http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/01/steroids.suspension/index.html?cnn=yes
.
.
10 whole days suspension. pretty stiff penalty.
well, we’ve known for a while that he’s been… uhm… “corking his bat.”
Interesting, in Canseco’s book, he says he PERSONALLY injected Raffy (and also Pudge, Juan Gonzales, McGwire, Giambi, etc). Raffy desperately refused the claim and called Jose a liar. Raffy tested positive, McGwire won’t talk about the past, and Giambi has admitted usage.
These guys are doing the impossible … they’re making Jose canseco look like a credible source of information.
Palmeiro was a flat-out hitting stud as Miss State (same team as Will Clark). He has always been highly skilled, and has one of the sweetest swings in baseball. I mention this, b/c I believe that baseball players often take steroids just to remian healthy in the day-to-day grind (see McGwire for another example).
Edit: the suspension is merely a band-aid on a busted dam … but I am glad to see them doing something. When people start getting career bans for one or two tests, then I’ll know they are truly serious. They do that with gambling, why not roids?
so what’s the penalty for lying to Congress in a situation like that (understanding that this isn’t proof that he lied, just speculation)?
‘Appearing with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and other baseball stars before a congressional committee on March 17, Palmeiro made an opening statement in which he said, pointing his finger for emphasis: “Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period. I don’t know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never.”’
He still would stink at triathlons.
Baseball = day to day grind???
Hmmm…to make millions to stand around in the outfield everyday with a couple wind sprints thrown in when the ball is actually hit away from me. Anyone ever notice how many ‘chunky’ professional Baseball players there are in the MLs?
and the greatest hitter of all-time gets banned for life for gambling, a disease which one often cannot control. H’mmmm, I would think taking 'roids is a choice one makes knowing wholeheartedly that what he/she is doing is downright cheating! Why not steroids=lifetime ban? Sorry Raffy, you don’t deserve the Hall of Fame although you certainly have career numbers to get you there.
While I disagree with the ‘gambling can’t be controlled’ line of thought (and have no desire to debate it here) I agree that what Rose did was not worthy of a lifetime suspension. I think his stubborness worked against him getting any sort of leniency.
Baseball = day to day grind???
Hmmm…to make millions to stand around in the outfield everyday with a couple wind sprints thrown in when the ball is actually hit away from me. Anyone ever notice how many ‘chunky’ professional Baseball players there are in the MLs?
Standing around, punctated with all out sprints when batting/fielding, is hard than you might imagine. And certain positions, like pitcher or catcher, can wear a person down. Did you notice that 3 or 4 of the MLB players caught for steroids were pitchers? I’m guessing they’re more interested in recovery than hitting HRs.
Does anyone know what he was caught taking?
Adam
When did Babe Ruth get banned?
I didn’t know Babe Ruth was a gambler. I thought he was just an alcoholic.
But you are absolutely right. How did I ever forget about the greatest slugger? Maybe I should’ve called Pete Rose the greatest pure hitter.
**Baseball = day to day grind??? **
Yes, the season (and pre-season) goes from Feb-March till the end of september. 162 games, plus playoffs.
Hmmm…to make millions to stand around in the outfield everyday with a couple wind sprints thrown in when the ball is actually hit away from me.
Let’s not forget practice … many of these guys take 100’s of swings and lots of throws per day. Add that up over the course of 6 months and that’s a lot of wear and tear on a body. Swinging a bat with tremendous force is not easy on the spine (or wrists), throwing a baseball is murder on the shoulder, etc.
The millions of dollars doesn’t matter; you hurt the same whether you’re making $5mill a year of 500K (although the aches are likely a lot easier to take with the 5mill)
The effect is cumulative. Now, space that out over years of a career. It’s tough. The #1 advantage of taking steroids for baseball players (according to Canseco’s book) … you don’t wear down as the year goes on … essentially staying at your “peak” for months at a time.
Anyone ever notice how many ‘chunky’ professional Baseball players there are in the MLs?
