OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I think this is the first OT post I have ever started so with apologies here we go:<br /><br />The forthcoming Mitchell report will reportedly name names of players previously not mentioned as steroid users. The report will also reportedly include the names of well known players not previously named.<br /><br />Lets hear your speculation on who these players will be--no more than 10 guesses--1 point for each correct answer. No credit for those players already named(Bonds, Sosa, Juan G, McGwire etc.). Also must be current players or in Bagwell's case just retired<br /><br />Here is my list<br /><br />1)Roger Clemens<br />2)Craig Biggio<br />3)Jeff Bagwell<br />4)Miguel Tejada<br />5)Pedro Martinez<br />6)Jason Kendall<br />7)Frank Thomas<br />8)Todd Helton<br />9)Ivan Rodriguez<br />10)Alex Rodriguez<br /><br />HM Eric Gagne<br /> Jeff Kent<br /> Ryan Klesko<br /> Jermaine Dye<br /><br />Retired Players: <br /><br />Albert Belle<br />Brady Anderson<br />Darren Daulton<br />Raul Mondesi<br />Larry Walker<br />Bobby Bonilla<br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Eric B</b><p>I think those names are all reasonable. But most of the names will come from the NY Mets Batboy so I would think you have mostly NY players in his reports.<br /><br />But here's a few more. Lenny Dykstra (got huge and signed a big contract), Mo Vaughn (tore his triceps swinging a bat), Juan Gonzales (kept nreaking down).<br /><br />Side note: Gotta love Juan Gone refusing to sign Detroit's 8 yr $144 million offer as being too low.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Eric,<br /><br />I tried to focus on current players but...<br /><br />I would say Gonzo is a no-brainer--hasn't he been named before.<br /><br />Dykstra ceretainly possible and if Lenny was juicing then I would bet Darren Daulton was and possibly John Kruk.<br /><br />3)Mo Vaughan-agreed.<br /><br />My hope (prayer) is that it doesn't include players such as Ripken, Chipper or Jeter.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Just so I understand the criteria here, we're trying to find out of shape, overweight players that hit for power?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Matt,<br /><br />In some cases--unusual buildup in muscles, unusual statistical year could be a giveaway? The team connection works in certain cases...for example Orioles(Palmiero, Sosa, Gibbons, Tejada, Segui, Tatis, Patterson).

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Speaking just for the Orioles, or ex-Orioles.<br /><br />1.) Brady Anderson<br />2.) Albert Belle<br />3.) Bobby Bonilla<br />4.) Miguel Tejada<br />5.) Brian Roberts<br />6.) Jay Gibbons<br />7.) Rafael Palmeiro<br />8.) Jason Grimsley<br />9.) David Segui<br />10.) Sammy Sosa<br /><br />and unfortunately, a lot more.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I would add that every one of my 10 guesses has at leasst some hope for being named to the HOF so if some are named that would obviously have a big impact on that.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>James,<br /><br />The only name that surprises me is Brian Roberts?

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Who has already admitted to taking steroids?<br /><br />James

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Jim, you forgot Andy Pettite. <br /><br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />The Clemens connection?<br /><br />James,<br /><br />We also left out Roberto Alomar.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>There have been grumblings in Orioleland about Brian Roberts for a while, particularly his close relationship with user Jay Gibbons. No doubt, the Orioles are probably the most implicated team of all steroid users. As for those who have admitted, I know Wally Joyner admitted to juicing for a time, along with Giambi, who else has admitted?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>might it be easier to list the names of non-users?<br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>No, Jim, actually it was Grimsley's unredacted statements in an affidavit that included Pettite along with Clemens as recipients of HGH I believe.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />I didn't know that--interesting.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>"In some cases--unusual buildup in muscles, unusual statistical year could be a giveaway? The team connection works in certain cases...for example Orioles(Palmiero, Sosa, Gibbons, Tejada, Segui, Tatis, Patterson)."<br /><br />This is absurd. That list is every power hitter on that team. While I do not deny many players have taken steroids in the majors, I do debate that it makes you a better baseball player. If more big strong guys took steroids, it's only because they figured that added strength is conducive to their style of play - hitting HRs or fastball pitchers. I'd be very interested to see cases of guys who had smaller frames and didn't hit for power in the minors, come to the majors, take steroids and become HR machines. Here's my bet - when the list comes out, it will be full of players who had no major discernible jump in stats from college/the minors to the majors. A power hitter on the list would have always been a power hitter, and a finesse pitcher who took steroids would not become a good power pitcher.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Matt,<br /><br />I will take that bet giving odds.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Jeff, I'm not surprised, but I've never actually heard Clemens or Pettite associated with actual statements, only speculation.<br /><br />Where can I find those statements?<br /><br />As far as I'm concerned, I think Gonzalez is a safe bet, as is Brady Anderson. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Pudge Rodruiguez, Bret Boone, Alfonso Soriano, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, Brian Roberts, Brady Anderson, Jeff Bagwell, Miguel Tejada, Jim Thome, Roberto Alomar, Eric Chavez, and Chicken Stanley.<br /><br />-Al

