Attention Baseball Fans: Steroids Or No Steroids — That’s Today’s Question!
There has been a ton of discussion about steroids in baseball. Frankly a week doesn’t go by when it isn’t brought up–whether it is in the newspaper or the leading story on ESPN Sports Center.
Having grown up watching power hitters like Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson and others, steroids leaves a bad taste in my mouth. In fact, a very bad taste. I am not 100% sure we will ever know who took steroids and who didn’t. Unless players come forward like Jose Conseco and Jason Giambi, I believe it will be very hard to prove if a player took steroids. Doubt will always be around certain players and will probably never go away.
Today lets discuss 6 baseball players. Do you think they took steroids or not? That is today’s question. Many of the readers of the blog are very intelligent, passionate baseball fans but where do they stand on this subject?
Let me just say that I don’t know anything for sure and never really talked to any of the players listed below. THIS IS JUST ONE MAN’S OPINION.
Barry Bonds – He had solid stats in his first seven years in Pittsburgh but never hit over 34 home runs in a year. Since he left Pittsburgh he did every year except one during a twelve year stretch in San Francisco. Yes he works out in the gym a ton but he appears to have tons of mood swings not to mention his head size has gotten much bigger – YES he took steroids.
Albert Pujols – Only 27 years old and he already has 271 home runs. He is averaging over 40 home runs in his first six seasons. He is on a pace to break everyone’s record. Albert is not only a power hitter, he is averaging .331 for his career. In my opinion he is the best right handed hitter in the National League and might be better than AROD. The best pure hitter in the majors. NO steroids for this hitter!
Nomar Garciaparra – This one really pains me to even think about much less discuss. In his first 4 years with the Red Sox he hit 113 home runs and 420 RBI’s as a shortstop. He was the face of the Red Sox, and everyone loved his name – Nomarrrrrrrr–a perfect fit for the city of Boston. I still remember his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated without his shirt on holding a bat over his head. He was ripped, definitely cut and had a body that a body builder would be jealous of. Something just didn’t look right. In the last 5 years he has 41 homers–half of which were hit last year. He has been injured a ton and frankly looks much smaller than he did in his days in Boston – YES I believe he did steroids.
Roger Clemens – Great power pitcher! Fantastic longevity. Lot’s of CY Young’s, lots of records and perhaps the most competitive pitcher I have ever seen take the mound. Never had a lot of injuries but yes he did come to camp out of shape one year with the Red Sox. To me he is the modern day Nolan Ryan. He is that one player that comes along every 20 years that can still throw heat way into his 40’s. Steroids – I don’t believe he took steroids.
Ryan Howard – I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Ryan play that much. He had 58 home runs last year which has to be a record for a second year player. At 6’ 4” 250+ pounds he is a monster and a great hitter. At almost a .300 hitter the best is yet to come from this young star. Steroids – No way!
Ivan Rodriguez – He started in the majors at 19 years old. He has an MVP award in 1999 and has been an All Star many times. He hit lots of home runs in Texas and looked much bigger. All of a sudden he no longer was in Texas, no longer was hitting home runs and mysteriously looks a lot smaller. I would love to know his secret because I always thought as you got older you put on more weight. In addition, he no longer hangs out with Juan Gonzalez. Sorry, TA – I think my opinion is YES to steroids.
What do you think of these players and others?
I know this is a very sensitive subject and hope you feel comfortable commenting.I look forward to hearing from you.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:16 am
I am going to focus my comments on only one of these players- our new all time home run king. The day that Barry Bonds (whose trainer is doing jail time for not testifying against him) broke the all time home run record was a dark day in the history of the great game.
I have to admit that I am biased in my view of this. Growing up, my favorite player was Hank Aaron.
I also have to admit that what Bonds has done the last several years is amazing…..he gets so few pitches to hit and manages to hit so many out. And I know it is not just the steroids and HGH that have made him great. Even without the juice, he would have hit a ton of homers and some would still be arguing that he is the greatest player of his time. But there is no way he could have stayed productive this long or hit the ball so far without these substances. Baseball fans will always look back on this time as the steroid era and Barry will be the poster child for it. His records, along with those of many others, will always be looked at with an asterisk, even if it is unwritten or unspoken.
