Skip to main content

He 'didn't know'...........
We have become the "I didn't know" society. This mindset is prevalent and widespread. No one's guilty because no one knows anything.
Get rid of him.
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3214132
"I would be lost without baseball. I don't think I could stand being away from it as long as I was alive." Roberto Clemente #21
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

So he thought this "professional trainer" was giving him "flax seed oil and something for his arthritis"? Mr. "I'm so careful about what I put in my body" didn't know what it was?

The worst first year law student in America would have a field day cross-examining good old Barry.

The man has an incredible batting eye, and has put up unbelievable numbers, but you can now believe this:

He has used steroids. Not a rumor. Cold, hard fact.

He deserves every bit of flak that he gets as do Giambi and the others. They publicly lied, on camera and in print, and now the crows will come home to roost. The character of all of these guys is jumping out of our TV screens: they cheated, then they lied, then they lied some more. None will make into the Integrity Hall of Fame. They've had many many chances to tell the truth, and didn't. None of us is sin-free, and the expression "The Truth Will Find Ye" is gospel. Literally.


Give me the Say Hey Kid any day, any time, any where.

And give me Little League, High School, and College ball any day of the week. My NCAA playing son has more drug restrictions on him than do MLB players, with mandatory random testing, by both his school and the NCAA.
hokie

I am not arguing whether he did or did not--but where are the "cold hard facts" regarding Bonds--right now it is all conjecture until such time as he admits it or is proven top be a liar--same newspaper every time I wonder why that is?

And you still have to see the ball and hit the ball and last time I looked it up steroids did not improve a batters eye sight nor does it improve his ability to hit the ball. It will make him stronger and in many cases prevent muscle tears and injuries. The only injury free year that McGwire had was his huge record year when he was taking LEGAL supplements BUT he also hit 49 homers, more if he was not injured , in his rookie year.

We can surmise all we want but the fact is that Bonds is perhaps the best hitter that ever played the game--steroids didn't make him that if in fact he is a 'roids man
I'm with TRHit on this. I'm not going to start to pass judement until and unless a grand jury indicts Bonds. While I'm not a lawyer by any means, I have sat on a grand jury.

The purpose of the grand jury is to evaluate the evidence and decide if there is enough evidence to indict - to evaluate the possibility that the law was broken. They don't decide guilt or innocence - only if there was a possible crime committed.

The jury has three choices: indict, no-bill or pass (pass gives the option for the prosecuting attorney to shelve it or pass it on to another grand jury.)These proceedings are supposed to be sealed, no juror can ever talk about the proceedings. And ANYTHING can be brought up relevent (or not!)to the subject of the grand jury investigation. If Bonds got a speeding ticket in 1980 it can be discussed. Anyone with anything to say about the subject can be brought in as a witness. Witnesses cannot have an attorney present. Everyone gets to ask whatever questions they want.
The vote is (usually)a 2/3rds. majority. So 12 of 16 grand jurors must agree - whatever the outcome.(The number of grand juors varies with the court in which the district is in.)

The whole process actually favors the prosecution. And having sat on one, I find it hard to believe at this point in time that the evidence is strong enough to indict.

Essentially, it takes no more than a hunch on the part of the jurors to indict - to decide if a crime was committed. The prosecuting attorney can steer the jury any way they want, short of telling them how to vote.

Now, back to baseball....
TR, Maybe it's just the doubter in me but I have a question.

quote:
We can surmise all we want but the fact is that Bonds is perhaps the best hitter that ever played the game--steroids didn't make him that if in fact he is a 'roids man


Since names of players that admittingly use steroids are are beginning to come out in numbers, there must be a reason players use steroids. Bonds has not proven guilty by a legal court. However in the publics eye and the major league players eyes the concensus indicates he was guilty of using some type of enhancing drug, legal or illegal, at some time. My question is then if Bonds used a supplement how can he be possibly the best hitter that ever played the game since we will never know exactly how the supplement affected his abililites?

What surprises me are these athletes treat their bodies like shrines, promote fitness and games, yet put little value on their life.
Last edited by rz1
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
why the same paper and writer with the story regarding supposedly sealed papers from the Grand Jury ?

--same newspaper every time I wonder why that is?



This reeks of east coast bias. Back in the days a certain Watergate informant would only release information to a single newspaper (Wash Post) and to 2 investigative reporters (Woodward & Bernstein). Did you react to those disclosures with the same level of suspicion?

BALCO, the SF Giants, & the Oakland A's (Bonds & Giambi) are local news stories for the San Francisco Chronicle. I suggest to you that the reporter has been assigned to follow this story & to investigate all leads that he may dig up regarding any of the primary characters in this sordid affair.

