» Steroids In Baseball

Lee has no sympathy for steroid users

On a day where Alex Rodriguez met 200 reporters to pour his heart out on his past steroid use, every spring camp had steroid clouds floating about. Unless a Cubs player is highlighted in steroid allegations, this is the only post that i will make on steroids. It is a problem in baseball, and I’m sure everyone accepts that, (well maybe everyone apart from Marvin Miller, who gave a unconvincing interview on steroids not being a problem during the Michael Kay show on 1050ESPN last week) however I’m a baseball fan, and i love the game, so i would much rather talk about the on field events rather than chime out yet another story on steroids, that people are getting very bored of hearing about.

Derek Lee, one of the most loved Cubs was asked for his opinions not only on A-Rod but on steroid users in general, and here is his reply:

“There should be zero tolerance,” Lee said. “We’ve had plenty of warnings. There’s no excuses. You get caught now, there should be no sympathy and you do your time.”

“I think a year is — if you got banned, I wouldn’t feel sorry for a guy,” he said. “Maybe if some guy got caught and truly didn’t know what he was taking, in that instance [it'd be different]. But if you’re taking steroids, there should be no sympathy.”

A scathing review by Derek Lee, who has admitted that he has been asked the point blank question of whether he took steroids, and even if he denies it, who is to believe him? Palmeiro denied it, Alex Rodriguez denied it. Every player in this era will be tarred with the same brush, if this was ‘the culture’ like Alex Rodriguez suggested in his interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, then who can we believe? that is the saddest part of this whole predicament, we simply don’t know who’s records are tainted and who’s are not.

Derek Lee is not the first person to come out and ask for harsher punishments, David Ortiz said that the punishment should be harder, Ozzie Guillen, the man who always has something to say also commented on it. I heard a fan call into ESPN yesterday, and her simple statement was, shut these players up!, i could not disagree more with this comment, if there are going to be changes to the punishment for steroid users, the players union is going to have to accept them, what better way to encourage this to happen than speak out agains’t the users. This ‘fan’ was telling players to be quiet, I would like them to be louder and more vocal on the issue.

With the Barry Bonds trial just around the corner, I’m afraid the steroid stories in the national and international media have only just begun.

Ok everyone, this big dude has got a point. Seriously, if you take away the random factor of testing, we can at least be somewhat confident that this glorious game will have some serious meaning going forward.

I mean picture it, you have some serious young talent belting home runs left and right, wouldn’t it be nice to know that they are all legit? It would be a dream come true for my children, and my childrens children to once again revert back to having trust in the game we love so much.

Test everyone, if EVERYONE has NOTHING to hide, then test them ALL! Imagine that, a list of players who aren;t on steroids! What a world! Anyways, here’s what the big man said…

Clearly apprehensive about the issue of the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said that he is willing to see measures done, in whatever way possible, to protect the game he loves.
Ortiz said that he is favor for the suspension of any player who is found using the said substance for the entire season. Current suspension is at 50 games on first offense which gradually goes up to 100 games for the second offense. He also added that all players should undergo such testing, rather than that of the proposed random testing.
“I would suggest that everybody get tested, and not randomly,” Ortiz said. “You go team by team and you test everybody, three, four times a year, and that’s about it. You do what you’ve got to do … ban them for the whole year [if they test positive]. You’re going to get respect from the players when they know they’re going to get tested. Let’s test the whole team, three or four times a year. I know they can do that. Believe me, if someone was using steroids, it would show up. Because the way they test you, it’s not a joke.”

Ortiz also added that he does not want to see players getting summoned by the court of law due to their substance use before the testing officially started in 2004.

“There have been a lot of players who have been in federal court and being judged like they just killed somebody or they robbed somebody,” Ortiz said. “I don’t think all that is supposed to be happening. If you admitted that you’ve used stuff [in the past], boom, don’t use it anymore. It’s not good for you. You know it’s not good for the game. Let’s move on, you know what I mean?