Bonds’ personality and attitude haven’t helped his cause either. Let’s just put it this way: even if the cloud of steroid suspicion was not hanging over his head, he still would not be popular anywhere outside of the Bay area. Nor would he ever be considered a role model.
So now the greatest record in all of sports is looked on with skepticism. And the owners and commissioner really have only themselves to blame-they have turned a blind eye to this issue for many years. And now it has come home to roost.
I was pleased to see that Aaron went the classy route by sending Bonds a video of congratulations. But Hank has always been classy, unlike our new home run king.
I always knew that someone would break Hank’s record. And someone will break Barry’s, too. But this time it just can’t come soon enough for me.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 am
I am convinced that no fewer than 60-70% of ALL major leaguers were taking some kind of performance enhancing drug during the “steroid” era. I’m not sure what the exact dates of this “era” would be…probably around ‘90 through ‘05.
I think the whole era should have an * by the records.
Since the majority of players (in my opinion) were taking enhancement drugs, I relly don’t condemn any one player. I just don’t like Bonds as a person…he’s an arrogant jerk.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:45 am
I agree with the 5 out of 6. Wouldn’t be surprised to find out someday that Clemens used to use something that is currently against the MLB rules. Of course, none of these things were against MLB rules when the players were taking them. Steroids and the extra home runs brought the fans back so MLB tried to ignore it.
With players getting away with it and flourishing, if it meant a bigger contract, staying in the majors, playing everyday, etc., there aren’t many people that wouldn’t do the same thing. That’s why they needed rules against it to make it stop (or at least slow it down).
I wish my Texas Rangers’ favorites - Pudge, Juan, and even Jose weren’t on this list but it doesn’t change the fact that I enjoyed watching them play. I was also completely fired up when I saw Bonds hit #721 in S.F. and lept from the couch when I saw hiim break the record a couple weeks ago.
I loved baseball before steroids, during steroids, and after steroids. I understand Bob’s feelings as an Aaron fan but records are made to be broken. You can always find a reason for an * if you want one (more teams, more games, different ball, etc.)…no *’s for me thanks.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Like Tony, I have loved baseball before steroids, during steroids and after steroids. I have loved baseball knowing that many of the players for the last 40 years have been illegally using amphetamines. I have loved baseball knowing that number of players; like Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton and Phil Niekro, were able to have Hall of Fame careers by doctoring the ball whenever they took the mound. I have loved baseball knowing that Sammy Sosa was not the only player whoever corked a bat (I believe Norm Cash once wrote a “do-it-yourself” piece for Sport or SI). I have loved baseball knowing that my beloved Dodgers lost the 1951 playoff game to the Giants, when the Giants stole their signals (I may love baseball, but I do hate the Giants). I love baseball whenever a 3rd baseman gets on his hands and knees, blowing a slow bunt foul (see Lenny Randle circa 1980). I love baseball when the hidden ball trick is pulled off. I love baseball when a cagey manager like Earl Weaver, Billy Martin or Frank Robinson notices a rule violation at the beginning of the game, but does not report it to the umps until the late innings when his team needs to throw a “monkey wrench” in opposition’s momentum and alter the direction of the game (can you say “pine tar”?).
Baseball is a game of inches. One inch this way you are in AAA. An inch the other way you are making a base pay of $350K. Players will always be looking for any advantage they can use to keep their jobs and make more money.
I believe IPSOS once did a survey of athletes around the world from all major sports. When they asked “Would you take a drug that would help you win a championship or set a world record, with the only side effect being it would cause you to die 10 years earlier than your expected life?” the vast majority answered “Yes”.
I think Jim Rome best describes the mind set of most professional athletes (past, present and future); “If you are not cheating, you are not trying” and “It is cheating only when you get caught”.
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:14 am
let me give you my legal stance first, innocent until proven guilty - let’s not condemn anyone without real proof - after all this is America.
now onto my opinion, sports has been plagued with eras that change the way we view records, dead ball era, etc. As Tony said, let’s not put the asterisks out there. I think the record that Bonds broke is amazing, steroids or not - this guy played for a bunch of years and has been productive for all of them - that is an amazing feat and remember he still needs to see the ball and hit it. Also remember that he walks almost every other at bat - if they pitched to him, he might have 850+ homers. And for the record, I don’t even like the guy.