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Matt, why is that absurd?<br /><br />Palmeiro, Sosa, Gibbons, Tejada and Segui have already been implicated in one way or another. <br /><br />EDIT: as for no discernible jump in stats, well, tell that to Brady Anderson.<br /><br />-Al<br /><br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Jim - what are you putting up as a wager?<br />Al - Brady Anderson is an interesting discussion - do you propose he juiced only during his 50 HR season and it wore off rapidly before and after? Was he juicing all through his career and if so, what caused that huge jump? If he was only juicing during that 1 season, why stop if he was so successful with it?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Al,<br /><br />....or Bret Boone.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Matt, I wish I knew. <br /><br />Or maybe I don't, I don't know.<br /><br />-Al

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Eric B</b><p>Team connections from the 1980's: Oakland A's, then Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Al - here's the point - if he was juicing his whole career then we can't attribute that crazy HR season to the juice, can we? Again, I'm not saying he wasn't juicing (I have no idea) just that I don't think the juice makes you a better baseball player.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Matt,<br /><br />That means if Brady or Boone or Bagwell or Tejada are named I win as I think they all increased their power numbers after they juiced--same with McGwire and Sosa. Batters took steroids to increase power and it worked.<br /><br />Add Luis Gonzales to the list too.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Does anyone have a copy of the article that tied it all back to Bagwell?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Jim - so explain Brady's 5 seasons after that 50 HR season?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>I personally saw Brady Anderson roid rage at Oakland in 1996.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>James - do tell!<br /><br />-Al

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>He took mp with a women's pro tennis player--Amanda Coetzer--who said its either me or the juice and he gave up the juice <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>anthony</b><p>jim, i think it would be pretty safe to say ripken chipper and jeter wont be on that list...i think they are smarter than that, especially ripken with his community involvement<br /><br />jeter's a natural star, has his slumps<br />ripken never produced like a steroid user, he was a better than average player<br />chipper's like jeter but on the wrong team<br /><br />****OT anyone else see the size of tony gwynn???? talk about out of shape players

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>50..........look at Luis Gonzales in 2001..........57 HRS......next highest I think was 31 HRS for him............<br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>I won't repeat the words, but this is what happened. In July of 1996, I was visiting family in Northern California and my brother and I decided to go to an Orioles/A's game in Oakland. We sat in the outfield bleachers between Left and Center Field. During the 7th inning stretch an A's fan sitting directly to my left started heckling Bonilla, it was not out of line or mean spirited at all. Brady Anderson turned around and for 5-10 minutes spewed a torrent of expletives, what he was going to do to this guys mother, etc. He did this between pitches during that 7th inning, and didn't care that the fellow was with his children. It was an absolutely pathetic display. Everytime my brother and I discuss someone losing their cool, we call it "Doing a Brady..."<br /><br />James

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>Kevin Youkilis<br />David Ortiz<br />Manny Ramirez<br />Mike Lowell<br />J D Drew<br />Jason Varitek<br />Mike Timlin<br />Curt Shilling<br />Josh Beckett<br />Eric Gagne<br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>jay wolt</b><p>It seems that every player that has had a good year or career<br />has been mentioned on this thread. Is this what Baseball has<br />come down to?<br />That everyone is a suspect?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>Not on the list!<br /><br />Thats why I appreciate Ken Griffey Jr. so much<br /><br />(well, for that reason, and because of the cases and cases of 1989 Topps and Fleer cards I have <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> )<br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>Jim- you once again have started the "hottest thread in the hobby"...congrats!<br /><br />how's that for an ego boost? <img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />i doubt that jeter or ripken will be on that list...as for chipper, i could care less, although i wouldn't put it past him...<br /><br />MS