Would you lend more credence to this grand jury leak if it were reported exclusively by the Hartford Courant or NY Times?
no matter how you look at it Bonds Giambi and the rest of the cheaters have Tarnished the Game. In my opinion worse than that of Pete Rose or even the 1919 Black Sox. Bonds has upset many creditable records that have been accomplished by legimate ballplayers.Bud Selig better take a strong stance on whatever is done but of course hell be as weak as ever and sit on his *** and do nothing as usual
dbg

Forget the bias aspect--I have none-- I only know what I see

I only see info that was supposed to be sealed now being leaked to the same newspaper every time the ugly story rears its head

The Hartford Courant is no prize package either--they got a governor ousted for a $1500 roof job and then went after others and got egg on their face
Trhit,

It sounds like you will be one of the last people to think Bonds did steroids. It’s still a free country and that certainly is your pejorative.

However, when you say, “last time I looked it up steroids did not improve a batters eye sight nor does it improve his ability to hit the ball” you are wrong or trying to parse words.

Why do you think hitters do the stuff? It surely is not to get their face puffy, get acne and risk the chance of dieing a slow death like Lyle Alzado.

You say it doesn’t improve the ability to hit the ball yet statistics prove otherwise. It sure seemed to help Giambi.

Do you agree that increased strength can help your ability to hit the ball? Do you agree that increased strength when related to hitting generally refers to increased bat speed? Do you agree that increased bat speed improves your ability to hit the ball?

The fact is that steroids can help hitters and did help hitters. Get the eraser or asterisks out. Baseball’s dirty little secret is going to be not so secret and although baseball may take a short term hit and cheating players will be exposed, history will show that we did what’s right to preserve the sanctity of the greatest game in the world.
What happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? What happened to 'pull the other one, it's got bells on'!

The 'plausible deniability' line doesn't wash with me either. These are athletes; their body is, obviously, their instrument. To suggest that any of them actually believed that they were being given 'nutritional supplements' would mean they not only didn't ask questions, but that they were somehow unaware of the existence of steroids. Wouldn't it follow logically? "This stuff gives you an edge", "improves performance", "builds muscle" --- what?! An honest, clean athlete wouldn't ask specifically if it contained steroids?

rz has it right: we'll never know what kind of hitter Bonds, for example, would have been. Would he have lasted this long? Would he have had warning track power only?

But he does put bums in seats, and that, really, is the point. And we know he needs the money -- remember when he took his ex back to court to reduce her alimony during the strike because of 'hardship'. Gotta love the guy.

Of course most of us here would like to see a hard line and some radical consequences for drug use in MLB. We have sons with dreams, sons we don't want to see playing roulette with their bodies OR having to compete with 'enhanced' players.
Last edited by Orlando
This is not my opinion but that of a sports reporter from the NY Times regarding the use of steroids in sports.
FANS in general DON'T CARE. Especially in the game of baseball. They don't care how one gets it over the fence, they want more excitement in the game.
Until the public shows their disgust over what has happened, there will be no changes. You can bet your bottom dollar once fans stop showing up, something will be done about it asap!
SBK

If you re-read my posts I siad I am not arguing yes or now for any of the players so do put words in my mouth


Now your other points:

01-- they do it to get stronger--that does not necessarily make the bat quicker

02-- in my mind he was never a complete or great player

03--increased strength has nothing to do with ability to hit the ball--NO WAY

04--IMO increased bat speed does not necessarily help your ability to hit the ball-- your natural physical ability does that-- I firmly belive that hitters are born not made or created

As you say we are all entitled to our opinions and beliefs--I just don't believe you condemn a man with no FACTS AND PROOF-- yes there are clouds but behind them is sunshine
quote:
03--increased strength has nothing to do with ability to hit the ball--NO WAY

04--IMO increased bat speed does not necessarily help your ability to hit the ball-- your natural physical ability does that-- I firmly belive that hitters are born not made or created


TR you are absolutely right about this stuff, it will not help him hit the ball..... he already had that ability, that's why he is in the big leagues to begin with. He demonstrated the ability to hit the ball in high school, college, in the minors, and even in the show when called up.

We all know that it doesn't magically help you hit the ball, if that were the case, give me Conte's number I'll call him today, and be signed as a 31 year old DH by Feb. Eek

I heard Rob Dibble make that excuse, and it took me all night to get up off the floor from laughing so hard, you see although I like to hear Rob on the Dan Patrick Show, it showed just how misinformed he was.

