Gammons: 50 Players tested positive

[yankeessuck013]

In Gammons newest article on insider Gammons says the rumor around Major League Baseball is that 50 players have tested positive for steroids including one name bigger than Palmerio. Here are some direct quotes from the article.

 

"The steroid rumor mill has been spinning out of control. More than 50 players tested positive, one megastar. Clubhouse talk. Maybe it's only a dozen, but there's a bigger name than Rafael Palmeiro. That's what's going around. "

 

"At this point, this is all nothing but idle speculation, seemingly exaggerated, since the executive council hasn't been notified, and those members had known for a long time about Palmeiro, Ryan Franklin and another player whose name will soon leak out. "

 

"For now, we are in a whirlpool of speculation and rumor-mongering, much of which has a tinge of McCarthyism. Which begs the question: When are the leaders of the players' association -- not the lawyers in their employ -- going to raise their voices? "

 

I Hope to God if this is true that none are Red Sox players.

 

why don't they release the names of players who test NEGATIVE?? Could end a lot of needless speculation.

[Sizzlin22]

When wxactly do they release these names?

[yankeessuck013]

doesnt say.

[yankeessuck013]

As I loathe the change to an "Insider" option that now appears mandatory in order to read new articles I thought some people might appreciate them being posted up to "Insiders" of the Red Sox nation.

 

Aug. 5

 

Now that we can look back at the trading deadline and realize Matt Lawton and Buddy Groom were about as good as it got, we now realize that the additions that might alter the pennant races will likely have to come out of the farm systems. Brian Cashman's point, all along.

 

We've already seen some of the influx, with Conor Jackson in Arizona, Jonathan Broxton and Dioner Navarro in Los Angeles, Manny Delcarmen in Boston. We likely will see many more between now and the end of this month, from the Twins' Francisco Liriano to the Red Sox's Jon Papelbon and Craig Hansen to the Cubs' Felix Pie to the Angels' Kendry Morales.

 

For many who'd like to see the trading deadline pushed back to June 15 so that small and medium markets wouldn't have to compete with the big-money flea markets that have benefited big-market teams at the end of July -- like the Red Sox and Yankees in 2003 -- the fact that scouting and development are returning to the crux of competitiveness is refreshing.

 

"I think a lot of owners look at the business model of the Braves, A's and Guardians and say, 'Hey, that's the way to go,'" says one NL general manager. "Teams like the Red Sox and Cubs would not surrender their good, young players at the deadline, and now you'll see both of them go young."

 

Jim Hendry wants to get Pie in center and Cedeno at shortstop by next year. Boston will likely have Kevin Youkilis at third, Dustin Pedroia at second and some combination of their superlative young pitchers on the big league staff -- Papelbon, Delcarmen, Hansen, Jon Lester, Anibal Sanchez.

 

The Braves have been helped by influx from their system, with Kelly Johnson, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Ryan Langerhans, Andy Marte, Kyle Davies, Wilson Betemit and seven other rookies. Oakland's run has been driven by four rookies: Dan Johnson (27 walks, 22 SO, 22 extra-base hits entering Friday's action), Nick Swisher, Huston Street and Joe Blanton.

 

Cleveland is right in the wild-card race, riding two kids in their first full seasons, with Grady Sizemore in center leading off, and Jhonny Peralta at short, hitting third. Toronto is right in the wild-card hunt, with two remarkable rookie infielders in Russ Adams and Aaron Hill.

 

"The big advantage," says one GM, "is for the teams that have money and have good farm systems. The Angels are a great example. The Dodgers are going to be very dangerous because they have such a deep system, and they have money. Look at Boston -- what Theo [Epstein] and Josh [byrnes] have done in a very short time is nothing short of incredible; they're going to be one of the teams with the toughest decisions on their 40-man roster. And don't forget Arizona; Dustin Nippert and Jason Bulger may be up soon, and Mike Rizzo's work in scouting and development is as good as there is."

