2009 MLB Thread

[jbissell]

I saw that about A-Rod.  I'm starting to care less: steroids are like the modern version of being a spitballer.  Maybe a little worse, like corking a bat.

edit:  I guess the steroid era does make most of the records from that time mean less.  And it's hard to know how to statistically correct for, in the way we can do with judging old-timey records.

And really, the old-timey records would be a lot different if they let blacks play.

[nec13]

I don't like PED's in baseball. However, Gaylord Perry is an admitted cheat and he's lauded for it. I don't get the inconsistent standards. Cheating is cheating.

[scratchbomb]

I don't like PED's in baseball. However, Gaylord Perry is an admitted cheat and he's lauded for it. I don't get the inconsistent standards. Cheating is cheating.

Don't you understand? Steroids are bad and make home runs invalid somehow, which in turn makes Baby Jesus cry. But Gaylord Perry's cheating is charming!

[yesno]

I would use any and every (legal and non-health-threatening) drug to do my profession better if I could. 

As for the records thing, there are ways to statistically correct, in a rough way, even for white-only baseball.  E.g. you assume the average or replacement-level player is worse.  I doubt that steroids will make historical analysis of baseball any more difficult than it already is.

Ugh, I'm so sick of this issue.  I look forward to the nanotech and exoskeleton scandals of the 2030s.  I've also read that Jorge Cantú has been considering replacing his eyes with some sort of digital imaging system.

[hugman]

Just watched the cards/phillies game.  I am shaken up.  That was absolutely sickening to watch.

[nec13]

Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games for PED use. Uh-oh.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4148907

[jbissell]

Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games for PED use. Uh-oh.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4148907

I'd like to believe that it really was just a mixup with with doctor because the guy is one of the best hitter I've ever seen, but it's too hard not to be a cynic about this.

I hope Ortiz is next.

[nec13]

If Manny was taking PED's to treat a medical condition, why did he choose not to appeal this suspension? He's going to lose nearly $8 million dollars this year because a team will not pay a player while on suspension. This all seems very strange.

[yesno]

Manny is half douchebag, half lovable oaf.

As for this scandal, I don't know.

[jbissell]

If Manny was taking PED's to treat a medical condition, why did he choose not to appeal this suspension?

There's almost zero change it would get reduced.  Isn't that why JC Romero is suing the company that made whatever supplement he took that lead to his suspension?

[yesno]

If Manny was taking PED's to treat a medical condition, why did he choose not to appeal this suspension?

There's almost zero change it would get reduced.  Isn't that why JC Romero is suing the company that made whatever supplement he took that lead to his suspension?

JC Romero actually tested positive for a steroid.  A zero tolerance policy for actual steroids makes sense.

As I read it, the drug Manny took is not itself a performance enhancer, just one whose use usually correlates with use of performance enhancers, and is banned for that reason.  If that's the case, if he could demonstrate that he was prescribed the drug, it makes sense for his sentence to be reduced.  By not appealing, he could be seen to be admitting that he can't make that demonstration.

[dave from knoxville]

Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games for PED use. Uh-oh.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4148907

He uses PEDophiles? In what way? I am not so sure I am opposed to this.

[nec13]

He uses PEDophiles? In what way? I am not so sure I am opposed to this.

It's Manny Ramirez. Anything could be possible.

[scratchbomb]

If Manny was taking PED's to treat a medical condition, why did he choose not to appeal this suspension?

There's almost zero change it would get reduced.  Isn't that why JC Romero is suing the company that made whatever supplement he took that lead to his suspension?

JC Romero actually tested positive for a steroid.  A zero tolerance policy for actual steroids makes sense.

As I read it, the drug Manny took is not itself a performance enhancer, just one whose use usually correlates with use of performance enhancers, and is banned for that reason.  If that's the case, if he could demonstrate that he was prescribed the drug, it makes sense for his sentence to be reduced.  By not appealing, he could be seen to be admitting that he can't make that demonstration.

My wife was wondering about this substance (which is apparently HCG), and I compared it to getting caught not with a dimebag, but with a three-foot dragon-covered bong. You might not have any pot on you at the time, but chances are you're getting high.

Basically, by not appealing it (as Romero), he's kinda saying "Ya got me!" It's the best possible outcome for both him and MLB, because technically neither of them have to discuss the incident any further. So Manny gets to chill for a couple of months, and MLB can twiddle their thumbs and blame their silence on the CBA with the players' union.

[jbissell]

He uses PEDophiles? In what way? I am not so sure I am opposed to this.

It's Manny Ramirez. Anything could be possible.

Apparently HCG can be used to treat ED, although it's not the common treatment.