Roids Suspects

by Steve in Napa on Jun 29, 2005 1:20 PM PDT

Halfway through the first post-roids baseball season we are beginning to get a clearer picture of who the (potential) abusers might have been (like the self-indemnifying language?).
Here you go, this years stats are followed by last years:
Carlos Beltran 9 HR, 38 RBI, .265, 1 SB; 38 HR, 104 RBI, .267, 42 SB. Playing "injured" all year??

Todd Helton 6 HR, 31 RBI, .261; 32 HR, 96 RBI, .347. Not getting pitched to because he's surrounded in the lineup by rookies?

Aubrey Huff 5 HR, 38 RBI, .252; 29 HR, 104 RBI, .297 Notorious slow starter...but THIS slow?

Jim Thome 7 HR, 29 RBI, .215; 42 HR, 105 RBI, .274. Another slow starter but 7 HR??

Adrian Beltre 5 HR, 34 RBI, .257; 48 HR, 121 RBI, .334. I know, Safeco, but was he really just a one year wonder? If you're going to 'roid up wouldn't it be in your walk year?

Ivan Rodriguez 5 HR, 29 RBI, .294; 19 HR, 86 RBI, .334. Canseco mentioned him...could be?

Victor Martinez 8 HR, 32 RBI, .238; 23 HR, 108 RBI, .283. Sophmore jinx or lack 'o cream?

Mike Lowell 3 HR, 29 RBI, .222; 27 HR, 85 RBI, .293. Lowell is getting older, but 3 HR??

Sammy Sosa 9 HR, 26 RBI, .235; 35 HR, 80 RBI, .253. Say it ain't so Sammy.

Aaron Rowand 5 HR, 32 RBI, .280; 24 HR, 69 RBI, .310. Maybe not...

Randy Winn 2 HR, 22 RBI, .279; 14 HR, 81 RBI, .286

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do you have the stats

through this point last year? might be nice to see what they've done this year compared to the same time last year....

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jun 29, 2005 1:36 PM PDT reply actions

Funny:

Helton and I-Rod were both mentioned in off-season rumors.

Helton's ties to football make him an even larger susoect than most.

Remember when they rode that TV guy up the flagpole for even mentioning Todd. heh.

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Jun 29, 2005 1:37 PM PDT reply actions

you left off the most obvious suspect...

Barry Bonds

by Kaybeejay on Jun 29, 2005 1:47 PM PDT reply actions

Suspicious

45 HR, 101 RBI last year
0 HR, 0 RBI this year. Pretty suspicious, c'mon Barry, you can't even knock one guy in?

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds."
Red Barber, announcer

by Furious George on Jun 29, 2005 8:03 PM PDT up reply actions

The Roids blew his knees out

Oakland A's, Oakland Raiders, Houston Rockets

by paul75 on Jun 30, 2005 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Lets add a telling statistic and break into groups

One hit wonders:
Adrian Beltre 26 yo
Victor Martinez 26 yo

The 'roiders or at least guys w/o any other specific excuse:
Aubrey Huff 28 yo
Mike Lowell 31 yo

Playing injured group:
Carlos Beltran 28 yo
Todd Helton 31 yo
Jim Thome 34 yo

Just getting old group:
Ivan Rodriguez 33 yo
Sammy Sosa 36 yo

In short, these sorts of things happen every year and they aren't happening at any greater rate than in the past this year.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Jun 29, 2005 1:50 PM PDT reply actions

I agree

Though I wouldnt put Martinez in the One Hit Wonder group quite yet, but stick him in the Rookies group. Beltre had been in the majors a long time before but never broke through past last year, but Martinez came up just last year.

Beltran's numbers look like last years, minus the speed (injury?).

Helton, I dont know, but he's always been a good hitter, period. Thome has been battling a bad back.

Pudge's numbers look the same as before, or close considering decline, and Sammy we pretty much know took sterioids, but also is just declining quickly.

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by Zonis on Jun 29, 2005 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Martinez

you're right, I dont' mean to label him a one hit wonder yet. But until he has a second hit, that's what he is. The point is, you can't claim regression unless there was a higher established level, which neither player had.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Jun 29, 2005 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm pretty happy

that Beltre is sucking for the Mariners, whatever the reason. DePodesta was criticized pretty heavily for not spending the mucho dinero required to keep him. After helping his team reach the post season for the first time in years in his first season there, DePo is still a punching bag for the Rattos who write for the LA papers.

independencefieldsac.org
Please help disabled kids in Sacramento play baseball by helping the Rivercats build a specially equipped field for them.