 

Then there are teams like the Brewers, Marlins and Cubs.

 

"The development systems are going to be very important for the next year or so because the upcoming free-agent class is so weak," says another GM. "Teams like Detroit, Toronto and the Nationals, if they're sold, that will have cash to use. But the class is not good."

 

Potential major free agents

Starting Pitchers: A.J. Burnett, Matt Morris, Kevin Millwood, Jarrod Washburn, Jeff Weaver, Kenny Rogers, Roger Clemens.

 

Closers: Billy Wagner, B.J. Ryan.

 

Catchers: Ramon Hernandez, Mike Piazza, Bengie Molina, Brad Ausmus.

 

First Base/DH: Paul Konerko, Kevin Millar, Erubiel Durazo.

 

Infielders: Rafael Furcal (SS), Alex Gonzalez (SS), Nomar Garciaparra (SS), Bill Mueller (3rd), Joe Randa (3rd).

 

Outfielders: Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Brian Giles, Milton Bradley, Preston Wilson, Juan Encarnacion, Jacque Jones, Reggie Sanders.

 

The impact: Burnett, Morris, Wagner and Ryan will see their price tags go through the roof. Damon is the premier positional free agent because he is a great, productive leadoff hitter who plays a middle of the field position well and is a warrior.

 

"Those players don't fill too many contenders," says a GM. "So if you're not starting to get the bump from your system, you're in trouble. Or if you're the Yankees and Phillies and are 1-2 in future commitments and are thin near the top of your minor leagues, you could have problems. Now, it takes more than just money. It takes development and money."

 

Postseason myth

There is a secondary point to the inability of contending teams to trade for pitching: The notion that great starting pitching necessarily is the predominant factor in winning the World Series is something of a myth. Granted, the Marlins' starters were hot in 2003, but it was their ability to beat up on the Cubs' extraordinary pitching and win the NLCS with their offense that got them there.

 

Really, the only recent team that followed the starting pitching model was Arizona in 2001, with Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. If you look at this chart prepared by the Elias Sports Bureau, you see that of the World Series winners since 1980:

 

* Three led their leagues in lowest starters' ERA, four finished sixth or lower

* One team, the Dodgers in the strike-shortened 1981 season, had a starters' ERA under 3.00 but eight were over 4.00

* Five teams led in overall staff ERA, six were fifth or lower

* One team had an overall postseason staff ERA under 3.00, seven were over 4.00

* Since 1990 and the beginning of the inflated offensive era, three World Series champions have had postseason starters' ERAs under 2.00, five over 5.00.

 

REGULAR SEASON POSTSEASON

Year World Series winner Starter

Rank Starter

ERA Overall

Rank Overall

ERA Starter

ERA

2004 Red Sox 3 4.31 3 4.18 4.12

2003 Marlins 5 3.91 7 4.04 4.67

2002 Angels 4 4.00 2 3.69 5.38

2001 Diamondbacks 2 3.88 2 3.87 1.94

2000 Yankees 4 4.87 6 4.76 3.47

1999 Yankees 2 4.33 2 4.13 2.28

1998 Yankees 1 3.85 1 3.82 2.65

1997 Marlins 4 3.76 4 3.83 5.40

1996 Yankees 6 4.96 5 4.65 5.09

1995 Braves 1 3.25 1 3.44 2.81

1993 Blue Jays 9 4.63 5 4.21 5.08

1992 Blue Jays 8 4.09 9 3.91 3.89

1991 Twins 2 3.77 3 3.69 3.93

1990 Reds 4 3.61 2 3.39 3.07

1989 A's 1 3.34 1 3.13 2.53

1988 Dodgers 4 3.22 2 2.96 2.93

1987 Twins 6 4.47 10 4.63 4.41

1986 Mets 2 3.16 1 3.11 2.98

1985 Royals 2 3.43 2 3.49 2.78

1984 Tigers 4 3.88 1 3.49 2.67

1983 Orioles 3 3.71 2 3.63 1.31

1982 Cardinals 4 3.49 3 3.37 2.54

1981 Dodgers 2 2.77 2 3.01 1.96

1980 Phillies 4 3.53 3 3.43 3.49

 

Conclusion: It takes a lot more than three starting pitchers to win the World Series.

