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In 2010, a record six no-hitters were thrown by pitchers in the MLB. A total of only 15 no-hitters were thrown between the years 2000 and 2009 altogether. Some may call this a fluke, however, there has already been two no hitters thrown this year in the MLB, and its just May. Not only that, but 13 times this season a no-hitter has been taken into the 7th inning. So the question arises from this, why? There could be a number of factors playing a role in this, however, I find that there can only be one major reason why there has been such a drop off in hitting, steroids, or the lack there of. The steroid era consisted of Barry Bonds hitting 73 home runs in one seasons, followed by Mark McGuire with 70 and Sammy Sosa with 66. In the year that Barry Bonds hit his 73 home runs, 12 other players hit over 40. In 2010 only 2, yes 2, hit over 40. Now you could say that it is just a handful of players taking steroids who put up these monster numbers. However, team’s batting averages have also dropped off significantly. In 2006, 14 teams had a team batting average of .270 or higher. In 2010, there were just 4 and now in 2011, there is only 3. You can’t tell me that the pitching in baseball has become that much better over five years. To me it isn’t the year of the pitcher, its the year(s) of no steroids.

“Hitting a baseball has been described as the single most difficult feat in sports. And for good reason. Imagine the quality of hand-eye coordination required to make contact with a little white sphere traveling at over 95 miles per hour, using a 2 ¾ inch wide piece of wood being swung at over sixty miles per hour. Consider the intense concentration. Baseball is the only sport where being a failure seven out of ten times is considered to be outstanding. A basketball center who sank only 30 percent of his baskets or a quarterback who hit his receivers only 30 percent of the time would be selling insurance instead.” – Math and Baseball. Clearly hitting a baseball takes extreme skill and repreated practice. Ted Williams, the last player to hit .400, who consistently batted over .300 his entire career, was one of the greatest players of all time. Sure hard work played a factor in his success, but the ability to react in such a small time to hit such a fast moving ball, pure god given talent. In my opinion, baseball is a sport of failure not successes. It is the players who can overcome their failures who become the greats. It is the players who wipe their memorie’s clean and forget about their previous at bat where the pitcher struck them out on three straight pitches. If you ask a major league baseball player about their career’s, I’m sure they would tell you first about the strike out they had that lost the game not the home run they had that won the game.

Photo from cedwardbrice's photostream

Major League Baseball isn’t just about the game that is being played on the field.  It is about the fans, the excitement, and the pastime of the world’s greatest game.  From foot long hot dogs, to ice cream in the little plastic baseball helmets, there are little pieces of the ballpark that make watching the game so familiar and fun.  One such thing is “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, which was written on some scrap paper on a train ride to Manhattan by Jack Norworth over 100 years ago.  Fans always know that in the 7th inning before the home team bats, the unofficial anthem of baseball will be blared over the PA system, unless of course you are in Boston where they play “Sweet Caroline”.  Thousands upon thousands of people rise to their feet and sing the song as one.  “It’s been said that it’s the third most frequently sung song in America and I’m sure Happy Birthday and The Star-Spangled Banner win the gold and silver.” – ushistoryblog.com Everyone knows the chorus by heart and it is almost un-American not to.  No matter what team you root for, people can agree that “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” is a timeless song that adds to the unparalleled feel of joy at a Major League Baseball game.

Over the past twenty or so years, the Yankees and Red Sox have time and time again traded turns as division champs.  Whether it was the  Tino Martinez led Yankees or the Dustin Pedroia led Red Sox, these two teams have made the AL east a two horse race.  Until now.  Though only twenty games into the season, the power house team from Fenway Park sits in last place four games out of first place.  With a team batting average of .239, 22nd in Major League Baseball, offense has been hard to  come by.  There were high hopes for this Red Sox team coming into the season with the acquisitions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.  However, Carl Crawford, who consistently hits over .300 year after year, is batting .156? And Adrian Gonzalez, one of the most feared home run hitters in the game has just 1 home run?  The combined $296 million dollars the Red Sox spent on these two guys better start paying off soon, or the boo birds in Boston will start to emerge.  Now the question arises, were they worth the money?

 
Photo from Keith Allison’s photostream

What has happened to the sluggers and home run hitters of the 2000′s?  Where have the Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds gone? Oh that’s right, the steroid era in baseball is over.  Apparently, Manny Ramirez didn’t get the memo as he failed his 2nd drug test and instead of serving a 100 game ban, retired?  That’s right.  One of the most decorated and tainted players in the game retired to the golf course  instead of sit out the next 100 games.  Tampa Bay’s GM certainly looks like a genious right now doesn’t he?