Former Sox pitcher Paxton Crawford admits to using juice

[RoyNHSox]

Ever wonder what happened to Paxton Crawford? He had that weird injury with the glass. I also remember him pitching in Nashua for the Pride, and then fell off the map.

 

Interesting new story on ESPN Insider…

During minor league spring training with the Red Sox in 1999, some of the other guys saw I was hurting. They told me that if I took this stuff, it would make the pain go away and cut my recovery time in half. Shoot, why not? I'm just a country boy; I didn't even think twice. It seemed like everybody else was doing it, so it wasn't a big deal, right? But steroids are like any drug: Once you try them and they make you feel good, you're always going to want more.

 

Link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/news/story?id=2492678&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d2492678

 

[yeszir]

and then fell off the map.

 

He also fell off a bed.

 

This is more interesting for the mention of the "other guys." Who could it be?

[Mr Crunchy]

hmmmmn

who else pitched with injury in 1999 then grew a couple hat sizes over the years??

hmmmmmn

[Beckett95]

Former sox pitcher who never turned out to be good. admits steroid and HGH use.

 

Boston.com

Paxton Crawford has always held an infamous place in Red Sox history, after the pitcher fell out of bed and landed on the disabled list (he said he slipped and cut his abdomen). Now, he might play an even more infamous role.

 

In a piece he wrote for this week’s ESPN The Magazine, Crawford admitted to using steroids and HGH while with Boston from 2000-01. Check out a few of his comments, which also seem to shed a controversial light on the Sox clubhouse at that time.

 

“During minor league spring training with the Red Sox in 1999, some of the other guys saw I was hurting,” he writes. “They told me that if I took this stuff, it would make the pain go away and cut my recovery time in half. Shoot, why not? I'm just a country boy; I didn't even think twice.

“I was probably using the most back in 2001, when I made the Red Sox rotation out of spring training. About that time I was getting pretty big, and another player introduced me to human growth hormone, which had started to make the rounds in the majors. I got a kit with two bottles: One was filled with some kind of water, and the other was filled with these tiny crystals. I put a few drops into the crystals and -- poof! -- it became liquid. I thought, Boy, what the hell are you putting into your body? But I did it anyway.

 

“Back in 2001, I thought I was the man. I had no shame, and I thought nobody could touch me. One time, I walked right into the Red Sox clubhouse with a bunch of needles wrapped in a towel and left them on my chair. A few minutes later, one of my teammates came running over, saying, ‘Paxton, someone knocked your chair over and your freaking needles are all over the floor!’ Man, we just died about that. He said it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen, told me I was nuts. But that's the way it was back then.”

 

The 28-year-old Crawford went 5-1 for the Red Sox in 2000 and 2001, but never pitched at the major league level after that. Back problems (which he blames on steroid use) ultimately spelled the end for Crawford, whose career ended in the minor leagues in 2005. According to ESPN The Magazine, he is currently working on his family’s farm in Arkansas.

[yeszir]

Merging threads....

[mtbykr]

The interesting part is the other players in the minors doing it as well!

[Matt]

I'm willing to bet that the majority of professional athletes from around 1995-2004 were taking some sort of steroids or HGH. A lot more than people think anyway. I'm not surprised at all.

[MANNYHOF24]

I bet one of the players he was talking about was Troy Oleary, he had like 3 great years and just like that fell completly of the map

[a700hitter]

It's to the point where it doesn't matter anymore. Apparently, a very large percentage of players were using something, both hitters and pitchers and everyone from scrubs and minor leaguers to the stars. The playing field was even in that regard. The owners and the press were delinquent in letting it go on under their noses. The press takes the position that they could do nothing about it, but that is just BS and a refusal to be held accountable. If the press had shone the light of publicity in a relentless manner, the issue would have come to a head before the 90's were over.

[rician blast]

I bet one of the players he was talking about was Troy Oleary, he had like 3 great years and just like that fell completly of the map

 

I'd agree with this.

 

I've probably been one of the most agressive fans in listing potential users, based on what I've seen. My list includes:

 

Trot

Foulke

Nomar

Tek

Damon

Jetes

O'Neill

Posada

Clemens

 

Pujols

Edmunds

Bagwell

Thome

 

I could go on forever.

[RedSoxRooter]

I could go on forever.

 

Unfortunately, you really could.

[pats55sox45]

wats funny and sad at the same time

the part about the needles dropping all over the floor and everyone supposedly laughing about it

[pats55sox45]

I'd agree with this.

