Giambi's Mysterious Power Surge

[bobby jr]

Five home runs in the last three games. His BA is close to .300, and he is now looking like the MVP he was during the period it was later discovered that he was taking steroids. Just seems fishy to me. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

Maybe it is just hard work, regaining his stroke, but Jason brought these questions on himself by his previous denials of steroid usage after he had already admitted it to the Grand Jury, per the San Francisco Chronicle.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Yeah, it is strange. He was doing horrible then all of a sudden hes hitting 2 homers a game and his ba is up 50 points. Undetectable steriods maybe?

[bigpapi349]

hes been on fire last couple of weeks. maybe not steroids, but who knows??

[riverside sluggers]

well true but he all of sudden lighted it beginning of July, just days after the Yankees were considering sending him back to the minors. Entering July with a .253 avg, and the month isnt even over with his average now up to .287. He entered July with just 5 homeruns, and has slugged 11 for the month thus far. cmon i think he started to get the shakes, and needed a fix to stay in the game

[ORS]

Hank Aaron said it and I'll reiterate it, "Steroids don't help you hit the ball with the fat part of the bat". Giambi, who is noticably smaller this year, is still a big strong player. His MVP year he was crushing the ball and hitting .330+. He's just found his stroke again, and will be a tough out as long as he has it.

[riverside sluggers]

it still helps drive the force behind the bat, besides that anybody who uses steroids i have no respect for

[DrewDaGreat]

Hank Aaron said it and I'll reiterate it, "Steroids don't help you hit the ball with the fat part of the bat". Giambi, who is noticably smaller this year, is still a big strong player. His MVP year he was crushing the ball and hitting .330+. He's just found his stroke again, and will be a tough out as long as he has it.

 

Exactly.

 

Steroids does not equal a larger average - atleast not that much larger. He is a just a good hitter.

[YankeesFan2]

-steriods

 

 

 

+1

[ORS]

it still helps drive the force behind the bat, besides that anybody who uses steroids i have no respect for

Yes, steroids do make you stronger. But who do you think is stronger, a smaller Giambi or Soriano? Giambi makes Soriano look like an stick figure, yet Soriano has more HR's. Why? Soriano has been hitting the ball with the sweet spot all season long, while Giambi has only been doing it a month.

[bobby jr]

Actually I saw on the Orioles forum one Yankee fan said that he lived two blocks from Yankee Stadium and he definitely thought Jason was back on the juice. He said Giambi has regained the body he had two years ago, the bloated look, etc. When I saw him on TV he definitely looks much bigger than last year.

 

I think steroids helps both power and average by increasing muscle mass and bat speed. Also MLB does not test for human growth hormone which can only be detected by blood tests which are not being administered. So although HGH is illegal in baseball, there is no way to tell if someone is taking it.

 

Giambi was so terrible at the beginning of the year and he is 34 years old. Now suddenly he looks like Babe Ruth reincarnated at the plate. Fans are not naive any longer. I hope Congress mandates strict Olympic style testing and next year is too late for me. I'd like to see Giambi tested now.

[YankeeDoodle]

BigPapiEnFuego: Steroid allegations are not to be taken lightly. Yes there's the whole SF Chronicle leak - but I seriously doubt he, or anyone in the league after seeing what happened to him, would risk another such damaging exposure. Unless there's substantiated proof, I think it's terribly unfair to chalk up a player's performance to steroids. <_>

 

Giambi's credited Yankees' hitting instructor Mattingly with helping him get out of the funk, and Mark McGuire, who doesn't like to watch baseball at all, tapes Giambi's at-bats and gives him tips, such as standing closer to the plate.

 

We've all made mistakes, and second chances are hopefully a part of life. Thanks for really picking up the team, Jason, hopefully we'll get some pitching support (hehe) behind you guys, and even though the nay-sayers buried you in that New York pressure-cooker, keep up this performance and you'll have this whole city shushed and behind you.

