Comments on: Yet another writer accuses Jose Bautista of PED use

By: danberman4

danberman4 — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:31:09 +0000

It’s ridiculous that the mainstream media trashes anyone who asks a legitimate question. The players and owners created this mess. Too bad if many are skeptical. It’s foolhardy not to wonder.

http://pinetarandbrickbats.blogspot.com/2011/05/bautistas-amazing-run.html

By: lardin

lardin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:08:18 +0000

I stand corrected on Anderson. I apologize. My basic premise still stands. If Baustista and the other players dont like being asked about PED use they have no one to blame but their predecessors. Arod, Bonds, Sosa, Big Mac, and Big Papi all took steroids. They all hit 50 home runs in a season. Baseball has no test for HGH and there are companies who are in business to create steroids that dont show up on drug tests..
If Pujols, Howard, and Fielder dont like the question they should blame the former players, management and the league itself. Its through their inaction that a cloud hangs over baseball. Is it right, NO. Is it Fair, NO.

By: ribbie149

ribbie149 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:31:49 +0000

The fact that a San Francisco writer would make these veiled charges is the height of irony.

By: mgmt404

mgmt404 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:52:17 +0000

Whoa… Whoa… Whoa… hold on. Let me get this straight. You’re saying that the moon isn’t a giant ball of cheese? Damn, who knew?

By: Crazimitch

Crazimitch — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:56:41 +0000

I believe I read enough of this page to rightly be annoyed and maybe discusted by the “Holier than thou” crap this page sometimes employs. What i don’t understand is so many writers, fans and non-fans complain how baseball allowed steroids for so long any how no one step upped and said a word. Well now we have writers standing up and saying that they are concerned that PEDs are still in baseball and here is possibly a good example and another writer trashes the first.
As for calling people a dumbass when I don’t know them, I’d love to know why that is a requirement? He needs to be made aware that I think he’s acting like a dumb ass and that if he continues he’s doing this site a terrible disservice. Also while I totally disagree with his opinion and believe it’s my responsibility to let him know how nuts I think he is, I’m very happy that he has an opinion.

By: kpk711

kpk711 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:28:56 +0000

mkhill, worth pointing out that there is no proof that HGH does anything to improve your ability to play baseball. The rationale of “they wouldn’t do it unless it worked” doesn’t really hold water. Baseball players would drink chicken blood before every game if they thought it would increase their chances to play better, despite no actual proof.

By: Alex Poterack

Alex Poterack — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:24:26 +0000

As far as I know, the only evidence that Brady Anderson took steroids is that he had a 50 home run season come out of nowhere. So, basically, you’re saying that Bautista must be using PEDs of some sort, because he had a 50-HR season come out of nowhere, and there was a guy who had a 50-HR season come out of nowhere, and HE must have been using PEDs…because he had a 50-HR season come out of nowhere. For reference, I’m pretty sure this is the actual meaning of “begging the question”.
Also, there is zero evidence that HGH helps anyone hit home runs.

By: mkhill12

mkhill12 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:03:49 +0000

Hey, Calcaterra….get your head out of your ass. Quit hiding behind “if you have no proof, please spare us your insinuations to the contrary.” He went from a career best 16 HRs in one season to FIFTY FREAKING TWO and there’s still a week left in the season. Let me repeat: FIFTY FREAKING TWO. He absolutely does NOT deserve the benefit of the doubt, and he can thank Bonds, McGwire, A-Rod, Manny, Brady Anderson, Raffy, Ortiz, Giambi, Clemens, Pettitte and so and and so forth…….and so on and so forth, for that. Is it fair? No. But life’s not fair.
And you’re serving up of the 2 PED tests that he’s supposedly taken and passed as proof that he’s clean is absolutely comical. Newsflash, jerky! The current PED test does NOT test for HGH!
Given the revelation of rampant steroid and PED use in MLB in the past several years, it would be irresponsible if the media did NOT bring up PEDs when discussing Bautista’s ridiculous year. But you continue to keep your head in the sand….and you probably still believe in Santa Claus and think the Moon is a giant ball of cheese. So do us a favor – get off the soap box and join reality.

