Barry Bonds would have needed at least one more season -- and quite possible two -- to catch Henry Aaron had he not had a little help from his laboratory friends.
The five seasons of Bonds which are under question -- from 1999 to 2003 -- saw him hit 247 home runs during that time, an average of 49 per season.
The five previous seasons -- and Bonds was a powerhouse in his prime -- saw him hit 189 home runs, or an average of almost 38 per season.
In Aaron's top five consecutive seasons, he hit 203 home runs, just over 40 per year.
During the supposed steroid years in question, considering what was reported in the investigative book Game of Shadows, Bonds hit a home run every 8.5 at bats. In the previous five seasons, apparently drug-free, he hit a home run every 13.2 at bats.
One interesting similarity between Aaron and Bonds is how their home run stroke did not diminish with age: Both had their most powerful years come between the ages of 35 and 39.
But that five-year discrepancy in the performance- enhancing years -- between 247 home runs of Bonds and 203 of Aaron -- is a 44-homer gap that renders the accomplishment in doubt.
THIS AND THAT
Add Detroit Red Wings to the list of NHL franchises which don't want a second team in Southern Ontario. The reason? The Wings want to move to the Eastern Conference. And fast ... It pays to have rich friends. Doug MacLean, who couldn't find work as a general manager or a coach, is now president of the suddenly sold Tampa Bay Lightning ... Can understand the NFL suspending Pacman Jones without pay. Can't understand the Tennessee Titans preventing him from making a living in pro wrestling ... A Maple Leafs oldtimers team in search of a place to play: Curtis Joseph, Ed Belfour, Eric Lindros, Jason Allison, Bryan Berard, Mike Johnson, Jeff O'Neill, Mike Peca, Danny Markov all without contracts ... A couple of more game-changing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and the Argos wouldn't be wrong in giving the kiss-off to Adriano Belli ... What Josh Towers lacks in arm strength, he makes up for in stones. If more Blue Jays had his fight, this team wouldn't be languishing in the middle of all of baseball ... If you didn't hear Michael Irvin's Hall of Fame entrance speech, find it online. It's worth listening to.
HEAR AND THERE
Numbers that don't add up: Bonds has had 12 100-RBI seasons. Aaron had 11. The great smiling phony, Joe Carter, had 10 ... What seems the bigger fluke in retrospect, the Chicago White Sox winning the World Series or Danny Maciocia winning the Grey Cup as a rookie coach in Edmonton? ... Gone missing: Pinball Clemons smile ... Troy Glaus may not be accomplishing much these days, but he did come through with a hefty donation for the world softball tournament coming up in Kitchener ... Assuming this is the end for David Wells -- and with Boomer you never know -- that leaves Mike Timlin as the only active major-leaguer with a Blue Jays World Series ring ... The remarkable Roy Halladay, out almost a month and not having his best stuff, still has an outside shot at 20 wins. His record is 13-5. He probably has nine starts left.
SCENE AND HEARD
The beginning of September will represent a nervous time for many players in the new age of the CFL salary cap. After Sept. 1, contracts are guaranteed to the end of the season. Players who could be let go in the name of economics include John Avery and Bashir Levingston ... And in this summer of Bonds and Bud, we can now get back to terrific pennant races between the Cubs and Brewers and Indians and Tigers. Baseball, when it matters most. And yeah, watching Rick Ankiel hit home runs, for however long that lasts ... Best wishes to Danny Nykoluk, the colourful old Argo, recovering in hospital from hip surgery. Nykoluk, for the record, was never much of a Joe Theismann fan. "He had happy feet," Nykoluk said the other day. "He wouldn't stay in the pocket. You never knew where he was on the field. I don't think he really became a quarterback until he went to the Washington Redskins. He learned from two drop-back passes, Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer. Then he became a quarterback."
HERE'S WHAT BECAME OF
Jim Dorey. The former Leaf defenceman, lives in Kingston, follows hockey, and still works in the insurance business.
AND ANOTHER THING
Derek Jeter is not just another pretty face. In a survey of managers in Baseball America, Jeter was voted the best defensive shortstop in the American League, the second best hitter, the second best hit-and-run hitter, and the third best baserunner. Only two Jays were even listed in the 25 categories: Halladay, third for best control and Vernon Wells, third for best defensive outfielder. Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki dominated, being named best hitter, best bunter, best baserunner, most exciting player, best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm ... I see where the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenceman Mike Weaver. Apparently, Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle and Tim Witherspoon were unavailable ... Strange watching Chris Henry catch a touchdown pass in an NFL pre-season game when he's suspended from the league for eight games ... I give up. Why are collectibles, like the Bonds' baseball, worth so much? It's just a baseball ... Little known fact: Joe Torre played the first eight seasons of his big-league career with Aaron in Milwaukee and Atlanta ... And hey, whatever became of Turner Ward?
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