 

EDIT: bobby jr - he's probably among the top five players that MLB keeps tabs on, as far as performance-enhancing drugs. Do you want the results released or something?!

 

Olympic testing...that sure cleaned up track and field.

[Boogie]

Most Yankee fans have seen this coming for some time now. He has been on a steady climb upward. His average was going up and up. First he began hitting plenty of line-drive singles towards the outfield. Then he began hitting doubles in the gaps or off the wall. Now he has began hitting the ball deep.

 

Now, I think it is one of two things.

1) He has regained his stroke back and pitcher's forgot how to handle a healthy Giambi.

2) He is back on some hormone or drug that helps one develop bat speed.

 

I think the first is more likely because Giambi has been sighted spending hours and hours working in the cages with Donnie.

[bobby jr]

I don't think there are any players that MLB keeps tabs on for performance enhancing drugs. From what I have read, Yankee Doodle, all players are subject to the same testing, which has holes in it.

 

The MLBPA Union wouldn't allow players to be singled out. Not Giambi, Bonds, or anyone else for special testing. If you have any references to the contrary I'll be glad to see them.

 

For example human growth hormone can't be detected in urine tests only in blood tests which MLB is not using.

 

While everyone deserves a chance at redemption, baseball fans cannot be accepted to accept all these HR records as legit either, not after what we have learned. Congressional hearings and all

[YankeeDoodle]

I don't think there are any players that MLB keeps tabs on for performance enhancing drugs. From what I have read, Yankee Doodle, all players are subject to the same testing, which has holes in it.

 

The MLBPA Union wouldn't allow players to be singled out. Not Giambi, Bonds, or anyone else for special testing. If you have any references to the contrary I'll be glad to see them.

 

For example human growth hormone can't be detected in urine tests only in blood tests which MLB is not using.

 

While everyone deserves a chance at redemption, baseball fans cannot be accepted to accept all these HR records as legit either, not after what we have learned. Congressional hearings and all

Well then...by your previous post, where you said, "I'd like to see Giambi tested now." - are you asking them TO single out Giambi and other "steroid offenders"? The suspensions I agree are laughable, but what would make it clear enough to you (pardon the pun) that Giambi, or some other player suspected, is clean?

 

Babe Ruth corked his bat. :dunno: I mean you just don't know what people do to get ahead of the curve - doesn't mean that I condone cheating, by any means. I guess this country is innocent until proven guilty...wait, no, not in baseball though. As much as I don't want a "cheater" to take credit for records that have been tainted, it's just as much of an injustice that a player who is clean, gets thrown into the flames of speculation, and all his accomplishments are discredited.

[Sizzlin22]

I watch most Yankee games and I don't think he's on steroid because no one can possibly be that dumb, but I do believe he's on something.

 

Every time they pan to him in the dug out after he does something big, his eyes are bulging out of his head a lot further than usual and he's shaking uncontrollably.

 

I don't know what he's on but he, in my opinion, is on something.

[ahhchon]

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

actually hexum says: fool me once, shame on thee, fool me again, shame on me.

 

john

[Bam-Tino]

Can't the guy just be having a good hiting streak? You know, those do happen naturally without perfomance enhancing drugs..

 

And in reference to YankeeDoodle's remark about the Babe and a cork bat.. Didn't Mr. Sosa do that as well?

[snb988]

I think some of you have been watching a little too much ESPN lately. Do you really think that Giambi, after everything he has been through with the recent steroid scandal, would really go back to that? Giambi tried hard, was motivated even more when he heard the Yanks wanted to send him to the minors, and finally hit his stride.

[schillingouttheks]

Well, it would be the perfect time for him to take steroids, as no one would expect him to with everything that just went on.

 

However, I do believe it's just a bunch of hard work on his part, which is now paying off. He's still a good hitter without the 'roids, you don't need them to help your hand-eye coordination, they only help your strength.

