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sports Tuesday 13 sepTember 2022
As Judge approaches milestone, what counts more: 61 or 73?

By RONALD BLUM may have been disclosed
AP Baseball Writer as using performance-
NEW YORK (AP) — To some, enhancing drugs," current
Aaron Judge's season has a Commissioner Rob Man-
special sheen because he fred said. "They're going to
appears to be Mr. Clean. place appropriate weight
They would consider Judge on those performances. I
the record-holder if he have found Judge's perfor-
surpasses Roger Maris' 61 mance to be as compel-
homers, absent the steroids ling and captivating as any
stain sticking to the tainted as I've ever seen."
trio of Barry Bonds, Mark Maris' legitimacy was de-
McGwire and Sammy Sosa. bated because the Ameri-
"To me, the holder of the re- can League schedule in-
cord for home runs in a sea- creased to 162 games in
son is Roger Maris," author 1961 following expansion.
George Will said. "There's no With Maris at 35 homers,
hint of suspicion that we're then-Commissioner Ford
seeing better baseball Frick decided that July 17
than better chemistry in the that if anyone topped Ruth
case of Judge. He's clean. in more than 154 games
He's not doing something "there would have to be
that forces other players to some distinctive mark in the
jeopardize their health." record books to show that
Bonds' 73 and other Steroids New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a single during the first inning a baseball game against the Babe Ruth's record was set
Era peaks are viewed by Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in New York. under a 154-game sched-
critics as phantoms, totals Associated Press ule."
as inflated as the biceps of That "distinctive mark" be-
those bulked up hitters. above everyone else. It's whether whether Maris' sioner Fay Vincent said. "I came known as an "aster-
Judge entered Monday downplayed now — he's 1961 season should count think he's absolutely clean. isk" and it remained until
with 55 homers through the hitting .300, so he's a clas- as the record because he I don't think there's any Sept. 4, 1991, when a com-
New York Yankees' first 141 sic great player. The great played more games. performance-enhancing mittee on statistical accu-
games, leaving 21 games players have power and Ruth's 60 in 1927 stood as drug involvement or taint racy chaired by Vincent
to go. Judge towers over average. Well, he's doing the standard for 34 years. with Judge. And so I think voted unanimously to rec-
everyone else, and not that. Maris' mark lasted 37 un- one of the reasons his per- ognize Maris as the record-
just because he is 6-foot-7: And in the context of this til Mark McGwire hit 70 in formance is so illuminating holder.
Kyle Schwarber is second in season and in this era, 1998, part of an apparently and so compelling is that At 30, Judge has an impec-
homers with 37 for Philadel- that's really something. And juiced jolt that saw Sammy it's totally clean." cable reputation in an era
phia. he certainly should have Sosa hit 66. McGwire fol- Since drug testing with during which each player
Judge has hit 22,676 feet of in any reasonable person's lowed with 65 the next penalties started in 2004, is tested for performance-
home runs this year — 4.29 mind put the most valuable year as Sosa hit 63. Power the highest total has been enhancing drugs during
miles — with an average argument for this year to peaked in 2001, when Barry Giancarlo Stanton's 59 for spring training and is sub-
distance of 412 feet, ac- bed." Bonds hit a previously un- Miami in 2017. ject to random tests during
cording to MLB Statcast. With his black matte Chan- fathomable 73 and Sosa "Fans, writers, Hall of Fame the season and offseason.
"Judge is like Secretariat in dler model maple bat, 64. voters, all those groups McGwire admitted in 2010
the Belmont," broadcaster Judge is hitting .307 with "Personally, I think that that matter are going to he used steroids while
Bob Costas said, thinking 121 RBIs — 12 more than those records are tainted, make their own judgments breaking Maris' record.
back to the Triple Crown- anyone else. and therefore I'm root- about how his accomplish- Bonds and Sosa maintain
winning 31-length victory Up until the 1990s, base- ing very much for Judge," ments should be weighed they never knowingly used
in 1973. "He's percentages ball's great debate was former baseball Commis- against other players who banned substances.q

Dodgers haven't clinched playoff spot,

celebration premature

PHOENIX (AP) — The Los spot with a win Monday playoffs.
Angeles Dodgers, it turns night at Arizona. Roberts led a toast with
out, aren't definitely in the The Dodgers own the best sparkling wine and the
playoffs quite yet. record in baseball at 96- players and staff were giv-
Despite a postgame clinch- 43. They held a 20-game en caps with the postsea-
ing toast by manager Dave lead over San Diego in the son logo.
Roberts in the clubhouse NL West and had a magic Instead, with a new playoff
Sunday, the celebration number of two for clinching system in place this season,
was a bit premature. The their ninth division title in 10 there remained a multi-
math didn't add up, the years. team tiebreaker scenario
Dodgers were still short. Los Angeles has reached that mathematically would
Mookie Betts, Freddie the postseason in 10 straight exclude them — they
Freeman and the Dodg- seasons. would have to go 0-23 and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gestures to the
crowd after the team defeated the San Diego Padres in a base-
ers could become the first The Dodgers thought their Milwaukee would need to ball game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in San Diego.
team in the majors to of- 11-2 win at San Diego on finish 21-0 to put that pos- Associated Press
ficially seal a postseason Sunday put them in the sibility in play.q