F.P. Santagelo

I listened to the rise guys all the time while I still lived in Nor California. When I saw FP's name on the list I was wondering how he would address the audience. At least he came clean on it...sorta.

I have met and talked with F.P. a few times. He is a nice guy and seems to be pretty genuine here. However, he did retire a few years back so he really has nothing to lose by coming clean. He is not a HOF candidate, and by him coming clean (somewhat) doesn't really change his legacy or anything of that nature because he was not a star player.

I do commend him for actually talking about it, but again, IMO he had nothing to lose by trying to be a stand-up guy on the situation.

I've known F.P. for about five years or so, as he used to live near us and we have a few common friends. I haven't seen him lately but have heard that that he's having a difficult time with this, as you'd expect anyone to have explaining it to family and friends. I do feel bad for his kids, as they'll likely hear at school, and they don't deserve that kind of treatment. His daughter is young enough to probably not face it much, but his son is soon coming into his prime years for playing baseball and doesn't need to be faced with what he'll likely hear from other kids.

F.P. has an opportunity to make his situation better, by using his experience to come out and explain to kids why they shouldn't do this, and can speak from first hand experience. He was one of a number of players who seem to have used juice to extend their careers, rather than to dominate. Doesn't make it right in any case. During the time he used steroids/HGH, he got the biggest contract of his pro career. He also had significant family problems, a divorce, and saw his career end within a few years of using these substances.

Overall, I'd say F.P's a good guy who did the wrong thing, regardless of the reason, and hope younger players can learn from his mistakes. I already plan on asking him to come and talk to the kids who play summer ball in our program. I don't think there's a better spokesman for not using steroids/HGH than someone who's done it and can talk about how it hurt them and why kids shouldn't make the mistakes they've made.

I like FP,I have listened to him on the radio
for a while.He was a man to admit that he did it
and was wrong.

I don't believe he only used steriods twice. If you give in to using them for a quick recovery from an injury to stay in BB it is a very small leap to use them to help performance to stay in BB.

Not that I'm saying F.P. is guilty of this, but doesn't it seem convenient that everyone admitting to steroid/HGH use claims it was to recover from injuries?

I'm willing to bet that it is going to become the standard line.

I don't know what he did or didn't do, but I do know that he came out FIRST and talked about it and indicated his reasons. Perhaps other players heard his explanation and thought it was that good that some have adopted it, without it being true in their cases, who knows. FP explained his circumstance before any of the others, and I'll take him at his word...for now.

Today, I had a really weird experience that deals with the topic at hand. My son has a bad shoulder strain of his throwing shoulder. At first, doctor thought he'd seperated it, now they think its more likely a bad strain, but probably not torn. He saw a sports orthopedist today, and I sat in on the meeting. The doctor prescribed physical therapy, using ultra-sound and a STEROID cream to be applied by the Physical Therapist to the site of the injury. He told my son it would heal the injury much faster and better than not using it, and he should be good to go within a month or so. OK, does that make my son a steroids user? I'll say NO, as it's been prescribed by a doctor (doc is part of Mercy/CHW) to be applied by a PT to heal an injury. But, it's going to be used for the same thing FP is saying he took them for. I know my son's prescription is completely legitimate, and I'll believe FP as well, at least for the time being.

I guess my question would be:

If your son can go to an orthopedist and be prescribed a steriod cream to be applied by a PT to accellerate treatment, then why didn't these MLB players that are coming forward with their explanations just go to the team physician, get it prescribed, and have it administered by the team PT?

iheartbb, I agree with your question completely. Why not? Most of them are probably not telling the truth, but I wouldn't be surprised if a few are being honest. I can imagine that a few have used it to heal, but did it clandestinly so as not to allow their organization to know they were hurt, when they were a bottom of the roster guy at risk of being released if it became known they were injured and might not be worth carrying any longer.

When we went in to see the orthopedist yesterday, we had been told by a previous doctor that he'd almost certainly seperated the shoulder, and were going to determine if it was mild enough to heal on its own, or would require surgery. So, when the ortho says it appears to be a bit less serious and should heal with only PT, we're both relieved. I about fell over when the doc mentioned using a steroid cream at the site of the injury. My son was caught off guard as well. The doctor explained that it's an appropriate part of treatment for this type of injury and will help him to recover more quickly and completely. OK, we're on board with that.

Back to the players, I don't doubt at all that many players who have and still do use these substances do so to heal faster and withstand the rigors, rather than to hit tons of homers or throw 95, but why don't they go through proper channels? I imagine the answer would be because many legitimate doctors would tell them their injuries or condition aren't serious enough to warrant these drugs. Again, do some do it without proper medical supervision to avoid their organization knowing of their true health status, and risking their career? I don't believe it justifies them using drugs in this manner, but I don't doubt it happens. Personally, I wouldn't have any problem with a player who was injured being prescribed these by a legitimate doctor and used under medical supervision. I don't doubt that it is done somewhat regularly, and we don't hear about it due to its legitimacy. Would anyone have a problem with it under those circumstances?

Steroids are used for many purposes. Probably the one most are familiar with is cortisone. I had a cortisone shot two weeks ago and it is a very common treatment. The whole topic is interesting. If you think back a bit we always heard the phrase "anabolic steroid." Is there a difference? What exactly is the "clear" and the "cream"? What about HGH? Between the supplements and the steroids and HGH its hard to keep track of who did what and for what reasons. Obviously if it was hidden, there was some knowledge of guilt.

Excellent point, nighthawks. I hadn't thought about it at all, but my son was prescribed treatment with a cortico-steroid cream. The issue, which you correctly address in your post, is anabolic steroids. I hadn't thought of the distinction until you commented. Thanks!

Now that I think about it, I've used steroids myself!!! I used to spend a lot of time in a martial arts dojo. Had more than a few cortisone injections to my back, knee, heel, shoulder, etc for injuries sustained in Karate. I finally gave up Karate due to all the injuries.

Before crowning Santangelo, remember also that he didn't come forward before the report, he meerly did the right thing after the fact. Something we probably all wish Marion Jones had done. If you want to look at an act of class, turn to Wally Joyner who in 2005 admitted to taking steroids in '98. Here is a link to the ESPN article.