Baseball and Steriods.

[Sonicblue03]

Anyone read the Mitchell report naming over 75 different MLB players using drugs. I don't really care one way or the other, it's not like this hasn't happened in every sport for the past several years. At least now maybe they will shut up about Barry Bonds for awhile and talk about someone else.

Sorry...posted in the wrong section. Move to off topic please.

[danielvalles1]

Well these guys have been using steroids for a long time its about time they face the music.

[WA 2 FST]

I haven't read the report, so I don't know who all the players are. Likely, a number of them are former players who used them at the tail end of their careers to try and stay in the game.

I thought it was quite ironic that the young kid that Bonds hit the record-tying HR off of had been suspended the previous year for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. People are quick to hammer on Bonds, but most likely a significant number of pitchers he faced used the juice too.

[BC Lightning]

I haven't read the report, so I don't know who all the players are. Likely, a number of them are former players who used them at the tail end of their careers to try and stay in the game.

I thought it was quite ironic that the young kid that Bonds hit the record-tying HR off of had been suspended the previous year for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. People are quick to hammer on Bonds, but most likely a significant number of pitchers he faced used the juice too.

Most of the named players are still active ie Roger Clemens, Andy Pettit, Gary Sheffield, etc etc

[WA 2 FST]

I just read it... 53 out of 86 are retired. Even the ones who are active... most of them prove my point... they are at the end of their careers, thus needing the juice to keep up/bulk up, etc.

As you know, I'm a big baseball fan. Personally, I strongly believe there is no way to really know who is guilty of what. So, I take the records and accomplishments at face value. Chances are that if a guy did steriods, a number of his opponents did too. The playing field is more level than people want to believe.

This report isn't comprehensive b/c they weren't allowed to subpeona people, etc. The point being is that it is/was a widespread problem, and we'll never know all the facts.

[Mark #2]

I just read it... 33 out of 50+ are retired. Even the ones who are active... most of them prove my point... they are at the end of their careers, thus needing the juice to keep up/bulk up, etc.

As you know, I'm a big baseball fan. Personally, I strongly believe there is no way to really know who is guilty of what. So, I take the records and accomplishments at face value. Chances are that if a guy did steriods, a number of his opponents did too. The playing field is more level than people want to believe.

This report isn't comprehensive b/c they weren't allowed to subpeona people, etc. The point being is that it is/was a widespread problem, and we'll never know all the facts.

Wow all 409 pages of it, you read much faster than me.

I agree with your comments, they all were doing them.

[ZeusSVT]

Being a huge baseball fan as well,

I think at this point it would probably be the best interest of Bud and the League both to just put all this behind them and give the players a fresh start. Put the millions that they would spend charging players instead into a very comprehensive and strict drug use policy and testing. The league really has left the door wide open for players to use HGH anyways, so it's sort of their fault. They only test for about 50% of the steroids that are really on the market, leaving tons of leadway for the players to manipulate the system.

I think the image of baseball might be a little tarnished at this point, but it could bounce right back with a fresh start. Rules for positive tests once a new policy is enforced should be career ending punishment. That combined with at least more than 50% of drugs tested would tighten things down a bit.

Baseball isn't the only sport this is going on in and is probably JUST AS BAD in other sports if they were to investigate it like the Mitchell Report has been conducted.

I Love baseball and this report really at this point hasn't changed a thing for me. If they end up dragging this out though, it just might. :retired2


-Michael

[BC Lightning]

The problem with baseball is that the league is controlled not by MLB, but by the players union which is why drug use has gotten out of hand. The MLB players union was set up before any of these problems were around and it has grown too big for its own good, you wont find a union like baseball's in any other sport

The problem here isnt just MLB, I know tons of D1 college players I played with that were taking steroids. Some that were taking are playing pro ball at different levels, and 1 just got his MLB debut this fall.

Like Wes said the problem is so many of them are taking that it does level out the field

Also, some named players were taking different types of steroids for health reasons and had Dr. proof to back it up, not all steroids are performance enhancing, my sister takes them for her Lupus

and you can say what you want to about using steroids either for or against, the fact still remains the hardest thing to do in all of sports is to hit a round ball traveling 90mph+ and hit it for power with a round piece of wood, maybe some of Bonds' homeruns wouldn't have traveled as far if he hadn't taken growth hormones

It is afterall entertainment, I say let them all juice and see how many players can hit 80+ homeruns

[Sonicblue03]

I do agree that the playing field is more level than most people think. I have been around many college athletes....football/baseball, and the majority of them have used some type of steroid at some point. Also this report only lists the people they have "caught". Who really knows how many else use or used them in high school, college, ect. I also think it's ridiculous that they point the finger at these people without any real positive proof, not really the American Way.....innocent until PROVEN guilty. On the other hand anyone with some common since knows how hard it is to play pro sports and the competitive edge that's usually needed. They should not take away any records or keep some of them from the hall of fame.

[jeff56]

Most of those asshats are dopers. Cycling is taking a lot of heat right now, but at least they are taking strong steps to do something doping. Massive comprehensive testing, 2 year ban on first offense and lifetime after that. I will bet you'll never see that in baseball or football.

[ZeusSVT]

Most of those asshats are dopers. Cycling is taking a lot of heat right now, but at least they are taking strong steps to do something doping. Massive comprehensive testing, 2 year ban on first offense and lifetime after that. I will bet you'll never see that in baseball or football.

Sad, but VERY true. :confused:

[Beaudee]

I stumbled across this.Funny http://www.burlysports.com/video/20126