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Brian Roberts admits steroid use

Per ESPN, Roberts has admitted a one-time use of steroids back in 2003.

One of the most circumstantial accusations of the Mitchell report has now proven true. This story seems to be one of a player, struggling in his initial opportunities in the big leagues, searches for the edge to keep himself playing. He uses PEDs, abandons them, and later succeeds without them.

Robert's batting lines:

  1. .227/.308/.297 (128 AB)
  2. .270/.337/.367 (460 AB)
  3. .273/.344/.376 (641 AB)
  4. .314/.387/.515 (561 AB)

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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The article reads a bit differently to me.
Yes, he tried them once, probably to get an edge, or a perceived edge based on what he'd heard was going on around him.

Read what follows:

In a statement he issued to The (Baltimore) Sun, Roberts said that after the single injection he immediately realized that it was not what he "stood for" or anything he wanted to continue doing. He said he's sorry he did it and said he regrets making what he says was a "terrible decision."

Sounds right to me.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 8:07 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

So now we believe steroid users?
If I thought Pettitte and Roberts were trying to get me to believe their story, I'd be insulted, but they've both admitted to make the media happy and get off their back.  Nothing more and nothing less.  "I used once" is less believable than "I didn't inhale."

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 8:13 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That's actually what the
Mitchell Report said as well, once or twice.  
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Dec 18, 2007 8:14 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

The report...
... is simply a presentation of findings. When the report said that Roberts used once, it did not rule out additional uses by Roberts. Simply, the report said, in their investigation, we discovered an instance where he used. The report was not meant to be a comprehensive investigation of everyone who used. Just like the report is not a proclamation of innocence of everyone not named, it also is not a limitation on those named in the report. Roberts, Pettitte, and Clemens may have purchased additional performance enhancers from suppliers or trainers not interviewed, along with those that were.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 18, 2007 8:58 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Agree with Maddog
How many players are going to come forward and say they used it once, but then decided they're above using drugs/cheating/etc? While it's nice to see them coming forward, they're taking the least amount of responsibility possible imo.

by 10 14 23 26 on Dec 18, 2007 8:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

In this case...
... the admission matches what's in the report. Compare this to the outraged reaction of Roger Clemens; that, to me, is the reaction of a guilty party.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 8:35 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Then again...
...the admission only goes as far as "required" based on the evidence in the report.

Not to play conspiracy theorist, but both Petite and now Roberts only admitted the "bare minimum" of use that would match the allegations in the report....nothing more, nothing less.

I find it hard to believe that these guys who REFUSED to talk to the Mitchell committee, who strenuously denied using before the report (at least in Petite's case, although I believe Roberts probably did so too), and guys who were willing to break the rules are now suddenly telling the WHOLE truth.

Look, no one "uses steroids" once - you don't get results or anything that way, plain and simple.  You have to be on a regimen for awhile to see any improvements.  And I find it difficult to believe that Petite ONLY used HGH to recover from injury, and didn't continue to use after he recovered....

Maybe they are telling the truth.  But I think we should suspend our belief of these "confessions" until we learn more (if we learn more, that is).

by Chadnudj on Dec 18, 2007 8:55 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Bingo
Not to play conspiracy theorist, but both Petite and now Roberts only admitted the "bare minimum" of use that would match the allegations in the report....nothing more, nothing less.

I think its nice that Pettitte, Roberts, Vina and a few others are admitting to some wrong doing. However I do not for the life of me believe what they are saying. They may be telling the truth. They may not. But as a whole I think these guys very likely are confessing to the bare minimum because they know this likely is the only official investigation that MLB is likely to do. They take the quick media hit and then the focus goes onto the dozens of players still yet to comment along with all those who deny use.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 18, 2007 9:03 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly.
You don't decide to use steroids and then suddenly quit after one injection.  If you've mulled the decision over, you're entering into it with the intention of improving your physique and knowing full well it's going to take more than one injection.  

As I said, I don't buy the "I did it only once" any more than "I didn't inhale."  Both are blatant lies issued as an attempt to control the story the media is writing.

