Home runs hit have dropped to the lowest level in 15 years. Miguel Cabrera's 37 are the lowest for an AL HR Champ since Fred McGriff's 35 in 1992. Care to hazard a guess why?
Home runs in the major leagues dropped this year to their lowest level since 1993, and Angels center fielder Torii Hunter thinks he might know why.
"I think the steroid testing has something to do with it," he said. "If there were any guys who were taking it, they're not taking it anymore. I'd say it's a small percentage, but of course it's going to have an impact."
An average of 2.01 home runs per game were hit this year, down from 2.04 in 2007. The average hadn't dropped that low since 15 years ago, when it stood at 1.78, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The homer high of 2.34 was set in 2000, and the average stood at 2.14 in 2003, the last season before drug testing with penalties began.
Gee, I wonder why (rolls eyes). Kudos to Hunter for being able to hit with his head in the sand about it being "a small percentage", but nonetheless, the impact is real.
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Somehow it makes me think "random variation", but I guess we'll find out over the next few years. If it really does go down and stay there, steroids really made an impact. If it goes back up, does that mean steroids didn't really influence things as much as we think? I guess we'll find out, but I don't like coincidences.
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