Do You Believe Albert Pujols?

[BoSox21]

"We're in this era where people want to judge other people," Pujols says. "And that's so sad." He would like to leave it with those three words—that's so sad—but then people might wonder.

 

So he continues: "But it's like I always say, 'Come and test me. Come and do whatever you want.' Because you know what? There is something more important to me—my relationship with Jesus Christ and caring about others. More than this baseball. This baseball is nothing to me."

 

He stops cold. He shakes his head. Those words don't do him any good either. This is more of the uncompromising math of 2009: The more he denies, the less people will believe him.

 

This is the uneasy state of the new baseball hero. Albert Pujols knows he cannot prove to people that he has never used steroids. He knows that there will always be doubters. "Let's say I retire 15 years from now," he says. "They're going to say, 'Well, he probably did it back then. He just didn't get caught.' I know that's what they're going to say. And you know what, man? It is sad, but at the same time, it doesn't matter. I know who I am. I don't care."

 

The Power to Believe - by Joe Posnanski of SI

 

So, do you believe him?

[Keeper]

Not for a second. One of the more obvious cheaters, IMO.

[BoSox21]

And what's your reasoning?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Not for a second. One of the more obvious cheaters' date=' IMO.[/quote']

 

Based on what? The overwhelming physical and verbal evidence?

 

Or based on, you know, absolutely nothing?

[Keeper]

Based on how overwhelmingly, ridiculously good he's been throughout his entire career. Like someone else we know who now wears pinstripes.

[BoSox21]

Suspected steroid users tend to have numbers that spike all of a sudden for no apparent reason. Pujols has been incredibly consistent with his numbers for his entire career and if you read the article, he's been the same for his entire baseball life.

 

Regardless of what era we're in, it isn't fair to accuse whoever hits over 20 homers of being a steroid user

[Keeper]

Agree to disagree on this one fellas.

[Keeper]

And if you want to get psychological, I remember a few years ago Pujols said that Bonds deserved to win the MVP over him. It obviously didn't bother Pujols that everyone knew Bonds was taking HGH at the time. But no, he deserved it.

 

If I had been Pujols and I was clean, I would have been like, "f*** no he shouldn't get it!"

[Dojji]

But you're not Pujols. And maybe Pujols really believes that no matter how you get the numbers, the numbers should stand on their own. I wouldn't say that had anything to do with Pujols and steroids.

 

I'm more inclined to believe the rumors that Pujols is really 34

[BSN07]

I believe him for now. Wouldn't shock me is it comes out he did.

 

 

Give him credit for coming out and making a statement. All of the other guys don't do anything until they get caught.

[BoSox21]

If I had been Pujols and I was clean' date=' I would have been like, "f*** no he shouldn't get it!"[/quote']

 

Yea, I'm sure he would've liked the media firestorm that kind of comment would have created

[Keeper]

I didn't mean I would literally put it like that. But that's the essence of what I would be thinking.

[BoSox21]

I guess if you were a professional athlete, you'd probably better understand the pitfalls of saying someone who hasn't tested positive or been charged with anything doesn't deserve an award over you

 

Just look at how much s*** Papelbon is getting right now from the national media for his comments about Manny, and he's gonna be asked about them for months now

[msubulldogs21]

I actually do believe Pujols. And coming from me, that's saying something considering how much I loathe the Cardinals. But for as much as I hate their team, I can't help but like Albert. I mean, anyone could've been on 'roids and if Pujols' name came out that he did I would be a little bummed out, but there's no one you can say you're 100% sure he didn't do it.

[BoSox21]

Only Pujols himself knows 100% if he's never taken steroids. And even then, maybe he drank one of those shakes Ortiz drank growing up in the DR where he didn't know what might have been in them.

 

But whatever, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt cause there isn't any of the statistical anomalies usually associated with steroid users during his career.

[example1]

I'm not going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm going to suspend judgment.

 

I think his entire career looks like he could have been using something, but there is no proof. I'm holding out the same judgement from Manny and Ortiz as well. I certainly wouldn't get on anyone for suggesting that he did. I'm much more likely to get on someone for defending him in this era. There were too many defenders of A-Rod with egg on their face now to take that type of defense seriously. It is very, very sad.

[BoSox21]

It never would have shocked me if Manny tested positive cause if he got suspended, I really don't think he cared and his public perception has already gone to s***. Ortiz wouldn't shock me all that much since I could see him using to prove the Twins wrong about letting him go.

 

Pujols would shock me though cause he's been a hitting prodigy for as long as he's played baseball and he seems like a person with exceptionally strong morals. A-Rod never has been a person with very strong morals.

[msubulldogs21]

Pujols would shock me though cause he's been a hitting prodigy for as long as he's played baseball and he seems like a person with exceptionally strong morals. A-Rod never has been a person with very strong morals.

