Comments on: The dump-McGwire campaign intensifies

By: Traffic Ultimatum

Traffic Ultimatum — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:11:24 +0000

I love this blog. It’s full of stuff I don’t think I need to know…. but I DO need to know lol!

By: vter24

vter24 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:07:04 +0000

Who saved the game after the players strike? McGwire! Who hit 49 home runs his rookie year(before steroid use)? Are Gammons et al. pointing a finger at A-roid? If the media would lay back a bit, sports would improve, salaries would come down, and even politics would get better. Leave big Mac alone and let him coach!

By: stargatebabe

stargatebabe — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:29:24 +0000

Judy, I agree with everything you said but I'd like to add that the MEDIA is just as responsible! They are pissed because they were pulled in, just like the rest of us! THEY are the ones who feel they are "owed" something when no one owes them anything!

By: The Rabbit

The Rabbit — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:42:28 +0000

I must admit I laughed loudly when I read your response….and tried to think of adjectives that you might have overlooked. I was unsuccessful.
The “pea-witted, ignorant, corrupt, thieving, incompetent retrograde psycho immured in a religiosity so juvenile that she probably made even most creationists cringe” is now a Fox News commentator. I will add no comment because I know I share your opinion on this subject.
BTW: If you ever get to the Ozarks, I’ll fix you a horsemeat and velveeta sandwich (Mine are made with finely sliced prime rib, provolone, sauteed onions and peppers and served on homemade Italian rolls.)and we can discuss ways to undermine the lunatic fringe.

By: Jim C

Jim C — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:10:06 +0000

@Lost Fan-Pete Rose affected the outcomes of lots of games, as he frequently bet on the Reds to lose. So he clearly was in a position, as manager of the team, to help the team lose. According to John Dowd, who led the investigation, there were two corroborating witnesses who said that Rose bet on the Reds to lose every time Bill Gullickson or Mario Soto pitched. Their records indicate Pete wasn’t all that sharp, but we all knew that already. Dowd was not allowed to put anything in his final report that was not corroborated by three witnesses, so this did not make it into the published report.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:03:59 +0000

“I’m sure some of the younger readers cannot imagine how Eagleton could have possibly been selected as a candidate given the kind of media vitriol that is accepted as reporting today.”
.
Oh, I dunno. They watched The Candidate Formerly Recognizable as John McCain let his staff go out and pick a pea-witted, ignorant, corrupt, thieving, incompetent retrograde psycho immured in a religiosity so juvenile that she probably made even most creationists cringe – and then they watched those same aides spend the last quarter of the campaign, and months thereafter, lambasting their own selection for every conceivable reason every chance they got. The Eagleton fiasco seems almost professional by comparison.

By: Joey B

Joey B — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:19:09 +0000

“Why were the rates lower in the AL, few clubhouses with A/C to dry out the baseballs than in the NL. It is a simple as that. Since 2006 all MLB has mandated the same humdity in baseballs in every stadium and HR rate has dropped.”
I’m not seeing it. The AL HR rate is about the same as in 2004. Again, we’re talking at the margins. The league in general increased by 26% before and after, Mac increased by 72%. I’d be willing to explain away a lot of things, such is the nature of numbers. The league goes up by 26% and he goes up 35%, okay. Or if he had a fluke season, then one year aberrations are not uncommon. But to average 61 HRs per year over 4 years? And then try to say it was only because of his God-given talents? That’s why people are so unwilling to accept his ‘apology’.

By: willmose

willmose — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:16:00 +0000

The biggest effect of the HR rate has to due with the humdity of the baseball. The Rockies are the poster child for this. Before MLB added humdity to the baseball HR rates in Denver were off the chart, since MLB added humdity to the baseball HR rates in Denver are below average. So much for the thin air theory. Why were the rates lower in the AL, few clubhouses with A/C to dry out the baseballs than in the NL. It is a simple as that. Since 2006 all MLB has mandated the same humdity in baseballs in every stadium and HR rate has dropped. The Yankees were given a pass last year in their new stadium and the baseball they used were much drier than the rest of MLB. Rosenthal and Gammons of course know this, but don’t make an issue because the Yankees are special.

By: The Rabbit

The Rabbit — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:55:25 +0000

Hi Len,
Hope you had a good holiday.
I’ll get the politics/mental status comments out of the way first.
Nixon wasn’t psychotic. He was an acute paranoid…and brilliant. If you ever get the chance, see Emile de Antonio’s documentary, Millhouse. (Note: I did meet Nixon a few times: The 1972 Republican National Convention, the Inaugural Ball, and the White House. Really interesting individual.)
You are absolutely correct regarding some of his foreign policy coups; however, from a historical perspective, it did require a Republican to make those advances. Any Democrat would have been branded at best, weak, or worse, a Commie sympathizer.
I’m sure some of the younger readers cannot imagine how Eagleton could have possibly been selected as a candidate given the kind of media vitriol that is accepted as reporting today. See: McGwire Just a different time with a different standard. Something actually had to be globally important to justify outrage and excessive attention. I don’t know about you, Len, but I really miss those days.
BTW, Eagleton was the only candidate (to my knowledge), past or present, that had been adjudged “sane” and had the paperwork to prove it. If I weren’t depressed by some of the events in that era, I’d question my sanity.
Regarding the drivel coming from Gammons, Rosenthal, et al., Craig is correct: It is a self-fulfilling prophesy. McGwire gets the attention because he broke a “sacred” record. Had he not, he would be virtually ignored in the same manner as the other not-so-great-clearly-didn’t-help alleged PED users.
Because each era/decade of baseball has been unequal for a myriad of reasons, I consider these kinds of statistics (records) important only if I can remember them well enough to win a game of trivia; otherwise, I place no value on them.
I am, however, counting the minutes until pitchers and catchers report….and still waiting for the big lottery hit so I can buy a team.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:54:04 +0000

