Just this weekend I told Melynda that my next blogpost was going to be about MLB's dip in homeruns.
Seemingly, no one would talk about it.
This is a great article from the AP that says it much better than I could...
Angels' Hunter says MLB's homer dip result of steroid testing
Associated PressNEW YORK -- Home runs in the major leagues dropped this year to their lowest level since 1993, and Angels center fielder Torii Hunter thinks he might know why.
"I think the steroid testing has something to do with it," he 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."
An average of 2.01 home runs per game were hit this year, down from 2.04 in 2007. The average hadn't dropped that low since 15 years ago, when it stood at 1.78, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The homer high of 2.34 was set in 2000, and the average stood at 2.14 in 2003, the last season before drug testing with penalties began.
Miguel Cabrera topped the American League with 37 homers, the fewest for any league champion since Fred McGriff hit 35 for San Diego to win the 1992 NL title. It was the lowest total for an AL champ since McGriff had 36 for Toronto in 1989.
"I think it's the bigger stadiums," Cabrera said.
The average was virtually the same in both leagues, but the power drop wasn't as evident among the NL leaders. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard hit 48 homers and topped the majors for the second time in three seasons.
"I think there are a lot of smaller fields in the NL and a lot of bigger fields in the AL," Hunter said. "Teams are starting to get away from trying to just swing hard and hit it out of the park. They're more about getting guys over. They're starting to come back to the way baseball has been played in the past."
With 118 runs, Boston's Dustin Pedroia had the lowest total for an AL leader in a non-shortened season since Detroit's Tony Phillips (114) in 1992.
Alex Rodriguez's .573 slugging percentage was the lowest for an AL leader since Ruben Sierra's .543 for Texas in 1989 and Josh Hamilton's 331 total bases were the fewest to top the AL in a non-shortened season since Kirby Puckett's 313 for Minnesota in 1992.
"You're not going to get cheap home runs because it doesn't seem like the ball's jumping off the bat as much," the Angels' Mark Teixeira said. "I can feel the ball being a little softer. I can feel the seams being a little raised and the leather not being as tight."
Associated PressNEW YORK -- Home runs in the major leagues dropped this year to their lowest level since 1993, and Angels center fielder Torii Hunter thinks he might know why.
"I think the steroid testing has something to do with it," he 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."
An average of 2.01 home runs per game were hit this year, down from 2.04 in 2007. The average hadn't dropped that low since 15 years ago, when it stood at 1.78, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The homer high of 2.34 was set in 2000, and the average stood at 2.14 in 2003, the last season before drug testing with penalties began.
Miguel Cabrera topped the American League with 37 homers, the fewest for any league champion since Fred McGriff hit 35 for San Diego to win the 1992 NL title. It was the lowest total for an AL champ since McGriff had 36 for Toronto in 1989.
"I think it's the bigger stadiums," Cabrera said.
The average was virtually the same in both leagues, but the power drop wasn't as evident among the NL leaders. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard hit 48 homers and topped the majors for the second time in three seasons.
"I think there are a lot of smaller fields in the NL and a lot of bigger fields in the AL," Hunter said. "Teams are starting to get away from trying to just swing hard and hit it out of the park. They're more about getting guys over. They're starting to come back to the way baseball has been played in the past."
With 118 runs, Boston's Dustin Pedroia had the lowest total for an AL leader in a non-shortened season since Detroit's Tony Phillips (114) in 1992.
Alex Rodriguez's .573 slugging percentage was the lowest for an AL leader since Ruben Sierra's .543 for Texas in 1989 and Josh Hamilton's 331 total bases were the fewest to top the AL in a non-shortened season since Kirby Puckett's 313 for Minnesota in 1992.
"You're not going to get cheap home runs because it doesn't seem like the ball's jumping off the bat as much," the Angels' Mark Teixeira said. "I can feel the ball being a little softer. I can feel the seams being a little raised and the leather not being as tight."
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