Now if you want to talk about people who are not on steroids, the one you left out is A-Rod. I am also not a fan of his but man can this guy play and produce year after year and I don’t think anyone for a second contemplates he is on steroids (although his behavior sometimes indicates he is).
So with all this said, let them play ball and if there is proof we condemn but without it, we let them go out and do there thing.
One last comment, Frank Howard was my favorite player growing up - not sure why but he could swing a bat that I believe was a 46 like it was a toothpick - what was he on?
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:57 am
Currently, NONE of the above players are on “STEROIDS”. If they are on anything then it’s something that MLB is not currently testing, like human growth hormone.
But that being said - WHO CARES? Why has steroids become such a big deal? Why has Bonds’ record been described as a “dark day”? What makes this one particular issue so sinister?
Is it because it’s against the rules?
It hasn’t always been. In fact, MLB was very slow in getting such things a part of their rules. And rules have always been broken in baseball. Everyone winks and laughs when discussing Gaylord Perry’s spitball or Graig Nettles’ superballs. The only rule that you don’t break is gambling.
Is it because it’s illegal?
Again, they weren’t always illegal. Even still, players regularly break laws both large and small, yet are not villainized.
Is it because it’s a drug?
Steve Howe got TEN chances for goodness’ sake. If we removed the records of all drug users, the 1986 Mets would disappear.
Is it because it gives players and “unfair” advantage over the players of the past?
Yeah, so what? Imagine what Babe Ruth would have done if he didn’t eat 6 hot dogs before every game. Should we outlaw everything that improves performance or longevity? What about dietitians and off-season workouts? What about other supplements such as vitamins, protein shakes, and creatine? What about other body-changing techniques? Why is steroids bad but Lazik eye surgery and Tommy John surgery perfectly acceptable?
Look, I agree that steroids are dangerous and I would hate to think that my son would have no option but to take them if he wanted to be a pro athlete. But I think that the media and a select fans are overly dramatic about the issue. It borders on ridiculous.
That’s my two cents (2.12 cents CDN)
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:52 am
Okay, looks like it’s up to me to disagree with almost everyone. In the court of public opinion, which is what we are mainly talking about here, people can be convicted without hard evidence. And I believe perception is reality in this case and it hurts the game of baseball or any other sport where you believe that people are not playing on an even playing field. I believe that legitimizing this type of behavior will only make it worse in the future. If you make it okay to get on the juice then how far does that trickle down to? Single A ball? College? High School? Do you really want your son to feel compelled to get on the juice in High School or Junior High? Hey, let’s allow it in the Olympics then, that way no one will care that the “East German” womens gymnast look like hairy little men. And I reject the argument of using past bad actions by other ball players as an excuse for current bad actions…if Timmy jumped off a cliff would you? Could Barry Bonds had broken the record with being on the juice (and yes, I have convicted him just like I convicted O.J. and Michael Vick)? No one will ever know for sure. He would’ve been a great player off the juice, a hall of famer. Now he’s a record holder, a record holder with what should be a permanent asterick by his name. Color me naive but I don’t think cheaters should EVER be rewarded, it just sends the wrong message.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I am in an odd position here, because I am thankful everyday of my life for steroids.
In May of 2003, my daughter Caitie (who posts in the Sox/Yanks discussion blog) was in a chelerleading accident at high-school. During stunt practice, she fell, hit the back of her head on the concrete and had no sensation in her body from the neck down. and the back of her neck. She was care-flighted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas and they pumped her body full of steroids to inhibit the swelling of the brain stem (apparently in cases of severe head trauma there is a 4-5 hour window where this can be done). As a result she was able to regain use of her limbs within a few days, and within a week you never would have known it had happened.
Sometimes when we hear about drugs all we hear about is the bad. There is a good medical use for steroids–they weren’t intended for athletes to be able to bulk up and hit harder and whenever I hear of athletes using them to do so I feel cheated as a fan (which is why I give Giambi so much grief in the Sox/Yankees thread). So I’m pro-steroid use, and against steroid abuse.
As for the players mentioned, I think Merrill is probably right on most of the above (although I’m still not convinced on Nomar). I’m surprised you didn’t mention McGwire or Palmero, though.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Let’s put the health risks aside, if we can. I’d like someone to provide me with a good answer to the following:
1) Why is taking steroids considered “cheating”?