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 9:31 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I can't agree.
We all make mistakes in our own lives. Yet, it's not likely that any of us know what kind of mental pressure these guys deal with when they're getting "boo'd," yelled at, and called names by thousands of people.

I don't think it's too far-fetched to think that someone could be in a slump and mentally down, and then they realize that they just made a mistake and felt bad. In fact, that's kind of what I got from Roberts' statement about it.

by Mark H on Dec 18, 2007 4:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

So he admitted
to what makes him appear the least guilty...as did Pettitte who took his during an injury.  As someone else said in this thread, expect several others to step forward over the next few days and weeks and admit they used once or twice and then quit.  

It may match what is in the report, but the report was mostly incomplete.  If someone decided to take steroids, they almost certainly stuck with it.  Roberts suddenly turned a lot of his doubles into home runs and in recent years those home runs have turned into doubles again.  If there is any such player that makes a perfect example of steroid use (steroid use lasting longer than one year), it's Brian Roberts.  

But the point is that he lied, lied, lied, lied and then told some form of the truth.  Why would anyone believe him?  

Like Pettitte's admission, this wasn't an admission to the fans.  It was an admission to the media in hopes of getting them off their back and to control the story that's being written about them as both have successfully done.  

Yes, Roger Clemens' denial sounds like a guilty man's pleas.  That doesn't mean that Roberts and Pettitte told the truth though.

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 9:28 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Your point is taken.
However, it doesn't necessarily mean they lied, either. We just can't possibly know for sure, can we?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 9:44 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Indeed...
... so when a player uses steroids they need to understand that their doing so will call into question their entire career. They abdicate the right to have their word believed. We cannot know for sure and since that is the case anyone who takes these players at their word, IMO, is foolish.

This is why I have long said that Barry Bonds is not a Hall of Famer according to the argument that "before he started using..." because we do not know when he started using. It may be conventionally assumed that Bonds started using in 1998/1999 however since he has shown a willingness to use there is no reason to assume that he wasn't using throughout the 1990s when performance enhancers were readily available.

DmL

by dmlichte on Dec 18, 2007 10:10 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Your point is taken.
However, "Game of Shadows" specifically says Bonds began doing them after 1998 because he was jealous of the attention that Sosa and McGwire had gotten during that year's HR chase.

If you look at pre- and post-1998 photos of Bonds, I think that pretty well confirms that.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 10:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Fool me once
shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I'd expect to hear in the coming weeks from a number of "one time" users. It reminds me of the surge of evangelists who sinned once ala Swaggert and Baker. Now they want use to believe and forgive them.

Would we be so forgiving if we didn't want Roberts on our team?

If you like Selig's handling of the steroid issue, you'll love his choice for next Cub owner.

by tharr on Dec 18, 2007 7:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No, he may have told the truth.
I just think we're pretty naive if we're suddenly going to believe someone who has lied for years and then admits to the minimum.  The only less involvement that Roberts could have admitted was if he had said he didn't take them.  

I think this admission is similar to the drunk being pulled over by a police officer and when asked if he's been drinking, he says he has a drink or two.  Obviously you have to admit to something so you admit next to nothing.  

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 10:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Lied for years?
Can you cite an example where Roberts was asked if he did steroids and said no?  Repeatedly?  Over the years, as you indicate?

If someone was indeed guilty of having used steroids repeated over the years, I'm not sure why they'd publicly admit to something that could be so easily disproved.  

More likely, they'd take Clemens' approach of making a vague non-denial denial, saying that "There's no proof! He never failed a drug test! The dude is lying!"

by Wreckard on Dec 18, 2007 11:43 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No I can't cite anything.
I'm sure I could find examples if I wanted since every single player in baseball has been asked and unless the reporter forgot to write about Roberts' admission of using steroids several years ago, I'm pretty damn positive he lied about it.  

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 12:05 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Of course you can't.
Why base your reactions on things you know when you can get sanctimonious about things you assume?

by Wreckard on Dec 18, 2007 12:43 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

How about this tidbit
He has never failed a drug test and previously had denied vigorously ever using performance-enhancing drugs.