“All the drama of bringing guys to court and acting like they are serious criminals, it doesn’t look good for the game. What is happening right now is about something that happened in the past. It’s not something that is happening right now. Everything was banned in, what, 2004?”

Ortiz respected the decision of his close friend Alex Rodriguez, who openly told the press about his past with the said performance enhancing drugs which he tested positive in 2003.

“I think the A-Rod situation, it was a little tough for the game, because you’re talking about the best player all the way around,” Ortiz said. “At the same time, people have to give the guy credit, because he came out and said what he said at the point of his career where he had done it all. On top of that, that was what, six years ago? The guy has put up numbers his whole career.

“It was one thing that he said that caught my attention a lot and it was that he was young, and at the time, that was [happening] all around the league. When you’re young and somebody comes to you with an idea of improving your production and things like that, sometimes you make a wrong decision like he did. But he’s been playing clean and still producing, and he’s still been the best player in the game. If I’m a fan and I had to judge a guy, I would put that in the past and move forward. The guy, he works hard, man. He’s still doing his thing. He still has nine more years on his contract, and he’s definitely going to do some damage.”

He also added that he thinks that fans are losing trust to the game they are watching, and love at the same time.
“Like I said, man, this game has been hurt a lot already,” Ortiz said. “This is not a players’ game or a team’s game. This is a family game. We have a lot of families that live off this game. We have a lot of families that enjoy this game, that bring their kids to watch these games, and I don’t think that this game can take anymore.

“Whatever happened in the past … I guarantee you that more than 80 or 90 percent of the players are playing clean,” Ortiz said. “We’re going through a tough situation all the way around. The economy, our soldiers fighting in Iraq and all this stuff, and this game is a distraction for people, for the American families. I would like to see some things. I would like people to leave this game alone and just let us play the game. I would do whatever it takes to make this game get better, but not everybody is on the same page. The game has changed a lot. There’s a lot of pressure. This game, it’s been getting a lot of heat lately. Let’s just play the game. The game is tough enough. People need to hear something different.”

Ortiz takes much pride to the sacrifices he made to climb up to his superstar status, and is sometimes worried that he is going to a victim of guilt by association.

“I just want to go out there and make sure that people aren’t looking at me like, ‘This guy, he’s big. What’s going on?’ There’s a lot of guys here, they work, they work hard,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said that he is willing to undergo blood tests even to growth hormones, which up to now, is undetectable using urine samples.

“They can figure out a way to test for anything, I’m telling you that right now,” Ortiz said. “Like I said, man, this game needs a breather. It needs to go back to what it was. People come to have fun and watch guys with natural ability playing the game. I guarantee you one thing — nobody is going to take a risk right now. The way they’re testing and the way they’re doing things, you’re not going to hear from anybody testing positive for any kind of steroid.”

Hello All,

I have an interesting proposal for all of you hardcore fans out there…I am looking for a super fan/writer for each team in Major League Baseball. One spot per team, that’s it. That spot will be yours for as long as you would please, all I ask is that you contact me and let me know just how big a fan you are of your team.

I will be handling the Mets, the Yankees are already locked, and we may have a taker for the San Fran Giants…So that leaves a whole lot of options still! Use the contact form in the navigation above and use the subject “Author Spot Request – <Team Goes Here>”   So for me it would look like “Author Spot Request – Mets”.

I have huge plans for my authors, free tickets, memorabilia (I’m an avid classic card collector myself), and profit sharing are amongst the many benefits of this offer. So come one, come all, show me what you’ve got! Claim your spot as the primary source for news for your favorite baseball team!

- Update Just had 3 more requests for: Braves, Phillies, and Cardinals!!! Hurry! !! Clam Your Team!

Earlier this week, the Commissioner’s Office contacted the Major League Baseball Players Association due to concerns about specific allegations that union executive Gene Orza tipped off a player before the latter was scheduled to be tested for performance enhancing drugs last 2004, all these under The New York Times Friday edition report.

