Steroids in Baseball

Ryan Howard Crying About Suspicions?

mlblogsinflataball — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 02:33:46 +0000

I listened to some Chicago sports talk radio this morning on my way to work, and I could not help but chuckle a bit at the story I heard of a disgruntled Ryan Howard over whispers he might be ‘on the juice’ with the absurd numbers he has put up during his rookie season with the Phillies. Well… the thing about all this is.. if these guys would simply TAKE THE TEST and stop crying and whining about allegations, they could set the record straight and the whispers might stop. Back when Sammy said he would be tested, he never took a test did he? With the powerful Player’s Union, players can talk a big talk knowing they will never have to walk the big walk. In no other sport is talk more cheap than in baseball. That’s a shame.

It’s hard to feel sorry for guys when they could simply take a test and set the record straight. But since they don’t take these tests… because Mark McGuire refuses to ‘talk about the past.,’ because Sammy Sosa develops a miraculous case of sudden amnesia during the Congressional Hearings, and Rafael Palmeiro waves his finger at cameras saying, "I never used steroids. Period!" It’s hard to cut these guys any slack. A few bad apples spoil the bunch, and the reality of the situation in today’s climate is, you are guilty until proven innocent.

If clearing your name is that important, just take the test, get it over with, and get on with hitting your home runs and collecting your multi-million dollar paychecks.

Barry Bonds’ Trainer Greg Anderson Returns to Jail for Contempt of Court

mlblogsinflataball — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 02:44:06 +0000

Greg Anderson will return to jail after an angry judge found him in contempt of court for refusing to testify on whether or not Barry Bonds used illegal steroids. Some of the questions Anderson refused to answer include, "Whether Anderson knows Bonds or Gary Sheffield" and whether or not he injected Barry Bonds with steroids. As I’ve said before, Anderson’s refusal to answer these questions is in essence, an admission of guilt. Let’s get real. Anderson is protecting his clients, and willing to be a jail dog for them.

Steroids in Baseball… Will Baseball Ever Be Clean?

mlblogsinflataball — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:35:10 +0000

If the game being "clean" involves being 100% clean, I don’t think baseball, nor any sport for that matter will ever be clean. It may become more clean, and probably already has with the new more stringent drug policy in baseball, but with HGH not being tested for because of blood testing, guys will continue to cheat as long as they know they can cash bigger paychecks and not get caught.

As much as I don’t like steroids in baseball, the bottom line is, each team needs to go out there and play to win. Teams that appear to have "advantages" whether it be payroll or umpires calls or whatever have you don’t always win. I may sound naive in saying this, but I still believe it is usually the best teams that win it all in the end – not the best assembledge of talent, but the best team – period.

Steroids in Baseball… Do We REALLY Want These Guys Caught?

mlblogsinflataball — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:30:24 +0000

When I see the amazing ineptitude of prosecutors nailing obvious liars on perjury charges – guys like Rafael Pamleiro and Barry Bonds, the little conspiracy theorist in me wonders if prosecutors actually really want to bust these guys. Do they want to get these guys , or are they just playing games to put on a good show of effort to look good? I sometimes wonder.

I sincerely believe when you really want something, you will find a way to go out and get it done. These guys are wide open to get nailed, yet prosecutors look feeble and foolish at every turn. I just can’t help but wonder…

Steroids in Baseball… Sammy Sosa Coming Back?

mlblogsinflataball — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 22:39:45 +0000

Is Sammy Sosa coming back? He claims he will next year – for the right offer. He got a paltry offer from the Nationals, but it wasn’t enough to get him back to the bigs. He felt the offer was not worthy of his reputation, so… he took the year off.

I cannot help but believe Sosa may have had other motivations to take time off. Could it not have been his desire to escape the limelight of public scrutiny after coming down with a serious case of amnesia duing the Congressional hearings? Possibly. Interesting how former teammates Sosa and Pamleiro just disappeared after all that. They got the message.

