a700hitter

Round is a shape.

It was random testing. I don't think everyone got tested, so there were probably lots more. Percentage-wise, I think that the users were probably in the minority. Even with the big money at stake, I think some guys had to be smart enough to have health concerns.

Welcome aboard. I haven't seen any posts from him lately, but we did have at least one other poster from Texas.

As do we, which is why I like Curt. He's genuinely a fan of the game. Many, many players are not.

Those Texas teams had some group: Juan Gone, Raffy Palmiero, IRod, Ruben Sierra, Caminiti, Velarde.

It looks like number three is a winner and that there will be tears.

From Curt Schilling's blog he says that all 104 names should be made public: http://38pitches.weei.com/ I agree with him. I had been thinking about full disclosure of the list before Schilling posted it on his blog. The Union should meet with the players and recommend a full disclosure of the list of offenders. If they do this in one fell swoop, the number of marginal players and non stars will probably overwhelm the number of star players. Listing all the names will have the effect of forcing the attention of the press to be dispersed. The stars that are caught up in this would not have the 24/7 coverage that ARod is getting. The fan and press focus will not be as intense for anyone star player. In a couple of Weeks or months, the conclusion will be that roid use was widespread. The stars did it as well as the bench warmers. If everyone was doing it, people will realize that the playing field was more level than they had thought. If the Union tries to suppress this information, the result will be a continuing circus where periodically a star's name will be leaked out. This reminds me of when free agency was in its inception. At that time, Charlie Finley proposed that every player be a free agent every year. The other owners, who were hanging on to the ghost of the reserve clause opposed him, and the union was happy to agree to a limited number of free agents each year. The result was that the limited number of Free Agents drove up their value and inflated pay scales enormously. If each player had become a free agent every season, the economic principles of supply and demand would have been more effective at controlling pay scale growth. The owners were too stupid to realize that they were slitting their own throats by limiting FA. Here the Union is stubbornly protecting this information. In reality what are they protecting? We all think that everyone was doing the stuff anyway. Releasing the information might have the effect of somewhat exonerating some players. The owners and the union should be looking to put this behind them. Periodic leaks of stars names will be no good for the Union, the players, or the owners.

It's like speeding in an automobile. Everybody does it, but it's only a crime for those who get caught. All the speculation means nothing. It only matters for the unlucky ones named in an MLB report or if they are otherwise publicly exposed. But for this leak, the press, with the cooperation of MLB and the Players Union, would have been marketing a "clean" ARod as he broke every record.

It will be like throwing fresh meat to the lions.

So, you were carefully examining the picture too?

Maybe all of them did it, or maybe none of them did it. There really is no basis to suspect these guys more than anyone else. Yes, some of them got big, but they all got big during that era, even the backup middle infielders. Unless, we've seen pictures of them with needles in their arms or of their raisin-sized testicles, it's just speculation. After learning about Orza tipping off ARod, I am convinced more now than before that most of it ended after 2003. Couple the heads up from the union with the BALCO prosecution and lots of guys got skinny coming into camp in 2004--- e.g. IRod, Giambi.

I am glad that I am not the only one who thought: "careful with the wrist big guy!" Fans... we are a little bit sick.

I remember that differently. When he attempted his comeback at age 40, he was bragging about his low body fat %, but he couldn't make it back because he was too slow. He had a hugely over-developed upper body during his playing days-- lots of cuts.

I thought that you were kidding, but I couldn't pass on the opportunity to post about Teddy Ballgame.

They had different body types to start. If they hadn't roided, they would have had even a higher percentage of body fat.

My point is that myths are always false. If Pujols used steroids, it should not invalidate or diminish the good things he has done with his life. He's human... a very good and extremely talented human, but a human nonetheless. The same people that help create myths will try to completely tear down that person when the myth explodes. I am not saying that he used. The only thing I know for sure is he is not the perfect person that he is portrayed to be in the press. No one is. As Robin Williams said in a comedy bit, there is some guy who sits in a bar in India and says "I knew Ghandi. He was a prick." No one is perfect. The fact that they are not perfect should not invalidate the good things about their lives.

The fall from legendary staus makes a very loud thud. No one is perfect. Legends are created by the press. Unfortunately, too many people believe the myths.