[yankeessuck013]

heres the steroid article

 

Aug. 9

 

The steroid rumor mill has been spinning out of control. More than 50 players tested positive, one megastar. Clubhouse talk. Maybe it's only a dozen, but there's a bigger name than Rafael Palmeiro. That's what's going around.

 

At this point, this is all nothing but idle speculation, seemingly exaggerated, since the executive council hasn't been notified, and those members had known for a long time about Palmeiro, Ryan Franklin and another player whose name will soon leak out.

 

For now, we are in a whirlpool of speculation and rumor-mongering, much of which has a tinge of McCarthyism. Which begs the question: When are the leaders of the players' association -- not the lawyers in their employ -- going to raise their voices?

 

Palmeiro, Franklin and all players charged with violations of the drug policy should have the right to due process and the best defense. This system is not foolproof; and as is understood in one case, a club employee who did not know the entire list of substances banned between Nov. 15 and Jan. 15 abetted the player.

 

But it looks to the outside that the union worked a lot harder to protect Palmeiro than some of the "no-names" whose names first surfaced. So, with all his money and the best defense SFX can offer, how can a union differentiate between a star and a Ryan Franklin?

 

Most unions exist to protect those who need protection, not the richest. Even more important, what the baseball union has yet to grasp is that the rights that must be protected are the rights of the vast majority to ensure that the playing field is even.

 

This is why the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency were formed -- to protect the rights of the majority of Olympic athletes, to ensure their games and contests were fair, above board, clean. Baseball players should be screaming that Palmeiro's case was heard on the side, and their union should be negotiating for the right to play a clean, fair game.

 

Why should Lance Berkman, Mike Sweeney, Garret Anderson, Jason Varitek or Carlos Beltran have to compete with cheaters? Why should Roy Halladay, Jake Peavy, Rich Harden or Pedro Martinez have to outperform someone whose fastball and recovery time are enhanced?

 

Those are the rights that count, and it's time that the player leaders assume some responsibility for their fellow players, and their game.

 

Maybe the union was betrayed by the leaking of the Palmeiro information, but that is a side issue. The important issue is a man got his 3,000th hit after he tested positive -- apparently trying to cheat the system and violating a law that is very important to the game that he should have respected. What is ludicrous is that last weekend the Orioles were allowed to play with 25 men and the Rangers only 24 because Kenny Rogers was suspended for throwing a camera on the ground.

 

Huh?

 

Clearly, there are players who never thought they would get retested, or who thought of themselves as invincible or -- as several players suggested -- who are psychologically addicted to enhancers. So it will take time for the game to change, naturally, although one very wise manager said, "There's a new game coming and we should be ready for it. Good hitting instructors will be more important than ever, because hitters will never be able to hit home runs without proper mechanics."

 

That new game should and must be clean, and to do that the players must be protected by their union. That is their right, an important right.

[YankeeDoodle]

MLBPA already has so much power in the game. It's quite ridiculous.

 

So does Gammons "know" who the "mega-star" is? Umm, thanks for the heads-up that MLB's image is going to be tarnished, again?

[yankeessuck013]

posted this in the texas/ny game thread but I'll sya it again

 

Uh-oh....Michael Kay just announced that MLB has released a statement that two more names will be released within the next two days relating to failing the MLB steroid testing.

 

One in the NL, One in the AL....Both are big names.

 

One of the names according to Kay will "Crush you" and "Bring baseball to it's knees".

 

This is NOT GOOD baseball fans........

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that the NL name is going to be the "Big Name" as Kay put it.

 

Pure speculation, but I think it's Clemens.........