The writers are the problem. Essentially Rosenthal says "if you don't give me exactly what I want, then I will make it a public issue." That's borderline unethical.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:19:39 +0000

We’ll see when/if that time comes. I too am worried that you might be correct. Also, brace yourself for the next round of hypocrisy when all of the same “journalists” who have excorciated McGwire perform their mental gymnastics to get Clemens and Bonds into the HOF…”They were HOFers before (we suspect) they started using…” or “Manny only failed one drug test and he paid his debt with his 50 game suspension.” or “Arod only used for the 3 years in Texas and his numbers weren’t much different than other seasons.”

By: Joey B

Joey B — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:06:31 +0000

“Baseball is at fault just as much as Mark. They knew there was a problem and did nothing. Mark was doing what many others were doing.”
Again, the same excuse as the Wall Street guys. The SEC did nothing while Madoff made billions. A lot of stock brokers trade information, or sell their customers a bill of goods, because everyone is doing it. After a while, no on is really guilty of anything.

By: Lost Fan

Lost Fan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:48:28 +0000

How does this work? Pete Rose gets a lifetime ban from baseball for betting on baseball, but he never influenced the outcome of a game. McGwire took P.E. drugs which are designed to improve one’s performance, and as a result influenced the outcome of an untolded number of games and people wonder if he’ll get in the Hall?? What kind of logic is this?? (The answer is if you didn’t know is pro sports are a joke)

By: Lost Fan

Lost Fan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:47:24 +0000

By: spants

spants — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:29:08 +0000

Well, when/if A-Rod breaks the second most sacred of baseball records, I guess we’ll see if this isn’t just some sort of perverse double standard. My guess is that his record would be seen as legitimate.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:11:41 +0000

McGwire is being held to a different standard for two reasons:
1) He originally broke the most sacred of baseball records and won’t “admit” that the PED’s helped him do it.
2) He is associated with Tony LaRussa who is probably the most hated man in baseball (Bud Selig, Scott Boras and Donald Fehr might give him a run for his money).
I truly believe that Mark thinks the steroids did not help him “hit” more home runs. I think he understands that they helped him get on the field but there is no denying that he had a gift for hitting dingers. Apparently most people would rather he be dishonest and tell them what they want to hear.
As for Tony, he is a polarizing figure (as you well know). Outside of St. Louis he is simply viewed as an a-hole who is smug and “smarter than everyone else.” The reality is that he probably is smarter than most and there is significant backlash because people are petty and jealous.

By: FordPSD60

FordPSD60 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:12:22 +0000

Baseball is at fault just as much as Mark. They knew there was a problem and did nothing. Mark was doing what many others were doing. But yet no ban on the drugs. Mark knows it was a bad decission but it was the norm for many. Mark being a distraction won’t even compare to the distraction that Tiger Woods will be when he returns to golf. So should Tiger Woods be banned from golf?

By: spants

spants — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:08:46 +0000

I’m not denying that PEDs help athletes play better. I’m saying that McGwire is being held to a different standard than players who have tested positive, are still playing, and will likely be HOFers. Did you even read my comment?

By: YANKEES1996

YANKEES1996 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:04:33 +0000

O.k. Charles follow along, this is the last time I’m going to write this. I am NOT commenting on the behaviour of the Federal Agent who seized the list or the case the Government is building or whatever. The list could be returned to MLB, and if MLB really wants to see this issue come to an end then the list should be released to the public, the apology issued and the articles written and the judgement passed and then lets move on.
I am extremely disappointed that everyone in baseball says that the “Steroid Era” is a black mark on the game but no one including the Commissioner wants to do anything to move the game beyond this. The reporters and lawyers who are leaking the names on the list one or two at a time are just continuing to drag the game through the mud.
I guess to directly answer your question I will feel bad if the rights of a bunch of liars is trodden on (not) but a full disclosure apology without the lies by everyone involved is what the game needs.

By: moreflagsmorefun

moreflagsmorefun — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:03:42 +0000

McLiar sits there trying to convince people it
didn’t help him hit home runs, why do you think
they are called PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS.
McLIAR also said he took the PED’S to stay on
the field, so without the drugs he doesn’t
even play, he is playing you for a FOOL.
Those tears, how come his face was dry.
I have three bridges in New York for sale, call me
I will give you a good deal on all three.