Taken from the ESPN article about Roberts admitting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3159406

by jjmarie30 on Dec 18, 2007 1:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

My point wasn't whether or not Roberts is lying
I was making a point about his reaction, not the truthiness of Roberts' statement.  Besides if you read Rick Maese's column in the Baltimore Sun Roberts' statements were a lot more vague in the past.

by Wreckard on Dec 18, 2007 7:01 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I skim....
But your comment was asking if there was a point in time where he was asked if he used PEDs and he said no.  I gave that.  I honestly didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation you were having with the other person.

by jjmarie30 on Dec 18, 2007 7:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Does anyone.....
ever make a valid point in regards to PEDs?

Also, FYI, please put up more bogus studies on the impact of HGH.  They are very amusing.

Happy Holidays!

"You are an asshole": NDcubsfan

by timeforachange on Dec 18, 2007 2:21 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Huh?
I'm honestly not sure what you're saying here.

by Wreckard on Dec 18, 2007 7:01 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Clemens
is and always has been an absolute douche bag!  He now represents the same thing as Bonds does...a no good, lying, cheater who deserves no credit.
MMMMM...EVERYTHING from Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 18, 2007 3:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's time to use common sense
which has been sorely lacking from a lot of those reporting this issue.

I'm also tired of the constant talking about; "it wouldn't hold up in a court of law".  Well, we are in the court of "common sense" and that court tells me there is a wide ranging problem with PED's in MLB that far exceeds the names on the list.

IMO, the dirty laundry in the report had to come to the forefront to move things forward.  If there is fallout from it, then that is part of the price you pay to move things in the right direction.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 10:54 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Moving forward...
is something we'll never see in baseball or any competition, sport or otherwise.  The only thing that is different from today, the 1990s, the 1920s and the 1860s is that different methods of performance enhancement have been created.  This has been ongoing since the beginning of mankind and it's not going to stop.  One of the drawbacks of competition is that human beings (any life form) will take shortcuts to achieve what they desire.  The path of least resistance will remain a path well traveled now and forever more.  

You can clean up the steroids in baseball and that just means that players have found other means to improve performance that is either more efficient than steroids, safer than steroids, or less detectable than steroids...or a combination of all 3.  

There will be no time in baseball or any other sport where everyone is playing on a level playing field with everyone else.  There never has been in baseball, or any sport dating back more than 2000 years.  

Everyone takes the path of least resistance.  Not everyone has the same moral standards and therefore the paths are sometimes different based on those standards, but each and every person takes the path of least resistance that conforms to their moral and ethical standards.  Until you eliminate all those that are morally and ethically challenged, progress will not truly be made.  And, obviously, we can eliminate a large percentage of mankind.  

Are we going to continue to form an investigative team once every 20 years to name 80-some players who have cheated or are we going to accept that human beings cheat and therefore baseball will always have its fair share of cheaters?  

I vote for accepting what we cannot possibly do anything about.  Accepting doesn't mean we agree with the actions of others.  It just means we acknowledge that human beings are always going to cheat one way or another.  There's nothing you can do about.  There's nothing I can do about it.  There's nothing anybody can do about it.

by Maddog on Dec 18, 2007 11:17 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't disagree
and that was very well said.

It's a fact that some scientist (or many) is tooling around in his lab right now, coming up with a new synthetic PED that can not be detected.  They also work on substances that can make a dirty player look like they are clean by masking the results.

If they want to significantly level the playing field, they need to change the culture of everyone involved (players, union, owners and MLB).  I am not opposed to players being suspended not only for positive tests, but from investigations that come up with evidence (beyond a reasonable doubt) that someone was using.  Also, portions of players urine samples should be kept in storage, so they can be tested at a later date (when new testing is available) to determine if someone was dirty a year or two in the past.  This is not an end all be all, but it could serve as a healthy deterent for those on the fence.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 1:07 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You have said THE most important thing.
If they want to significantly level the playing field, they need to change the culture of everyone involved (players, union, owners and MLB).

Absolutely, positively!!!

Now, the question is, is this even possible? I'm not optimistic.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 2:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know Al
I am not optimistic either.  This is something you either go after full blast, or it won't change much.