[bobby jr]

posted this in the texas/ny game thread but I'll sya it again

 

Uh-oh....Michael Kay just announced that MLB has released a statement that two more names will be released within the next two days relating to failing the MLB steroid testing.

 

One in the NL, One in the AL....Both are big names.

 

One of the names according to Kay will "Crush you" and "Bring baseball to it's knees".

 

This is NOT GOOD baseball fans........

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that the NL name is going to be the "Big Name" as Kay put it.

 

Pure speculation, but I think it's Clemens.........

 

If it's Clemens I wouldn't be surprised, as Canseco named him in his book as likely one who took steroids, based on his build and still having power into his 40's. There is another power pitcher in the AL who has lasted a long time and I am suspicious of him because he fits the profile as described by Canseco of pitchers who are on steroids.

[riverside sluggers]

hmm i think something that would bring baseball to its knees, if the big name is from the NL and it is discovered Albert Pujols has been tested positive. you never know, he did break out as a rookie with 30+ homeruns and has done it his first 5 seasons straight

[bobby jr]

Sounds like MLB and the players union are trying to make this rumor go away:

 

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0811bbreport0811.html

 

Baseball, union try to quash rumors of more failed steroids tests

 

"Faced with a swell that was becoming a storm, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association took what they called an "unusual step" - the sides issued a joint statement Wednesday, with hopes it would quash the rampant speculation.

 

Reports of large numbers of positive tests currently unreported are totally false. Reports of big-name players having the reporting of their test results delayed are totally false," it said.

 

"All drug-testing results are processed in precisely the same manner, and without regard to the identity of any player or to the volume of positives at any given time. These media reports and rumors are totally, and completely inaccurate, and do not deserve further comment," it said.

 

The statement was issued by Rob Manfred, executive vice president for labor relations in the commissioner's office, and Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the union."

[heyabbott]

If it's Clemens I wouldn't be surprised, as Canseco named him in his book as likely one who took steroids, based on his build and still having power into his 40's. There is another power pitcher in the AL who has lasted a long time and I am suspicious of him because he fits the profile as described by Canseco of pitchers who are on steroids.

 

Canseco also said Tejada. It's quite possible since he was hot earlier in the season and is a team mate of those notorious cheating Orioles Palmeiro and Soso. Tejada has cooled off a lot lately. It's quite possible that he got the results a while ago9 ala Palmeiro, and stop taking them.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

If it's Clemens I wouldn't be surprised, as Canseco named him in his book as likely one who took steroids, based on his build and still having power into his 40's. There is another power pitcher in the AL who has lasted a long time and I am suspicious of him because he fits the profile as described by Canseco of pitchers who are on steroids.

 

 

After reading that the first person that came to mind is Randy Johnson.

[yankeessuck013]

I don't think RJ takes them, but that's not to say that I wouldn't be surprised

[Sizzlin22]

This is spinning out of control, we've got speculation, posotive tests, yada yada yada. I don't even want to hear the word steroids untill I get some names that have been tested positive by Major League Baseball.

[26 to 6]

posted this in the texas/ny game thread but I'll sya it again

 

Uh-oh....Michael Kay just announced that MLB has released a statement that two more names will be released within the next two days relating to failing the MLB steroid testing.

 

One in the NL, One in the AL....Both are big names.

 

One of the names according to Kay will "Crush you" and "Bring baseball to it's knees".

 

This is NOT GOOD baseball fans........

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that the NL name is going to be the "Big Name" as Kay put it.

 

Pure speculation, but I think it's Clemens.........

I hope not...i can truthfully say that tears will be flowing from my eyes if Roger tests positive. I love Roger and always have, even when he was in Boston. I remember my first Yankee game back in '91, Roger pitched a spectacuar game, shutting out the Yankees and since then he has always been my favorite pitcher. I practically idolize Roger Clemens, iI cant imagine how i would feel if he tests positive.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Yeah 26-6, If he does that will be a HUGE blow to MLB. It would be insane if he did. He's like the most famous pitcher ever, something like that would just kill it for me.

