So, Is Chris Davis juicing?

[BH34Natural]

What is your opinion on this? I think some time is going to pass and years later we are going to learn that he was on something. Not necessarily steroids; but something that can't be screened at this time. I think it's too unhuman what he's doing. I'm not a hater. I don't think steroids makes you a "better' hitter. I just think he's got some extra help going.

[cmdterps44]

No. I don't think so. I say this because of three reasons/beliefs:

1) I'm tired of steroids being a problem and I actually want to see someone break such a record. I mean it was GREAT seeing Miggy get the triple crown last year. I want to see one of these records broken without steroids involved.

2) While the guy is ripping bombs, he's also hitting getting base hits (as you have mentioned). Now I don't know everything about steroids but if it some how increases your batters eye and awareness at the plate then that's news to me.

3) Roger Maris had 35 homers between April 11th and July 16th (87 games). Davis has 37 in 95 games.

[CALSGR8]

He considers the Maris record and not Bonds, the Single season HR record.  Hes not that bulked up either.

[HalfSmokes]

Bonds hit. 370 on steroids - something that makes you stronger will turn weaker hits into harder hits.  Anyone remember when ARod had a chance to take back the Aaron record?  The media was excited that a clean player would reclaim the record.  At this point,  when a slugger has a year like this,  it's guilty until proven innocent

[GburgNatsFan]

Steroids are not just about muscle growth, but also about recovery time (how tired you no longer feel). 

I dunno. I hope he's not on anything, and he could just be having a crazy good year. He's in the peak years of his physical strength.  The thing that surprises me is that some of his reach-out, almost-check-swings produce home runs.

And OPaCY is a bandbox.

No. I don't think so. I say this because of three reasons/beliefs:

1) I'm tired of steroids being a problem and I actually want to see someone break such a record. I mean it was GREAT seeing Miggy get the triple crown last year. I want to see one of these records broken without steroids involved.

2) While the guy is ripping bombs, he's also hitting getting base hits (as you have mentioned). Now I don't know everything about steroids but if it some how increases your batters eye and awareness at the plate then that's news to me.

3) Roger Maris had 35 homers between April 11th and July 16th (87 games). Davis has 37 in 95 games.

[HalfSmokes]

He considers the Maris record and not Bonds, the Single season HR record.  Hes not that bulked up either.

I don't necessarily believe the players

[houston-nat]

No, for three reasons.

1. Innocent until proven guilty

2. Ruth and Maris weren't

3. This:

I hope he's not on anything, and he could just be having a crazy good year. He's in the peak years of his physical strength.

I know this is Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa's fault, but blaming steroids for any unusually good playing is crappy. Especially with zero evidence.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Gata - It's tough to put Davis and Ibanez in the same category as Colon.  Colon already had a positive and a suspension.  The others have not.

I don't know if there are obvious physical indications that Davis is on a muscle growth enhancer.  I also have not checked his injury history to see if there is a tip off.  Davis was always known as a power guy coming up.  I think he came up as a third baseman and was always predicted to be too big to play the position (same thing said about Bryce and CF).  His weakness was always his ability to make contact.  I don't think the quality of the contact was ever a problem, or at least not projected to be a problem. 

I'm leaning towards clean here.  If everyone was hitting for power, then I'd suspect there was a widespread doping technique that was going undetected or ignored.  If he is an outlier, then you'd have to suspect he has special knowledge that others don't have about avoiding detection.  I'd be surprised at that.

[HalfSmokes]

I'm leaning towards clean here.  If everyone was hitting for power, then I'd suspect there was a widespread doping technique that was going undetected or ignored.  If he is an outlier, then you'd have to suspect he has special knowledge that others don't have about avoiding detection.  I'd be surprised at that.

a lot of biogenesis clients are testing negative (A Rod still doesn't have a positive test), and I think it would be nieve to assume that there is only one clinic supplying players- I don't think you have to assume anything special

[mimontero88]

Clean until proven dirty.  I don't know if he is or not but I think its unfair to scrutinize him just because he's putting up insane numbers.  Could that be an indicator of steroids?  Sure.  But it could also just as easily be an indicator of a power hitter entering his prime and in the absence of any evidence I'll side with the player until there is some.