To me, the biggest issue is leadership.  IMO, Selig does not have what it takes to make this happen.  He seems to lack the stones and does not appear to have the respect of the players or the union.  They need a real ball buster in that role that is loaded with integrity, and it ain't him.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 4:53 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm...
So... if the Mitchell Report never existed, none of these 'apologizers' would have come clean (so to speak).

Some take-home points: (i) the Report has value because it could disuade future cheating-- players will not want to see their names in Report 2.0; (ii) lots of guys cheated, probably many more than the group named in the Report, but they probably won't cheat again (unless they are named "Neifi"); and (iii) Roberts' bat would help the Cubs, so why not get him? Teams will trade for him, so why should the Cubs, out of some principled moralism, end up as suckers?

"These are terrible times, and I shouldn't joke about them." --Warren Zevon

by ExNorthsider on Dec 18, 2007 8:28 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Some thoughts on Roberts
In general I'm not interested in speculating on the Mitchell Report's (MR) naming of players on various levels of "proof."  I am interested in Brian Roberts, a player I have followed from the minor leagues.

That Roberts followed Pettite in the "only once or twice" explanation would seem fishy to me if it were not for the fact that a lot of people were coming out to defend Roberts and attacking the MR for including Roberts' name at all.  Peter Angelos even blasted the MR on Roberts' behalf.  It might have been easier for Roberts to just keep quiet.

Roberts' story also highlights one of the sadder aspects of the PED story - many players are tempted to use because their jobs are at stake and might be lost to other users.  They use because they are tempted to think that is the only way to level the playing field.

I am fairly sure I am remembering this correctly - that in 2003, Jerry Hairston Jr. won the 2B job in spring training and played through May fairly well before breaking his foot.  This gave Roberts his shot.  He came up and in his second game hit a game winning Grand Slam off of Troy Percival.  Then five games later he did it again.  After a hot start, he cooled off and kept cooling through the year until September when Hairston came back.  Roberts was battling for playing time against a player the MR also names for more frequent use (I am not speculating on JHJr's guilt or innocence.).  If Brian Roberts believed he was losing playing time and potentially going to be sent back to the minors and blocked by a player who was using PEDs, there would undoubtedly be a strong temptation to use them himself.

I don't know for sure that this is Brian Roberts' story, but from my limited viewing of the MR, it seemed to me like there were a whole lot more stories like this than like Barry Bonds'.

All I am saying is give Pie a chance!

by DGU on Dec 18, 2007 8:46 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

It Seems
that a lot of people are very forgiving of Roberts.  I wonder how forgiving we'd be if Brian Roberts wasn't rumored to be on Jim Hendry's target list.  I wonder how forgiving we'd be and how much we'd believe his story if he was a member of the Cardinals or White Sox.

I'm not saying what he now claims isn't the truth, it seems to match what the Mitchell report says - but if he were already a villian in our eyes (Sox, Cards, Brewer...) would we be so ready to accept this as the truth?  

I also wonder how long it will be before a major league player can make any claim of the truth and people just accept it as the truth.  

No opinions here, just ponderings.

This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by HectorVillanueva on Dec 18, 2007 8:51 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

My take
I was a Roberts fan dating back to when I lived in Maryland.  That's why I am sympathetic to his story.

As for "forgiving," I don't know that forgiveness comes into it at all.  I guess he asks for forgiveness in his statement, but I'm not a victim in this.  Nor do I stand in judgment over him personally.

He says he wants people who might be judging him to know "the facts."  But I don't know any facts.  The Mitchell Report didn't give me "the facts."  Larry Bigbie said Roberts tried them.  Roberts said he tried them.  So I guess I know that.  

But I can't know if Roberts has used them more than that.  I can't know any thing about any player in baseball because of the culture that the owners, managers, trainers, players all contributed to creating.  The whole generation is guilty to some degree, including our idols that we are "certain" are clean.  Even if they did stay clean, they were a part of the union who opposed testing when it should have been demanding testing.  No less so are the owners and managers and trainers a part of those who hold the guilt.

But all told, I'd rather just move on.

