Here’s a weird theory. Home runs went up during the steroid era both because hitters were stronger but also because pitchers who have limited talent picked up a couple MPH. A harder thrown ball in the wrong place goes a lot farther.

My steroid theory is that Juicer Giambi should forfeit the 2000 AL MVP award to Frank Thomas. Juicer barely beat Frank out while on the junk, and without it, he wouldn't have been in the ballpark, as evidenced by his post steroid use struggles. What makes it even worse is that a 2 time MVP with around 450 HRs in the juicer era is a borderline Hall of Famer, whereas a 3 time MVP with around 450 HRs in a clean era is probably a first ballot Hall of Famer, especially with Frank's high average and on base percentage.

My steroid theory is that Juicer Giambi should forfeit the 2000 AL MVP award to Frank Thomas. Juicer barely beat Frank out while on the junk, and without it, he wouldn't have been in the ballpark, as evidenced by his post steroid use struggles. What makes it even worse is that a 2 time MVP with around 450 HRs in the juicer era is a borderline Hall of Famer, whereas a 3 time MVP with around 450 HRs in a clean era is probably a first ballot Hall of Famer, especially with Frank's high average and on base percentage.

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Agreed. The sad thing is that I think Frank and Giambi are good friends because they both have the same agent, Arn Tellum. Frank harbors no ill-will for Giambi, even though he basically stole another MVP award from him. The sick thing is that if Frank won the MVP in 2000, I think the rest of his contract would have been guaranteed and Reinsdorf would have never been able to pull that "diminished skills" clause bulls*** on him.