[HalfSmokes]

Clean until proven dirty.  I don't know if he is or not but I think its unfair to scrutinize him just because he's putting up insane numbers.  Could that be an indicator of steroids?  Sure.  But it could also just as easily be an indicator of a power hitter entering his prime and in the absence of any evidence I'll side with the player until there is some.

that sounds awfuly similar to what a lot of Giants fans used to say

[mimontero88]

that sounds awfuly similar to what a lot of Giants fans used to say

Innocent until proven guilty sounds a lot like what Americans say before someone's convicted.  Just because that person may eventually be convicted doesn't mean it isn't a fair stance to take.

[HalfSmokes]

Innocent until proven guilty sounds a lot like what Americans say before someone's convicted.  Just because that person may eventually be convicted doesn't mean it isn't a fair stance to take.

and in a court of law facing criminal charges you're totally correct. In this case, I don't see any reason to have that presumption, I remember reading an article on ESPN shortly after bonds speculating on what clean players had a shot to break Aaron's record- they primary candidates they arrived at were Arod or a young Braun.

[mimontero88]

and in a court of law facing criminal charges you're totally correct. In this case, I don't see any reason to have that presumption, I remember reading an article on ESPN shortly after bonds speculating on what clean players had a shot to break Aaron's record- they primary candidates they arrived at were Arod or a young Braun.

At the time I'm sure that was reasonable.  That's the thing about steroids.  You don't know who's doing them until they get caught.  To avoid the mind-numbing speculation without any evidence at all I'd rather just assume everyone who hasn't been caught isn't using.  I know some people are but I can't prove it or even find evidence to support it so I don't worry about it.

[HalfSmokes]

Maybe it's because the more I read about early baseball, the less modern numbers mean (between medical advances, ball changes, rule changes, different style parks... everything just has to be taken in context). This era seems to be one of longer careers with longer peaks, maybe its hgh/peds (more likely better surgeons), and I just take it for what it is. I don't trust testing and I think Conseco was probably right about the number of players juicing in his day, and I doubt the drop off is as dramatic as baseball wants you to think, I just don't care, it's part of the era.

[PC]

Ask Phil Wood how big are his testicles?  Or has Phil not been in the showers with the Orioles?

[Lintyfresh85]

Is Harper juicing? Don't go around talking baseball like you follow it.

A. Davis has always been a slugger.

B. Davis has always been huge including in the minors where the drug testing is more strict.

C. Davis is in his prime.

[mimontero88]

Is Harper juicing? Don't go around talking baseball like you follow it.

A. Davis has always been a slugger.

B. Davis has always been huge including in the minors where the drug testing is more strict.

C. Davis is in his prime.

I tend to agree with this but if it came out down the road that Davis was juicing I wouldn't be shocked.  To me, it's a nonissue until there's some evidence.

[GburgNatsFan]

I don't know what the size of Phil's nuts has to do with this, but he'd be able to compare them with those of any of the great sluggers of the 50s-70s.

Ask Phil Wood how big are his testicles?  Or has Phil not been in the showers with the Orioles?

[sph274]

Is Harper juicing? Don't go around talking baseball like you follow it.

A. Davis has always been a slugger.

B. Davis has always been huge including in the minors where the drug testing is more strict.

C. Davis is in his prime.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If we start doubting players entering their primes who have always had crazy power potential, you can start throwing dirt on anyone not on your favorite team. If harper hits 50 home runs one season, is he juicing? Everyone on this forum would scream no. Some players are really good. Chris davis seems to have turned a corner. He will prob end up with around 50 home runs

[HalfSmokes]

with the same k rate as with the rangers, he bumped his average 80 points over his last stent in the pros when he got to the Os and another 40 points this year- nothing to see here, happens all the time

[Lintyfresh85]

with the same k rate as with the rangers, he bumped his average 80 points over his last stent in the pros when he got to the Os and another 40 points this year- nothing to see here, happens all the time

It's not like he's a career .318 hitter in the minors with an above 20% K rate.

Or that he hit .368 in AAA with the exact same K rate in 2011.

[welch]

Davis plays for Baltimore. That organization will do anything.

[mitlen]

Davis plays for Baltimore. That organization will do anything.

 

[houston-nat]

Davis plays for Baltimore. That organization will do anything.

They replaced Cal Ripken with a robot!