2) If your only answer to #1 is “it’s against the MLB rules”, then why is this a more egregious form of cheating than others, such as corking your bat, throwing spitballs or using a nail file on a ball?
August 24th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I still believe that the American culture values fairness. Fairness in the market place, fairness in the workplace and certainly fairness in the area of competitive sports. We work hard to make sure that everyone has a shot at the American dream, even if that is not reality in 2007 America, it’s still an honorable goal to shoot for. We as a society sometimes create laws and rules to help even that playing field. However even when there are no rules to prevent something, society can often look at an issue and see that it is inheritantly unfair. So people considered steroid use “cheating” even before there might have been rules in place to prevent their use or before MLB decided to take the issue seriously. A corked bat, scuffed ball…cheating. They are slightly different in the fact that they are overt acts that are easily measured, at least once they are uncovered. Just for the record, in my little black baseball stats book, Sammy Sosa has an asterick by his name as well for his corked bat incident alone. How many home runs did he hit with those types of bats before he was discovered? He was cheating. Steroids are cheating because they give an unfair advantage for users over non-users (I hope no one here is debating that fact). And there is the fact that the more that players use steroids the more other players will be inticed to use…we’re talking about their livelihood, their ability to compete, so you can see how quickly this could spread if not dealt with.
There are good valid medical uses for steroids and it is sad that baseball has somehow equated steroids to something bad. But because a drug is a useful tool in the medical community does not mean that it can’t be harmful to the image of an entire sports industry…and that it can’t be considered cheating.
I can’t wait 20 years down the road when we can debate:
“Is using a bionic arm cheating for major league pitchers?”
August 24th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Mike,
To me, it is all cheating. If I had a vote for the Hall of Fame none of those guys would have gotten my vote. Would they have gotten in…. yes. Because all of the writers have a different voting definition. I can’t vote him in on the first ballot because of this…. this guy isn’t better than that guy.
We all know that there are ways to beat the system…… we all know that if you have money… lots of money you can easily beat the system….. and that’s what most of the baseball players are doing. I am sure (although I don’t know anything) that many are still taking performance enhancement drugs.
There is a wide spread problem in sports - why else would the PGA be considering a drug testing policy.
Mike - how would you have determined who got your Hall of Fame vote?
Merrill
August 24th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Ken -
We’re already close. Oscar Pistorius is a double-amputee sprinter that wants to compete against able-bodied athletes. Some are saying that his prosthetics give him an unfair advantage.
Merrill -
I think I’m in agreement with you. We either let all of the cheaters into the HOF or ban them all. I vote that we ban them.
I am just constantly amazed that the same writers that laugh at Gaylord’s induction speech are the ones calling for Bonds and McGwire to be removed from all records. It’s just hypocrisy.
I think eventually, sports will catch up with the users, just like they did with recreational drug users in the 80’s and 90’s. Yes, there will still be users of steroids and other performance enhancers, but improvements to testing will make it too hard to get away with. My guess is that we are a good 5 or maybe even 10 years away from this.
August 24th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Mike,
I totally agree with you and CAN’T wait until that day happens. I am old fashioned and need a level playing field. I think the Babe was the greatest because he hit so many more homers than everyone else in his time. Hank Aaron is very classy - in fact might be the classiest baseball player of all time.
Barry Bonds would have been a great player without all the crap he put in his body - what he took takes away from his baseball accomplishments in my book.
You know there is a HUGE problem when guys like Nefii Perez gets 50 games for steroid use and star athletes somehow someway never get caught……it really makes you think.
Merrill
August 27th, 2007 at 8:44 am
This is an interesting subject, and I know my views are opposite many that have posted already. These players play a game for a living and staying healthy is paramount, so if they take something (speculations thus far that they are in fact steroids) to stay healthy so they can work; is that wrong?
When a person’s skill set starts to deteriorate whether from age or health wouldn’t you want to use what ever is available so you can continue to work?
When Mark McGuire was taking Androstiendyone the media jumped on him for that, but Andro is a very beneficial supplement and it keeps your joints healthy. I have used it and Andro increased my quality of life from joint pain.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand this is viewed as cheating, but if everyone is using these isn’t the playing field even? The games played by professional athletes have changed over the years and if we could speak to players from different era’s they would probably say there were unfair advantages in the “Hammerin Hank Era.”
