P.M. UPDATE: The more I think about it, the more questions come to mind about the interview with Mark Silva. Such as:
* - How plausible is it that Bonds's arm size hasn't changed in more than a decade? Drugs or no drugs, the guy has lifted so much iron, I find it hard to believe.
* Is it plausible that his arm size hasn’t changed while his hat size has changed?
* - Even if the brace size hasn't changed, as Silva says, isn't it still adjustable because of the straps?
* Why did Silva bring up Bonds’s arm size unprompted?
* Hitters (and pitchers) use surgical tubing and other devices to improve their mechanics, as my man Jack Cobra points out in the comments. Why is it so implausible that an elbow brace has no effect? When Silva says it’s impossible, should we take that as a final word? Would a physical therapist, or a kinesthesiologist, or a mechanical engineer have a different opinion?
If all this has you saying, Dude, Lefty, why don’t you go find the answers to these questions?, I’ll say, Dude, reader, I gotz me a day job. But if I find anything, I’ll definitely let you know.
***
Yesterday Editor & Publisher, a mag that covers the publishing biz, posted an article that chastisted Barry Bonds for cheating… with his elbow brace. You know, that humongous piece of Darth-Vader-ish plastic and velcro strapped to Barry’s right arm when he stands two inches from home plate.
Reaction was fierce among the partizans. Although unfair and laden with unsubtantiated claims (the brace has contributed 75 to 100 home runs to Bonds’s total???), I felt the article at least brought up some interesting points, such as: is it possible for a brace to improve an athlete’s mechanics? And if so, how does Barry’s contribute to his swing?
The writer of the article Michael Witte imparts sinister machinations to these questions, which is dumb: you might as well call improvements in shoe or glove technology cheating, too. But putting aside Witte’s agenda, they’re still interesting questions.
Now BP’s Will Carroll has tracked down the maker of the brace, Mark Silva. Silva, an orthotist who has custom-fit Barry’s brace every year for 15 years, drops a remarkable assertion into the World of Bondsmania: “There's been no significant change in the size of his arms."
Take that to mean what you will, however you want. Perhaps Silva isn’t telling the truth; perhaps it’s irrelevant. But kudos to Carroll for making the call and advancing the discussion. His article is here. You can also download the audio of the interview here. (I’m not sure if it’s subscription-only or not.)
Also: Zoiks.