By: Kell Varnsen

Kell Varnsen — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:31:38 +0000

Best I can tell, this is the 52nd awesomely insightful column Frantz wrote this year. He previously had never penned more than 16. Questions remain whether he completely plagiarized all of them. I personally am not agreeing with unspecified “others” who say his alternative lifestyle contributes to his ability to impugn others without any evidence.

By: BC

BC — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:57:52 +0000

It’s totally crazy. Any time anyone has an insane year now they’re going to be questioned.
Maybe the guy should just whiz in a cup and dispell the rumours. Of course the union would vomit at that…

By: lardin

lardin — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:05:10 +0000

Why is it so hard to believe that Bautista is on something undetectable? MLB does not test for HGH. There are entire industries devoted to creating steroids that dont show up in drug tests. Have you ever heard of BALCO?
In the last 15 years, Arod, Bonds, Big Mac, Sosa and Big Papi all hit 50+ home runs. They all took steroids. The last player to make a jump in home runs like Bautista was Brady Anderson. Guess what, he took steroids.
If Jose Bautista does not like being asked about PED’s, he has no one to blame put his predecessors, the Union and MLB. There lack of action at the turn of the century has led to a cloud being cast over all players. This includes some of the other greats who have never tested positive like: Albert Pujols, Jim Thome, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. No matter what players do, People will always ask the question.

By: Jonny5

Jonny5 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:42:03 +0000

This kind of stuff is just desperate. I guess he can’t write an article praising him either though…… He is irrelevant to comment on players doing great on other teams than his own area. Without bashing them that is. Stupid.

By: Proudly Canadian

Proudly Canadian — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 06:36:09 +0000

Lightfoot? Yes. Rush? No. I was remiss in not suggesting that Franz was not using a ghost writer.

By: APBA Guy

APBA Guy — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:19:40 +0000

I think there is also another possibility here. The Examiner is owned by Clarity, the Anschutz company, well known for its conservative views and Koch like donations to conservative causes. They’re well known around here for playing fast and loose with the truth, and facts generally. Beyond sloppy journalism, I think Frantz just represents that paper’s approach to facts and news in general.

By: Jess_Ball

Jess_Ball — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:37:47 +0000

I also want to bring up a piece written by Joe Posnanski, where he brings this sort of thing up. He says writers are still hesitant to give props to players who put up huge numbers. He says a lot of it has to do with some of the shame and/or embarrassment columnists and analysts continue to deal with after the celebration and enthusiasm they’d showed over a decade ago with Sosa/Bonds/MgGuire etc… and the pace in which they’d hit home runs. And Joe admits he still feels this way. It must be tough to celebrate these cool offensive feats when a writer feels this burden. Anyhow, this is something I’d never thought of before, but I kind of understand where people are coming from. Some people, like Frantz, might still be struggling with the close association with Bonds. He certainly seems insecure.

By: Jess_Ball

Jess_Ball — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:30:08 +0000

Some players do this thing where they make a simple correction suggested usually by a batting coach. Every team has one, I think. And athletes like Bautista sometimes catch on, and go on home run binges.
Hitting coaches should be banned! Unfair advantage! Joking aside, I know first hand from watching the Corey Hart phenomenon that lasted over a month and into the all-star break that he made an adjustment which allowed him to go on a tear. *He’s not hitting them out at the same pace early June through mid-July, but he’s racking up the hits, still.
He simply lowered his hands on the bat, kept his head still and was able to lay off sliders because he can’t hit those. I’m not too familiar with Bautista, but I would venture a guess that a change in mechanics turned the lightbulb on. Keep hitting ‘em out, Jose! If the writer is so worried, maybe he should lobby against the use of an effective batting coach… PEBC’s (performance-enhancing batting coaches).

By: Zoyd

Zoyd — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:12:54 +0000

That’s actually not the same game at all. Your game involves stupid geographic stereotypes. In your case that would mean you have a mullet, a bad mustache and you listen to way too much Rush and Gordon Lightfoot. If you were playing the same game as Franz, then you’d note that his writing has improved too much to be legitimate, and that he’s either plagiarizing or using a ghost writer.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:25:09 +0000

Perhaps it’s time for teams to hire a player-rep to face reporters and begin to take writers to task for things they say. I say turnabout is fair play.