It was said that the contact was made in line to the allegations that was revealed in the Sports Illustrated cover story that was published this week about Alex Rodriguez, in which the Yankee infielder admitted that he honestly took performance enhancing drugs during his three year stint with the Rangers.
In accordance to The Times, the Commissioner’s Office contacted the union in line to that exact incident that was cited in Sports Illustrated saying that the union’s chief operating officer (Orza) warned an anonymous player last September 2004 that he would be tested on the 24th, also stating to the player that “there should be nothing in your system”. In addition, SI said that Orza also warned ARod that there would still be an upcoming test that same month.
The League’s executive vice president Rob Manfred Told The Times that he already raised the issue to the union officials.

“I have discussed with the Major League Baseball Players Association the more detailed allegation about advance notice given to a player of a test on Sept. 24, 2004,” Manfred said. “The union has been unable to provide any additional information and stands by its previously issued denial that any tipping occurred.”

Greg Bouris, the union’s spokesman confirmed to The Times that Manfred spoke to a union official, saying that they (the union) did not give nor told anyone in advance that they are instituting a test in 2004.
“We have done nothing improper,” Bouris said.

Earlier this week, Orza denied all the magazine’s charges against him. “It makes juicier stuff to suggest there were tip-offs,” Orza said on Monday. “But there weren’t. I don’t care about the press coverage. It’s irrelevant.”

In an announcement released Saturday, the union said that “there was no improper tipping of players in 2004 about the timing of the drug tests.” In that same statement, MLBPA executive director Don Fehr said that he gave out a 10-page letter, clarifying that to Representative Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, following that of the Mitchell Report.

Still, the Alex Rodriguez storm that has captured the baseball world had only confused the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

In Cliff Lee’s perspective, past is past, and the game should move on. Everybody should move on.

“It’s 2009, and they’re talking about things that happened in ‘01 through ‘03,” Lee said. “MLB has taken care of the steroid issue. We’re being tested.”
To put all things together, it was still Rodriguez’s failed test in 2003 that gained attention and national headlines throughout the globe; gaining infamous attention from normal baseball fans to the President of the United States.

Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt on the other hand, was so disappointed to learn the steroid use of A-Rob and has said that the slugger’s number should be erased.

Lee, in his own terms, said he doesn’t feel cheated. All he could afford was to shrug when asked about the issue.
“I personally don’t see it as bad as it’s made out to be,” said Lee, who has served up two of Rodriguez’s 553 home runs. “I like the fact that [Rodriguez] came out and apologized and was open about what he really did. I can respect that.

“I just have a problem with how they’re going so far in the past and bringing up old things. If you’re doing it now, you’re going to get caught. There’s no way around it. I have a problem with how people think it’s still an issue when it’s not anymore. It’s time to move on and just let the past be the past. It’s over with, as far as I’m concerned.”

Wow, what a coincidence…yet another person is pissed off at A-Roid…oh wait I meant A-Rod I swear.

Oswalt feels cheated, hey Oswalt, guess what? So do we! We as fans feel cheated just like you. Seriously we do. We paid to see the games too, we take the time to watch all of this, get over it pal. Sorry it may have cost you another 5 mill on your last contract that A-Rod got those “Timely” hits off of you.

I agree with Oswalt in some respects, but when you bring money into it, and loss thereof it turns into something totally different.

If Roy Oswalt had his choice, any player who was proven or admitted to, using performance-enhancing drugs, the Astros ace player said on Tuesday that the suspected players’ number would be erased from baseball history.

That is if his will is to be followed. Alex Rodriguez will be a part of that list, who on Monday admitted that he used the drugs after failing a drug test last 2003. Considered by many as the best player who ever played today, Rodriguez has 553 home runs, 1,606 RBIs. But Oswalt says Rodriguez is simply one those whose numbers should be stricken from the record.