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Todd Schultz</b><p>Luis Gonzalez looks the same now as he ever did, lean and not particularly muscular. He has probably not weighed 200 pounds in his life. Take your witchhunt elsewhere.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jay,<br /><br />Said like a true Yankee fan--wow would Red Sox fans be devastated if Ortiz was on the list.<br /><br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>David Smith</b><p>Joe D,<br /><br />Being a life-long Cincinnati Reds fan, I have KGJ as a dark horse as far as someone being named that has NEVER been mentioned before.<br /><br /><br />My reasons:<br /><br />1) Power hitter in the 1990's<br /><br />2) Played on the West Coast (closer to Oakland and San Francisco) and was a team mate of Bret Boone<br /><br />3) Friend of Barry Bonds and was supposedly at a dinner party when Bonds was talking about juicing because of the attention Sosa and McGwire (two lesser players in Bonds' opinion) were getting during the Home Run chase<br /><br />4) Demanded a trade to the Reds and only the Reds (instead of taking Seattle's 8 year $140 million dollar contract and also DID NOT go Free Agency route) then signed with the Reds. Had ONE good year before MAJOR injuries hit<br /><br />5) Lives in Orlando, THE town where one of the largest busts occured. A Pharmacy and some employees were arrested for distributing steroids, HGH and other PED's around the country.<br /><br />I am not saying KGJ DID juice, I am just saying there are reasons to raise some suspicion. So, if the Mitchell report comes out and KGJ's name is on it, I wont be surprised, unlike a LOT of other people.<br /><br />David

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>I'll be interested to hear about Pettite -- after all, he is an extremely religious guy. Not sure though that the New Testament forbids the Clear and the Cream. As for Gonzo, I agree that he's never looked 'steriod huge.' However, to hit 57 HRs one year with his next highest total at 31 does suggest something funky was going on.<br /><br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Hey Jeff, <br /><br />Just to play devil's advocate here...<br /><br />What was Maris's second highest HR total? You know better than to convict on that kind of evidence.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>Jim--He's gone from medium Poppi to big Poppi; I suspect something

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Jim, I hear you. I think the difference is that Maris did not play in an era when so many players used steroids and HGH. Unfortunately, it is at least appropriate to question such a jump in power during these times.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>I make this case all the time.<br /><br />Maris had one monster year, during which time he hit 61 home runs. He never approached that number again. Not even close.<br /><br />During that season, his hair fell out in clumps. People blamed stress.<br /><br />He had a reputation for being surly.<br /><br />If he were playing today and those things happened, he'd be the poster boy for steroid abuse.<br /><br />-Al

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>no witchhunt and frankly, don't care as baseball has made their bed and are now lying in it.........<br /><br />Anyway, you can't indict Brady Anderson for a single season in the middle of his career without thinking about 'Gonzo'. Just a logical conclusion.....<br /><br />Brady, in 1996, hit 50 HRS........never hit more than 24 before or after.<br />'Gonzo', in 2001, hit 57 HRS.......never hit more than 31 before or after.<br /><br />Brady's teammates in 1996.........Rafael Palmeiro, Barry Bonnilla <br />Luis's teammates in 2001..........Mark Grace, Matt Williams, Curt Schilling<br /><br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Maris hit 61 because he was in Yankee stadium and Mantle batted behind him.<br /><br />Peter C.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff--agreed--Luis Gonzales is a good bet.<br /><br />Ten players who will not be implcated:<br /><br />Jeter<br />Ripken<br />Chipper<br />Maddox<br />Glavine<br />Smoltz<br />Ichiro<br />Juan Pierre<br />Wakefield<br />Jimmy Rollins<br />

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Your telling me Wakefield didn't take steroids? I would have never guessed. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter C.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>The problem is it was (and still is) the players' own union, a union that works at the behest and vote of the players, that has prevented drug test of players-- and, thus, promoted its use. The union is still against testing for HGH. So if there is any fan anger, frustration, iffy rumors, bad accusations, not believing players regular' denials, the players can blame themselves as much as anyone for this environment. Players' inevitable denials or excuses after testing postive, hardly give fans and the press reason to trust them.<br /><br />What Marion Jones showed us is that an athlete can never test positive (in an sport the test much more and harder than baseball), deny it for years and still have used steroids. Jones has made it a whole lot harder on athletes who deny and say stuff like "I never failed a test." Whether fair or unfair, fans and the press are going to say, "Marion Jones never failed a test either."

