McGuire didn't get "caught" with andro. Androstenedione was and still is perfectly legal over the counter. You can walk into any Walgreens in Houston and get it. It is against the rules of baseball now, but at the time it was not. McGuire was being accused of using illegal steroids by everybody on the planet that year. He told the press everything that he was taking and andro was among the items. He didn't hide it because there was no reason to hide it. It was essentially an over the counter sports supplement. There is a big difference between taking "nutritional supplements" and injecting horse steroids.
Kind of veering from the topic, but have you heard the story that McGwire may have put that Andro there on purpose?
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...d=1355084&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou Munson at backup catcher? Interesting, to say the least. Hell, I'd rather throw Biggio back there when Ausmus needs a day off than Chavez. For a catcher, Munson would be a much better than average hitter...and he'd be a great utility player.
its not legal anymore. as of umm i think jan 12? of 05 it was banned. Mid part of january. Did you know Mark Mcguire no longer has a penis? it's what ive heard, i dont know first hand. im straight, unlike bobby knight.\ Edit: and andro is much more similar to steroids then just being a "nutritional supplement". The steroids were straight testosterone while the andro(prohormones) was converted to test when taken. im not sure on the exact science, but its considered strong enough to cycle on and off the stuff as well as taking pct with it. If a person is taking prohormones, then steroids are the next small step.
What I don't understand is Garner saying...Bagwell has not made a quick hard throw yet, and we want to see that..... WTF? Don't they practice.....have him make some damned throws in practice and find out if he can throw or not. Why waste time? If he can throw...GREAT !! If not, shelve his butt and put Berkman at first. DD
I don't know if Munson's .214 lifetime average and .288 lifetime OBP qualifies him as a much better than average hitter.
You can't really simulate an exact game-like situation.... where you have the ball hit "UNEXPECTEDLY" to Bagwell, and he has to make a play to start a 3-6-1 DP or something. My guess is that they've seen him throw the ball, and try to make some plays in practice... but they won't really know anything till they get to see the way his body reacts spontaneously to a ball that he has to make a play on. If he's still gun-shy in the game about throwing, and teams start to take advantage of that (things you can't assess by practice), then he can't play there... even if his throwing motion is improving.
Nick, They know, believe me, they know....they just aren't saying. Just watch him throw the ball to the infielders to start an inning..... I think he is done. Which is sad, but at least he gets paid. DD
The thing that bugs me is that everyone talks about the loyalty of the team to Bagwell, what about the reverse. Bagwell has been paid MILLIONS of dollars these last couple of years, and has been a below overage contributor at best. And, this year he will get 17 million. He is going to get paid, where is his loyalty in giving the team a break by accepting that he is done? It would be great if he could play again, but reading through these comments it seems that no one wants to say that he is through, but they are all thinking it. If they thought otherwise, you know they would be gushing about his play, or his throwing this spring. Bags, retire with dignity, you were magnificent, now you are done. DD
Dude, you are sooo going to get flamed. There are several people on this board that think Bagwell is next to Jesus. At the very least, they put him in the same category with Olajuwon. Just wait for them to hate on you. I appreciate Bags, but at the same time, I don't think he's good enough, either offensively or defensively, to take a roster spot on this team. I could be wrong, but nothing I've seen this spring has changed my mind. Jeff Bagwell played hard every day, set a great example in the clubhouse, and put up some huge numbers. He also hasn't put up star-caliber numbers since 2003, he's been paid boatloads of money, he usually came up short in the playoffs, and his huge numbers came during the steroid era. He's been with one team for his entire career, but to my knowledge, he never gave that team a hometown discount - he simply stayed where he was comfortable and taken care of. Put all of that together, there's nothing about Bagwell that gives him a right to a roster spot this season. He's got to earn it.
No hating on DD for this. Or Bags. Or Dream for Torontofying the end of his career. I wish Bags were Bags, but regretfully, regrettably Bags was and no longer is.
Exactly, I celebrate the man, and his accomplishments, but sports is a fleeting thing, and if you can't get it done, you got to move on. Biggio can still get r done, but Bags, is done. DD
From the Chron today: I dunno whether to be optimistic based on the statement or sketpical. I think I'll go with cautiously optimistic. I think too many people are ruling Bags out too soon. He's progressing very slowly and, sure, he isn't winning over any critics. But how different is his performance from past pre-seasons? Everybody should know by now that Bagwell sucks it up during spring training, but is usually ready to play come opening day. Obviously the situation is clouded due to his surgery. But I wouldn't write him off just yet when you have no inside knowledge of the situation. I'd say the only two people right now that know what kind of progess he's making are Bagwell and Garner. If you're not one of those two people, then stop making assumptions.
Except you weren't supposed to see anything yet this spring. He's on a schedule and his shoulder is still healing. He's not supposed to be able to play a full game right now. So what you're seeing is exactly what you're supposed to see if his rehab is going properly. The question is whether it will continue to progress like they hope, or if he'll suffer a setback. Anyone claiming he can't play based on the spring training results has no idea what they are talking about or what was expected at this point.
See, you're implying that there's some kind of schedule. If you know of one, please tell us. When is Bagwell "supposed" to be able to throw? Or "supposed" to be able to hit for power, like a 1st baseman should? The last week of spring? The first week of the season? After a rehab stint in the minors? If so, how long does that last? In truth, no one has any idea about Bagwell, which is part of the problem. You, however, seem to be the one person who has no idea that he has no idea.
Obviously, as it stands, Bagwell cannot throw well enough to play in a game. If he were capable of it, then Garner or him would have mentioned it by now. However, he has been making improvements. As long as he continues down this path, without problems, he will eventually be in shape to play defense. Im not worried about his offense...this is the preseason and his shoulder doesnt affect his swing...so dont expect incredible numbers there. If he stops making improvements between now and the start of the season, then it will be time to hang em up...if he continues strengthening the shoulder until then, then you keep working with him to see where the road takes you.
