7:42 PM Eastern
I’ve never been a fan of Alex Rodriguez as a person. He’s a phenomenal hitter, one of the best of all-time, and if not for the intransigence of Derek Jeter would probably have gone down in history as the best shortstop ever. But he has always appeared too polished, too unfeeling, too much a businessman rather than an athlete, and maybe that image was calculated to cover up what has shown as immaturity and very poor sportsmanship on the field of play on occasion.
The two things that stood out the most for me about Alex Rodriguez the person are his slap of Bronson Arroyo’s glove down the first-base line in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS and his “HA!” or whatever he said to make Howie Clark think he was being called off a pop-up at Rogers Centre down the third-base line a couple of years ago. I have never seen John McDonald as angry as I did following that incredibly bush-league move.
Now the thing that stands out the most for me, and most other observers, is the fact that Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in the 2003 survey testing that Major League Baseball did in order to see if enough players were cheating to warrant putting in a full-blown testing program.
The revelation of the positive test was a stunner, though Rodriguez had been fingered by Jose Canseco, at the very least, as a steroid user. Rodriguez now moves into the “bad-guy corner” of MLB’s elite, with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Rafael Palmeiro, among others. His Hall of Fame candidacy is at risk and he can no longer be held up as the “true” heir to Hank Aaron as baseball’s Home Run King. Never mind that Aaron has admitted to using amphetamines (and there are strong arguments that have been made that he used steroids), Willie Mays has been fingered as, at the very least, a supplier of amphetamines to his teammates, and Babe Ruth also used illegal substances (alcohol) during his playing days. So the “real” Home Run King is, who, Frank Robinson?
Anyway, the “apology” that Rodriguez made in an interview with Peter Gammons on ESPN on Monday irks me, as well. He admitted to using a “banned substance”, but only when he was with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003. He said he used because he was naive (doubtful) and stupid (maybe, but his agent sure isn’t) and that the culture of baseball was a lot looser than it is now (very true). He said that he felt a lot of pressure having just signed a 10-year, $252 million contract and wanted to make sure he lived up to it. Rodriguez said he quit taking steroids in Spring Training of 2003, when he suffered a neck injury, and that he has been clean ever since.
A lot of people are buying this. I’m not. As I mentioned in the comments section, this is a classic case of “only admit to what they can prove.” He hasn’t failed any tests since the 2003 survey testing, because those results were made public, so no need to say anything about that time. He only failed the 2003 test, so no need to say anything about his time in Seattle. I’ll give him credit, at least, for not saying “I only did it once.”
However, he looked very well-coached and well-rehearsed throughout his half-hour sitdown with Gammons. Rodriguez hit on several talking points multiple times, repeating the words “naive”, “stupid”, “without over-investigating” and his point about having to be better informed about “what I was ingesting”.
He couldn’t answer the question about how he got the drugs - even intimating it might have been something he picked up at a GNC - and he said that he didn’t know what it was that he took. One would think that if he was being “completely honest”, his answers to those questions would have been different.
Rodriguez mentioned that Gene Orza, the right-hand man of Players’ Union head honcho Donald Fehr, came up to him in 2004 and told him that he may have failed the survey drug test in ‘03 but he may not have. I can’t understand why Orza would say that unless he knew that Rodriguez was in a position to fail the test.
He also said that prior to 2001, he had never even heard that any major-leaguer might be using steroids. That’s the biggest pile of -ahem- baloney of them all. There’s just no way that could possibly be true.
The biggest grain of actual truth in Rodriguez’s entire performance was when he said that he got caught up in the culture of “everybody’s doing it, so why not experiment with x, y or z?” That’s it. Bang on. Exactly. Just say that and don’t try to feed us all the other crap to make yourself look good! That’s why he did it, whether he started in 2001 and quit in 2003 or whether he started in 1995 and just switched to hGH or some other undetectable substance when he got out of Texas.
He said was “deeply sorry” and “very regretful” but I’m sorry - growing a conscience after you get caught doesn’t wash. He said that he was “glad the truth is coming out today, it needed to come out a long time ago.” That’s an interesting point, because there was really only one person who could have made sure that the truth could have come out a long time ago, and that guy was busy denying he’d ever used steroids in a CBS interview with Katie Couric last year.
Rodriguez wants us to believe that he wasn’t telling the truth then, but that he’s telling the truth now. Of course, back then he wanted us to believe that he was telling the truth then. My basic contention is that if one is willing to cheat, then one is also willing to lie about the cheating, and once one is caught, to lie about the extent of the cheating. The fact that Rodriguez’ growing forehead turned beet-red several times over the course of the interview didn’t really help him, either.
Lastly, he noted that he’d only gained 15 pounds over the last 15 years, which he believes shows that he’s clean. Thing is, the steroid that he used without “over-investigating” what he was putting into his body, Primobolan, helps to maximize muscle efficiency by helping to create more lean muscle mass. He also tested positive for excessive testosterone, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says that testosterone and Primobolan is a “well-known combination for athletes who are seeking performance-enhancing benefits.” Primobolan isn’t legally available anywhere in the U.S., even with a doctor’s prescription.
He has stayed lean, unlike, say, Barry Bonds, but that’s because the steroid he was taking was designed to keep him lean.
I have made it a practice not to take shots at other reporters, even though some of them seem to delight in taking shots at me. I am suspending this practice for the moment because I just have to react to something Steve Simmons wrote in Monday’s Toronto Sun. Simmons suggested that a distinction has to be made between Rodriguez and Bonds because Bonds “abused” steroids, but Rodriguez only “used” steroids. I’m not 100% sure on this, but that might just be the most ridiculous thing that I have ever read.