[CalvnHobs6]

I hope not...i can truthfully say that tears will be flowing from my eyes if Roger tests positive. I love Roger and always have, even when he was in Boston. I remember my first Yankee game back in '91, Roger pitched a spectacuar game, shutting out the Yankees and since then he has always been my favorite pitcher. I practically idolize Roger Clemens, iI cant imagine how i would feel if he tests positive.

 

He's always been my favorite as well, even while on the Yankees. If Clemens tests positive, I don't know what I'd do with myself.

[RedSoxRooter]

You have to think that if 50 people tested positive, and the tests are random, and there are only 30 teams, that some players from Boston and NY (well, almost every team) have to be involved.

[yankeessuck013]

ehhh, hope its no one good already if there is someone from the sox maybe its bellhorn or cora

[yankeessuck013]

You have to think that if 50 people tested positive, and the tests are random, and there are only 30 teams, that some players from Boston and NY (well, almost every team) have to be involved.

 

"The steroid rumor mill has been spinning out of control. More than 50 players tested positive, one megastar. Clubhouse talk. Maybe it's only a dozen, but there's a bigger name than Rafael Palmeiro. That's what's going around. "

 

so it may not be 50, but gammons thinks it is

[bobby jr]

In a way it is bad to speculate, but on the other hand how can one resist thinking about who will be the next big name to be caught for taking steroids. And I have a suspiciion that if strict outside testing is imposed by Congress next year, there will be a huge leap in the number of players who are caught. Because blood tests would detect HGH, which the present program does not.

 

Some players may have merely switched to HGH after they could no longer take steroids, esp. if they were not hitting (or pitching) well in April and May, then they realized their career and reputation would be in jeapordy if they didn't take somethiing.

 

This is what I think happened to Raffy Palmeiro, he was terrible in April, hitting about .200 with no power, and I think he decided to take a chance rather than go out hitting a buck fifty and people saying he was nothing without steroids. The mistake he made was going back on steroids, if he would have switched to HGH he probably wouldn't have been caught.

 

But I am glad he was caught, I don't like cheaters and I hope the Orioles release him.

[26 to 6]

so when are names supposed to be announced, havent heard ANYTHING concerning steroids so far today.

[TalkYank]

This does not surprise me at all with all the talks going around. I'm sure there is more than 50 out there though...

[example1]

Maybe its just Clemens and Sosa. That would be enough for me, it would cover "big" names and it wouldn't bother me too much. I had a poster of Roger growing up, and I don't think that he used during his first 10 years or so, but the resurgance is a little bit weird. He always had a great work ethic though, so I suppose its unfair to think he did steroids. Who else could "bring you to your knees?" Varitek would be absolutely devistating. So would Manny. Vlad would be surprising, but devistating as well.

 

I'm just trying to think of AL mega stars who would be hard for MLB to deal with having taken steroids...

Manny, Schilling (Oh, please NO), Vlad, Ortiz, ARod, Mariano Rivera, Jeter (THAT would be horrible), Sheffield (already suspect), Sosa (wouldn't be too much of a shock), Tejada, Beltre, Sexton, Pudge, Frank Thomas (because it would immediately bring the entire 90's into question), Johan Santana???

 

I think any of those guys would be a horrible mark on baseball. Are there others who I'm forgetting that might fit into that list? Renteria, Ichiro, Matsui, I guess.

 

I hope NONE of the above listed players falls into that category, but I'm afraid that if its a "mega star" its gonna have to be one of those players. YIKES!!

[26 to 6]

i doubt Ichiro or Matsui are using, Matsui has always been a big hitter, even when he was a skinny kid starting out with the Yomiuri Giants. And from what I know, steroids are pretty much NEVER talked about over there. If a japanese player (i mean one who was established, not one who came oevr after struggling there, i.e. the Mac Suzuki's of the world, even though he is no longer i nAmerican Affiliated baseball) tested positive i would be more than shocked. I couldnt even find the word to describe the state that I would be in.