Greg Anderson Refuses to Testify Again

mlblogsinflataball — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 22:45:41 +0000

As I’ve said before, Greg Anderson, Barry Bonds’ personal trainer, must love prison because he is likely going back after a new grand jury has assembled to demand Anderson testify. Anderson simply will not talk about whether or not he gave Barry Bonds performance enhancing drugs, which pretty much means he did.

Sorry. Pleading the 5th makes you guilty in the court of public opinion. That’s why McGuire will probably not get into the Hall of Fame. I suppose it is possible Anderson is getting a nice palm greasing by Bonds to keep quiet. Just a hunch.

Steroids in Baseball… No Hall For Steroid Ball

mlblogsinflataball — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 14:35:27 +0000

Can anybody truly predict how the players of the "steroids era" will be judged when their time comes to be considered for the Hall of Fame? Chances are, Raffy Palmeiro will not get in. My guess is neither will Sosa or McGuire. Bonds is another matter due to how well he played before he inflated into the power hitter he became later in his career.

It is fun to debate, but I guess we won’t know for sure until the time comes. McGuire has not tested positive, but had Andro at his locker and pleaded the 5th when his feet were put to the fire by Congress. His tears were used by him to get around the hard questions, but McGuire remains in the minds of many, a fraud. So does Sammy who doubled in size over his career, then suddenly shrank after the 2004 season with decreased power numbers.

Raffy? Well, he tried to throw his teammate Tejada under the bus by saying he may have tested positive for steroids through a Vitamin B12 injection he allegedly received from Tejada. He later backtracked and claimed it was his wife who game him Vitamin B12 injections. Whatever the story, both he and McGuire have destroyed all credibility and have likely severely damaged both their cases for Hall of Fame consideration.

Steroids in Baseball… Sosa Mad He Wasn’t Picked on Cubs Top 5 All-Time Players

mlblogsinflataball — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:41:32 +0000

Well boo-hoo. Sammy’s crying he was left off the list of the top 5 players of all time in Chicago Cubs history. That’s just too bad. In my opinion, anybody who finishes their career with a team by ditching their teammates early on Fan Appreciation Day and lies about it should not be on the list. Sure, he hit a bunch of meaningless home runs, gave countless heart-taps and kisses to the camera, and sprinted out to right field each day for the "Sammy Sosa Show."

But let’s face it, with his disappearing act from baseball after the 2005 season, almost as sneaky and wierd as his disappearing act from Wrigley Field that last day of the 2004 season when the Cubs once again went into the toilet, there is too much on this guy to be suspect of. The corked bat. His physical metamorphosis from a 160 pound 5-tool guy to a 230-pound musclebound slugger with his head appearing three times the size it was when he was a rookie. His subsequent dramatic dropoff in his power numbers suspiciously associated with his diminished physique in 2005… the list goes on.

Sammy never failed a drug test. But was he ever subjected to take one? No. The Player’s Union protects its guys, even when they are scoundrels, quitters, and cheaters.

McGuire Not Cooperating in Mitchell Investigation – Big Surprise

mlblogsinflataball — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 01:17:20 +0000

Mark McGuire is not cooperating with former Senator George Mitchell’s investigation into performance enhancing drugs in baseball. It doesn’t surprise me McGuire has refused to meet with Mitchell and his investigators. He already pleaded the 5th before Congress. I guess he’s at least consistent.

McGuire can shed his tears all he wants for the youth and the dangers of steroids, but his tears are meaningless because he hides behind investigations. If he had nothing to hide, he would speak. He obviously has much to hide. But Mark will weasel his way out once again by saying, "I’m not here to talk about the past."

Barry Bonds Escapes Indictment – At Least for Now…

mlblogsinflataball — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 11:49:34 +0000

Somehow the grand jury investigating perjury and tax-evasion charges against Barry Bonds were unable to indict the Giants’ slugger, but prosecutors are going to push forward to see that he will be indicted at a later time. Since perjury charges are very hard to prove, I’m not entirely surprised with the result, but I am wondering… if they couldn’t get Bonds indicted on perjury and tax-evasion charges before, how do they plan on getting that done now? I suppose one way or another, we will learn the answer to that question in time.