When people talk about baseball what usually comes to mind is the hard hitting home runs. Many would like to see the ball get hit and fly out the field. This is why a lot of teams want to get hard hitters; and players go through great lengths just to be able to match the celebrated hard hitters of the game. This is one of the reasons why many players have been tempted to resort to illegal means to make their games better, like using steroids and human growth hormones.

Because of the rampant use of steroids and human growth hormones (HGH), the league have implemented steroid testing for the baseball players. This testing is now reshaping baseball back to what it used to be and not just about the ability to slug the ball out the field. With steroid testing being implemented, not only does the user get punished, it has also allowed the other members to become more of team players. Small ball is in the comeback; and for the Detroit Tigers, it’s none too soon.

Manager Jim Leyland recalls how he used to be criticized for bunting at the start of the first inning. He mentions that he always had a great enjoyment for it and they used to make it work for awhile. Now it’s all about that three-runner-homer. If Manager Leyland was a bit uncomfortable mentioning why they actually did the bunting, catcher Gerald Laird hits a homerun with his explanation.

Laird, the Major League Baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers, says that there is a lot more movement in terms of running in the games today. He further mentions that he thinks it has always been part of the game – a part that was lost when people started using steroids and HGH.

Laird goes on to say that with testing in place, the speed part of the whole game is sure to make a comeback, not just the hitting of home runs. No one denies the lure of home runs but these days, many teams are building their roster with speed in mind. Examples of such effort can be clearly seen through the teams of Tampa, the Angels with (Chone) Figgins and Ichiro (Suzuki) over in Seattle, the White Sox and the Twins. There is a definite comeback for the smaller part of the baseball game.

You can say that the speed part of the game never really disappeared. It just so happened that there was not much spotlight put on it. In the past, small ball does come up in training sessions. Still, once the season starts, all that would be forgotten. It seems that today, that has changed.

Laird continues, saying that managers now want more action and movement in the game. You see a lot of running in situations, more action from players especially when faced with a hardcore pitcher, and trying to get players to lose their position to get an opening in order to have things moving. There is much more team work and reliance on your team mates now than in the last decade.

With the whole steroid testing in place, more changes will surely surface in this generation of ball players. You will not just get fun and excitement from home runner hits but also from small ball where defense plays a huge part.

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