 

I've probably been one of the most agressive fans in listing potential users, based on what I've seen. My list includes:

 

Trot

Foulke

Nomar

Tek

Damon

Jetes

O'Neill

Posada

Clemens

 

Pujols

Edmunds

Bagwell

Thome

 

I could go on forever.

 

you forgot casey fossum and bronson arroyo

[mtbykr]

It's to the point where it doesn't matter anymore. Apparently, a very large percentage of players were using something, both hitters and pitchers and everyone from scrubs and minor leaguers to the stars. The playing field was even in that regard. The owners and the press were delinquent in letting it go on under their noses. The press takes the position that they could do nothing about it, but that is just BS and a refusal to be held accountable. If the press had shone the light of publicity in a relentless manner, the issue would have come to a head before the 90's were over.

 

 

 

Well said!

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Selig is such a farce. He should come right out and say that we're not going to do anything about HGH. NOTHING. I think I'd respect him more if he said that. There is no legitimate test for HGH. NONE. It can only be detected through blood, and even so, people's blood all contain different levels of it anyways. Do you know that no one has EVER tested positive for HGH? Not in sports, not outside of sports. NEVER. There is no reliable test. Even if this whole blood test thing went through, it won't help. You can't test for it, you simply can't.

[Papelbon58]

just like the juiced ball era, we just need to accept that this was an era in baseball that we cannot change, lets just stop it and move on, we do not need to find out who every last user was, that would probable hurt more than it helped the game

[26 to 6]

It's to the point where it doesn't matter anymore. Apparently, a very large percentage of players were using something, both hitters and pitchers and everyone from scrubs and minor leaguers to the stars. The playing field was even in that regard. The owners and the press were delinquent in letting it go on under their noses. The press takes the position that they could do nothing about it, but that is just BS and a refusal to be held accountable. If the press had shone the light of publicity in a relentless manner, the issue would have come to a head before the 90's were over.

 

Hold on just a second. I find this very ironic. Whenever it is revealed or speculated that a Yankee player has or is using steroids you guys, and you especially, jump all over them. ALL OVER THEM! And not only them, the organization. My response has always been "you dont know how many Sox players, past and present have used steroids in the past, or are currently using them." Now when a former Sox player reveals his use, you say it DOESN'T MATTER anymore! That's ridiculous. I agree with your point that it doesnt matter, that's the point i've tried to make for so long, that so many people did it for so long that the fields were even. But please, be consistent. When a Yankee does it you completely villify them, but when a Sox player does it you just brush it off and say it's no big deal. Such hypocracy. Please, would one of you Boston fans f***ing jump on Paxton Crawford (who I actually liked back in the day.) like you do the Yankee steroid users. I realize that Paxton didnt have the success that Giambi or Sheffield (if he did in-fact abuse them like most of you guys believe, rather than just using the cream that once like he claims), but that doesnt take away from the fact that Paxton still used. So please, one of you, show some f***iing consistency and criticize this guy.

[26 to 6]

just like the juiced ball era, we just need to accept that this was an era in baseball that we cannot change, lets just stop it and move on, we do not need to find out who every last user was, that would probable hurt more than it helped the game

I agree. Lets just move forward.

[Mr Crunchy]

want to hear it??

petey

damon

manny alexander

nixon

nomar

millar

in my opinion all juiced at 1 point or another

 

and let me reiterate

i could give a fiddlers f*** what guys who have 10M in the bank do to earn their money and help their teams

[CrespoBlows]

u kno paps? dey did a blood test on him n they realized dat his blood wuz steriods. so dey wanted to suspend him so paps suspended bud selig by his testicles wit a closepin on top of da brooklyn bridge.

[a700hitter]

Hold on just a second. I find this very ironic. Whenever it is revealed or speculated that a Yankee player has or is using steroids you guys, and you especially, jump all over them. ALL OVER THEM! And not only them, the organization. My response has always been "you dont know how many Sox players, past and present have used steroids in the past, or are currently using them." Now when a former Sox player reveals his use, you say it DOESN'T MATTER anymore! That's ridiculous. I agree with your point that it doesnt matter, that's the point i've tried to make for so long, that so many people did it for so long that the fields were even. But please, be consistent. When a Yankee does it you completely villify them, but when a Sox player does it you just brush it off and say it's no big deal. Such hypocracy. Please, would one of you Boston fans f***ing jump on Paxton Crawford (who I actually liked back in the day.) like you do the Yankee steroid users. I realize that Paxton didnt have the success that Giambi or Sheffield (if he did in-fact abuse them like most of you guys believe, rather than just using the cream that once like he claims), but that doesnt take away from the fact that Paxton still used. So please, one of you, show some f***iing consistency and criticize this guy.

