughly) is what's called the Steroids Era. During that time we as fans were entertained by McGwire and Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds and so many others. Runs were up, home runs were up, owners were happy with the cash flow coming from this increase in offense. Then Balco hit us. What a disappointment find out that so many players had cheated the game and us, and that we were watching records broken by juiced up players. And by all accounts, the owners knew about this, but didn't do anything about it because of the money they were raking in. This was truly a black eye on the sport. And the years since, well we still couldn't escape it. Each year it seemed like steroids would make its way back in baseball. From Giambi to Pettite to Tejada to A Rod, names and star were falling.
And now here we are in 2010. What has changed in baseball? The future. Yes the future has been put on display like never before. At the start of the season, Jason Heyward made his debut for the Atlanta Braves. He was a much talked minor leaguer with great power. What does he do in his first career at bat? Hits a 3 run HR. He was named Rookie of the Month in both April and May and continues to be make progress and is seen as one of the future greats of basball.
Another name that comes to mind is none other that Stephen Strasburg. This may have been one of the most hyped pitchers ever to come out of the draft. He was selected by the Washington Nationals first overall last year. He dominated the minor leagues until his callup this week. His first game was home against the Pirates. In what was maybe the hyped up debut in baseball history, Strasburg delivered. He struck out 14 and gave up 2 runs. And what was more, look at the attendance. Has anyone seen a Nationals game that had such a, dare I say, playoff type atmosphere? I mean the crowd was there for every strike. And what ahuble attitude this kid has. He truly was worth the hype and is great for basball.
There are others too who have made an impact. The Florid Marlins debuted Mike Staton, a 6'5 240 monster, who went 3-5 in his debut against the Phils. He has an incredible work ethic to go along with his massive, chiseled body. He is someone who the Marlins are looking to be the face of the franchise. The Reds' Mike Leake is a rookie with a 5-0 record with a 2.68 ERA, only the second pitcher in Reds history to do that. And that's with no minor league experience. Here in the Bay Area, Buster Posey made his awaited start, and went 3-4 with 3 RBIs and is hitting .351.
Yes the future is here in basball and its never looked brighter than this. I honestly believe with the debuts and all the great rookie talent basball has now, we can finally move on from the steroid era. We can stop talking steroids and its effect on basball history and look ahead to the future. I think it may have all culminated with the Strasburg debut and domination. That night may have helped turn the page for good on the ugly recent history of basball and ushered in the new era of baseball. 2010 is the year of the future.
Do you have the same feeling I do about the year 2010 and its place in basball history?
Yes between 1996 and 2004 (roughly) is what's called the Steroids Era. During that time we as fans were entertained by McGwire and Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds and so many others. Runs were up, home runs were up, owners were happy with the cash flow coming from this increase in offense. Then Balco hit us. What a disappointment find out that so many players had cheated the game and us, and that we were watching records broken by juiced up players. And by all accounts, the owners knew about this, but didn't do anything about it because of the money they were raking in. This was truly a black eye on the sport. And the years since, well we still couldn't escape it. Each year it seemed like steroids would make its way back in baseball. From Giambi to Pettite to Tejada to A Rod, names and star were falling.
And now here we are in 2010. What has changed in baseball? The future. Yes the future has been put on display like never before. At the start of the season, Jason Heyward made his debut for the Atlanta Braves. He was a much talked minor leaguer with great power. What does he do in his first career at bat? Hits a 3 run HR. He was named Rookie of the Month in both April and May and continues to be make progress and is seen as one of the future greats of basball.
Another name that comes to mind is none other that Stephen Strasburg. This may have been one of the most hyped pitchers ever to come out of the draft. He was selected by the Washington Nationals first overall last year. He dominated the minor leagues until his callup this week. His first game was home against the Pirates. In what was maybe the hyped up debut in baseball history, Strasburg delivered. He struck out 14 and gave up 2 runs. And what was more, look at the attendance. Has anyone seen a Nationals game that had such a, dare I say, playoff type atmosphere? I mean the crowd was there for every strike. And what ahuble attitude this kid has. He truly was worth the hype and is great for basball.
There are others too who have made an impact. The Florid Marlins debuted Mike Staton, a 6'5 240 monster, who went 3-5 in his debut against the Phils. He has an incredible work ethic to go along with his massive, chiseled body. He is someone who the Marlins are looking to be the face of the franchise. The Reds' Mike Leake is a rookie with a 5-0 record with a 2.68 ERA, only the second pitcher in Reds history to do that. And that's with no minor league experience. Here in the Bay Area, Buster Posey made his awaited start, and went 3-4 with 3 RBIs and is hitting .351.
Yes the future is here in basball and its never looked brighter than this. I honestly believe with the debuts and all the great rookie talent basball has now, we can finally move on from the steroid era. We can stop talking steroids and its effect on basball history and look ahead to the future. I think it may have all culminated with the Strasburg debut and domination. That night may have helped turn the page for good on the ugly recent history of basball and ushered in the new era of baseball. 2010 is the year of the future.
Do you have the same feeling I do about the year 2010 and its place in basball history?
