Bonds: Cheater?
And no, I’m not talking about his alleged steroid use. I’m talking about his elbow armor:
For years, sportswriters remarked that his massive “protective” gear – unequaled in all of baseball — permits Bonds to lean over the plate without fear of being hit by a pitch. Thus situated, Bonds can handle the outside pitch (where most pitchers live) unusually well. This is unfair advantage enough, but no longer controversial. However, it is only one of at least seven (largely unexplored) advantages conferred by the apparatus.
Interesting, no? I’d never really thought about competitive advantages conveyed by players’ protective equipment.
(Thanks to Gaijin Biker in comments at Unfogged.)
Popularity: 19% [?]
Mo Vaughn always had the biggest elbow pads around. I’m not sure if he was wearing them before Bonds, but I remember him wearing them before Barry started hitting so many home runs, so maybe. I’m not sure that the pads erase the pain of getting hit, but they probably reduce the probability of injury. Isn’t that what helmets and cups do?
Well, yeah, but the author’s point is that Bonds’s padding does more than just protect his elbow.
Oh, yeah. Follow the link, right… I had never even thought of mechanical swing correction as a by product of the elbow guard. That article would have been greatly enhanced with pictures. I’m also surprised this has never come up before.
Why don’t players manufacture injuries to be able to wear devices like this? Could a pitcher get something like this?
Bud Selig is going to be SO happy when Bonds retires.