 

I wonder if there is a list of all the people who have tested positive so far this year. I know that there have been about 20 Major Leaguers (40 Man or 25 Man roster) and over 100 minor leaguers.

[bobby jr]

Ok I can't resist. I am not sure about Matusi but I read rumors on the Yankee board that he was smaller earlier this year and his power was gone too. Then his HR power returned, kind of like Giambi only not to the same degree. So the profile would fit of someone who went back on the juice. This is the pattern of Raffy in Baltimore, he was bad early in the year but came on strong after April, now we know why.

 

Sosa, I doubt it. He is hitting .230 if he was on steroids before he is off them this year.

 

 

Andrew Jones of the Braves, he looked huge when the Braves faced the O's this year he hit a HR over the center field wall that reminded me of the juiced HR Giambi hit off Pedro Martinez in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. As soon as I saw that I thought "steroids".

 

Of course these speculations are usually wrong, but given what we already know one cannot help but wonder when the revelations will come and who will be the next big name.

[MC Hammer]

I'm just trying to think of AL mega stars who would be hard for MLB to deal with having taken steroids...

Manny, Schilling (Oh, please NO), Vlad, Ortiz, ARod, Mariano Rivera, Jeter (THAT would be horrible), Sheffield (already suspect), Sosa (wouldn't be too much of a shock), Tejada, Beltre, Sexton, Pudge, Frank Thomas (because it would immediately bring the entire 90's into question), Johan Santana???

We could go on naming people for the next 5 years. Fact of the matter is, we have no idea. It's actually worse that MLB hasn't released the names simply because we're going to be speculating and possibly throwing out names of people that don't deserve it, until they are released.

 

I don't think Sosa has been caught simply because he is still about 1/10th the size he was last year, and has yet to gain any power back. So as much as Sosa seems like an obvious answer I don't think he is. The only name I really see on your list that I could see testing positive is Sheffield. Just because we all know he already used steroids in the past, so why not again.

 

MLB should release the names the day they test positive. I don't care what appeal processes they have to go through or whatever, the league shouldn't be protecting cheaters in any way.

[ARod2212]

Matsui started out hot, then started trying to hit homeruns. It was obvious by watching his swing, he was lunging at the ball and trying to pull everything. Pitchers stayed away and they were successful against him. He hurt his ankle making a diving catch, and he was forced to stay back on the ball more and started driving it again.

 

Nothing to do with steroids, all mechanics.

 

 

Dollars to doughnuts, it's a Latin ballplayer.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Well, I am very anxious to see who these Meganames are. But some of the names mentioned earlier I have a hard time seeing...

 

Clemens, I would be EXTREMELY shocked if one of the names was him. I saw "The Season: Clemens chases 300" on ESPN last year (maybe two years ago) and I saw his workout regimen, and since then I have always viewed him as super hard worker. And when the steroid speculations came around, he would be the last guy I would guess to take steroids.

 

A-Rod, I would be shocked, just not as much as Clemens. I saw something on him as well and it showed his workout regimen also and he works hard. He is not on my "possible user list", but again, these names are supposed to be ones that "bring baseball to its knees" so you never know.

 

RJ, I would say no because of his build.

 

When I heard a meganame, this name came to my head (but I DON'T think he did at all but like a crippling effect sort of like what happened with Kobe Bryant) is Derek Jeter, again I DO NOT IN ANYWAY THINK HE DID, JUST SPECULATING

 

Johan Santana would really floor me, I personally would be saddened if it was him, I really like to watch dominating pitchers pitch.

 

Schilling would bug me tremendously and maybe the most of anyone, but I don't think he did, he has morals and like I said, I like to watch pitching.

[BariNoVa]

I saw speculation elsewhere that one of the names is David Ortiz, which is what sent me running here to see what you people were talking about.... lordy, I hope not....