[bobby jr]

I think some of you have been watching a little too much ESPN lately. Do you really think that Giambi, after everything he has been through with the recent steroid scandal, would really go back to that? Giambi tried hard, was motivated even more when he heard the Yanks wanted to send him to the minors, and finally hit his stride.

 

After the booing, the threats to send him to the minors, the failures at the plate, letting his team down, talk of the Yankees getting out of his contract, Giambi certainly would have motivation to succeed, very strong motivation.

 

If he knew that he could not succeed without some type of help from a drug I don't know if he would have the strength to resist the temptation.

 

He didn't resist before, and it is just possible that he decided to do what whatever was necessary to get back the way he was.

[schillingouttheks]

I still stand by the fact it's a lot of hard work. I mean seriously, now that he's seen the side-effects of the steroids, I mean, seriously....what man wants his balls to shrink?

[YankeeDoodle]

Can't the guy just be having a good hiting streak? You know, those do happen naturally without perfomance enhancing drugs..

 

And in reference to YankeeDoodle's remark about the Babe and a cork bat.. Didn't Mr. Sosa do that as well?

Damon had a good one this year.

 

LOL - yes, yes he did, and he got caught! Corked bats, pine tar...dirty lil' game we have here. I was just making a general point.

 

Oh you guys, there's no point in trying to convince. Psst...Giambi's coming out with his line of "Giambino Power Bars" - why not test them out himself?

[MC Hammer]

You don't have the biggest drop off in the history of baseball, and then all the sudden snap out of it. I dont care how good people claim mattingly is as a coach, no one could turn Giambi around. Unless that man had drugs. I still haven't heard a big name caught by MLB so I'll continue with my theory that they are not testing the big names, or they're not punishing them.

 

Anyone notice that Slammy is back to the size he was when he came into the league? Anyone notice that Giambi looks like he has been gaining size lately? Anyone notice that Sammy still sucks while Giambi is playing great?

 

I don't think it could possibly be more obvious that Giambi is back on some kind of steroid.

[bobby jr]

You don't have the biggest drop off in the history of baseball, and then all the sudden snap out of it. I dont care how good people claim mattingly is as a coach, no one could turn Giambi around. Unless that man had drugs. I still haven't heard a big name caught by MLB so I'll continue with my theory that they are not testing the big names, or they're not punishing them.

 

Anyone notice that Slammy is back to the size he was when he came into the league? Anyone notice that Giambi looks like he has been gaining size lately? Anyone notice that Sammy still sucks while Giambi is playing great?

 

I don't think it could possibly be more obvious that Giambi is back on some kind of steroid.

 

I've noticed that too, Giambi is getting that bloated look again. The way Sammy has been hitting for my Orioles, I wish Mattingly would work with him to. If he has turned Giambi from a .200 hitting singles hitter to the best power hitter in the league within a few months... I just cannot believe that is the reason. Sammy Sosa 's been working hard as **** too this year but Giambi has something else going for him .

 

 

I too have noticed that no really big names have been caught not in the NFL or the major leagues. I wish that Congress would take this out of the hands of the leagues and mandate stricter testing that is foolproof. I have very little confidence in the present system.

[CrespoBlows]

I've noticed that too, Giambi is getting that bloated look again. The way Sammy has been hitting for my Orioles, I wish Mattingly would work with him to. If he has turned Giambi from a .200 hitting singles hitter to the best power hitter in the league within a few months... I just cannot believe that is the reason. Sammy Sosa 's been working hard as **** too this year but Giambi has something else going for him .

 

 

I too have noticed that no really big names have been caught not in the NFL or the major leagues. I wish that Congress would take this out of the hands of the leagues and mandate stricter testing that is foolproof. I have very little confidence in the present system.

 

Jason Giambi is NOT on steriods. Please it's pathetic to believe he is.

[YankeeDoodle]

I've noticed that too, Giambi is getting that bloated look again. The way Sammy has been hitting for my Orioles, I wish Mattingly would work with him to. If he has turned Giambi from a .200 hitting singles hitter to the best power hitter in the league within a few months... I just cannot believe that is the reason. Sammy Sosa 's been working hard as **** too this year but Giambi has something else going for him .

