Obviously, the majority of the steroids in Major League Baseball discussion will be focused on guys like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens. However, watching the Orioles early on this season has opened my eyes to Baltimore outfielder Jay Gibbons.Gibbons' .282 batting average is hardly intriguing, but his ever-shrinking body is stunning.
That hulking beast to the left is Gibbons circa 2004, a year removed from a 100-RBI season.
Gibbons' freakishly large chest and arms earned him the nickname "The Beast" from several Yankees fans at one point.
To the right is Jay Gibbons a couple of days ago.
That picture is actually flattering to Gibbons, considering he was wearing extra layers due to the cold weather. And yes, that's Aubrey Huff dwarfing Jay in the photo. Aubrey Huff!
The whole thing is a little suspicious when you consider Gibbons latched onto the O's in 2001 as a Rule 5 draftee after a couple years in Toronto's minor-league system, never reaching Triple-A ball.
Two years later, he hit 28 home runs at the major league level.
For about a three-year stretch, Gibbons was the only big bat in Baltimore's lineup - and, no, Tony Batista does not count.
Now he is a bottom-of-the-order hitter with little power. He went front a modern-day Orioles version of Boog Powell, minus the awesome barbecue, to Mark Belanger, minus the great defense and, well, any other tangible baseball skill.
It's possible the guy was a dedicated weight lifter who all of a sudden decided to cut down on his fat intake, run 10 miles a day and eat his veggies. Sure, it's possible. But I don't buy it.
Check out photos from Gibbons' playing career and compare and contrast as the years go along.
At least Brady Anderson is off the hook.
That picture is actually flattering to Gibbons, considering he was wearing extra layers due to the cold weather. And yes, that's Aubrey Huff dwarfing Jay in the photo. Aubrey Huff!The whole thing is a little suspicious when you consider Gibbons latched onto the O's in 2001 as a Rule 5 draftee after a couple years in Toronto's minor-league system, never reaching Triple-A ball.
Two years later, he hit 28 home runs at the major league level.
For about a three-year stretch, Gibbons was the only big bat in Baltimore's lineup - and, no, Tony Batista does not count.
Now he is a bottom-of-the-order hitter with little power. He went front a modern-day Orioles version of Boog Powell, minus the awesome barbecue, to Mark Belanger, minus the great defense and, well, any other tangible baseball skill.
It's possible the guy was a dedicated weight lifter who all of a sudden decided to cut down on his fat intake, run 10 miles a day and eat his veggies. Sure, it's possible. But I don't buy it.
Check out photos from Gibbons' playing career and compare and contrast as the years go along.
At least Brady Anderson is off the hook.
2 comments:
http://ilovetheworld.co.uk/images/goonies.jpg
am i the only one that sees the resemblance?
Most ballplayers today are taking homeopathic human growth hormone oral spray because it's safe, undetectable, and legal for over the counter sales. As time goes on it seems it might be considered as benign a performance enhancer as coffee, aspirin, red bull, chewing tobacco, and bubble gum.
Post a Comment