A-Rod's troubles

[DaleC76]

What you're seeing is still a bit refreshing, because he's not dodging the questions or blaming anyone but himself. How many other times do we see an athlete on the hot spot still be in denial or outright lying even when confronted with concrete evidence? Kobe? Roger? Barry?

Yeah, but he's still coming clean AFTER being caught, so he's not exactly my new honesty role model.


An interesting tidbit:

A-Rod's slugging percentage during 2001-2003 is .615, while for the rest of his career it's .566. That's quite a disparity. Of course, he's still capable of great years like '96 or '07, but drugs make it easier and more likely for a great athlete to be great.

 

[Neroon]

Hey, I'm not holding up to my kids as an example of class behavior. It's simply a refreshing change to see someone that insistent when caught that they themselves are to blame. They are, and nobody else. You just don't see that very much at all.

Might as well look at all of his stats, though:

Year  	Team  	Avg  	G  	AB  	R  	H  	2B  	3B  	HR  	RBI  	BB  	K  	OBP  	SLG  	OPS
1994  	SEA  	0.204  	17  	54  	4  	11  	0  	0  	0  	2  	3  	20  	0.241  	0.204  	0.445 
1995  	SEA  	0.232  	48  	142  	15  	33  	6  	2  	5  	19  	6  	42  	0.264  	0.408  	0.672 
1996  	SEA  	0.358  	146  	601  	141  	215  	54  	1  	36  	123  	59  	104  	0.414  	0.631  	1.045 
1997  	SEA  	0.300  	141  	587  	100  	176  	40  	3  	23  	84  	41  	99  	0.350  	0.496  	0.846 
1998  	SEA  	0.310  	161  	686  	123  	213  	35  	5  	42  	124  	45  	121  	0.360  	0.560  	0.919 
1999  	SEA  	0.285  	129  	502  	110  	143  	25  	0  	42  	111  	56  	109  	0.357  	0.586  	0.943 
2000  	SEA  	0.316  	148  	554  	134  	175  	34  	2  	41  	132  	100  	121  	0.420  	0.606  	1.026 
2001  	TEX  	0.318  	162  	632  	133  	201  	34  	1  	52  	135  	75  	131  	0.399  	0.622  	1.021 
2002  	TEX  	0.300  	162  	624  	125  	187  	27  	2  	57  	142  	87  	122  	0.392  	0.623  	1.015 
2003  	TEX  	0.298  	161  	607  	124  	181  	30  	6  	47  	118  	87  	126  	0.396  	0.600  	0.995 
2004  	NYY  	0.286  	155  	601  	112  	172  	24  	2  	36  	106  	80  	131  	0.375  	0.512  	0.888 
2005  	NYY  	0.321  	162  	605  	124  	194  	29  	1  	48  	130  	91  	139  	0.421  	0.610  	1.031 
2006  	NYY  	0.290  	154  	572  	113  	166  	26  	1  	35  	121  	90  	139  	0.392  	0.523  	0.914 
2007  	NYY  	0.314  	158  	583  	143  	183  	31  	0  	54  	156  	95  	120  	0.422  	0.645  	1.067 
2008  	NYY  	0.302  	138  	510  	104  	154  	33  	0  	35  	103  	65  	117  	0.392  	0.573  	0.965

I'm not so sure the slugging pct is an indictment, at least by itself.

 

[SmoothieX]

I don't care what guys are or aren't on. I just want to see an entertaining 9 innings of baseball when I tune in.

 

[DaleC76]

Hey, I'm not holding up to my kids as an example of class behavior. It's simply a refreshing change to see someone that insistent when caught that they themselves are to blame. They are, and nobody else. You just don't see that very much at all.