Simmons wrote that while Bonds grew right before our eyes to freakish proportions, Rodriguez “has gone from boy to man with the usual change of body”. But that’s because Bonds was taking stuff that made him huge while Rodriguez was taking stuff that kept him lean. I think this is Simmons saying that he’d still vote Rodriguez into the Hall of Fame, but not Bonds.
There’s no distinction. Just like there’s no real reason to believe that Rodriguez only used illegal performance-enhancers for the three years he was in Texas, and that one of the reasons he used them was the heat.
I wanted also to make a quick comment on the Roberto Alomar story that emerged today. An ex-girlfriend is suing the former Blue Jay because she says that he had unprotected sex with her after having been told in February 2006 that he had AIDS. I have nothing to say about the merits of the lawsuit or otherwise, though if it’s true it’s a vile thing, but if Alomar really has AIDS then I feel terribly sorry for him.
I didn’t know Alomar well at all, only covering the 1991 Jays with University of Toronto radio, the ‘93 team as an intern at the Fan and the ‘95 team with 680News. I wasn’t in there everyday like I am now, it was a lot closer to once or twice a homestand.
What I do know is that one can make a very easy argument that he was the greatest Blue Jay ever, and he won a lot of fans over his five years here with his astonishing play on the field.
Personally, I always thought he was a bit of a punk. I didn’t like the fact that he refused to play after David Cone was traded at the deadline in ‘95 and that he often only seemed interested in playing hard when he was playing for a contender. Of course, the spitting incident with John Hirschbeck at SkyDome was disgusting. Regardless, his alleged fate is one you wouldn’t wish on anybody. I hope it’s not true.
Watching Roberto Alomar play second base for the Jays, and be part of that wrecking-crew offense that saw three straight A.L. East titles and back-to-back World Series wins, was a pleasure almost unmatched. I wish the very best for him in the future, and look forward to seeing him take his rightful place in the Hall of Fame next summer, inducted as a Blue Jay.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome.
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Mike….Two difficult topics that you covered nicely…What bothered me more with the Alomar/Hirschbeck spitting incident (which was inexcusable)were his insensitve remarks towards the umpire’s son who was sick at the time or had recently passed away due to his illness(Mike, please correct me if I have erred in any way on the details of the umpires’ boy) Being a young father myself in 1996, it did hit a nerve with me and I especially remember my wife (who usually was a quiet spectator) being totally disgusted with the spitting and the remarks, as we both adored Alomar the player, as he was a member of that small group of athletes in ANY sport (Bobby Orr, Pinball Clemons, Michael Jordan) that could beat you with any aspect of his game…Thirteen years later, you try to remember the homer off Eckersley, the catch where he went BEHIND Olerud in the ‘93 W.S. and his overall brilliance at 2nd base and at the plate…If John Hirschbeck can forgive him, I guess I can..I won’t ask you Mike to choose which incident was worse because it’s not a contest, but do you concur that it’s time to move on from his bad judgement in 1996?
MW: If Hirschbeck forgave him, you can too, but you can bet he hasn’t forgotten.
- chris m.Well said Mike. Do you know how the NY media is treating the story about A-Rod? I get the feeling New York fans are looking for a reason to love him, but some are looking for a reason to hate him too?? And Dude, 162 comments on the last post — I think a lot of people are eagerly anticipating the season!!
MW: It’s easy to find out how the NY media is treating the story - all their newspapers and radio and TV stations have websites!
- SandyI couldn’t help but laugh at the end of the interview when A-Rod says something like, “I was naive, I was an idiot…New Yorkers can relate to this.” Then the realization of what he just said kind of washes over his face, and he adds “…sometimes!”
It’s too bad about Alomar. If the story is true though, is Alomar going to cough up $15 mil. and this goes away? Does he not face jail time?
MW: It’s a civil suit, not a criminal trial, so he doesn’t face any jail time right now. I would think he could make it go away with a lot less money than that, if it has merit. If there’s no merit to it, then he’ll fight it. The thing is, I’m not sure there’s a way to prove legally when Alomar “should have known” he was infected (if, in fact, he is) if he hadn’t been tested.
- BrendanHey there Mike. Good to hear from you more now that spring training is inching that much closer. Just wondering what you do to keep busy during the off-season? All the best.
MW: Plenty. The off-season always seems to fly by.
- TristanSo Alomar is a for sure HoF entry if with the spitting and now AIDS stuff? Also, would you guess that Bautista is going to be let go (with 400K, bad move) now that Millar has signed.
MW: Having AIDS shouldn’t keep anyone out of the Hall of Fame. The spitting was disgusting, as I mentioned, but I think the rest of his career overwhelms it. I don’t know about Bautista. He and Millar may both make the team at the expense of Snider - it sounds as though the Jays are changing their tune on him a bit.
- RenegadeAnd we can all thank Commissioner Bud for the dark mark the steroid era has left over some of baseball’s cherished records, and the question marks it has raised about some of its biggest stars.
- FoxyBud buried his head in the sand and hoped it would all go away, I guess.
I for one feel cheated not only by Barry Bonds “pursuit” of 755, but also by the McGwire/Sosa duel to break Maris’ record, and even by Clemens back-to-back triple crown wins.
We all had hoped that A-Fraud would eclipse Bonds’ mark and help us to forget about all of this. Apparently not.
Do you think that A-Rod can restore his image and get voted into the hall of fame?
