[sumo] [spoilers]Takanohana and steroid abuse

[Scott M. Kahn]

Well, I won't debate your ridiculous opinion regarding my knowledge
of steroids in baseball because it is silly.  Had you read the
aforementioned research article, the question of steroid effect on
pitch velocity was addressed.  I take it that you don't understand
the model and the statistics, otherwise you would delve into
specifics about what part of the mathematical model you disagree
with, instead of making blanket statements that hint of ignorance. 
Humidors, indeed, make a convenient excuse for not having to
understand the models.  I am less than impressed at your reliance
on statistics from studies that obviously lacked the power to tease
out anomolies that could be attributed to steroid abuse.  I find you
very ignorant of the scientific process, covered up by your need to
attack, perhaps because it would be embarassing for you to debate
issues and admit your ignorance.

It is obvious then, based on your continued need to stoop to gutter
level, that respectful and knowledgable debate was not ever your
intention, and that mucking up an ongoing debate with ill reported
statistics compounded by mischevious and deliberate
misinterpretations of statments, was.

Too bad, I had higher hopes for you.  Enjoy the posts of others,
yours, as they are contrived, are not worthy of further reply.

Respectfully,
Sukubidubidu

Quoting Joshua Maciel <joshua.maciel at gmail.com>:

> On Dec 11, 2007 11:26 AM, Scott M. Kahn <smk1 at columbia.edu>
> wrote:
>
> > As for home runs being a marker of steroid use, you must be
> familiar
> > with the research of Tufts University physicist, Roger Tobin.
> He
> > published a paper, "On the Potential of a Chemical Bonds:
> Possible
> > Effects of Steroids on Home Run Production in Baseball," in the
> > American Journal of Physics.  I don't have the article in front
> of
> > me, but if I remember its summary, the increased muscle mass
> allows
> > a batter to swing with more speed or force, equating to
> hittling the
> > ball farther.
> >
>
> Yes, I am familiar with it, and don't think it proves anything or
> even hints
> toward anything significant. He assumes that muscle mass
> increases the power
> with which a baseball can be hit, which is questionable to say
> the least,
> and he bases his research on mathematical models -- not on
> reality.
>
> I'm all for research, but poor research is poor research, no
> matter how
> prestigious the university it's come from.
>
> And, I would submit that the overall baseball statistics you
> relate
> > are not appropriately controled.  One would have to look, not
> at
> > the entire population, but specifically at individual batters
> > before and after being juiced, going up against the same
> pitchers.
> > Perhaps the numbers should be crunched to measure the number of
> > power hitters, and the relative number of home runs of those
> power
> > hitters before and after the juicing started.
>
>
> There isn't enough information on steroids, because it's illegal
> to use
> without a prescription, and people don't tend to want to discuss
> their
> illegal drug usage. As a result, we don't have data to make those
> sorts of
> conclusions, and have to go with what we have.
>
> Furthermore, what half of the half-baked notions involving
> steroids in
> baseball do is to ignore the fact that pitchers take the damned
> things too.
> I'm far more inclined to believe that increased muscle mass has a
> greater
> effect on pitchers than it does on hitters because of the
> regenerative
> properties of steroids, rather than the strength-increasing ones.
> Healing
> muscle damage quicker is going to have a far bigger impact on a
> guy who's
> throwing 100+ pitches every fortnight.
>
> Regardless, you're ill informed about baseball and steroids, and
> it makes
> your accusations on people from another sport questionable at
> best, and most
> certainly unethical in my opinion.
>
> Base your accusations on fact.
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