Oh well, just my opinion…
Rick Johnson
August 27th, 2007 at 10:19 am
I love the steroid debate! I’ll keep my comments to the greatest player I have ever seen, Barry Bonds.
Since 93′ I have been the biggest Bonds fan. I loved the Giants when they had Will Clark, Barry Bonds, Matt Williams, etc. I have the poster from 93′ to prove it!
People use the argument that Bonds numbers significantly increased in the mid to late 90’s, I don’t argue this fact, I enjoyed those years. You would expect that from a top 5 all-time player.
To say that Barry has gotten bigger and stronger is a fact, but not so much bigger and stronger than everyone else in this ‘era.’ Go take a look at rookie picture of anyone in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Most are tiny. Lets not forget, weight training for baseball players was seen as detrimental to their flexibility and thus mostly avoided until recently.
A quote from (I hope its OK to post links)
http://legalball.com/MLB_News_Barry_Bonds_Steroids
“Michael Jordan and Barry Bonds share several characteristics.
Immediately one thinks of MVPs, work ethic, and domination of
sport. But it is their weight that should be focused upon. Both
entered their respective leagues weighing less than 190 pounds.
They were skinny 21 year olds. 15 years later both players
weighed over 220 pounds”
Both Barry and Mike’s weight gain was slow and not significantly more than the previous year. Here is link to an interview with the man who makes Barry’s arm brace and he claims that Barry’s arm has never gotten significantly larger.
http://www.askrotoman.com/wordpress/?p=1118
To the point about Barry’s head getting larger. I have no idea what his helmet size was before this year, but I do know that they sell ‘authentic’ Barry Bonds helmets on MLB.com and his helmet size is 7-3/8. Only slightly bigger than my 7-1/4.
Those are all facts, not my opinion. But I still think he took something. Weird huh?
-Bryan
August 27th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Bryan,
Thanks for your comments - they are very interesting and thought provoking. I would never question Barry’s motivation and work ethic. With Willie Mays as his god Father and Bobby as his Dad - he would have been great without any help he got and I do believe he got help. There is too many facts, stories, books about the subject NOT to have some of it be true. I will admit that some of it is probably false the question really is how much of it?
Merrill
August 28th, 2007 at 1:24 am
To all that has been said before me, kudos! I applaud all the great opinions pro and con about the use of steroids. As an alcoholic in recovery near ten years, I wish to pose a different thought…
Would there be such an outcry about the use of steroids IF they were used properly when cycled and IF there wasn’t an abuse of said drug? Is it safe to surmise that, ‘If one will do this for me, then a bunch will make me more supple!’
I am not a Barry Bonds fans. I expect him to one day deal with income tax evasion and other assorted peccadillos. Todays topic is steroids. Merrill, I agree with the six athletes you mentioned, and I believe Roger DID partake to some capacity…
I do not condone cheating…But I have to wonder what kind of message we send out to kids today when Mommy’s getting a tummy tuck, a boob job, and Botox while Daddy gets a late life trainride with Viagara and Liposuction? Should we be surprised that kids will do steroids for that hope of a big payoff monetarily? As if Saline or a gel is any better to ingest in your body…
I think I know how we’ll find out who the cheaters were…In the next 10-15 years when we see and read about athletes dying prematurely, a la Lyle Alzado, will we get a glimpse, and insight of what the 90’s and new millenium were really about.
As for the Hall Of Fame, we know Pete Rose lied, Joe Jackson was illiterate and railroaded, Ty Cobb was a HUGE better and gambler, Babe Ruth was a womanizing drunk albeit the best to ever play the game, Bert Blyleven was 13 wins short of 300 and belongs as does Bill Buckner! Imagine if we reach the day when the all time hit leader and homer leader are both kept out of the Hall!
As youngsters, we are taught to tell the truth and do the right thing. As adults we are shown differently from Madison Avenue, Corporate America, and infomercials.
In closing, are you aware that prior to 1931, any batted ball that hit the foul pole was a FOUL ball?! I now add to the Homer argument…How many taters did Babe Ruth lose because of hitting the foul pole in his career? Someone has to know!