MW: That’s still about 15 years away, we’ll see what happens in the game as a whole over that period of time.
- andrewwhy no comments on the alomar case? if not then I will.
1 - if he had aids 3 years ago I think he would be showing it by now and when we saw him at jays games he looked fine.
2 - how many athletes have hiv these days anyways? can’t think of any so I would hope it’s not true
3 - this lady didn’t get hiv despite having high risk sex for 1 year with alomar. pretty lucky no?
4 - she didn’t file a complaint with police, only after she was kicked out by alomar in late 2008, now she files a lawsuit. also she lived with alomar while aware of the disease for 3 years but now suddenly that the money train is over, she is now suddenly distraught about it.
5 - she puts in the transcript that alomar was raped as a teenager. I don’t know what the point of that was other than to try to humiliate alomar in public.
- roccoGood post Mike, I agree with the Simmons’ statement being patently ridiculous but I was really disappointed with you for lumping Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth (for ALCHOHOL USE! Please!!) in with the most recent usual suspects. There is a difference between speculation and proof and you of all people should be more sensible. A-Rod, Giambi, Bonds et al FAILED legitimate drug tests. Aaron and Mays and Ruth did not. Would they have? We don’t know. Were they on speed? Definitely. But do you really think steroids and amphetamines produce the same result?
I understand your over-all point (all banned drugs, got it)but I really think you went a tad too far. Should all of the games heroes be declared frauds?
MW: If they cheated, why not?
- Scott Bmike, I dont think lind should be used as dh. we’ve always heard the mantra that dh is for a veteran guy that can handle sitting on the bench. to put a 20 something kid there is sad and is a recipe for failure.
- roccoHear hear Wilner, Hear hear.
- toseHi Mike, great article I had the exact same thoughts when reading Sims article but could never have put it into a clear rational article like you just did. very well done.
MW: Thanks.
- Dan MI know we’re not suppose to show any sympathy for Rodriguez but any comment on the fact that his named was leaked from what was suppose to be an anonymous drug test? People are picking names, one at a time, and then hammering them. It’s too much.
MW: That’s true, but it doesn’t change the fact that he ‘roided up.
- DaveNow that the Nats have signed Dunn, what do you think about the Jays maybe trading for Nick Johnson? DHing him might actually keep him healthy (yeah right) and it would give the jays a legit #3 or #4 hitter who hits for power and actually gets on base more than 34% of the time, unlike anyone else on the team except Overbay. It would also break up the right-handed Rios and Wells, if you’re into that kind of thing. I’m guessing it wouldn’t take more than a B-prospect or two to nab him.
MW: I would LOVE to see the Jays add Nick Johnson.
- PeteHey Mike,
In my mind, the most revealing point you’ve made in this blog is pondering whether Frank Robinson is the true home run king . . . but then again, Robinson probably took some greenies, too. So maybe it’s Harmon Killebrew. Or Reggie Jackson. Certainly candy-bars and tinted shades aren’t performance-enhancers,
Too bad the Steve Simmons-types of the world, who might have a bit of a bigger audience (Simmons is well-read, no disputing that) don’t take the opportunity to explore this point more closely.
It’s like anyone who ever played the game of baseball prior to 1995 is squeaky clean, and all who have come after them are obviously drug-abusers who have tainted the sport . . .
(except in 1998, when Simmons had his pom-poms out with everyone else in North America media to watch the Great Home Run Chase).
MW: Chances are the “real” home run champ is Jimmie Foxx.
- Ken PaganHey Mike,
We’ll all remember Sept. 11, 2001 for obvious reasons.
That same day, a certain pom-pom waving writer penned a puffy “Last Word” column about the great Barry Bonds, which made reference to how fortunate said writer was to have witnessed McGwire’s final weekend of 1998 in person.
You can look it up . . .
Just an example of how the winds have changed with mainstream media, since St. Patrick’s Day 2005.
- Ken Pagando you think this bautista fiasco is another reed johnson play? you know sign him in the hopes I can trade him, if not then I’ll just release him.
hinske just signed for 1-2 mil, surely was a better option
MW: Hinske’s left-handed, Bautista’s right-handed, which is why Hinske wasn’t a better option. But no, neither Reed nor Bautista was signed in the hopes that he’d be able to be traded.
- roccoGreat blog there Mike - nice work.
I agree with you on all points made.
Alomar as to you thinking of him as a “punk” at times. I must have said that 100 times or more during his playing days. When he spit in the face of John Hirchbeck he proved to all he was indeed a “punk”!
Making matters worse at that time were Alomars comments after being thrown out of the game, saying that Hirschbeck had become “real bitter” since the death of his 8-year-old son. Only a dis-respectful punk would say something as deplorable as that.
I for one lost all, or rather any remaining respect, for him at that time.
They say “what goes around comes around” - I am not sure if I ever believed that or not - however I do hope he is healthy and the accusations are false. For his sake, MLB and that of a good basbeball families sake.
Thanks.
MW: I don’t think Alomar contracting AIDS would be a case of “what goes around comes around”. Karmic retribution should make the punishment fit the crime.
- Bob from BurlingtonI hope the HIV story about Alomar isn’t true. It would truly be a shame. I guess because the teams he was on here came in my teen years and I literally grew up watching them. I will always have a soft spot for the players on those team. Alomar was possibly not the greatest person on the planet as a Jay but it can be said that he redefined what it is to be a second baseman in this city and provides and exemplar for those following him in the position.
