The Real Reason For Raul Ibanez's Increased Power In 2009

Raul Ibanez has taken a lot of negative press about the possibility of using performance enhancing drugs, I however have another theory.

His new home ball Park, Citzen's Bank Park is a hitter's park and he is reaping the benefits of playing half of his games at a Ball park susceptible to the long ball.

It would be no different if he signed with the Yankee's, The American league version of Citizen's Bank park. In his 3 games at the new Yankee stadium he has 2 home runs. While at non hitter friendly parks such as Land Shark stadium he has Zero home runs.

People should be less quick to point the Finger and look at other possible explanations for a sudden increase in power numbers.

He also hasn't played any games at AT&T park or Turner field this year yet the two hardest parks to hit one out of.

I am glad Raul Ibanez lashed out at the one blogger who wrote the article putting the idea of possible drug use in fan's head putting "steroids" once again in the limelight.

Personally I liked baseball a lot more before the whole steroid thing was made a big issue. Having the the ability to hit a 95 mph baseball coming at you is hard enough and I doubt using drugs makes it any easier. If it were true that 75% of guys were taking it than it was a level playing field if both competitors are taking the substance, but that is a another story.

I am sick of seeing players I idolized as a kid have their names drug through the mud by steroid allegations true or otherwise. Mark McGwire for instance hit 49 home runs his rookie year as a tall lanky kid who wasn't completely filled out yet and missed the last week of the 1987 season to get married or his number's would have been even greater.

I think fans should give Ibanez the benefit of the doubt on this one and take a look at where he plays and how the ball just flies out of there.