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Peter, <br /><br />Did Maris play in Yankee Stadium in any other years, with Mantle batting behind him? How did he do?

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Posted By: <b>Josh Adams</b><p>This is probably the first time I've heard anyone implicate Frank Thomas. The guy's nickname was "The Big Hurt" since he broke into the league in 1990. He's always been huge. Had he not hurt his arm diving for a grounder, he'd have way more than 500 homers. Steroids? No way.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Peter:<br /><br />Didn't Maris play in Yankee Stadium with Mantle hitting behind him all those other years?<br /><br />-Al

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Marc</b><p>My list is as follows:<br /><br />1.) Brian Giles<br />2.) Julio Franco<br />3.) Roger Clemens<br />4.) Reggie Sanders<br />5.) Jason Kendall<br />6.) Albert Pujols<br />7.) Brady Anderson<br />8.) Ruben Sierra<br />9.) Gary Matthews, Jr.<br />10.) Bobby Abreu<br />13.) Alex Rodriguez<br />14.) Miguel Tejada<br /><br />Sorry, but these are 14 players I GUARANTEE have used HGH and steroids. And I could easily make this list larger.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Todd Schultz</b><p>now you name matt Williams and Mark Grace as Dbacks who were teammates of Gonzo in '01, plus Schilling. Are you suggesting these players used steroids too?<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Jim,<br /><br />There were a couple of other years with lesser results.<br /><br />But the thing with Roger he had the perfect swing for Yankee stadium, if you recall he never really hit monster home runs like Mantle. But he had a swing tailored for the outfiend fences at Yankee stadium.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Marc,<br /><br />Interesting list--why are you sure on Pujols?

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>Mitchell won't be providing a list of every player who used illegal performance enhancing drugs.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I think a huge number took steroids, perhaps the majority of major leaguers, because it was the only way for them to stay competitive.<br /><br />If they didn't take them, they could lose their job to someone bigger and stronger who did.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>David,<br /><br />Correct but a person who has seen the list termed it "enormous" with a lot of undisclosed big names.

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>I agree with you Barry.<br /><br />My belief concerning sports and competitions where performance enhancing drugs are prevalent and commonly used by the top competitors (MLB, Tour de France, etc) is that superior performance is good indication of use of performance enhancing drugs/methods, in particular with winners (beat everyone else). If an athlete's competitors are using the illegal drugs/methods, it is close to unbelievable that an athlete could be beat them au natural. Amongst the strongest evidence than Floyd Landis cheated in a Tour de France infested with cheaters is that he won. With performance as significant indicator, do I believe Lance Armstrong did not cheat while beating for seven consecutive years against competitors who cheated? No I do not. I think one would have to be naive to believe it physiologically possible. In fact, the director of the of the Tour de France was asked where the top racer not medically cheating would finish. "Perhaps fifty fifth," he said.

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>"But he had a swing tailored for the outfield fences at Yankee stadium."<br /><br /><br />Peter, <br /><br />Are you aware that Maris hit 30 HRs in the Stadium and 31 on the road in 1961? <br /><br />In 1960, his other MVP season, he hit 26 on the road and 13 at home. <br /><br />The benefit of the short porch at the Stadium is an urban legend. <br /><br /><br />(Edited to correct peter's typo. Happy now? I used cut and paste and didn't even notice your typo. I did notice the incorrect assumption in your post.)

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Jim,<br /><br />Your a great guy and all, but you don't need to repeat my typos. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>David Atkatz</b><p>There doesn't seem to be much about baseball history that Peter C <i>is</i> aware of.<br />No shame in that, but after being called out time and time gain, you'd think he'd stop making his pronouncements.