Even the sun shines on a dogs butt, once in a while. Wink
TR,

First, I plead guilty to possessing a law degree. (There goes what little remains of my reputation....)
Assuming Bonds did testify to the Grand Jury that he used the two substances, that's proof enough for me that he did so and a grand jury indictment isn't necessary to establish that. As for the issue of leaks, I agree that confidential testimony should stay that way and sincerely hope that the party leaking information gets legally fried, BUT, if Bonds did testify that he used the two items, then he has been lying to the public for a long, long time. The fact that his lie was exposed through someone else's criminal act does not change the fact that he has lied and lied again.

I agree he is one heck of a hitter and have been amazed at how well he hits, especially considering how carefully most pitchers try to be with him, but whether we like it or not, the steroids have laid upon him a permanent stain. He will never enjoy the universal respect or admiration enjoyed by so many of the greats-Mays, McCovey, Koufax, Walter Johnson, etc., and that's a legacy that he has created. It is indeed sad, but people make bad decisions all the time, and sometimes they come back in spades. A decision by Bonds, for reasons only he knows, to try chemical enhancements to his already considerable skills, can't be ignored or down-played. He no doubt aspires to be considered the greatest baseball player of all time. It won't happen, not now, not ever. Ruth, Cobb, and all those guys were far from saints, real far in fact, but I'm not aware of any allegation that they tried to cheat the game.

Had steroids been around in that era, who knows what might've happened.
Last edited by hokieone
quote:
Until the public shows their disgust over what has happened, there will be no changes. You can bet your bottom dollar once fans stop showing up, something will be done about it asap!



So, it's all about the dollar. If they're looking to make MLB more exciting...there's more that could be done. Move the fences in...move the mound back...make a strike out be four strikes...etc. Where are we going? Professional wrestling is fake and the public goes to watch it. So what?

I am disgusted! Frown
TR,

Your philosophy regarding strength and hitting is counter to conventional wisdom. Most players and coaches seem to think that lifting weights can make them stronger. Most hitters believe increased strength can mean a quicker bat.

A lot of us even believe a quicker bat can improve one’s ability to hit a ball.

Science shows that lifting weights can make you stronger. Science also tells us that taking certain steroids can also make you stronger.

If you are right when you emphatically write, “03--increased strength has nothing to do with ability to hit the ball--NO WAY” then not only are few hitters uselessly using steroids, but millions of players are wasting their time and causing themselves pain by lifting weights, all for trying to become stronger so they can improve their ability to hit the ball.

Another attempt at a seemingly simple question, would you expect a hitter should be able to improve his ability to hit the ball if he increased his strength?
And when a car, let’s name it Bonds for the lack of a better name, goes 125 mph and the other cars go 100 mph, I’d say the Bonds car is a great race car.

Now if the great Bonds car puts in some illegal fuel and now it goes 400 mph, I would call it a formerly great race car that is now cheating.

Yes, I would say that illegal fuel can improve the ability of the car to drive.
Thinking about Bonds taking Steriods in order to get stronger reminded me of an interview I saw by John Kruk speaking about another player using a "corked bat"

quote:

"He could already hit a baseball 800 feet, I guess he wanted to hit it a thousand feet..."



Bonds could already hit ... period ... he was already strong ... period ...

"Better baseball through the wonders of Chemistry" isn't better baseball. IMHO, any record he has (or will) achieve, should go in the record book but be marked with an "*" with a footnote "...assisted".
Innocent until proven guilty? First of all they will never be found guilty, because they were given immunity from prosecution prior to their grand jury testimony by the grand jury, as long as they told the truth and nothing but the truth! The ONLY thing they could be ever charged with was perjury, if they lied or withheld information during Grand Jury testimony. By their (giambi and bonds) testimony, they will be found guilty by baseball fans everywhere. Bonds will be an absolute first ballot hall of famer, but I ask should he be in the hall if you keep someone like "Shoeless Joe" out. Is steroid use, the same as a corked bat? I just think cheaters should not be praised for their efforts, they spent years deceiving the paying public, lied to reporters, and now that it comes out, they fall back on the "I didn't know"? Come on! Ignorance of the law is no excuse, I sincerely believe they knew exactly what they were doing, and will be judged that way. Just my opinion.
Last edited by dadchs20
TR,
Bonds used steroids. He has admitted it. His records are tainted. The only question now is if he did so knowingly or unknowingly. The evidence cited in the article implies that it was knowingly. That isn't absolute proof. You're welcome to believe unknowingly if you wish but I find it hard to believe that Giambi is that much more in tune with the real world than Bonds.