All I am saying is give Pie a chance!

by DGU on Dec 18, 2007 1:26 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I find that I'm very tired
of the steroid talk, especially about things from 5 years ago.  I just don't care anymore about it.  I want to see good baseball being played and I think steroids are a non issue now after the required testing that goes on.
I understand that HGH is being used in ALL sports and right now, there is no effective, non evasive test for that.  Until there is a legitimate test that can be used, I choose not to speculate about something that really can't be controlled.

by cubswin on Dec 18, 2007 9:06 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Steroids are a non-issue?
Of course they're still an issue.  Whether or not one cares if they were used doesn't matter here (I don't know you're opinion on this).  The fact is, labs like BALCO will continue their research and will develop more designer non-detectable steroids.

Do you honestly think that someone hasn't already found something else that can't be detected?  I would venture yes to this question.  

by jjmarie30 on Dec 18, 2007 9:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

oops, forgot to add
Besides HGH, I would imagine there are already other undetectable PEDs.  

My earlier comment made me sound like a moron who doesn't know about HGH.  Whoops!

by jjmarie30 on Dec 18, 2007 9:49 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

OMG....
They're only an issue becasue the media forces it down our throats on a daily basis. Ask yourself, do you REALLY care about this issue?

If you answered yes, ask yourself why.

Me personally I could care less what ANY citizen or professional/amateur athlete puts in his/her body. Why should I?

I'm not Gladys Kravitz peeking out the window wondering what everyone is doing behind closed doors. Why? IT"S NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

This puritan bullshit has got to stop.

Donut jokes are not funny. They're way past funny. They're frickin' hilarious.

by MaTheMeatloaf on Dec 18, 2007 11:16 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I couldn't care less
about what these players do to themselves or what they inject into their bodies.  I was merely replying to the point of the poster who said that steroids are a non-issue because of testing.

People always find ways to cheat.  All I was saying was that they will continue to do so, with help from further non-detectable means.

Do I care what they do?  Not in the least.  I'll still watch baseball regardless of PEDs or whatever the next scandal will be.

by jjmarie30 on Dec 18, 2007 11:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Why steriods are bad for baseball
It's not so much about players hurting thier own bodies, and not so much about players being role models for children(although this is a problem). The problem is the game is played in a different manner, there is too much swinging for the fences and not enough fundemental hitting and pitching. The games have become highlight shows for homerun hitters and not about playing good team baseball. The game itself has suffered from the use of PED's, not some players integrity. The damage to the "history of the game" argument has some merit, but the game throughout history has gone through so many ups and downs that this massive offensive era will be just another one of those waves. Do I feel cheated by some of the greatest offensive records falling, sure a little. I love baseball and I believe with better drug testing and the unbelievable tar and feathering of users who are caught are bring the game back.    
"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Dec 18, 2007 3:03 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

ok,...
I guess my response would be this: Even if this manner is the problem regarding PED, who's to say that's bad? Isn't "swinging for the fences" going to attract the kids towards baseball, and in doing so prolong our beloved sport? I mean, when was the last time you saw a soccer highlight where they just passed the ball around for 12 secs. on SportsCenter? Exactly. They show the goals being scored. (Now on the surface it looks like I am dis=proving my own point becasue I  used soccer as an example, and it could be argued that soccer's popularity has'nt increased).

BUT,...the majority of fans actually ENJOY seeing home runs hit. It's a fact that the mojority of fans would rather see bombs hit than a 'pitcher's duel'. It's just our culture. Fast food, Pepsi Generation, I want it yesterday.

Not my problem.

I still don't understand how some can hate on a player for taking PED. Why? For the sake of the kids? Like Charles Barkley said, 'I'm not a role model, the parents shoudl be role models.' Is it bad for the kids to see celebritys smoking in movies or on tv? What about alcohol? Is it bad for the kids to see drinking of hard liquor, wine or beer on tv or being advertised? I mean, hell, let's bring back Prohibition. That worked marvelously. See the hypocrisy? Ask yourself how many kids are killed each year in drunk driving related deaths. And yet those parents who lost their sons to suicide, which they directly attributed to steroid use, were made the fools.
Are we gonna see those parents lobby to get rid of booze? Of course not.