By: Joey B

Joey B — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:47:29 +0000

“When evaluating HR rates, you might want to look into changes made to MLB ball composition starting in mid-1993, the changes had huge effects….indeed, much larger effects than steroids did, unless everyone started using the same day in 1993.
FWIW, McGwire did admit that steroids helped him hit more HR because he didn’t think he’d be on the field as much without them, what he said was they didn’t help him hit the ball farther. He’s probably wrong, but that doesn’t make him a liar.”
1-The changes in the HR rates had everything to do with PEDs and little to do with ball composition. I looked at an AL 10-year run, divided into pre-cheating and post-cheating, with 90-94 and 95-99 being the years. Between 90-95 the HR rate increased modestly, from .023 to .027. ‘Mysteriously’, the HR rate jumped to .035, a 26% jump. Yet oddly enough, the overall AL average jumped only 7 points, a 2.6% jump. If you exclude all the extra HRs, the AL average actually stayed exactly the same. If you’re saying the ball was juiced, then wouldn’t you expect the average to increase as well?
2-IRT to trying to correlate McGwires increase with the league increase, you’d again fall short. Comparing 95-99 with 90-95, McGwire’s HR rate increased by 72%. The overall AL rate increased by only 26%, and even the 26% increase is probably only due to the other cheaters.
3-McGwire played until he was 37. If you applied his HR rate prior to cheating to the amount of HRs he after he started cheating, he’d wind up with 440 HRs. He wants the writers to vote him into the HOF even though he was no more than just a minor star prior to cheating.

By: Iowa

Iowa — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:44:20 +0000

Omega seems to be on the right track. I do not condone what McGwire did nor do I think he’s come clean by any stretch.
But, if any of you can look in the mirror and state, without hesitation, that you would not have done the same thing given the circumstances then you are a better man/woman than 99.9% on this planet.
I see this as a short term situation anyway. Should the Cards struggle at the plate he’ll be gone.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:37:07 +0000

Omega, you don’t belong here. You’re far too reasonable. Careful or the villagers will confiscate your pitchfork and torch.

By: spants

spants — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:35:47 +0000

I think the media is getting off on twisting McGwire’s arm. It’s crazy that people want McGwire to insist that steroids influenced his power production. Did Manny have to make that statement? Did A-Rod? These guys are still playing, and A-Rod has a chance at beating the career HR record. Is that when all the crazies will come out of the woodwork? Or does A-Rod get a pass because he’s a Yankee?
I posed these questions to Ken Rosenthal via Twitter, but I’m sure I’ll never get answers from him.
What people need to accept is that no records are “clean” or “pure.” None of them. There have always been players who have gained an edge, either through segregation, drugs, equipment, medical technology, etc.

By: MMD

MMD — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:34:56 +0000

Some of you are “tired of this?” You want to “move on?!”
Baseball’s “integrity” is shattered in a million pieces on the floor and it still has the worst commissioner in all of pro sports running it.
Until MLB deals with this cheating issue once and for all it won’t go away. Why won’t you deny-ers get that?!

By: YX

YX — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:31:15 +0000

Peter is right on that McGwire has been a distraction. It is not (all) his own fault, but the pile has to stop one way or another in order to play some ball. McGwire resign is one (though probably not right) way.

By: moreflagsmorefun

moreflagsmorefun — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:25:50 +0000

It will be distraction because he is a McLiar………..
Tell the damn truth already if you want the distraction to STOP!!
This man has no shame.

By: Omega in Colorado

Omega in Colorado — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:12:36 +0000

As far as I am concerned Big Mac owes me nothing. I am just as guilty as he is for the PEDs thing. Along with the trainers, managers, GMs, the Commish and the WRITERS.
We screamed ourselves hoarse in ’98 cheering for Mac and Sammy, all of us, even as unspoken suspicions arose and HR totals skyrocketed along with ticket sales and TV revenue and endless praise from the writers. I am sure Gammons and Rosenthal tinkled on themselves more than once gushing about Mac in ’98.
So, does his apology and explination sit right with me? You bet your sweet bippy it does, coz the man owes me nothing.
I wish him and the Cardianals all the best this coming season. I hope I get a chance to head out to Coors Field when they visit so I can give him a standing ovation during introductions to say thanks for the memories Big Mac.

By: Charles Gates

Charles Gates — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:12:12 +0000

You admit that the names, legally, shouldn't be released (in your words: punished for the invasion of privacy) yet, then turn around and say release them anyway.
You still fail to repond to my original point: Please explain how and why shredding the Constitution will make us, and baseball, better off.

By: Paul in KY

Paul in KY — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:08:37 +0000

The whole thing about Sen. Eagleton was that he hadn’t told anybody about this when they were initially vetting him. Showed serious lack of judgement. Same lack of judgement for Sen. McGovern in not knowing about this before selecting him.
Old news that. Mr. McGwire is a steroid cheat, who never would have hit as well as he did (turn all those homers into long outs) if not for the steroids & it is pathetic (IMO) that he’s going to be a ‘hitting coach’.
I feel bad for the good St. Louis fans.