I don't know, but it looked like Reynolds and Valentine were gonna kill Reilly, lol. So, I guess he only had one corked bat for BP? Sammy's a stand up guy. Remember, he said he'd be the first in line to test if the league decided to test for steroids.
If he was such a stand up guy, he'd get himself tested without needing to be forced to by the league...
Just more heartbreak for the cubs and their fans. I have a loudmouth Cubs cousin of mine that I got to send an email to today because of this. What a moron. And to think I had a level of respect for him. Poooorrrrr cubbies.
a few things.. first off i dont think the HOF bats would prove anything because I'd think he'd be smart enough not to use the corked bat on the milestone ones.. knowing that the bats would end up in the hands of the HOF etc most likely... secondly, if I was indeed going to use a corked bat, knowing that they would check the other bats in the clubhouse if I was caught with one, I dont think I'd bring more than one corked bat to the yard at a time... Not sure if he is guilty of doing it in the past or not, just some thoughts
ESPN just reported that of all 77 bats taken from the Cubs were legit and not corked. Who thinks that the league said this just to save the image of Sosa since he is a baseball icon? I think so. If I'm planning on corking bats, I only cork 1 bat. Why increase your risk exposure? Figure out how to identify your corked bat and use it whenever you feel like it. There's no benefit to corking lots of bats. That's not to say that's what Sammy did, but I don't know that this shows anything. I think scanning more bats like they did with that 498th HR bat would be more beneficial.
Didn't some reporter call him on his bluff to take a test? He got mad and declined, if I remember right. I'm still undecided. I don't think Sammy NEEDS to cork his bat. But, it does seem strange that the ONE time he does, he gets caught. What are the odds?
I'd also like to go on record as saying that corked bats help a lot. Bat speed is everything. It is in any sport. Little guys like Tiger hit the ball so far because of the speed they generate thru the hitting zone. So in my opinion a corked bat is really going to help. I know those softball players who hit HR's every at bat say the same thing. It's all about bat speed thru the hitting zone. I don't have any research or science to back it up, but to me it's just common sense that a corked bat will make a big difference. And in a way, Sammy is admitting that by saying he uses them to impress the fans. I don't think we'll ever truly know if Sammy is telling the truth or not. But he got caught red handed. Just doesn't look good.
As I said earlier in this thread, how is what he said an apology? So, he admits to using a corked bat in fan exhibitions like HR derbies and BP, while calling this one an honest mistake. Does anyone else see the irony in that it makes him a cheater either way? Btw Skip Bayless of the San Jose Mercury News and formerly of the Chicago Tribune was on Rome's radio show today and basically called Sammy's public image a fraud. He said he is a jerk in private, and has maintained this stance over the years. Oh well, look on the bright side, we all know why he hit those mammoth homers at Miller Park in the HR derby a few years back. Way to go Mr. Corka, cheat yourself and the fans who want to see your natural abilities(it might be cool to joe nobody, but to me it's pathetic), plus disrespect the game on top of it. What a role model.
I dont buy that. Do you honestly believe that MLB would come out and say that ALL 77 bats were fine just to save his butt? That`s quite a conspiracy theory.
*sigh* How depressing. I hate it when sports heros turn out to be scumbags in real life. I'm speaking in more general terms, not specifically Sammy.
What's the big deal? I thought everybody here agreed that a corked bat does give you that much of an advantage. Get over it!
I find it hard to believe and extremely bad luck that the very first time he "accidently" picks up corky and uses him in a game - he breaks.
Not his butt, but their butt. Sosa is one of MLB's biggest selling points and they don't want his image hurt anymore than he does.
see..i agree...i really hate to say it, but i totally agree. if you were presenting this to a jury...i think it would be easier to argue that it's more likely than not that he's used a cork bat in the past.
It`s more like one out of seven. He doesnt keep all 77 in the bat rack in the dugout. Most players have one or two they use for batting practice and the rest are for the game.
But do you think he just randomly picks 7 bats out of the 77? If you have one or two just for batting practice, wouldn't you be able to recognize it?
It's all racism. If Sammy were. . . OK, bad joke. Seriously, the "accident" excuse is just too lame. The notion that a professional baseball player cannot feel the difference of a corked bat the moment he picks it up is ridiculous.
Someone just ran onto the field in Baltimore and threw a piece of cork at Sosa!! Idiotic, yet classic.