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 29, 2005 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

I am loving the fact that he is simply mediocre at best. Depo made the right choice in not bringing him back. The "journalists" in the papers still find a way to criticize Depo even though Beltre (at this point) is a bust.

by DodgerLuv1 on Jun 29, 2005 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I see no particular reason

to suspect roids use by Beltran. He is currently playing with a thigh muscle injury. that would certainly put a dent in his performance.

by OaklandSi on Jun 29, 2005 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

WHO CARES

Who are we to cast suspect thoughts over these players. Baseball has a new steroid policy and it will work. Why cant we leave it at that. If these guys had drug problems obviously they dont now but to assume every decent player having a bad year was on the juice is plain stupid.

by JSCHWAN on Jun 29, 2005 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Was I not clear enough?

That was my point.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Jun 29, 2005 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions

YO DEVO

Wasnt trying to disagree with ya man, I guess I hit the wrong "reply to" link. That was just a comment. I just dont want AN to become like all the other sensationalist types of media.

by JSCHWAN on Jun 29, 2005 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Sensationalist?

How many minor leaguers have tested positive in spring training this year?

If you think the steroid problem is being dealt with you might want to start asking why they're not testing for:

Masking agents
Human growth hormone
Etc etc...

The list of prohibited substances for swimmers runs a hundred products long. In major league baseball? Steroids and grass.

Some clean-out.

by Ozzz on Jun 29, 2005 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

BASEBALL

IS FINE! Its not swimming, its not the olympics. LET IT BE. I meant sensationalism in the pointing fingers at who might have done what. How many slumping sluggers have tested positive? NONE. As for the past, the past is all it will ever be and there was no known positive tests then either.

by JSCHWAN on Jul 1, 2005 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Lowell

It's my understanding that Lowell was on some kind of enhancement stuff for his testicular cancer...A similar example is Mulder last year/early part of this year. Apparently he was allowed by the commish's office to use a human growth hormone in his rehab back from the hip injury. He came off the hormone and that could explain his struggles.

Remember that pitchers could use steroids to in order to bounce back quicker from each start...

by 415goas on Jun 29, 2005 1:59 PM PDT reply actions

Victor Martinez

He's been hitting really well for about a month now. I think he may have had an above average year last year, but the dude's still pretty legit.

I'll try not to swear.

by Tony on Jun 29, 2005 2:05 PM PDT reply actions

I think Helton

is the easiest one to analyze: In my first season playing fantasy baseball, I made him my first pick, so he HAD to hit .265 with no power.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 29, 2005 2:25 PM PDT reply actions

I've got him too in my AN league

it's pretty much par for the course on that team, which also includes Martinez, Berkman, Schmidt. Somehow I really messed up that draft. I'm in 4 leagues - in the other 3, my average ranking is 1.33. If you add in my AN league, it's 5. That's 1st, 1st, 2nd (Yahoo Winner's league), and 16th.

I guess it's payback for when I said that I did pretty much always win my fantasy leagues.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Jun 29, 2005 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

haha, your team is even worse than mine!

by xbhaskarx on Jun 29, 2005 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah, I have Helton too...

I picked him in the 1st round, and he's being terrible. So I picked up Mike Sweeney to "bridge the gap" until Helton got hot. And Sweeney is injured now and Helton still isnt hot. So then I have Klesko in now, since he's listed as OF/1B, and he's been decent, but I've definately been having first base troubles this year in fantasy.

"I have an Alka Seltzer bat. You know, plop plop fizz fizz. When the pitcher sees me walking up there they say, 'Oh what a relief it is.'" -Andy Van Slyke

by ZeroIndulgence on Jun 29, 2005 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Man, I think this is such an irresponsible post...

I hate the theory that because a down is having a down year hw is automatically coming off roids. So was Chavez on them too and just went back on in June?

Give me a break. I hate this kind of crap.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 29, 2005 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

I agree

Its even unfortunate that I had to skim down this far to read this post.

Roids was/is a problem. Even more should be done to fix it. But, to suggest that poor performers are now former 'roid users?

CA-Gov: Angelides 46%, Arnold 42%

by Parklife on Jun 29, 2005 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

thanks OP

I guess every power player in the league who started slow this year is on the juice. Yee Hah.

by Brian in 317 on Jun 29, 2005 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha.....yep, every single one.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 29, 2005 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

You know...

..the players could have avoided this kind of suspicion by dealing with the problem before, oh, I dunno, every record in the book became tarnished?

Maybe they could have dealt with this stuff before young players started falling over dead on the mound?

