400 replies to this topic

[SBTarheel]

Wow, I can't believe people think he didn't. I'm done in this thread, not worth it. To each their own.

He didn't what? You're saying he was using steroids this season and didn't get caught despite being tested three times a week? 

[You Play to Win the Game]

He didn't what? You're saying he was using steroids this season and didn't get caught despite being tested three times a week?

I mean seriously, i'm not going to continue, it's just not worth it. I respect you too much, and I hate A-Rod and everything he stands for so much that I can't not be an asshole, so best to just leave it be. Not like it matters anyway.

[SBTarheel]

I mean seriously, i'm not going to continue, it's just not worth it. I respect you too much, and I hate A-Rod and everything he stands for so much that I can't not be an asshole, so best to just leave it be. Not like it matters anyway.

Fair enough. 

 

I don't think you're being an asshole at all, for the record. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

Fair enough. 
 
I don't think you're being an asshole at all, for the record.

Well, in that case, simply put, my stance is that the one thing he's been better at than hitting in his career is masking usage. Like I said, he tested positive once in his whole career, and that was in 2003, when the results were promised to be kept concealed, and when there were no consequences. Ever since then, he's been mixed up in scandal, but again, never tested positive. Bottom line, the he didn't test positive this year, so he didn't cheat logic just doesn't do it for me. That said, I shouldn't act like what I believe is fact either. It's my opinion, based on a lot of anecdotal evidence over a long period of time. But it isn't necessarily fact. Neither of us know.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Yea but he's been caught twice.  So it's not like he was using a bunch of drugs and never got caught.

 

I hate Arod, but considering he was tested three times a week, I feel pretty comfortable in stating that he wasn't using this year.

 

Whatever.  

[SBTarheel]

Well, in that case, simply put, my stance is that the one thing he's been better at than hitting in his career is masking usage. Like I said, he tested positive once in his whole career, and that was in 2003, when the results were promised to be kept concealed, and when there were no consequences. Ever since then, he's been mixed up in scandal, but again, never tested positive. Bottom line, the he didn't test positive this year, so he didn't cheat logic just doesn't do it for me. That said, I shouldn't act like what I believe is fact either. It's my opinion, based on a lot of anecdotal evidence over a long period of time. But it isn't necessarily fact. Neither of us know.

So is it safe to say that you think that steroid usage is still rampant in MLB?

[You Play to Win the Game]

Not necessarily steroid use... but PED's... absolutely. I firmly believe the adjusted run environment has almost everything to do with better pitching talent and manipulation of the baseball's.

[SBTarheel]

Not necessarily steroid use... but PED's... absolutely.

Fair enough. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

I dunno. I look back on the HR totals in, say, 2000 and it's a complete joke.  Complete jokers were hitting 40 HR like it was nothing.

 

In 2000, 47 players hit at least 30 HR.  This year, there were 20.  I think that it's more than just better pitchers and manipulating the baseballs, which is something I haven't even really read much about.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Brad Fullmer hit 32 HR in 2000.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I'd be curious to see what others thought. Maybe I'm just being ridiculous and overly skeptical.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I certainly won't be talked out of not understanding how a guy like ARod gets any benefit of the doubt at this point though.

[Pedro Cerrano]

For me it's two fold:  1) I don't really have any proof about steroids still being rampant and 2) we STILL don't know how much of an impact they had -- although my previous example about HRs from 2000 would suggest possibly quite a bit.

[SBTarheel]

I'd be curious to see what others thought. Maybe I'm just being ridiculous and overly skeptical.

I think your "hatred" for A Rod is clouding your ability to be objective in this particular case. 

 

Yes, he's been an ass in the past, yes, he's been the poster boy on how NOT to handle controversy...etc

 

But no, that doesn't mean he was using this season simply because he put up decent numbers. And for the record, he was pretty terrible in the second half. 

 

My two cents. No right or wrong. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

How much does he make next year?  

[SBTarheel]

How much does he make next year?  

$20 Mil. 

[mweb08]

The cheaters are always ahead of the testers.

That said, it'd be quite the risk for him to be using now.

[Pedro Cerrano]

He's banned for life and forfeits the rest of his deal if caught right?

[mweb08]

As far as the effects of steroids, I think that's likely overblown as I feel like there have been other factors in the decrease in scoring including the banning of amphetamines, the potential changing of the balls, and possibly a shift in the talent distribution around the league. Oh, and pitchers used abundantly as well.

Plus, I still think they're in the game.

[bnickle]

The cheaters are always ahead of the testers.

That said, it'd be quite the risk for him to be using now.

Hes 40. Who cares. He knows his reputation is beyond tarnished anyway. Gun to my head, I'm saying he's on something. The question is how much of it is illegal. Has MLB given him any exemptions to take stuff like TRT.