Names to add to the steroid list…Brady Anderson and Luis Gonzalez.
Thanks Merrill as always!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Every decade has its share of cheaters ….every player tries to find an edge …in every sport. I am surprised that no one has mentioned pitchers …being a GM for a minor league baseball team, I am sure that more pitchers were on the juice then hitters- I know of the ones who were/are in my league. - steroids help in the recovery time….look at all of the pitchers who are going to Dr. Andrews - here is a neat list of all of the players who are suspected and/or were caught
http://thesteroidera.blogspot.com/2006/09/list-of-minor-league-suspensions-for.html
It is just another part of history ….and it doesn’t change the fact that Bonds is the greatest player I have ever seen ….and Clemens is just as guilty …MLB knew about Sosa and McGuire but they needed excitement to wins fans after the strike …sounds like Bud picks and chooses at his convienence..
Oh - I don’t ever recall Bonds being found guilty of anything as of yet ….Perhaps that will change soon enough….
August 28th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Willie,
Good comments - I never knew about the foul pole and I totally forgot about Brady Anderson - out of nowhere hits 50 homers in 1996. Twice as many as he ever did before. Gonzalez does have a nice swing but 57 home runs does seem like he may have had some help.
Adam - great link!
Merrill
August 28th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Merrill, since I probably have seniority among this group as a BB follower, first let me disagree with Barry Bonds being the greatest player ever. I go back as far as Joe D, Willie. Mickie and Ted Williams. As a pure hitter Bonds could not hold a candle to Ted. As a fielder there is no comparing him to Willie. And for pure power, Mantle had it all over him without an enhanced body.
Of course I’m a Willie fan and it’s hard for me to say this but for the limited time Joe D played he was the consummate player. Hit 361 HR’s in 13 seasons and struck out about 310 times. An effortless fielder.
Now onto steroids. Ok no proof but how does one explain the changes in Barry’s body ? I also suspect that Pujols is or was on some form of steroid. I don’t have a before picture like those we have of Bonds, but I’m sure if you can resurrect one there would be a major difference.I also suspect A-Rod. He is very big compared to when he first came up. Ivan also looks like he is suffering from withdrawal. I never suspected Nomar and I still don;t know. Clemens I think , like Ryan is a freak of nature. Nolan was a workout freak and I think that is what Roger is.
I think we have to be concerned about steroid usa among todays athletes because it has a effect on todays youth athletes who do everything to emulate big leaguers.
Do we need any more Lyle Alzados ?
Joe
August 28th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Joe,
I never had the PLEASURE of watching Ted, Mickey or Joe D play. It is actually one of the things I would love to do if I ever could go back in time. All of them were great but different for sure - clearly Ted would have hit over 700 home runs had he not serve his country. Mickey was an unbelievable fielder and left it all on the field. I wish he had taken better care of his body - As I recall didn’t he first hurt his knee tripping over a sprinkler head in the outfield?
I hope you are wrong about AROD and Pujols - frankly I am getting tired of all of the talk. Would rather concentrate on watching great baseball.
No we don’t need anymore Lyle Alzados or anymore fatalities in the World Wrestling Association.
Merrill
August 29th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Adam hit my biggest pet peeve before I could post.
Whenever a steroids article is written or sports radio discussion takes place, Bonds is the bullseye with an occasional arrow hitting McGwire or Sosa or Palmiero. But the facts tell us that more than 1/2 of the players caught cheating are PITCHERS. Where is the outrage that every team has 3 or 4 middle relievers who come in and throw 95 MPH with 85 MPH sliders? For gosh sakes, does anyone think the best pitcher in all of baseball to ever use steroids was Clay Hensley? Start at the top and look down. I’ve got some rookie footage of Clemens and laugh every time I compare it to today’s version. And just how did Eric Gagne go from 92 MPH to 97 MPH?
Do I believe Barry took performance enhancing drugs, YES. But the question I’d like you to think about is when he took the enhancing drugs. My guess is sometime around 35 years of age. That would put him rather late to the steroids game. Canseco and McGwire and Caminiti and hundreds of others obviously were bashing through the early 90’s. I don’t think Barry was. But with father time inching closer, I think Barry joined the crowd. It allowed him to work out better and recover quicker, two things that seemed to halt the hands of time for several years. A “clean” Barry was the best player in baseball from 89 - 98, an era that will be proven to be the genesis of the steroid era. For my money that is Barry’s most impressive achievement.