- D.A MitchellMike,
It’s real easy. The REAL home run king is Dave Kingman, a man who scored over half- of his runs via the HR (442 HR’s/ 901 total runs scored)
Seriously, you cannot make a distinction about steroid users based on body size. Reading Game of Shadows showed that steroids and HGH had differing effects, depending on the sport. You cannot play revisionist Hall of Fame judge, jury and executioner.
Bonds, A-Rod, Rocket Roger, McGwire, Sosa et al all belong. Morally reprehensible as it was, it was not illegal.
Greg Maddux is looking pretty good right now isn’t he?
MW: Maddux is, but who knows? And 442 isn’t more than half of 901.
- Steve ClarkI don’t mind so much that people are ticked off at the players who get caught, etc., the problem is that there are probably hundreds of players that took stuff that we will never hear about. How do we know guys that are already in the hall of fame didn’t take steroids? I would vote for Bonds, A-Rod (although chanting A-Roid at the ballpark would certainly be enjoyable), McGwire, Clemens, etc. because regardless of what they took or didn’t take they were still amazing players. I think it will be sad if these players do not get in, regardless of whether or not they are/were jerks (or in Clemens’s case, mega-jerks) for using illegal substances.
Speaking of the hall of fame, I had the chance to go there in November, it’s an amazing place (long & boring drive though), definitely worth the trip.
MW: I couldn’t agree with you more.
- Mike MI”m no fan of Rodriquez, Bonds or Clemens. But these guys were juicing in an age of juicing. It’s not like they were the only ones. And A-Rod still played better ball than other juiced athletes. Bonds still hit more home runs than other juiced swatters. Yeah, they cheated and so did everyone else. Remember Albert Belle and his famous surliness and occasional rages? 9 consecutive seasons he hit more than 100 rbis. A .295 career average. Was he juicing? I’ve no idea…
I do think Bonds, Rodriguez and Clemens belong in the HoF. I can’t see any reason to keep them out or asterisk their names or whatever. They played hard and juiced. They didn’t bet on their games like Pete Rose did. I’ve never understood the fixation many baseball people have on the character of the players. I’ve noticed this a lot in interviews, when asked about a player the manager often starts off with ‘So and So is a great guy! Or So and So is a nice guy!’ or whatever. I don’t care if So and So is an SOB. As long as he plays well and helps the team.
And on that note, Alomar: unpleasant guy, amazingly gifted athlete, sad story.
MW: The thing is, character sells. People make the connection, for some reason, that because someone is really, really good at something, he or she must also be a great person. I don’t know why that is.
- reyesI think that Simmons line might top “It’s not a lie if we know the truth”…
MW: I don’t know about that.
- Arjpersonally, I could not care less about steroids
it was part of the culture of baseball back then and just about everybody did it from your ham and cheese A ball player to the bigs. These guys are adults, who play sports, they know what they’re doing to their bodies… why do people care?
MW: See above.
- Paul OHi Mike,
I guess you can scratch A-Rod’s name off the list as the next “clean” home run king. It’s really a shame because I think it would have been good for baseball to have someone to look forward to in passing Barry Bonds in ten years or less.
With that in mind, do you have anyone in mind who might be in line to one day break that record? Here’s hoping Pujols has always been clean. Perhaps Longoria? Take care Mike.
MW: I wouldn’t dare to hazard a guess.
- Jamie/WindsorMike-I agree with you 100% regarding Rodriguez.He is sorry he got caught not sorry he used steroids.
- PaulI believe Alomar . Baseball players and their lawyers rarely lie .
I wonder if Jays still want him to instruct at Spring training?
MW: Evidently the offer is still open.
- Chas CalzTo Paul O., who said: “These guys are adults, who play sports, they know what they’re doing to their bodies… why do people care?”
Agreed that the perhaps we shouldn’t care about the consequences to the adult PED users.
However, as the father of a 14 year old son who pitches at rep level and has hopes of playing at a more elite level, I care a lot about the example being set by the PED users.
It frightens me that the message being received by young players is that PEDs will help you to get there, or to be a star.
I would rather that my son never played another game than that he would use PEDs.
MW: I agree with you, I don’t want your son using IPEDs, either (the “I” is for illegal), but the truth of the matter is the example is set by the players because it works. If you’re good enough, then the drugs will help you get better.
- GregHHi Mike,
Let me start off by saying I’ve been a huge Barry Bonds fan ever since his rookie year in Pittsburgh. But I am a realist, and I know what he did, and that it was wrong ethically, morally or whatever other way you want to spin it. That being said, is there a point where we just say that everyone in this era is guilty! If not of doing it themselves, then of not stopping it. Seeing it happen and not talking to the league, owners, union reps. Over 10% of the players got caught in 2003, and we know a huge chunk of the players knew when they were going to get tested, so the number is alot larger than 10%. At a certain point writers and fans either should accept everyones accomplishments in this era as tarnished and banished from any record books (and that includes perceived clean people - Glavine, Maddux, Alomar, whoever) or accept everyone for the homeruns they hit and the MVP’s they earned.
Moving forward the only way the players will ever get credibility again is by allowing blood tests. Forget their privacy concerns, or the inconvience of the method. From a fans perspective not only is every record tarnished from the late 80’s on, but it will continue to be tarnished until they prove that everyone is on an equal playing field.
I think baseball should think outside the box. And instead of banishing anyone that got caught, like throwing Jose C, Barry B, Sammy Sosa, etc out of the sport. But acknowledge that despite a different set of testing policies and some controversies around all the players in this era, these players still did more than their competitors and for that we will respect the record they created and the contribution they made to the game.