 

 

I too have noticed that no really big names have been caught not in the NFL or the major leagues. I wish that Congress would take this out of the hands of the leagues and mandate stricter testing that is foolproof. I have very little confidence in the present system.

CONGRESS?! Riiiiight, because it's not like they have *other* things to do...

 

Right, Sammy totally didn't quit on the Cubs last year. Are you going to start a "former-athlete-known-as-steroid-user" watch or something? Because until you have the smoking syringe - it's ridiculous and unfair to make these allegations, Yankee or no Yankee.

 

Can't we just move on?

[CrespoBlows]

CONGRESS?! Riiiiight, because it's not like they have *other* things to do...

 

Right, Sammy totally didn't quit on the Cubs last year. Are you going to start a "former-athlete-known-as-steroid-user" watch or something? Because until you have the smoking syringe - it's ridiculous and unfair to make these allegations, Yankee or no Yankee.

 

Can't we just move on?

 

I agree, the so called steriod users are washed up anyway. Well except for Giambi, but he's always had a good eye.

 

As for Sosa, he's always been overrated. He's always a strikeout waiting to happen. He doesn't have near the plate discipline that Giambi has. Sosa's done, Giambi is not.

[MC Hammer]

CONGRESS?! Riiiiight, because it's not like they have *other* things to do...

 

Right, Sammy totally didn't quit on the Cubs last year. Are you going to start a "former-athlete-known-as-steroid-user" watch or something? Because until you have the smoking syringe - it's ridiculous and unfair to make these allegations, Yankee or no Yankee.

 

Can't we just move on?

 

I'd be saying the same thing if Giambi was on the Red Sox. Don't try and play that, we're only saying this because he's a yankee, card. I believe knowing that he used steroids before is enough of a "smoking syringe". I don't know what else to think about a guy who suddenly lost a ton of weight, and couldn't hit, then suddenly put on weight, and can hit.

 

I can accuse anyone of anything as long as there is some backing too it ... and their obviously is. It's not like I'm accusing him of something that is outside the realm of possibility. I don't think i need to remind you again that Giambi did cheat for, who knows how many years.

 

Also back when all the steroid talk was going on I heard a lot about how it will be difficult to test for steroids because new forms of steroids can be created every day. So even if he is tested and is clean it doesn't really mean that he is.

[CrespoBlows]

I'd be saying the same thing if Giambi was on the Red Sox. Don't try and play that, we're only saying this because he's a yankee, card. I believe knowing that he used steroids before is enough of a "smoking syringe". I don't know what else to think about a guy who suddenly lost a ton of weight, and couldn't hit, then suddenly put on weight, and can hit.

 

I can accuse anyone of anything as long as there is some backing too it ... and their obviously is. It's not like I'm accusing him of something that is outside the realm of possibility. I don't think i need to remind you again that Giambi did cheat for, who knows how many years.

 

Also back when all the steroid talk was going on I heard a lot about how it will be difficult to test for steroids because new forms of steroids can be created every day. So even if he is tested and is clean it doesn't really mean that he is.

 

We know that Giambi took steriods, but he's off the juice now. I mean, the NY press practically wakes him with him.

 

If he was a Red Sox, I think the "YES" fans would be all over him, but the good fans would chalk it up to the fact that he's a good hitter.

[MC Hammer]

We know that Giambi took steriods, but he's off the juice now. I mean, the NY press practically wakes him with him.

 

If he was a Red Sox, I think the "YES" fans would be all over him, but the good fans would chalk it up to the fact that he's a good hitter.

 

You have just as much proof as I do. You can't say that he's off steroids unless you're with him 24/7, which you're not.

 

You're gonna try and insult me because I dont want to get behind someone who cheated the game I love? I'm a bad fan because I think that a known cheater is still cheating. I apologize for not having faith in someone that spent, atleast several years, lying to me and every other fan.