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Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>The air in Yankee Stadium in 1961 had to be "rarefied" (as it is in Denver). Besides Roger and Mickey hitting a lot of HR's,<br /> the two catchers Blanchard and Howard hit over 20 HR's each and Yogi (LF) hit 22 and Skowron hit 28.<br />1961 was a very good year in NYC.<br /><br />And, a reminder that Maris won the MVP, also, in 1960. He only had 39 HR's that year, but a lot of clutch hits and 112 RBI's.<br /><br />His "hair loss" in 1961 was due to the stress he constantly felt from the media push. He was a simple and shy country guy that<br /> couldn't deal with the daily onslaught of the NY sports media. <br /><br />TED Z

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Ted, <br /><br />I always attribute a big part of the 1961 season statistics to the dilution caused by expansion. Two new teams, on an eight team base, watered down the pitching, a lot.

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Posted By: <b>brock</b><p>TAKE A-ROD OFF!! I bet he never took anything, he has always been a great player since day one. Never got huge.

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Posted By: <b>Kevin Saucier</b><p>I have a personal question for everyone:<br /><br />You are a ball player. You're good, some would say great. To go from great to becoming a legend or arguably the greatest player ever...would you take steroids?<br /><br /><br />My answer – absolutely!<br /><br /><br />Right now I could actually use some HGH.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kevin<br />

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I'm having my afternoon Stella Artois as I type this...but never took steroids.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Kevin,<br /><br />No--I would not.<br /><br />Aside from the health aspects and legal aspects of this which I will allow Peter C to expound upon, this is a game filled with enormous history and tradition. I could never live with myself knowing I broke records of some of the greats of the game because of illegal performance enhancing drugs.

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>Who are you talking about, Barry? George Mitchell?

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Ted, of course I know all that, but again, if Maris were playing today, we'd be hearing all about it, in the form of speculation that Maris was on steroids.<br /><br />The fact is that there were plenty of illegal activities going on in Major League clubhouses in the 1960s, 70s and 80s as well. What was missing during the majority of that time, as well as during all the time before it, were 24-hour news and sports networks, 400 channels of original programming, dozens of websites and newspapers, each desperate for the next scoop and the next pile of dirt to report. The desperation to achieve ratings successes is what's uncovered so many of these stories and made them public.<br /><br />Before all this, with news media traveling with (and in some cases, having their expenses paid by) the teams, reporters did not have quite the incentive to question whether Roger Maris was ingesting anything that might be helping him muscle more balls over the fence, perform better in day games after night games, or better acclimate to the insanity of west coast road trips. Nobody bothered to ask the question.<br /><br />So when Tom House came out and said pitchers were doing steroids in the 60s, everyone was surprised. Not me!<br /><br />I guess my main point is that the Mitchell Report, to me, will be interesting purely from a gossipy, human interest sort of angle. But it's not going to change my opinion of the game or the people who are playing it today one iota. <br /><br />-Al<br /><br />Edited to correct the spelling of "ingest", although "injest" is, perhaps, a more ironic spelling.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>David- I think I am missing some clever reference, but Stella Artois is an imported beer.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Kevin,<br /><br />It all goes back to the money and the fact the players only have a short time to earn it.<br /><br />We all like heart-warming stories about pros who suffer in the minors for 10 years and then become productive major-leaguers.<br /><br />The problem though is a major league career normally only lasts less than 10 years. So if you are going to earn the big bucks you need to learn how to be competitive soon. If the studs on the team take steroids, then I 'm sure you would seriously consider it yourself.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>I like Amstel

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Posted By: <b>Paul S</b><p>Kevin, hearing that from you will be bad for your new business! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>PC</b><p>Jay Buhner

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Brooklyn '55 Pennant Ale.<br /><br />-Al

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycle</b><p>There's no reason to not exclude ARod as a possible user. He is the highest performer in baseball, and if Rafael Palmeiro can test positive, there's no reason to automatically exclude other stars. At the time, many people thought, "Man, if Palmeiro used steroids, then anyone could have."<br /><br />As mentioned, if players feel suspicions are unwarranted, then they only have have to blame their union, players' guilty denials, ludicrous excuses and the common 'code of silence' amongst players. If players were willing to admit their guilt, fans would be more willing to accept denials. Fans know players have a code of silence about illegal activity ('Don't snitch'), in part because players have said they have one. This means fans know players hide information and aren't to be considered reliables source of information. Then, when players complain that fans don't accept what they have to say, the answer is "No ****, Sherlock."

OT: The Mitchell Report: Who Will Be Named??
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>David -- true. Same goes for Chicken Stanley. And Mark Belanger.