AND THEN WE COULD MOVE ON…
MW: There’s a segment that I don’t think will ever be able to move on. But you’re right, those that didn’t actually do anything (a minority, definitely) are certainly guilty of not doing anything to stop it from happening around them.
- RoMike:
When are you going to Florida to cover spring training?
I don’t want to have to rely on reports from Richard Griffin.
MW: I’ll be there March 2nd, but concentrating mostly on Team Canada until after they’re done at the World Baseball Classic, whenever that happens to be.
- Jim BMW: Chances are the “real” home run champ is Jimmie Foxx.
you mean the guy from SNL also plays baseball? holy cow
MW: I think you mean “In Living Colour”.
- chubby“The two things that stood out the most for me about Alex Rodriguez the person are his slap of Bronson Arroyo’s glove down the first-base line in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS and his “HA!” or whatever he said to make Howie Clark think he was being called off a pop-up at Rogers Centre down the third-base line a couple of years ago. I have never seen John McDonald as angry as I did following that incredibly bush-league move.”
I’m not a supporter of A-Rod at all, but deceiving the opponent as he did with Howie Clark is accepted as routine in every other sport. If a hockey, basketball, or soccer player calls for a pass from behind an opponent with the puck/ball and gets the pass he is deemed to have made a “smart move”. Never have I ever heard a question of the ethics of this situation. Fooling the opponent is part of the game, if you can get someone to fall for it.
The assistant GM for the Jays who was recently let go, Bart, came to a Toronto SABR meeting and said that JP was a lot more upset with Clark’s “stupidity in thinking that Glaus could possibly be calling him off a routine infield pop-up, especially when he knew that A-Rod was running the bases behind him”. I tend to agree that Clark is the one at fault here. He had absolutely no reason to not catch the ball.
MW: It wasn’t Glaus, since Clark was playing third, it was McDonald, and that fact is that if a shortstop calls for the ball on the infield, it’s his and everyone else should get out of the way.
- KenA-Rod, Giambi, Bonds et al FAILED legitimate drug tests. Aaron and Mays and Ruth did not. Would they have? We don’t know.
Neither Giambi or Bonds have failed a drug test.
Giambi testified before a grand jury (in a supposedly sealed disposition) that he did use steroids.
Bonds has neither admitted or tested positive. It’s possible that he had steroids administered to him without knowing exactly what he was being given much less the legality of it.
A-Rod tested positive in a anonymous test, the results of which the PA has the opportunity to destroy, and for some reason that Fuhr will not explain, did not.
MW: When you’re quoting someone, please indicate that you’re doing so and who you’re quoting. I’m assuming the first line of this comment is a quote from someone else. Also, the ex-Leaf and Oiler goalie is not the head of the MLBPA.
- KenThere was probably a time, long ago, when politicians told the truth, kept the promises they made, and acted with integrity. Then, one day, a politician lied, broke a promise, took a bribe. Politics is a difficult, demanding career, but once lies and corruption were discovered, suddenly it wasn’t so difficult, so demanding. And the rewards were far greater than what came before. So with very little fanfare or protest, politicians became untrustworthy, corrupt, accomplished liars. Once it became commonplace, it was accepted as an unavoidable aspect of politics. Is this politician a liar? Is that one? Who can tell? Better to assume that they all are, to keep lowering our expectations instead of demanding more from those who would lead us.
We are at the stage now where it is impossible to say if a given player had used steroids or not, so a whole generation of players are being tagged as ’steroid-era’. I was a fan of Fred McGriff, and while he didn’t seem like the type to use steroids, who can say? Once the use of performance-enhancing drugs becomes commonplace, it will be accepted as an unavoidable aspect of sports, and once that happens, then like politics, we will never be able to return to the days of old.
But then, maybe politicians have always been untrustworthy, corrupt liars, and maybe athletes have always used whatever would give them a competitive advantage. Maybe nothing ever changes but the names and the background scenery. If that’s the case, is ignorance not bliss?
MW: People only seem to want to be ignorant now when it concerns the NFL.
- Rob ClarkMike, I just have to say that I’m glad to have you and baseball back in my life. I’m hoping that since I’ll be living in Toronto next summer instead of Guelph that I can go to twice as many games.
I’m really going to miss the Blue Jays when I move to St John’s - there’s no radio station there that carries the Jays, and it’s also blacked out for MLBtv. Silliness.
MW: You have to get on those local radio stations in St. John’s to pick up the broadcasts!
- Sam McLeanHey Mike,
Venture a guess on the 25 man roster?
I’m thinking…
Halladay, Litsch, Janssen, Clement, Purcey plus Ryan, Accardo, Downs, Tallet, Frasor, Carlson, League.
Barajas, Overbay, Hill, Scutaro, Rolen, Lind, Wells, Rios, Snider, Millar, Inglett, Barrett, and McDonald.
The more I think about Bautista and his contract the more I get infuriated and despite his power I would rather see McDonald on the team.
What do you think?
Thanks.
MW: I think your pitching staff is about bang-on, though I still want to see how Accardo looks in the spring. As for the offense, my thinking right now is that you should probably replace Snider with Bautista, judging from the way they seem to be talking. But it’s VERY early yet.
- JeffMike,
Your Babe Ruth comparison reeks of a twelve-year-old in his first debate class. I admire your baseball knowledge, but I sincerely hope you’ll get the bile-filled Vlasic removed from your large intestine.
MW: Thanks!