 It has nothing to do with 'the children' and everything to do with our freedoms.

First the government said steroids didn't work. Uh, whoops. Guess they do. I mean did they forget that pharmacuetical companies actually make these drugs for a reason. Burn victims to regrow skin faster, as just one example.

So there's lie #1.

Next they said your balls would shrivel up and fall off. Whoops. Whaddya mean hcg, (no not HGH), can fix that.

Lie #2.

Then your heart would explode or you'd get liver cancer or something.

All the while not realizing, or not caring, that they started prescribing Testosterone Enanthate as a form of male birth control in the early 90's.

Well, wait a minute. Does the drug realize that if it's being prescribed for male BC that it's nto allowed to cause cancer? Of course not. Because it doesn't cause cancer. Steroids are no more harmful than alcohol. If abused, yes they can mess you up.

This country where we praise our freedoms so often is the same country where our government controls us and works to take those freedoms away.

I realize most will disagree with the above. I could care less. The hypocrisy bothers me the most.

Donut jokes are not funny. They're way past funny. They're frickin' hilarious.

by MaTheMeatloaf on Dec 18, 2007 4:01 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

While I somewhat disagree with you
I love your sig line!  Wedding Crashers right?
MMMMM...EVERYTHING from Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

by Kinky Reggae on Dec 18, 2007 3:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm still waiting.....
...for someone to come out and say "Yeah, I used steroids as a habit. And they worked really well too." This industry (PED) didn't survive on a couple of guys trying stuff one time.

I'm not saying Roberts or Pettite or anyone in particular is guilty. But someone is. I know the Mitchell report wasn't supposed to be exhaustive, but a guy injecting 1 time has almost no impact on the sport. The real impact comes from the "users". And really the only one I see in the report (if you believe the evidence) is Clemens. Others mentioned in the report probably were users, it's just not in there. So to me this report is really pretty useless. It makes for some good reading material but nothing in there really gives anyone an idea of the how bad the real problem has been.

"You know what? You want a job? Go out and earn one." Sweet Lou

by Kyle Turney on Dec 18, 2007 10:16 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

The problem is...
...Canseco is a side-show. He has very little credibility. He'll say anything to get a little attention.

I was thinking more of current players. Those are the ones who are fueling the current market (or what's left of it)

"You know what? You want a job? Go out and earn one." Sweet Lou

by Kyle Turney on Dec 18, 2007 11:40 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Pfft.....bring him to the North Side!!!
World Series......anyone that can make that happen......and take Soriano out of the leadoff spot.....
Super Mario Galaxy! Get it NOW!

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 18, 2007 10:36 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Bedard and Roberts
I understand I'm not the only one thikning about this but what do we think it would take, and do you think it can happen?  MacPhail is out there and obviously knows our young talent and I'm sure there are some young guys he LOVES.  What do you think it would take to bring them both here?  Lets face it, if that guy is in our rotation.... we will be scary good.  

by dus22 on Dec 18, 2007 10:40 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Update
There's been several threads that has beaten this topic to death.  Might I suggest that you read those?

As for an update, check out MLBTR update on the Cubs' interest in Bedard.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/cubs-interest-1.html

It appears there are conflicting reports.  Go figure.

Check out the comments for some pretty off-the-wall trade scenarios fans come up with.  I doubt any of them will work.

by initram on Dec 18, 2007 11:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Might I suggest...
"Might I suggest that you read those?"

Answer, of course you can suggest it, and its a good suggestion at that.  But it seems to me the other guy's comment was perfectly appropriate for this thread.  Why else do we care about Roberts on the CUBS fansite except as a possible trade target?  

It seems pretty natural to inquire whether Roberts' admission of steroid use affects the likelihood of a deal being made, or the overall desirability of such a deal.

by Orval Overall on Dec 18, 2007 12:44 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It would be a good move
but never gonna happen.  Peter Angelos is pretty finnicky about pulling the trigger on trades.  Now that they have moved Miggy Tejada, the O's don't have a lot of star power left.  Roberts is very popular in and around Baltimore, and I don't think the Mitchell report is really going to change that.

