Home runs down 8 percent, lowest level since '97

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Major league power numbers dropped in 2005, the first season in which players were suspended after their first positive test for steroids.

An average of 2.06 home runs per game were hit, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, down 8 percent from 2.25 last year. The average was well below the record 2.34 in 2000 and had not been that low since 1997, when it was 2.05.

Nine players hit 40 or more homers, matching last year's total but below the record 16 in 2000. There were 27 who hit 30 or more, the fewest since there were 21 in 1995 and almost half the record total of 47 in 2000.

Just 27 players had 100 or more RBIs, the fewest since there were 19 in 1995 and less than half the record 59 in 1999.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/10/02/power.outage.ap/index.html

 

[MikeO]

Makes sense. No Bonds. Sosa tanked. And you had mid-level guys like Mike Lowell all of a sudden doing nothing when they used to hit 35-40 home runs a season.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Kevin Millar only hit 8 or 9 home runs, I think he's more to blame for the drop. All that off season working out really didn't help I guess.... :rofl3:

 

[TrueDolFan]

Personally, I believe that MLB cracking down on steroids has a lot to do with this. The less talented players who used to take 'roids to give them that extra boost are the ones causing the decline in power. You're always gonna have the elite handful of guys who go for 40+ homers a year. Steroids just makes it possible for a 40+ HR guy to go for 60+ (cough, Bonds...cough, McGwire...cough, Sosa). But for the average chump who would maybe hit 8-10 HR's, he might hit 13-15 with the juice. Those few extra homers add up quick, or subtract quick in this case. Just an opinion, Mang.

 

[finfansince72]

Personally, I believe that MLB cracking down on steroids has a lot to do with this. The less talented players who used to take 'roids to give them that extra boost are the ones causing the decline in power. You're always gonna have the elite handful of guys who go for 40+ homers a year. Steroids just makes it possible for a 40+ HR guy to go for 60+ (cough, Bonds...cough, McGwire...cough, Sosa). But for the average chump who would maybe hit 8-10 HR's, he might hit 13-15 with the juice. Those few extra homers add up quick, or subtract quick in this case. Just an opinion, Mang.

Agree. Strange that Bonds was hurt all year and Sosa tanks after steriod testing starts. Hmmm.