- DaleThis Arod column is just part of the reason why you are probably the best baseball columnist out there. Great job.
MW: Talk to the guy above you.
- RahilI really want to see who else is on this list because I strongly suspect that it likley contains many (if not most, or God forbid, all)of the people who won major awards in that year. If my hunch is correct, this means that cheaters did indeed prosper and it casts a very dubious light on all people who won awards for the past decade at least.
MW: Remember, the list of 104 is just a small sampling of the guys who were actually doing stuff. They knew they were going to be tested, so you’d have to be an idiot to get caught.
- LenHey mike, do I believe a-rod was on the juice during the texas years? yes. he hit homers in the 50’s. Do I believe A-rod is on the juice during the current yankee years? yes. He hit what, 58 homers 2 seasons ago? A clan A-rod in my opinion would average 36 homers and 120 Rbi over his career, which is phenomenal. Its just so tough to gage when he started using, and when he stopped, in face he is off of it now. Personally, I don’t believe he started in 2001-2003. I believe what he really means is, he started in 1998 and probably finish a year or two ago. Last season was possibly his worst season, 35 and 110 I believe. Anyhow, numbers can be disputed for the next 20 years. If I were A-Rod, and I truly felt sorry about the roids, I would have firmly stated, ‘I request that major league baseball disregard my numbers from 2001-2003. Wipe them out of the books, subtract my Texas numbers from those of my current numbers. In addition, I will donate my 2009-2010 salary to a charitable cause’. That’s what he would have done, had he truly felt sorry. Unfortunately, that’s a pipe dream and no professional athlete would ever think about doing something like that. Thanks Mike.
MW: I’m amazed that anyone thinks they can accurately estimate how many home runs and RBIs a “clean” Rodriguez would have gotten as opposed to a ‘roiding one.
- rockyHi this is completely unrelated. But I was wondering if any of the jays live in Toronto during the offseason? Do their families live here or do most of them live in the states? I was just wondering. Thanks, you’re a great radio host.
MW: As far as I know, Jason Frasor is the only one who is here year-round. Most of them bring their families in for periods of time during the summer, when the kids are off school.
- JeremyJust looked up nick johnson’s stats. He actually hits lefties better than righties. But then upon looking up contract i see that he costs the same as what abreu signed for. Granted abreu may not have wanted to come here. Also johnson is a 2010 free agent so if this is a rebuilding year then what is really the point. I guess he could still net us a draft pick if he stays healthy. Any guess on what we would have to give up for him? I imagine washington would like to unload his salary if he is not a starter.
MW: I would imagine that the Nats would be motivated to move him, as well. In saying that I’d love the Jays to have him, I hadn’t considered the financial implications or contracts, just that Id rather have him than Overbay at first because I think that Johnson is a fantastic hitter. However, one would assume that if they got Johnson, they’d move Overbay.
- jeremyCan we give Howie Clark some credit for not being a complete and total moron? you can clearly hear A-Roid yell “mine” on one of the replays.
MW: I don’t think too many people think that Howie Clark is a complete and total moron. I sure don’t.
- ErikMike….Different periods of time seem to dictate what was accepted or not and not just with alcohol, uppers or steroids, but events that played out during the course of a game or after the game…Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale and others were applauded and praised for head hunting, for lack of a better term..but Pedro M., Clemens and others are vilified for it…Gordie Howe gets lionized for “welcoming” rookies to the league with an elbow to the chops, but today they call you Ryan Hollweg if you do it. Rams’ great lineman Deacon Jones would trip, head slap and admitted he “tried every play to put the guy in front of him in the hospital.”..Heck..If you said that today, you’d be gone…The Yankees of the 50’s were a hard drinking, partying bunch but when you win, Mickey Mantles’(and others) weaknesses are easy to cover up..Even Don Larsen on the evening of his perfect game in the ‘56 W.S. was served with papers for being a delinquent dad/husband…Mike…Do you think the era you play in has a great deal to do with being accused of being a “bad guy.”
MW: Of course.
- chris m.Mike, I’ve never heard the suggestion that Hank Aaron may have used steroids (the amphetamine stuff yes, but not steroids). Could you expand on that and/or point us in the direction of some more information?
Also, I don’t really agree with throwing Babe Ruth’s drinking in with steroid and amphetamine use. All were illegal, yes, but Ruth’s drinking wasn’t done in an effort to improve his performance. In my mind, that makes a significant difference, although I do see your point as well.
MW: I know that The Babe didn’t use alcohol as a performance enhancer, my point is that he operated under the influence of an illegal substance. As for the Aaron/roids connection, all it took was a little googling to find the Steroid Nation blog and their article on The Hammer.
- DarrenHow much do you think steroids made a difference in A-rod stats?
MW: There’s really no way to know.
- andrewDo you see the Millar signing as some more time for Snider in AAA to start the season?
Do you have any info on the Australian ss the Jays just signed, Nick Bidios I believe is his name, I think he is only 16 or 17.
Where do you see Matt Bush starting the year, low A? If he can get Canada Customs to look past his criminality and let him into Canada that is.
Finally with all the young players in camp this year will you be reporting from Dunedin? I am really excited to hear how the prospects are doing and the battle for the rotation spots.
MW: I think the result of the Millar signing may well be that Snider starts the year in Vegas, though I don’t see the logic behind that. I think Bush likely starts in Lansing or Dunedin, but none of the Jays’ farm teams make any visits to Canada. I’ll be in Dunedin as of March 2nd.