We're right to be suspicious. Major League Baseball showed it wasn't up to the task of maintaining the sacctity and purity of its record books, and excuse the hell out of me if now that we have proof of that, with dozens of minor leagues being suspended for juicing (one of our guys for the third time!), we're a little triggerhappy.

by Ozzz on Jun 29, 2005 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions

what about when players suddenly started to suck

prior to this year?

it's not like that is a new phenomenon...

by xbhaskarx on Jun 29, 2005 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

Which AN posters are on 'roids?

(whistling nervously, looking both ways)

"Yucky Head Bad Guy!" - my 5-year-old daughter to Manny Ramirez. She got ice cream immediately afterward.

by DMtShooter on Jun 29, 2005 3:05 PM PDT reply actions

Not to name names

But you can tell pretty easily by seeing which ANer has the biggest head.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Jun 29, 2005 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm on Vicadin!

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Jun 29, 2005 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm only using during...

the intermural softball season. Luckily I've never been checked ;)

"I have an Alka Seltzer bat. You know, plop plop fizz fizz. When the pitcher sees me walking up there they say, 'Oh what a relief it is.'" -Andy Van Slyke

by ZeroIndulgence on Jun 29, 2005 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

You can name

Why not name the players having great years this year, but not during the previous? It goes both ways!

Brian Roberts
Mark Texeira
Derrick Lee
Carlos Lee
Pat Burrell
Grady Sizemore
Miguel Tejada
Shea Hillenbrand
Cliff Lee
Troy Glaus
Jason Bay
Bobby Abreu
Nick Johnson
David Eckstein

Bottom Line: Players have good years, Players have bad years.

Pretty irresponsible post, if you ask me. If I were a player, I wouldn't want fans throwing my name around w/ the likes of Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. Todd Helton had to go on every radio station in Colorado, as well as nationally, just to try to clear his name. But he still has rumors flying around like these.

Be careful w/ these kinds of posts.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jun 29, 2005 3:16 PM PDT reply actions

Not for nothing...

..but Todd Helton had years to prove himself clean. So did Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Bret Boone, etc etc. And let's not forget Brady Anderson here.

All those years where the record book was being beaten to a pulp, these guys could have said "I'm clean, and here's the proof, and I want everyone else to follow suit."

But they didn't. They roided, or they allowed others to roid, or at the very least they did nothing to STOP others from roiding.

So now, if their reputation is being tarnished, well I don't personally think anyone is to blame but themselves. They messed up my game, dammit!

by Ozzz on Jun 30, 2005 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Joe Blanton

was on steroids in April, then he got them off in May, now he's back on them thanks to better run support.

Go implicitly defame someone your own size, dude.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 29, 2005 3:30 PM PDT reply actions

Howbout Durazo?

Hurting his elbow PLAYING CATCH, warming up to play FIRST BASE??? I dunno about you guys, but the fact he's missed so much time seems pretty dang suspect. He's a major league baseball player, you can't tell me throwing a ball one time put him out for the season. Regardless, it's obviously better for the team he's out and that huge hole he created in the line up is now gone. It's unbelievable he still cant lay off those low and away breaking pitches that start off the plate and end 2-3 feet outside in the dirt.

by KMoAsFan on Jun 29, 2005 4:04 PM PDT reply actions

How about

some of our players though I highly doubt it. Helton is a good choice but remember they lost Vinny Castilla, Jeromy Burnitz. So I don't think he should be suspected of he is just on a bad team. To Colorado fan some of those he mentioned like Carlos Lee, David Eckstein, Troy Glaus, those guys have had good seasons before but it's fun to wonder.

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime.-Babe Ruth

by doublehustle22 on Jun 29, 2005 4:05 PM PDT reply actions

It's "fun to wonder"??

Good Lord

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 29, 2005 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

How about

who gives a rat's ass until we get more evidence besides conjecture based on deteriorating performance?

independencefieldsac.org
Please help disabled kids in Sacramento play baseball by helping the Rivercats build a specially equipped field for them.

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 29, 2005 4:09 PM PDT reply actions

Just trying to stir up discussion

Isn't that what these diaries are for? Anyway, most of you missed by tongue-in-cheek intro "potential abusers" "might have been". I'm not personally accusing anyone of anything...and I am surely familiar with players having good and bad seasons having closely followed baseball since the early '60's. However, this IS the first non roids year and right or wrong the players who are having down years will surely be scrutinized.

"If there is a fear of falling, the only safety consists in deliberately jumping." -- Carl Jung

by Steve in Napa on Jun 29, 2005 4:10 PM PDT reply actions