By: walk

walk — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:13:45 +0000

I tried to make this point a while back and caught a bit of flack for it. Bautista has said he has taken four tests so far and passed. A lot of these columinists are backed in a corner now. If Bautistas season is legit ,and my belief is it probably is, then it validates a lot of other players career years, players who have been accused without admission of ped use or failed tests.

By: quint

quint — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:02:53 +0000

Basically it comes down to this, everyone is tested, and of all players in baseball, this writer this Bautista is on some undetectable good stuff. Really?

By: Giant Space Ants

Giant Space Ants — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:50:01 +0000

Come on Craig. Sure, there may be other factors in Bautista’s surge- the ballpark, his swing, a high flyball %, randomness- but those are all things that require research and careful analysis, which would imply that one actually gives a damn about Jose Bautista, and are also boring. It’s easier to make vague generalizations based on nothing about steroids and Bautista’s own character, because you only need to recycle stuff other people have written, but can pass it off as your own and get lots of attention from other cool people, along with a few nerd losers like that guy at Hardball Talk who just don’t get you. It’s a dog eat dog world, Craig, and if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, then let every man be master of his time.

By: RichardInBigD

RichardInBigD — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:06:17 +0000

Two things. 1 – Frantz is a dumbass. 2 – It was a big deal to Mrs. Alzedo when it became apparent that Lyle was using PED’s in the NFL.

By: Proudly Canadian

Proudly Canadian — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:05:51 +0000

Franz is from San Francisco. If I was going to play the same game that he is, I would speculate that since he is from San Francisco, that there is a possibility that he has used recreational drugs, may have tried acid, and is of dubious sexuality. I wonder if the guy is positive?
Back to tonight’s game, Scrabble struck out 9 Yankees over his 5 innings.

By: Route36West

Route36West — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:55:13 +0000

These idiots are ruining baseball. What no one can have a great season without using drugs? I dont care if he hit 30 or 7 homers the year before. Getting better doesnt make you a cheater. I dont know if he cheated or not but why are we even thinking about it. Until something actually happens that actually shows that theres a possibility that someone cheated it shouldnt be talked about. Baseball writers complain about everyone taking steroids so serious in there sport but no one makes a big deal out of it when it happens in the NFL. Read your own articles and theres your answer. People in the NFL dont say o he must be on steriods after a guy goes from nothing to something. Sidney Rice and Miles Austin were bums there first few years then blew up with a 1000 yard seasons last year. Not one writer mentioned steriods bc they have integrity unlike alot of you baseball writers.

By: Proudly Canadian

Proudly Canadian — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:13:32 +0000

So it is OK to call Franz a dumbass. If so, I am all for it.
After 3 innings the Jays lead NY by 7 to 0 and the only home runs have been hit by Buck (19th) and Wells (31st). Burnett is gone and Jays starter “Scrabble” as you call him has struck out 7 Yankees.

By: D-Luxxx

D-Luxxx — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:10:20 +0000

“So grow up!”
This coming from the guy calling someone he doesn’t even know a dumbass…

By: Craig Calcaterra

Craig Calcaterra — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:09:08 +0000

Except Frantz is accusing Bautista. He may have couched it just enough to avoid illegality, but he’s clearly doing it. And he has no evidence for it.
As for calling me a dumbass, hey, that’s just an opinion. And opinions are fair game.

By: Paper Lions

Paper Lions — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:01:12 +0000

Actually, you can accuse anyone of anything as long as you believe it to be true. It isn’t illegal to be an idiot or to be wrong; it is only illegal to knowingly disparage someone. Any writer can legally state that he thinks Bautista is using PEDs.

By: Crazimitch

Crazimitch — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:47:37 +0000

Oh grow up. You know very well the legalities of accusing someone without proof that they are using PEDs. It’s not liking thinking someone’s a dumb ass and then giving said opinion. For instance i firmly believe you are a dumbass, and will say as much. You are a dumbass, and all you can do is delete my comment. However i can not accuse you of plagiarism unless I have proof. Frantz has the same problem, without proof he’s liable and so is his publisher. So grow up!