This explains a lot. The feature story in this week's SI includes an interview with the Astros' former third-baseman. Among other things, he admits he was juicing during his MVP season.
jose conseco was on rome recently.. he said i belive something like 85% of baseball players proabbly use steroids.. i think it was 85% he said. ... not sure if it is accurate or not.. but if they dont test for it.. i wouldn't be surprised... its not easy to make the big leagues and especially these up and coming minor leagueers might be tempted to use them..
Canseco is also planning on writing a book in which he names many popular players that he knows used steroids. I wonder if you will see an influx of players "coming clean" in order to avoid lying or covering up when Jose's book is published.
I think "85%" is probably an exaggeration. Cammi apparently puts the number at closer to "half." Nonetheless, it will be interesting reading. Canseco's most damning claim was that at least one of Sammy, Mac, or Barry juiced.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0528/1387969.html Barry claims he's not, but doesn't think baseball should check <I> Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, who set the single-season home run record with 73 last season, denied using steroids and said tests would show he's clean. ``Doctors ought to quit worrying about what ballplayers are taking,'' Bonds told The Associated Press last week. ``What players take doesn't matter. It's nobody else's business. The doctors should spend their time looking for cures for cancer. It takes more than muscles to hit homers. If all those guys were using stuff, how come they're not all hitting homers?'' </I> Other random quotes: <I> Arizona pitcher Curt Schilling said steroid use was rampant within the game. ``I'm not sure how (it) snuck in so quickly, but it's become a prominent thing very quickly. It's widely known in the game,'' he told Sports Illustrated. ``When you add in steroids and strength training, you're seeing records not just being broken but completely shattered.'' ... Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers told Sports Illustrated: ``Basically, steroids can jump you a level or two. The average player can become a star and the star player can become a superstar. And the superstar? Forget it. He can do things we've never seen before.'' </I>
conseco also says he was blackballed from baseball.. it's an interesting topic.. i would like to think i wouldn't ... but if you were an average prospect in the minor leagues or a borderline mlb player and one of your problems was that you needed to bulk up.. and you knew they didn't check.. do you think you would be at least tempted to take steroids? i think they should test and maybe that will help lower the temptatioin although some still will..
In a interview a few days ago, Canseco said that the reason he's naming names in his book is that while he was "blackballed" & playing in the Independent League, he called several of his friends in MLB & couldn't get anyone to return his calls; basically that everyone he knew in the game just turned their backs on him so he feels no loyalty to them or MLB as a whole. Steroid use in the minors is rampant, and everyone in management turns a blind eye to it. There was a poll of atheletes (can't remember what sport) that asked something along the lines of "If you could take a substance that would make you the best in your sport for 5-10 years, but would kill you at age 50, would you take it?" A majority said "yes". Like the Kenny Rogers quote implies, steroids won't make you a good baseball player. If you already have the skills & hand-eye coordination, they will definitely make you better. Pitchers, however, gain little or no advantage by bulking up - it may add 1-2 mph on their fastball, but the loss of flexibility would be definitely detrimental, as would the increase in nagging injuries. Maybe 50+ % of position players juice, but if Cammy's saying that 50% of all MLB players are using, that means that 80+ % of the position players are, more in line with what Canseco was saying.
According to the Twins' GM, they routinely test for steroids in their minor league system: "In our minor leagues we test for steroids, and it's a good system," said general manager Terry Ryan. "I think baseball people certainly are concerned about steroid use. But it's a tough situation. Unless they change the union stance, there is nothing we can do." (hmmmm, maybe that is why they haven't had any good power prospects in a while)
Anyone see Ch. 13 news last night? I only caught the end of the Caminiti segment. Hunsicker went off on the reporter's question. He was like "I am offended you would ask that. I resent that. This interview is over".
So who's on the juice? Here are my suspects... Brian Giles Jim Edmonds Brady Anderson Todd Hundley Mo Vaughn Bret Boone
If Canseco wants to do something on steroids he better do an autobiography. He went from a 40-40, power hitting gazelle, to a roid monster who could barely walk to first base, couldn't play the field, and bounced around from team to team trying to get to 500 homeruns so he could make the Hall-of-Fame. By the way Timing, a few more names to add to your list: Larry Walker Frank Thomas Barry Bonds I don't think Mo Vaughn is on anything. He has always been a big guy, and I think it's more of a case of weight then anything else. He has always had weight problems.
Mo Vaughn might be shooting up gravy but not roids If baseball wants to get past this they need to institue mandatory testing for steroids. Their refusal to so will look like it`s an epidemic which they do not want to uncover.
I'm not sure Frank Thomas is on them. He has come out very much in favor of testing and MLB cracking down on it. He's been pretty consistent over his career as well -- not one of those guys that suddenly exploded into a power hitter. Then again, he could have used them early in his career or in the minors.
What about Luis Gonzalez? He was always a decent hitter, but not until a year or two ago did he all the sudden develop this unbelievable power. They always said it was how he changed his swing...but I have my doubts.
Wasn't Mo Vaughn the guy with the Red Sox that had a clubhouse attendant caught with steroids in his car? Or maybe it was that wife beater guy, latin player can't recall his name.
Caminiti showed up on both Rome and ESPN's Dan Patrick show, and admitted that "half" was probably an exaggeration, instead saying that the truth was that there were "some guys I know doing it...and some others I heard about, but that's all I know for sure."
I listened to the Cammy interview on Rome yesterday and he sounded punch drunk. I am not sure if he is just not a good speaker or what but he sounded a bit weird. Granted I have never heard the man talk at great length, so I am not sure if this was just his normal tone. After the interview I felt sorry for the guy because he realizes he screwed up in so many ways. I hope he can get it together and lead a productive life