That said, he'd be a great addition to the lineup, and Bedard would be a great "1.A" to pair with Zambrano, Lilly and Hill.  That move would probably make us favorites in the NL Central.

by Orval Overall on Dec 18, 2007 12:41 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Why?
Why do we care if a MLB player used PED?

Why does the NFL get a free pass? You have to do a search to see who has been suspended by the NFL regarding their substance-abuse policy. In baseball it's splashed across the New York Post and every paper across the country when someone has been SUSPECTED of using, not testing positive.

Can we assume Sen. Mitchell isn't a football fan?

Why isn't Don Shula or John Madden conducting an investigation?

Donut jokes are not funny. They're way past funny. They're frickin' hilarious.

by MaTheMeatloaf on Dec 18, 2007 11:10 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Agreed...
No one cared when Shawn Merriman got busted last year. I can't stand the Chargers so I felt alone in my outrage. I understand football already has the rules in place, but I don't think I've ever heard HGH mentioned in the NFL context. You can't tell me it's not being used in a league where injury is a bigger deal, contracts are shorter and careers are shorter.
"You know what? You want a job? Go out and earn one." Sweet Lou

by Kyle Turney on Dec 18, 2007 11:43 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't believe him
 It's too convenient. You forgot to add his HR totals in his statline.

 He went from 2001 to 2004 hitting a total of 12 HR's. Then in 2005 he hit 18 HR's. 2006 10 and 2007 12. That to me screams, not natural.

But what can you do about it? To me it's a non issue. You can speculate about it til you're blue in the face, but to steal that in vogue saying, it is what it is. He admitted and he's never been caught.Open shut case.

 Obviously it lowers his trade value and if the Cubs acquired him tomorrow, I'd be thrilled. As long as he brings his "personal trainer" with ;)~

I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Dec 18, 2007 3:54 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Going from...
... 12 to 18 to 10 to 12 HR screams "not natural" to you?

How? I haven't looked, but I'll bet you could find dozens of players who have done this, "naturally".

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 19, 2007 4:39 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, it does scream not natural
 How can I make a comparison:

12 HR's in 4 seasons is Augie Ojeda terroritory.

18 Hr's a season is Mark Derosa terroritory.

You don't find that a lettle odd?

A total of 12 Hr's in 4 seasons than all of a sudden he hit 18 HR's in 1 season. That's a 1000% increase in HR production from 1 season to the next. We're not talking about a guy that ever had any whoever at any level of his baseball career hitting HR's. In 5 Minor League seasons, he hit a total of 6 HR's, in 5 seasons. Sure he didn't go from 12 HR's to 40 in one season, but that would be just not possible for this guy, who is 5'8, under any circumstance.

So to answer your question, it is very suspicious to me, especially coming from an admitted steroid user.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Dec 19, 2007 3:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Derosa is a poor comparison too
 His Career HR total in a season is 13. You want to see a natural progression over a career, take a look at Mark Derosa's career HR totals.
I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Dec 19, 2007 3:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Does anyone really care
The hypocrasy is hysterical

Baseball attendance is at an alltime high

Do I care that players use? Sure

Will I stop attending? NO

Its freaking entertaiment

Stippers are ehnanced, the Rocketts are enhanced, Playmates are enhanced, Wrestlers and NFL players are enhanced, actresses are enhanced.

See a recurring theme.

For thr sake of younger generations I'd like to see PED's and solid testing done.

The only thing I can do is teach my kids moral and ethical ways to live, once they leave my house and hit the  big leagues (I have 4 LH boys) its up to them.

Will I defend them if they PED or not. Absolutley

Baseball is entertainment. Where's all the national hangwringing and bashing to help the poor, clean up the justice system, politics, education, racial disparity.

Sports is entertainment, if they cheat I really couldnt give a rats ass (MLB has no integrity and never has as it was formed as a racially exlusive group, integrity of the game is PR BS)

Trade for B Roberts
 

by gmsnctry on Dec 18, 2007 5:38 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

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