Beau Holder said:

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Dies Irae said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Speaking of steroids I watched the Untold episode on BALCO last night.

It's pretty good and at the time it was just background noise for me so it was interesting to hear the whole ordeal and learn the details.

We always knew guys were juicing and they were huge but seeing them compared to how guys look now and it's comical.

And Victor Conte and Barry Bonds are two of the biggest PsOS in sports history

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Mark McGwire was one of the most laughable physique changes (along with Bonds) I've ever seen. He literally looked like a cartoon character.

Also, I love Baggy but you'll never convince me he didn't take the needle either

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Creatine really works, folks!

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Stealing these pictures from Time Magazine.

Here's Bonds in 1992, his last year with the Pirates, when he was 27 - in that 27-31 prime we all talk about - and had been in the league for 7 years. He hit 34 homers that year, drove in 103, led the league in runs scored, walks, OBP and SLG and won MVP.



Here he is in 1996 with the Giants at age 31. Still pretty trim. He hit 42 home runs and drove in 129 that year while hitting .308, and led the league with 151 walks, but only finished 5th in the MVP voting as the juicing was starting all around him, combined with the Rockies having 15 guys hit .300 with 100 RBI every year.
Ken Caminiti won MVP.



Here he is in 2001 with the Giants at age 36 looking like Howard Stark and Dr. Abraham Erskine just gave him the super soldier serum. As alluded to in Game of Shadows, he was super pissed about all the attention that McGwire and Sosa got during the home run chases of 97-99 while he was a much more complete player than either. In 2001, he put up the ultimate cartoon numbers. 73 homers, 137 RBI, .328 average, 177 walks, .515 OBP, .863 slugging, 1.379 OPS. This started a run of four straight NL MVP awards for him, even in 2003 when he only played 130 games.

CoachAg19 said:

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Agree except I'd switch Yordan and Tuck.
And for me, it's Singleton/Abreu. I think if Abreu is healthy, then he gets the nod, and Singleton will be used as a PH if necessary…even though I don't know who in that lineup you PH for. I'm happy for Singleton, and his story is awesome, but he has yet to prove himself to be THE every day guy out there. I will say though, I've been impressed with what he's doing defensively.

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You can't exactly prove anything in 8 games. I am very happy with his play so far. He's got a .744 OPS (113 wRC+) while having a very low .105 BABIP. If he gets anywhere close to League avg than he'll have an OPS well over .800.

Stats are stats, but I feel better with Singleton coming up to bat than I do/did with Abreu. Much more potential for power and Singleton has a GREAT eye.

ETA: plus Dusty will be more inclined to bat Singleton lower in the order (6/7/8) than he would Abreu.

AggiEE said:

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I hope Abreu stays injured so we can keep lefty singleton in the lineup

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I don't want Abreu injured, but Singleton's numbers aren't bad. Just 4 hits in 32 PAs for the Stros, but two were HRs. He also 7 walks, and just 4 strikeouts.

.744 OPS, and 105 OPS+. It's sufficing so far.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/singljo02.shtml

Ag_07 said:

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The only thing that concerns me about Jon and it's the only edge Abreu has is the lack of RBIs

He's come up in a few spots with men on and left them out there.

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You probably have a point about Abreu being a professional hitter and he'll do what he has to with bat to ball skills to get runs home, but the #s don't show that yet for Singleton.

Between both big league stints this year, Singleton has a .900 OPS /154 wRC+ with runners on. We're talking about a tiny sample size (15 PA).

In much fewer at bats. And he's hitting the ball very hard. I'm a skeptic when it comes to Jon, but you can't look at batting average after just a week or so of games. I care more about the eye test.

No

But it's the Angels

BadAggie said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Ag_07 said:

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The only thing that concerns me about Jon and it's the only edge Abreu has is the lack of RBIs

He's come up in a few spots with men on and left them out there.

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You probably have a point about Abreu being a professional hitter and he'll do what he has to with bat to ball skills to get runs home, but the #s don't show that yet for Singleton.

Between both big league stints this year, Singleton has a .900 OPS /154 wRC+ with runners on. We're talking about a tiny sample size (15 PA).

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Meanwhile Abreu has a decade.

Singleton's average is worse than Maldy's. C'mon

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And?

These look a little corny.

The @astros added to their collection outside @MinuteMaidPark on Texas Ave!

Make sure you stop by and get your photos! 📸#WeAreHoustonSports #Houstonastros pic.twitter.com/xNTej1AKoa

— Harris County - Houston Sports Authority (@HCHSA) August 18, 2023

If I'm pitching today, I'd rather face Abreu than Singleton.

texasaggie2015 said:

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AggiEE said:

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I hope Abreu stays injured so we can keep lefty singleton in the lineup

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I hope Singleton gets so hot that Dusty has to play him, but I just can't bring myself to wishing someone can't get over an injury. That's brutal.

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Implying someone playing better than the alternative has any bearing at all over what Galaxy Brain decides to do with the lineup.

Diaz at 1st alert

I'm glad Diaz is in the lineup but it sucks we still have to deal with the black hole at 9

That's a solid 1-8. I understand getting Diaz time at 1B if Brantley is going to contribute.

I would flip Chas and Jon but other than that I love it.

I think that's kind of dumb. He won a gold glove.

He's a gold glove outfielder with a great arm. I wouldn't move him until older and it prolonged his career

At least we finally have 1-4 locked in. Only took 4+ months.