To close and answer your question - Bonds, Pujols, Nomar, Rocket, Pudge (YES). Ryan Howard & AROD (No).
August 30th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Rusty,
Very interesting comments. I hope you are wrong about Roger - maybe i am turning the other way because I really don’t want to believe it.
I was having sort of the same debate the other day with a friend and to me it is amazing that Nefii Perez is still one of the more high profile major league players this year that was caught cheating.
Maybe the real answer is everyone is doing it but has so much money that they can hide it and beat any testing. when i say everyone I am thinking about 60-70% of the players.
Merrill
August 31st, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Personally I don’t care whether they took steroids. What bothers me is all the LYING about it. Be a man, step up to the plate, (no pun intended) and admit you were wrong. I don’t want to see these guys go to jail….I want to keep going to ball games…but please have some integrity. Just tell the truth. Lying to a Commissioner, lying to your owner, and once there is a preponderance of evidence, suddenly admitting you did it (Michael Vick) doesn’t cut it with me. While you as parents are trying to teach your kids honesty, values and the importance of telling the truth, it makes me crazy that so many of these athletes whom your kids look up to have no integrity and no character. I have to believe the athletes who took steroids are going to have serious health issues many years from now. I hope it was worth it. To answer your question, yes I think Bonds and McGuire did.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:07 am
THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR BASEBALL!
NEW YORK (AP) - Judgment day arrived for baseball’s steroids era, with the Mitchell report set to be released and posted on the Internet for all to see. The first name to emerge Thursday was seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.
ESPN.com reported that Brian McNamee, a former trainer for the Yankees and Clemens, said information he gave Mitchell on supplying the pitcher with steroids is in the report. The Web site, citing an unidentified source close to the trainer, said McNamee told investigators he supplied Clemens with steroids.
Randy Hendricks, Clemens’ agent, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Mitchell’s report exposes a “serious drug culture within baseball, from top to bottom,” fingers MVPs and All-Stars and calls for beefed-up testing by an outside agency to clean up the game, The Associated Press learned.
The report by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell will include names of 60 to 80 players linked to performance-enhancing substances and plenty more information that exposes “deep problems” afflicting the sport, one of two sources with knowledge of the findings told the AP. Both sources said the report would not address amphetamines.
The two sources were familiar with discussions that led to the final draft but did not want to be identified because it was confidential until its scheduled release. They said the full report, which they had not read, totaled 304 pages plus exhibits.
One person familiar with the final version would only speak anonymously but described it as “a very thorough treatment of the subject” and said some aspects were surprising. He said the report assigns blame to both the commissioner’s office and the players’ union.
MLB’s “not going to love it, the union’s not going to love it,” he said.
One source said that while the report will cite problems “top to bottom,” it also will expose “deep problems, the number of players, high-level MVPs and All-Stars,” as well as clubhouse personnel who allowed steroids and other banned substances in clubhouses or knew about it and didn’t say anything.
The rest of the report, the sources said, focuses on recommendations that include enhanced year-round testing and hiring a drug-testing company that uses the highest standards of independence and transparency. Baseball’s program currently is overseen by a joint management-union Health Policy Advisory Committee, with an independent administrator approved by both sides.
Mitchell, a Boston Red Sox director, planned to release his report at 2 p.m. Thursday during a news conference in New York City. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was to hold his own news conference a few blocks away 2 1/2 hours later.
The report comes at the end of a year when San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds broke the career home run record, only to be indicted 100 days later on charges of lying to a federal grand jury about steroid use.
It also was expected to recommend that baseball develop a credible program to handle cases with evidence of athletes receiving or taking drugs but not testing positive for them.
Just last week, Kansas City’s Jose Guillen and Baltimore’s Jay Gibbons were suspended for the first 15 days of next season, and media reports said they had obtained human growth hormone in 2005, after baseball banned it.
Much of the first part of the report will be based on evidence obtained from former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, and from information gleaned from the Albany district attorney’s investigation into illegal drug distribution that focused on Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, Fla., the sources said.