Please find me the threads or posts where I ranted about Yankees on steroids. I may have called Giambi HGH boy or Sheffield a juicing cheater, and I would still say that, because I will always put down Yankees. I don't need steroids as an excuse, I call Jeter a Prima Dona and I make fun of ARod's purple lips. So what is the point of your post...that Red Sox fans like Red Sox players and hate Yankee players? Very deep. Thanks for adding nothing to this discussion.

[CrespoBlows]

A-Rod may have purple lips but they still get the job done.

[yankeessuck013]

Ok?

[26 to 6]

Please find me the threads or posts where I ranted about Yankees on steroids. I may have called Giambi HGH boy or Sheffield a juicing cheater, and I would still say that, because I will always put down Yankees. I don't need steroids as an excuse, I call Jeter a Prima Dona and I make fun of ARod's purple lips. So what is the point of your post...that Red Sox fans like Red Sox players and hate Yankee players? Very deep. Thanks for adding nothing to this discussion.

So are admitting that you're a hypocrite?

[a700hitter]

So are admitting that you're a hypocrite?

I'd rather be a hypocrite than Yankee trash. That being said, I am admitting to nothing because you are engaging in a pointless argument. We are discussing the apparent pervasiveness of steroids in baseball and you are fixated on making the point that I make derogatory remarks about Yankee players. Don't you see that your point is completely irrelevant? Once and for all, there is no hypocrisy from me when it comes to the Yankees. I hate everything in pinstripes and everything about anyone that wears or roots for pinstripes. I am totally consistent in that regard.

[26 to 6]

I'd rather be a hypocrite than Yankee trash. That being said, I am admitting to nothing because you are engaging in a pointless argument. We are discussing the apparent pervasiveness of steroids in baseball and you are fixated on making the point that I make derogatory remarks about Yankee players. Don't you see that your point is completely irrelevant? Once and for all, there is no hypocrisy from me when it comes to the Yankees. I hate everything in pinstripes and everything about anyone that wears or roots for pinstripes. I am totally consistent in that regard.

Yes, you're right. I did interrupt a discussion regarding steroids in baseball, but only because it was the perfect opportunity to exploit the fact that you guys are all complete hypocrites. Not one of you guys took it upon yoursleves to bash Paxton Crawford. I would be willing to bet my life that if Alex Graman, or Brandon Knight, or Sterling Hitchcock did what Paxton Crawford did us Yankee fans here at talksox would never hear the end of it. That's all I was trying to do, point out how ridiculous some of you guys can be at times.

 

As for your hatrid for "everything in pinstripes and everything about anyone that wears or roots for pinstripes"; I think it's time for you to find a hobby or something. In other words, get a f***ing life.

[a700hitter]

I would be willing to bet my life that if Alex Graman, or Brandon Knight, or Sterling Hitchcock did what Paxton Crawford did us Yankee fans here at talksox would never hear the end of it. That's all I was trying to do, point out how ridiculous some of you guys can be at times.

Who? I could care less if they took steroid enemas.

As for your hatrid for "everything in pinstripes and everything about anyone that wears or roots for pinstripes"; I think it's time for you to find a hobby or something. In other words, get a f***ing life.

I have a life. Hating the Yankees is just an enjoyable diversion. Are you trying to ruin my fun?

[TheKilo]

It really is a relief that Paxton Crawford, he who won 5 GAMES IN HIS CAREER, has brought such lively discussion.

 

 

In case you haven't noticed, he's out of baseball. He must not have been very good if even taking roids wasn't enough to keep him in the league.

 

Now, how about Sheffield and Giambi? ACTIVE PLAYERS who continue to aid the Yankees' success, even though they are essentially admitted cheaters as well. I'm so relieved that making the comparison to an AAAA pitcher and two guys with 300+ home runs seems so logical at this point in time.

[Beckett95]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2497756

 

How can you say that Jeff Frye used steroids? The guy was 5' 9" 165 lbs.

[yeszir]

It really is a relief that Paxton Crawford, he who won 5 GAMES IN HIS CAREER, has brought such lively discussion.

 

 

In case you haven't noticed, he's out of baseball. He must not have been very good if even taking roids wasn't enough to keep him in the league.

 

Now, how about Sheffield and Giambi? ACTIVE PLAYERS who continue to aid the Yankees' success, even though they are essentially admitted cheaters as well. I'm so relieved that making the comparison to an AAAA pitcher and two guys with 300+ home runs seems so logical at this point in time.

What's significant about Crawford, at least for us, is that this implicates all the members of the 99-01 Red Sox, essentially.