Might as well look at all of his stats, though:

Year      Team      Avg      G      AB      R      H      2B      3B      HR      RBI      BB      K      OBP      SLG      OPS
1994      SEA      0.204      17      54      4      11      0      0      0      2      3      20      0.241      0.204      0.445 
1995      SEA      0.232      48      142      15      33      6      2      5      19      6      42      0.264      0.408      0.672 
1996      SEA      0.358      146      601      141      215      54      1      36      123      59      104      0.414      0.631      1.045 
1997      SEA      0.300      141      587      100      176      40      3      23      84      41      99      0.350      0.496      0.846 
1998      SEA      0.310      161      686      123      213      35      5      42      124      45      121      0.360      0.560      0.919 
1999      SEA      0.285      129      502      110      143      25      0      42      111      56      109      0.357      0.586      0.943 
2000      SEA      0.316      148      554      134      175      34      2      41      132      100      121      0.420      0.606      1.026 
2001      TEX      0.318      162      632      133      201      34      1      52      135      75      131      0.399      0.622      1.021 
2002      TEX      0.300      162      624      125      187      27      2      57      142      87      122      0.392      0.623      1.015 
2003      TEX      0.298      161      607      124      181      30      6      47      118      87      126      0.396      0.600      0.995 
2004      NYY      0.286      155      601      112      172      24      2      36      106      80      131      0.375      0.512      0.888 
2005      NYY      0.321      162      605      124      194      29      1      48      130      91      139      0.421      0.610      1.031 
2006      NYY      0.290      154      572      113      166      26      1      35      121      90      139      0.392      0.523      0.914 
2007      NYY      0.314      158      583      143      183      31      0      54      156      95      120      0.422      0.645      1.067 
2008      NYY      0.302      138      510      104      154      33      0      35      103      65      117      0.392      0.573      0.965

I'm not so sure the slugging pct is an indictment, at least by itself.

I think slugging percentage is one of the best indicators of batting power we have, and presumably where the drug usage would show the most. A 50 point difference is very interesting, I think.

 

[Timby]

What you're seeing is still a bit refreshing, because he's not dodging the questions or blaming anyone but himself.

Really?

When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day.

Back then, it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know, being one of the greatest players of all time.

The culture in baseball is the same today as it was in 2001, and Rodriguez knows that. He's only sorry that he got caught. What's the old adage? "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. And if you don't get caught, you ain't cheating."

There's also his answer of "that's pretty accurate" when asked if his drug use took place between 2001 and 2003. "Pretty accurate" is an interesting way of answering such a straightforward question.

 

[RAMA]

Hey, I'm not holding up to my kids as an example of class behavior. It's simply a refreshing change to see someone that insistent when caught that they themselves are to blame. They are, and nobody else. You just don't see that very much at all.

Might as well look at all of his stats, though:
[/code]I'm not so sure the slugging pct is an indictment, at least by itself.

The culture in baseball is the same today as it was in 2001, and Rodriguez knows that. He's only sorry that he got caught. What's the old adage? "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. And if you don't get caught, you ain't cheating."

His best seasons occurred when he was supposedly NOT on steroids. Interesting eh?

Random steroid tests are given twice a year now.

RAMA

 

[RAMA]

I changed my body from an overweight big guy to a bodybuilder without them. It IS also possible a lot of these guys did the same.

RAMA

But we aren't talking about them...we're talking about those who DID use steroids.

They should be exposed, fined heavily, and banned for life. They should lose all championchip or other titles, and be permanently ineligible for the Hall of Fame.

If they are NOT held to that standard, then MLB has NO integrity.

That's just silly, even when athletes do cocaine they get away with a choice of treatment and multiple warnings and punishments. Its the same knee-jerk stupidity they used in 1991--despite a lack of evidence that steroids caused many of the health detriments--that steroids were banned in the first place. To this day you'd be hard pressed to find any legitimate scientist who would go forth and support claims of "roid rage" or that it causes death.

According the Centers for Disease Control, between the years 1990-1994 an average of 430,700 people died annually from smoking. The same report, when speaking of anabolic steroids states, "There is little evidence to show that their use will cause long term detriment."

According information supplied by one or more of the following between 1984-2000: The Statistical Abstract of the US Dept. of Commerce, The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Center, The International Classification of Disease; The NationalCenter for Health Statistics; The Mental Health Administration; The HumanResource Services of the US; The Consumer Product Safety Commission and The Accident Safety Council:

Deaths from:

Heroin, Cocaine, PCP, Marijuana, LSD: 26,000
Alcohol related 138,000
Firearms 36,000
Boating 1,000
Antibiotics 80
Analgesics and Antiheumation 900
Barbiturates 200
Amphetamines 300
Tranquilizers 90

Steroids: 0

How many of the others are banned?

RAMA

 

[DaleC76]

^^ Does that mean you think steroids are safe and should be allowed in sports?

