Sammy Sosa Outrage -- Go!

So Sammy Sosa is on the list of those who were caught cheating back when they knew they might get tested. Another victory for the player's union! Way to protect your guys!

But really, the saddest part is that nobody is surprised. And if you think Sammy was likable even back then, there are those who beg to differ.

And remember back in 2002 when Rick Reilly approached Sammy and tried to take him up on his offer that he'd be "the first one in line" to take drug tests if and when it ever came to pass? And how Sammy got all mad at Reilly? (Also, can someone explain to me how Reilly zeroing in on Sosa like this in 2002 was acceptable and yet when a blogger questions Raul Ibanez' whacko stats at age 37 in 2009 he's in the wrong? Shut up, Ken Rosenthal.)

Howard Bryant is one of many who has a sanctimonious column up today that's actually a good read, but still... come on, mainstream media. You've all been complicit in this and just as we all (kind of) agree that the whole era of baseball is tainted by PEDs, I'd have to argue that the whole era of sportswriting is tainted by a-holes like Mike Lupica sitting around lionizing guys who were obviously cheating. And yet they still write articles about how we've all been betrayed. Get off our side of the line, sportswriters -- you're over there with the players. You had access to locker rooms, you heard the whispers, etc. But you feared if you dared comment on it, you'd be expelled from the boy's club and your access would go away. And it probably would have. But that doesn't change the fact that mainstream media missed the boat -- COMPLETELY -- and probably hastened the success, power and acceptance of sports blogs. Chew on that.

And not to quote myself, but I am fairly awesome, as you know... but here's what I said in late 2007 about this topic:

"Unfortunately, I think we're all going to be talking about steroids and other illegal performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) for a while now ... And all the sanctimonious pricks like Mike Lupica who slurped at the altar of McGwire and Sosa back in '98 and then acted all shocked when it turned out they were doped up enough to kill a horse will write condemning articles about baseball players and the sanctity of the game."

So as it turns out, Sammy was a cheater, and he was a liar. When he was caught corking his bat, he quickly did both -- cheated with the cork and lied that it was his... batting practice bat? Seriously, and people sort of wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Add Sammy to the list of known cheaters. And if baseball had any sense, they'd somehow hasten the release of the remaining names on this not-so-anonymous list. I used to think they shouldn't be released because, hey, it was supposed to be anonymous. But that horse has left the barn. In fact, that horse has left the barn, crossed the pasture and his ass his rapidly disappearing over the horizon. Those names are going to come out, one way or another. Obviously, someone has access to them and they're going to be leaked at interesting times. I almost wonder if Sammy's remarks just two weeks ago about his wholesomeness pissed someone off who had the names. Point is, the names should be released, or we're just going to keep hearing about them. Let's just hear 'em all and move on. Oh, and who would shock you at this point? Jeter? Ichiro? Griffey?

In the end, this was a mess that baseball and mainstream media helped create. Everyone was complicit in this, including fans. However, fans questioned much, much more than those who had access questioned -- you just couldn't hear them because blogs weren't much in the late '90s and early '00s. So today we're left with really no way to fix things. Some clowns suggest you eradicate records from the record books. Hall of Fame voters -- yes, those same sportswriters who put Mac and Sosa on the cover of SI in togas -- will be pissy and not let in the current/next crop of suspected/confirmed cheaters. And then there are those who just chalk it up to an "era" and leave it at that. There's no good solution -- baseball is forever changed and not in a good way.

Thanks for "saving" the game, Sammy.

Oh A-Rod

If you're a regular reader, then you know I'm a Yankee loyalist. I grew up there and I doubt I'll ever be able to fully change allegiences. But don't think there aren't times when I truly don't like being a Yankees fan. Like when potentially the greatest player ever turns out to have cheated.

I have no way to defend A-Rod, nor do I wish to.

Do I think that the fact that his name came out is kind of ridiculous? Absolutely. If your union tells you what you're doing is 100% confidential and baseball even agrees that nothing gets done with those sample except to decide whether they should actually think about official testing and penalties, well, then this should have never come out. The union, in fact, had the opportunity and the right to collect the samples and data afterwards and destroy it all. And they obviously should have, but they failed to do that. And in turn, they failed their players -- the people they're supposed to fight for in all aspects. And so if I were A-Rod, I would sue the shit out of the union.

But back to reality. A-Rod cheated. At least once that we know of, which of course means it was more than that. I'm comfortable saying it was at least 1-2 seasons of cheating. Maybe it was more, but that's all I'm comfortable saying for now. And for that, well, what can you do? He took these things when they were not banned in baseball and there were no penalties (or testing) in place. So, no, nothing should be done to him unless he fails one now.

However, this has ruined his legacy. He will forever be known as a cheater, just as Bonds was. And maybe even more so, since Bonds never has failed an official drug test. A-Rod has.

I heard some very good points made by Michael Kay, the Yankees radio voice, this morning. The Yankees just signed ARod last offseason to a 10-year, $300M extension. So there's 9 years and $270M left on it. And he had that kind of value to them because he was going to be the guy who broke all the career home run records. He was going to be the guy who, eventually, everyone loved because he has that great smile and was doing things clean. He was going to erase Barry Bonds from the record books and he was going to do it in a Yankee uniform and in the new Yankee Stadium. And maybe win a few titles along the way.