- ClintHi Mike, I wanted to say that I really enjoy your insight to the game and your candid opinion about everything about baseball. As much as I hated Alomar in later days in Toronto and in Baltimore, I would not wish this on him ever. It is sad.
2 questions:
1) You mentioned that the Jays may have second thoughts on Snider. Is there something more there? Or is that more a hunch than anything else.
B)I have heard it several times from several people that Doc makes the other starters around him better. Is this factual or is it just people reading something into something that is not there. And if it is true how is it done? We have heard stories how Doc like to keep to himself and likes his routine.
Thanks Mike
MW: 1 - Just second thoughts about him starting the season in the majors. It’s not a hunch, it comes from the way J.P. Ricciardi has changed his tune over the past few weeks, going from “Snider will play every day in the majors” to “It might not be so bad if Snider gets a little more time at AAA”. B - Several teammates of Halladay’s have mentioned that pitching with him makes them better, just from watching how he goes about his business. Halladay is a creature of habit and routine, but always welcomes teammates who want to work out with him.
- DanMW: Chances are the “real” home run champ is Jimmie Foxx.
Griffey? What about him put him out of the running for you? Good to hear he’s probably going back to Seattle, also. It looks like this will be his last year, unless he has a great year and Seattle is willing to take him back on another 1-year contract.
MW: Chances are Griffey winds up with the Braves. What takes him out of the running for me is what takes everybody else in the last 50 years out of the running.
- BrendanI’m surprised people still let Hank Aaron off scot free with taking the uppers and all that. To me the true homerun king in still Ruth. Total domination over the entire league; fewer games in the regular season. He’s the man. 714 and 60 are the numbers that count to me.
- Michael KrimmerMike,
Where did you hear/read/see these arguments that Hank Aaron took steroids? I have yet to hear this and would like to read up on it.
MW: See above.
- Ryan McCallenMike…If Scott Rolen finds a syringe around third base the next time the Yanks are in town, he should head straight to the N.Y. dugout and ask for the owner..If A-Rod yells out “MINE” will Johnny Mac and all Blue Jay fans feel justice has been served?
- chris m.mikey, I think shawn green was on steroids. no way a skinny guy like that jacks 40 homers. what do you think?
MW: I suspect everyone who played in the last 20 years or so.
- chubbyHey Mike. Back from Thailand. Unfortunatly my parents gave our family dog her final nap(if you know what I mean)while I was on my trip so your blog is a nice distracton from my depression. I notice sometimes in your blogs you tell family stories so there is mine. I never liked A..-Rod after I saw him …..slap Arroyo and the “BA” incident in TO. If he was a material boy even before he met Madonna can you imagine how much more of one he is now that he is dating a material girl? BTW you awnsered correcty on what WWTCD stands for. God love Tom Cheek!
- Matt from BCHey Mike,
I’m excited for Spring Training to start and to hopefully move on from steroids (I know we never will but I hope).
Anyways, have you heard anything about a Canadian MLB Network? I know the US has theirs up and running and just wondering what if anything was going on in Canada and if it would be a factor at all in games I am able to see etc.? I can’t tell you how annoying it is not to be able to watch all the Raptors games cause I have Rogers Cable and can’t get TSN2.
MW: I have heard tell of a Canadian MLB network that might be launching sometime this summer, but I really don’t know anything about it.
- JoshThe saddest part of this steroid mess, is that no player is above suspicion now. I even saw Halladay’s name brought up in one blog because he had pitched so many complete games. How does a clean player fight that?
Now on to baseball. Any chance that Gillick might be rethinking his position on the president’s job for the Jays?
MW: It’s all but impossible for a clean player to fight charges, mostly because you can’t believe anyone anymore. Good thing there aren’t that many clean players. As for Gillick, I doubt it very much.
- sandymichael,
intransigence you say….
good word my friend.
hey, you mentioned babe ruth in the blog.
was going to mention to you but forgot…. the movie about him with john goodman was on last sat. afternoon.
came in a bit late on it but watched the rest of it. pretty sure it wasn’t a great movie but a baseball movie so how bad could it be right. shame actually it wasn’t done better considering it might be one of the very best stories to be told in the history of the game.
anyway, a couple things i pulled from it that i found to be quite impressive about the man.
when aaron ties & goes ahead of him for the home run title he did so with 2500 extra at bats to do it. wow…
but the other one that you can’t even quantify in any possible stretch of the imagination. (and still trying to find out if i heard it right) that “the babe” in one of his seasons actually hit more hr’s than the rest of the league did combined.
seriously if true.. well, what’s the equal achievement to that in any sport ever…..
i ask you.
MW: In 1927, Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs and that was a higher total than any other team in the American League (the A’s finished second to the Yanks with 56 homers). I don’t think there is an equal to that.
- darrell bishopI stopped being a fan of A-Rod even before his Ranger days. IIRC, he made statements before his final year as a Mariner (2000), that he’d consider giving them a hometown discount (or at least sign an extension) if they proved to be a “contender”. Not only did they contend in 2000, but they MADE the playoffs. Yet he didn’t even consider the Mariners’ offer come that fall and went for the money.
So A-Rod has a LONG history of lies…
MW: That’s not much of a lie. I’m sure the Mariners’ offer was more than $100 million less than the Rangers’ - and that’d be one hell of a hometown discount.
- JJBMike, Reyes,
The argument that they were all juicing, so those who juiced and performed better than the other juicers doesn’t wash. The drugs ball players were taking in the 90s and 00s had a disproportionate effect on power. With the exception of Clemens (and maybe Mussina, who is a fringe HoFer IMO), I don’t think there’s a single starting pitcher who you’d suspect of using and who has moved way up the all-time charts.