Not many. They are there, don’t get me wrong … but on a team of 25 guys, you have how many “chunkers”. 1, maybe 2?
I won’t argue that a single baseball game is demanding … heck practices are more demanding than a game (except for pitchers) … but month after month … the aches and pains add up. It’s not unlike triathlon training … the actual individual workouts are nothing spectacular, but day in and day out of serious training over months with only a few breaks will likely lead to some significant decrease in performance and possible injury.
I am not trying to make baseball players out to be soldiers or anything like that … but the truth is they put a lot of training time into their craft … and that training takes a physical toll.
Maybe I should’ve called Pete Rose the greatest pure hitter.
Then, you’d be forgetting about Ted Williams.
Rose is the greatest singles hitter of all-time. grin
Anyone ever notice how many ‘chunky’ professional Baseball players there are in the MLs?
Not many. They are there, don’t get me wrong … but on a team of 25 guys, you have how many “chunkers”. 1, maybe 2?
I don’t know… there aren’t that many actually chubby guys, but there are a bunch of guys who look like they’d have trouble running a mile, or playing an hour of pick-up basketball.
That said, I agree with what people have said - the swing is tough. Hips, wrists, ankles… never mind getting hit with the ball. There’s a lot of torque, and if something’s wrong somewhere on your body it could easily give you trouble. There’s also a lot of injuries involved in sliding into bases (for both runner and infielder). And I guess running into the wall isn’t as soft as it looks.
No one is saying that fielding ground balls or shagging flies is gonna get you hurt, but there’s a lot of sudden, extreme movements in baseball that, if you can’t do, you’re not gonna be helping your team. I’m not condoning steroid use, but I can see the temptation if it means that instead of playing 110 games a season they let you play 155.
Baseball = day to day grind???
Hmmm…to make millions to stand around in the outfield everyday with a couple wind sprints thrown in when the ball is actually hit away from me.
yeah… but you have to run out ground balls a couple times a game too.
I don’t know… there aren’t that many actually chubby guys, but there are a bunch of guys who look like they’d have trouble running a mile, or playing an hour of pick-up basketball.
Don’t get goofy. Most pro athletes were the “All-Conference” in 3 (sometimes 4) high school sports type.
Tony Gwynn was definately chubby. He was also the point guard for San Diego State and was drafted by the LA Clippers.
Be careful to not judge someone’s ability based on their BF%. I’m sure there are plenty of 6-10% BF folks that have trouble running a mile or playing an hour of pickup basketball.
but there’s a lot of sudden, extreme movements in baseball that, if you can’t do, you’re not gonna be helping your team.
That’s more likely to cause injury than is light jogging for an hour a day. The going from stop to full speed in 2-3 steps is difficult, as rapidly changing direction, etc. Most guys get hurt trying to get an extra base or dive to make a sensational play. Not too many get hurt whie “standing around” … although Ken griffey did fall in the shower (or so it was reported), and Moises Alou blew his knee out falling off a treadmill (rehabbing his knee).
I find it strange that too often baseball players as a whole, get judged by their overweight (sometimes) first-baseman. Anyone judge football player’s ability by that of the team;s kicker or defensive tackle?
I was being a little sarcastic. I didn’t mean to lump all the MLB into one group. And I know those guys work hard at their craft.
Someone mentioned Tony Gwynn in one of the posts and he’s a good example. I’ve seen pictures of him from college and in his early career, but you can’t deny that guy put on some serious pounds. I wonder if that had something to do with his knee problems??
BUT, I have been to several Padres games and to be honest, those guys act lazy on the field and it ticks me off because they do make serious money. I hate it when guys don’t hustle, even in between innings. At least Hockey and Football players play to the end of the game. In my mind, those guys play a much more physical game than baseball players and then you hear about all the injuries BB players get, it’s pretty surprising considering the actual play of the game.
Heck, sorry for my rant and I agree that the guys are using steriods to help them get through the season. I don’t know if it was Ted Williams or one of the old timers that said the drugs have enabled the hitters to ‘hit’ through the season when they should be tired.