Now, no matter what happens, A-Rod does not hold that value to the Yankees. Sure, he's still a great player -- let's not even debate that -- but he's no longer going to be able to be the poster boy for "doing it the right way." Ever.

If the Yankees win, say, three more World Series titles in his remaining nine years in New York, then they're probably getting worthwhile value from A-Rod. Otherwise, he's just an expensive reminder of the most embarrassing time in Major League Baseball.

Butt-Buddies In A Whole New Way

Unfortunately, I think we're all going to be talking about steroids and other illegal performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) for a while now. And then it'll die down and then when Spring Training begins in Feb/Mar it'll dial back up again. And all the sanctimonious pricks like Mike Lupica who slurped at the altar of McGwire and Sosa back in '98 and then acted all shocked when it turned out they were doped up enough to kill a horse will write condemning articles about baseball players and the sanctity of the game, while guys like Shawne Merriman continue getting featured in commercials and doing his gay-ass dance after sacks.

However, all that said, I direct you to the outstanding site Fire Joe Morgan to take a look at some of their posts about baseball steroid/PED abusers, specifically Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. They dug up just a couple of old stories about the glory days and clean living of these two and then they follow with their own thoughts. It's quite funny and also sad at the same time to anyone who loves baseball like I do.

Come To Think Of It, Was Roy Hobbs Ever Tested?

It always sucks when this kind of thing happens and this has got to cut like a knife through those who have been out of their mind with giggle-ridden, giddy lust for the handsome man with the powerful stroke. (Damn, that's a gay sentence.)

There are reports out there now that Cards phenom Rick Ankiel ordered and received a twelve-month supply of the banned substance, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) back in 2004. To be fair, HGH was not outlawed by Major League Baseball at that point and that should not be ignored. If it turns out that Rick used HGH back when it wasn't against MLB rules (and, for that matter, when he wasn't even in the majors) and we all still crucify him, that'd be like coming down on someone who drove a motor vehicle at the age of 16 in a state when that was the law but that state now requires you to be 17. The rules were different and you weren't breaking them at the time. Simple as that. Or is it?

It bothers me a little bit that Cards GM Walt Jocketty was quoted as saying: "This is the first I've heard of this. If it's true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we've had happen to us this year."

Really, Walt? He hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. And you'd equate it with one of your young pitchers having a fatal car crash while drunk? Be careful there.

Anyway, the problem with all this is that we are slipping even further down the slope where no matter how pure and good and full of fortitude an athlete seems, we're just one news cycle away from hearing it might have been chemically-enhanced fortitude.

Oh well.

Hug Your Damn Kid, Barry

So it finally happened last night -- Barry hit his 756th home run, making him the all-time home run leader in the history of baseball. Which, no matter how he got there, is pretty incredible.

But the whole circumstance was so surreal and I doubt it was anything like this when Hank set the record in 1974.

First the guy that threw the pitch, Mike Bacsik, grooved an 84 MPH heater on a 3-2 pitch. Well, an 84 MPH flatball to Barry Bonds is basically a batting practice pitch. (Incidentally, Bacsik's dad also pitched in the majors and he pitched to Hank Aaron when Aaron had 755 home runs. So that's pretty incredible that they've both faced a man with 755 home runs in his career and there are only two men who've ever been in that position.)

Then Barry knew it was out immediately, although I have to admit a part of me was hoping that as he stood there with his arms raised triumphantly that the ball would somehow die in that deepest part of the park and settle into a glove for an out. But no, it went out, into a frightening mosh pit of fans. The fan who wound up with the ball is a 22 year old dude from Queens, New York, who was wearing a Mets jersey. That's just funny to me. What's even funnier is that he and his buddy were in SF on a one-day layover on their way to Australia and decided to buy tickets for the game. Evidently, tickets were available. Yeah, I don't get it, either.

Then Hank Aaron's giant head appeared (and seemed to be too big for the jumbotron) and talked about what a great achievement it was, and I half-expected him to admonish Barry for taking steroids. But he didn't.

But the part of it all that sticks with me and annoyed me was at the end of Barry's home run trot, his older son was there to greet him. Mind you, his son was the only one to leap over the dugout fence in excitement for Barry (you'll see Barry's SF teammates didn't react with nearly the same joy) and he waited for Barry at the plate.... and Barry came in and while his son clearly wanted a hug from dad, Barry stood there pointing to the sky. I've seen some things written that suggest he is pointing to God, but from what I understand, that's actually supposed to be a tribute to his late father, Bobby Bonds. Which is all well and good, but give it a damn rest, Barry. Your dad is gone and your son is standing right in front of you. Hug him, dammit, and act like a fricking human.

But no, Barry strolled past his son and greeted other members of his family and his team. And Willie Mays. Whatever, I guess it doesn't matter. But it just seems like every time Barry has a chance to not appear as an aloof dickhead, he finds a way not to do so.

But the situation says it all. Hank Aaron wasn't there. Bud Selig, sissy that he is, wasn't there. Willie Mays was only there because someone told him there was a gin rummy tournament.

So hey, congrats to Barry... I guess.