Radomski was required to cooperate with the investigation as a condition of his federal plea agreement last April. Radomski pleaded guilty to illegally distributing steroids, HGH, amphetamines and other drugs to players and is awaiting sentencing. Some professional athletes have been linked to the Signature probe, though none have been charged.
Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president of labor relations, reviewed at least part of the report this week to ensure no confidential information from the drug-testing program was disclosed, a person with knowledge of the union’s discussion with Mitchell said, also on condition of anonymity.
Despite repeated requests by the players’ association to Mitchell’s law firm, the union had not been allowed to review the report, that person said.
“I certainly hope after 21 months and getting zip by way of cooperation from the players’ association that they’ll come up with some recommendations for improvement,” said World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound. “If not, it’s a complete waste of time.”
But he said he’s not sure baseball would follow any recommendations.
“My guess is that the management side probably would, but the players’ association will dig in and continue its steel-town union approach to life,” he said.
Agents have said they expect the report to be highly critical of players and the union for largely refusing to cooperate with Mitchell.
Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, sent an e-mail to owners and team presidents in advance of the report with instructions how to respond to media inquiries.
“We look forward to carefully reading the results of Sen. Mitchell’s investigation,” the recommended response said. “Protecting the integrity of our game is vital, and we intend to study his findings and recommendations, and will not comment until we have done so.”
Baseball did not have an agreement to ban steroids until September 2002, did not have testing with penalties until 2004 and did not ban HGH until 2005, when it also instituted a suspension for a first positive test.
Mitchell was hired by Selig in March 2006 after the publication of “Game of Shadows,” a book by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters about Bonds’ alleged steroid use. The rise in power in the 1990s, which drew national attention when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased Roger Maris’ single-season record in the Great Home Run Race of 1998, was accompanied by a rise in suspicion.
Maris’ record of 61 homers had stood since 1961, but McGwire hit 70 that year and Sosa had 66. During the chase, the AP reported McGwire had used androstenedione, a supplement then available over the counter that produced testosterone.
A bulked-up Bonds then shattered McGwire’s record by hitting 73 homers in 2001.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Here is another site that I thought was forwarded to me that I thought would share:
http://www.baseballssteroidera.com/
Merrill
December 19th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Sounds like I might be wrong about Roger Clemens
12/19/2007
NEW YORK (AP) -Roger Clemens denied allegations by his former trainer that he took performance-enhancing drugs, calling them “a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take.”
The accusations against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner from former trainer Brian McNamee were the most striking in last week’s Mitchell Report. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell wrote McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Toronto Blue Jays, and steroids and human growth hormone in 2000 and 2001, while with the New York Yankees.
“I want to state clearly and without qualification: I did not take steroids, human growth hormone or any other banned substances at any time in my baseball career or, in fact, my entire life,” Clemens said Tuesday in a statement issued through his agent, Randy Hendricks. “Those substances represent a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take.
“I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell’s report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment.”
Another former McNamee client, Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, said last weekend that he took HGH twice while rehabbing from an injury in 2002. Mitchell said McNamee told him he injected Pettitte with HGH two to four times that year.
“He stands 100 percent behind the accuracy of the information he provided to Sen. Mitchell,” McNamee’s lawyer, Ed Ward, said in a statement.
Mitchell declined comment.
Baseball players and owners didn’t have an agreement banning steroids until September 2002. They banned HGH in January 2005.
Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, first issued a denial last Thursday, hours after Mitchell’s report was released. Tuesday marked the first public comments by Clemens, an 11-time All-Star who spent 24 years in the major leagues with Boston, Toronto, the Yankees and Houston.
The 45-year-old right-hander was 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA for the Yankees this year and may retire. He said he planned to retire after the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons, only to return each time.
A six-time 20-game winner, Clemens was considered by most to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer before McNamee’s allegations.
The allegations also have the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association reconsidering whether to let Clemens speak at the group’s annual convention next month. The group held an executive meeting Tuesday but postponed making a decision until it could get more information.
Clemens spoke with one of the group’s coaches before the meeting and said he “is ready to come speak,” said Jim Long, president of the association.
“We feel we owe it to our association and Roger himself to give him the benefit of the doubt further,” Long said.