 

Yeah, I would agree with that. A-Rod has always been a bit shady. Pujols on the other hand is a legitimately good guy, which is why I actually believe what he says. But like I said earlier, there's no one you can definitively say didn't 'roid - I'm just choosing to believe Pujols until proven otherwise. If it did come out that he was using, it would look much, much worse for the game IMO, since he's got such a good image.

[example1]

Pujols would shock me though cause he's been a hitting prodigy for as long as he's played baseball

 

...same with Manny...

 

and he seems like a person with exceptionally strong morals. A-Rod never has been a person with very strong morals.

 

Pettitte was a person with exceptionally strong morals and he did it.

 

Aside from Jose Canseco, there is 100% incentive to never, ever admit to having used steroids... no matter how good the morals of the person.

[BoSox21]

...same with Manny...

 

Pettitte was a person with exceptionally strong morals and he did it.

 

Aside from Jose Canseco, there is 100% incentive to never, ever admit to having used steroids... no matter how good the morals of the person.

 

I really wouldn't consider Manny to be a person of integrity and with strong morals.

 

Pettitte being named in the Mitchell Report shocked me just like if it ever gets out that Pujols used, it would shock me.

[example1]

I just don't see how you could be shocked by anyone anymore.

[BoSox21]

It's like coaches getting fired. It happens all the time but it still shocks me from time to time depending who it is. If a guy comes out and so vehemently denies using steroids but then gets caught, it shocks me. Palmeiro getting caught shocked me.

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah, I believe him. Obviously I wouldn't be surprised if he used, but it would be nice for the best player of our era to be clean. So maybe it's more of a hope.

[Teddyballgame10]

Yeah' date=' I would agree with that. A-Rod has always been a bit shady. Pujols on the other hand is a legitimately good guy, which is why I actually believe what he says. But like I said earlier, there's no one you can definitively say didn't 'roid - I'm just choosing to believe Pujols until proven otherwise. If it did come out that he was using, it would look much, much worse for the game IMO, since he's got such a good image.[/quote']

 

I agree with this. If it came out he was baseball would be shot to s***. I feel like people where happy A-Rod got nailed. Pujols on the other hand seems like a like-able guy. I wouldn't be shocked if it came out though because he, like A-Rod, is a physical freak. I'm going to take his word though because he does seem like a stand up guy. I could be wrong though. I doubt Manny is on the juice just because he is all about his swing. He isn't exactly the most athletic person I've ever seen. If he is on roids he is doing something wrong.

[BoSox21]

So what's worse for baseball? A-Rod or Pujols getting caught? A-Rod is much more mainsteam than Pujols but Pujols has a better image

 

I'd say A-Rod simply because he probably is the most mainsteam baseball player out there aside from Jeter. A-Rod testing positive was news on TMZ and places like that. Pujols testing positive wouldn't get past the sports sites and sports pages

[26 to 6]

f*** no I don't believe Pujols. He's 38 and took mad steroids for years. And 2001 wasn't his first year in the bigs, he actually debuted in 1996 under a different name for another team, believed to be in the AL West (Probably the A's). He wasn't tendered a contract, started juicing, and eventually signed with the Cardinals. It's the truth I tell ya!

[rician blast]

Suspected steroid users tend to have numbers that spike all of a sudden for no apparent reason. Pujols has been incredibly consistent with his numbers for his entire career and if you read the article, he's been the same for his entire baseball life.

 

But what if guys like him were doing it right from the get-go? Coanseco, who has been proven right again and again, says ARod was introduced to 'roids back in high school. I think that's entirely possible...these guys who ripped from day one and continue to rip just might have used from the start and still be using now.

[Dipre]

But what if guys like him were doing it right from the get-go? Coanseco' date=' who has been proven right again and again, says ARod was introduced to 'roids back in high school. I think that's entirely possible...these guys who ripped from day one and continue to rip just might have used from the start and still be using now.[/quote']

 

But if you you take into consideration that both the Mitchell Report and Canseco have been 100% right in their accusations against players, isn't it worth something that Pujols' name has never, ever been mentioned unless it's unfounded accusations by fans and maybe some media members?

 

There is no evidence of him using, and until some shows up, he's innocent, and isn't that the "American Way"?

[rician blast]

But if you you take into consideration that both the Mitchell Report and Canseco have been 100% right in their accusations against players, isn't it worth something that Pujols' name has never, ever been mentioned unless it's unfounded accusations by fans and maybe some media members?

 

There is no evidence of him using, and until some shows up, he's innocent, and isn't that the "American Way"?

 

Good point...perhaps I'll let the juicer slide for now.

[TheKilo]

And what's your reasoning?

 

Cubs fan