“A-Rod’s numbers shouldn’t count for anything,” Oswalt said in a phone interview with MLB.com. “I feel like he cheated me out of the game.”
Oswalt said that he feels the same way to all players who have tested positive over the years. Although giving his teammate Roger Clemens the benefit of the doubt, and calling the allegations against him “suspicion”. But if proven guilty, Clemens’ number, along with all of his awards should be erased, said Oswalt.
He also said that he is bothered by those players who had tested positive in his era which spread to those players who are “clean”. Oswald entered the big league in 2001, winning 19 games in 2002 and 20 in both 04 and 05. He said everything without the help of PEDs, and that he despises cheaters.
“It does bother me,” Oswalt said. “Especially for the guys that went out there and did it on talent. We’re always going to have a cloud on us, and that’s not fair at all.

“The ones that have come out and admitted it, and are proven guilty, [their numbers] should not count. I’ve been cheated out of the game,” Oswalt continued. “This is my ninth year, and I’ve done nothing to enhance my performance, other than work my butt off to get guys out. These guys [who took PEDs] have all the talent in the world. All-Star talent. And they put times two on it.

“I’m going out there with the ability God gave me. They have that ability, too, and they’re putting something on top of it.”

Rodriguez admitted in an interview last Monday that he took performance enhancing drugs during this three year stay with the Rangers. That statement made Oswald even more furious since the Astros played against him a number of times when Rodriguez was taking the drugs during Interleague Play.
Rodriguez was 3-for-5 vs. Oswalt as a member of the Rangers, with two doubles, one home run, three RBIs and two walks. As a Yankee, Rodriguez was hitless in two at-bats versus Oswalt.

“The few times we played them, when he got hits, it could have cost me a game,” Oswalt said. “It could have cost me money in my contract. He cheated me out of the game and I take it personally, because I’ve never done [PEDs], haven’t done it, and they’re cheating me out of the game.”

Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada was charged Tuesday on lying to investigators on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, reports said.
The Washington Post had reported that the Astros shortsop allegedly made some misrepresentations to some congressional staffers in an interview in a Baltimore hotel room on the subject of steroids in baseball. reported.

Tejada will be expected to appear on Wednesday, 11 am ET in US District Court in Washington. Charges against him were outlined and were filed in Washington Federal Court last Tuesday; indicating that a plea agreement has been reached with Tejada, and is expected to plead guilty, according to an ESPN report. The Astros have scheduled a 4 p.m. CT news conference for Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

The conference will be aired live on MLB.com and will be attended by Tejada, his lawyer, Mark Tuohey; and agent Diego Bentz.
Tejada was accused by prosecutors of giving false statements in a conversation with former Athletics teammate Adam Pitt about steroids and human growth hormones. No other accusations were made.

Tejada can face a maximum penalty of one year in jail, but advisory sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of probation to six months behind bars, according to the Post report

The charges against Tejada came a little over a year after the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform asked the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into whether Tejada really told false statements to members of the same committee in 2005 about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The allegations go back to 2005 when Tejada’s former temmate Rafael Palmeiro, tested positive in a steroid test on a vitamin B-12 injection allegedly given to him by Tejada.

Palmeiro gave the testimony while under investigation by the House Committee for possibly lying on the usage of performance-enhancing drugs.
Charges against Palmeiro was dropped since the Committee has no concrete evidence, although Tejada admitted during the investigation that he provided Palmiero and two other undisclosed Orioles players with B-12, also known as a steroid .

Tejada denied the use of performance enhancing drugs August of the same year, stating that he is not aware of the substance use by other players.
But the Mitchell Report released last December 2007 suggested something different. Former Sen. George Mitchell said that Tejada’s teammate Piatt, remembered that the he provided Tejada with steroids, testosterone and HGH in 2003.

Piatt gave Mitchell cancelled checks from his transactions with Tejada which amounted to $6,300. One $3,200 check coming from Tejada to Piatt was dated March 21, 2003.