By the way, let's assume that Barry is the same hitter except for power with or without steroids. Then let's take away 40% of his home runs each year and make them fly outs. At the same time take away a few sharply hit grounders and liners that a fielder couldn't quite reach. The batting average drops a lot and so do the intentional walks so the OBP drops a lot also. Still a good hitter, but by no means the dominant player in the game.
Last edited by CADad
tater
There's no doubt that steroids will make you stronger( so long as you train effectively).
There's no doubt that steroids will NOT give you the ability to hit a baseball. That's a skill derived from the confluence of genetics and practice.
However the least mentioned effect of steroid use is the androgenic or "maleness" enhanceing aspect of it's use.
Anabolic qualities build muscle, androgenic qualities increase amoung other things agressiveness.
I think the inclination to crowd the plate, take away the outside pitch and hang in there when Randy Johnson throws his hard slider can only be enhanced by steroid use. And how would you disentangle the ability to hit a ball from the willingness to do so?
Steriods are more complcated than just muscle mass developers.
Rollerman
If he did not know he was using steroids it must have been a difficult psychological time for him wondering why his body was changing so differently from the normal aging process.Maybe he was pelted by Gamma like Bruce Banner.

Wouldn't the unauthorized use of a known dangerous substance by his trainer constitute assault or reckless endangerment? Wouldn't these charges being leveled bring out the truth quickly and in open court and not violate any immunity since Bonds would not be charged.
I heard yesterday that one of the drugs Giambi was taking and I'm sure Bond's was too was one to enhanse eye sight. See the ball better.

So not only were they getting bigger (mass) and stronger. And by the way being stronger as a hitter also allows you to have better control over making changes in your swing and the fact that there was this drug which helped there ability to see the ball better, well then you have on potent hitter there!
I was at a spring training game a few years back and I saw Jose Conseco hit one of the hardest balls I've ever seen hit. It was a one-hopper to second base and it hit the second baseman square in the face. The guy was taken off the field with a bloody towel covering his face. OF COURSE the additional strength provided by the use of steriods allows players to hit the ball harder which OBVIOUSLY will translate into more hits.

The use of steriods in baseball has far reaching effects and goes well beyond homerun numbers. I don't know what became of the second baseman who took that hit but I guaranty there are players whose careers have been hurt by this. If steriod use is as rampant in the big leagues as some people have said then certainly there are pitchers who have had their careers negatively effected and minor leaguers held back while major league hitters have had their careers arificially extended.

Not to mention the game results that can now be questioned.

The major league game will essentially become a joke, IMO, unless drug testing is instituted.
I never would have believed that supposedly knowledgeable baseball people are convinced that becoming stronger doesn’t have anything to do with a person becoming a better hitter.

Would the same people agree that if a person became weaker, they probably would become a poorer hitter, kind of like Giambi?

Now if these same people that became weaker, like a Giambi all of a sudden became stronger, would that mean they probably wouldn’t become better hitters?

I’m waiting for a topic that reads, “Strength don’t matter”.
Just think if the caveman had the roids, today the pitching mound may be at 90', 600 ft to the alleys, and 5 sec 60's. Then again a smarter life form may be interpreting the history of man from drawings on the cave walls because all the humans had died from unknown growths, and irrational brain activity. Sometimes the more advanced we get the futher down the food chain we fall.
You are a very very naive person if you do not almost 100% know that he has taken steroids! As far as steroids helping you hit the ball, this is what i'll say... If you take a person with no baseball talent and put them on steroids, no they will not be able to hit the ball any better. But if you take somebody with major league talent like Bonds then its takes him obviously from 40hr/season all the way to 70hr/season. How can you say steroids didnt help him hit ? They turned fly outs into home runs. ALL his records are tainted.
Choose about any player at any level and becoming stronger will allow them to be a better hitter than what they were when they were less strong.

Most people who want to become a better hitter by being stronger choose to do it the old fashioned way, lift weights. A few choose to take a short cut by doing steroids.

I hope I don’t insult everybody’s intelligence by repeating what I would assume everyone here already knows and people such as Bob alluded to, “Taking steroids won’t take a bad hitter and make them a great hitter, but a bad hitter can become a better hitter by becoming stronger.”

I don’t know why that is so hard to grasp? The example a couple people brought up of a routine fly ball that with a little more strength turns into a homerun is a good one.

Bottom line is that accomplishments in any sport that were done by a steroid user are tainted.

The majority of the blame should go to the player’s union.

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×