 

[SmoothieX]

The culture in baseball is the same today as it was in 2001, and Rodriguez knows that. He's only sorry that he got caught.

Yeah but generally people are only sorry once they've been caught. Do you ever walk into a police station and give them $100 and tell them, "Sorry, I was doing 85 in the highway the other day. Here you go."

 

[gblews]

A-Rod's admissions are further proof that Major League Baseball is a complete and utter joke.

 

[Michael Chris]

The MLB is a great thing. It is not a joke. Some of its players are.

 

[Caligula]

Deaths from:

Heroin, Cocaine, PCP, Marijuana, LSD: 26,000

Probably won't find very many (if any) of those 26,000 deaths coming as the result of marijuana use, although I understand its inclusion given that it is an illegal substance.

 

[gblews]

The MLB is a great thing. It is not a joke. Some of its players are.

Several of the MLB's most hallowed records, World Series titles, all tainted by drug use. Hell, some of the titles and records were constructed on drug use. That, my friend, signifies that MLB has become a joke.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

A-Rod's admissions are further proof that Major League Baseball is a complete and utter joke.

The MLB is a great thing. It is not a joke. Some of its players are.

Several of the MLB's most hallowed records, World Series titles, all tainted by drug use. Hell, some of the titles and records were constructed on drug use. That, my friend, signifies that MLB has become a joke.

A-ROID's admission should bar him from any consideration for hall of fame admission.

 

[Neroon]

A-Rod's admissions are further proof that Major League Baseball is a complete and utter joke.

Is it any moreso than the NBA and the NFL, each of which has a myriad of its own problems.

A-ROID's admission should bar him from any consideration for hall of fame admission.

Then there are an awful lot of others you will have to remove from the Hall.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I'm listening to his "press conference" right now and what a load of pure, grade-a bullshit.

"I was young, stupid, and curious" "I didn't even know what I was taking"



All he's doing is holding a presser so that he can say he addressed the past and not take questions about it in the future.

What a douchebag.

 

[Scout101]

Did he admit to taking steroids in that quote, or having a bi-curious moment? What a crock of shit...

 

[Tom Servo]

I LOVED the dramatic pause when he said, I would like to address my teammates...


PAUSE




Thank you.

 

[RAMA]

Bah I just saw a report on his news conference...his home runs aren't tainted at all. He may have hit what, 10-15 home runs more than avg total over 3 years? Silly. Stop apologizing A-rod!!

RAMA

^^ Does that mean you think steroids are safe and should be allowed in sports?

I think I said that already didn't I???? Let me get this straight....anabolic steroids have side effects, they can almost all be mitigated with a few safe precautions. Most people NEVER get the side effects even if they take them incorrectly. However, taken in the correct quantities, and not ABUSED like any other drug the numbers and science SHOW they are safe(and far, far safer than eating burgers and fries every other day). If MLB or other bodies regulated them with doctor supervision I would be all for them if they are used as a supplement.

RAMA

 

[CaptainStoner]

Personally, I feel steroids should be allowed in sports under supervised conditions, and that it should be used as a supplement. Under those circumstances steroids are far less dangerous than eating junk food every day. Tens of millions have died from food related conditions, how many have died from steroids in all of the world over time? Estimates I have seen put it at 100.

RAMA

I find a certain hypocrisy in your position. It's ok to use drugs for something that you believe in - bodybuilding and athletics, but not to operate one's own (sovereign?) mind? Biceps good, consciousness bad? Perhaps you are not aware of the term entheogens, as I in no way defend drug addiction/abuse or using sacred plants and sacraments in a purely secular, "let's get fucked up", kind of way, nor pushing such a decision on anyone else. Anyway, I'm not looking to derail the thread -
I tend to agree with you however. Steroids are a very useful drug in medicine, and utilizing them in a controlled, non-underground way is probably much more realistic in the long run. The current mood of prohibition will not last. Players will use them, ways will be found to defeat drug tests. As long as there are multimillion dollar contracts on the line, anyway.
Want to nick steroids in sports? Salary cap for players: 50,000/year. After all, they're just playing a fucking game for a living. But that would be un-American. We need our baseball Gods.
Supervised and regulated useage, rather than a stupid, "drugs are bad" attitude, is realistically the only thing that can be done here. It's not going away.