On the other hand, the all-time home run charts are ridiculous. Palmiero is 10th, Sheffield 25th, Bagwell 34th, Juan Gonzalez 37th. These stats are the reason I asked you about Molitor. Molitor and Gwynn are 224th and 472nd respectively.
Even if there has been cheating throughout the history of the game, the impact on the long-term records of the game was different. I think there was time only 20 yrs ago when someone could retire and still go to the HoF without having cheated in a way that skewed the all time records (and thereby throwing off fans’ ability to judge the player’s relative historical merit).
I think they should create a ‘95 to ‘03 wing of the HoF and put players strongly suspected of using performance enhancing drugs but who would be worthy had they not cheated in that wing. Too bad for them if they didn’t cheat (or were never caught).
- GautamMike,
3 Questions:
When are you going down to Florida? I can’t wait for the daily Wilner updates!
I made a comment about how I thought it would be fun to let 10 guys go after 3 spots in the rotation, and that looks like what we have..
I think its a lot more exciting than if the Jays would have signed Paul Byrd and John Garland to fill it out..
Do you see the Jays signing any more starting ptichers to minor league deals for the competitiion?
So far we have: Janssen, Clement, Maroth, Cecil, Romero, Mills, Richmond..
Who else can we add or subtract?
MW: I’m heading down for March 2nd. Brian Tallet may be in that mix as well, as will Bryan Bullington. I don’t think there will be any more signings.
- Stevie H.Wayne Gretzky once said something to the effect of “if you’re not trying to cheat you don’t want to win badly enough”. All top level pro athletes are very competitive people, who will try to find an edge. That doesn’t make cheating right, but there’s a great deal of hypocrisy in the moral outrage some are showing. In every era players have pushed the envelope to gain an edge, if a player knew many others were juicing it must a hve been hard to resist. What’s the difference between steriods and spitballs, corked bats or amphetamines? Even a pitcher deliberately throwing at a batter is doing some “illegal”, yet over time will consequently be revered as “tough”. Do we toss Gibson out of the Hall?
MW: The last one is a bit of a stretch, but you’re right about everything else. There is an old adage in baseball, “if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.” But in these days of convenient moral outrage, no one talks about that anymore.
- GrantMike…Three seemingly strange questions at first, but please read on:
a)Do you like horses?
b)Are you a fan of Clint Eastwood?
c)Can you deliver your patented one-word “nope” or “yep” Jays Talk responses with a South-Western U.S accent?….The reason for these questions is because if Kevin Millar cracks the opening day roster, he’s going to want us all to “cowboy up.”
MW: That was a long way to go for that joke.
- chris m.A quick Jesse Litsch observation followed my the requisite question for inside information:
Upon his demotion in July 2008, Jesse had allowed 22 BB in 115 IP. Upon his return he issued 19 BB in 54 IP - almost double the walk rate.
I also recall some surprising velocity from him after he returned from the minors.
Smallish sample size in Aug / Sept but I was wondering: did you ever hear anything about the coaching staff encouraging him to rear back a little bit more at the expense of some accuracy? Or could it have been more due to throwing breaking pitches on 3-ball counts?
Mr. Litsch was one of my few fantasy successes last year, so I am looking forward to cheering him on again this year. PLUS I’ve learned how to spell his name, which didn’t come easily…
MW: Sorry it was so difficult for you to learn how to spell a six-letter word correctly. The reason for Litsch’s increase in velocity was the addition of a four-seam fastball to his repertoire while he was down in Syracuse.
- James (from the 'Shwa)Mike I’m glad you mentioned A-Fraud’s infamous “HA!” play on Howie Clark. I agree it was absolutely bush league and shows clear insight to his character. Johnny Mac was incensed by the play, and that’s evidence enough for me that A-Fraud’s deceit on that play was obvious. It still bugs me that no umpire had the stones to call an out on that play and kill what turned out to be a Yankee rally that prevented a Jay’s series sweep. But then again, life’s too short to get upset by a jerk.
For the record here is the rule that I think applies to that play.
Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not.
MW: We went over the rule at the time, and there was a school of thought that believed that the “hindrance” has to be physical. It’s definitely open to interpretation in the rule.
- RezMichael of the Ballyard:
Don’t you think it’s pretty silly that people expect guys like Michael Phelps and A-Rod to speak to young people about the dangers of using their respective substances? I mean seriously, it has nothing to do with their job description and it’s most likely insincere if they’re doing it because they were asked/told to.
I mean, seriously — they’re athletes. Why should we bother them to do something like that on their free time that that they probably couldn’t care less about?
MW: That’s the thing. We want them to speak to kids about the “dangers” of drugs, but look at the results. Rodriguez juiced and is one of the best hitters of all-time. Phelps smoked up and still won eight gold medals. Kids, don’t do drugs!
- JCLRoger Connor is the real home run king! Forget anyone after the dead ball era ended.
More seriously, what percentage of the players do you think use performance-enhancing drugs, my guess is 40% or so?
MW: Currently use? That’s probably right - less than 50%, I think. Maybe. Ten years ago? About 90%.
- IlanMike,
One point that is contradicting about A-ROID is the fact that he said he was telling the truth to Katie Couric, that he didn’t know he was doing anything wrong, but then stated that a tremendous weight was lifted off his shoulders by coming clean? what weight? He thought he didn’t do anything wrong! Regarding Alomar, I was in the air about him or Tony Fernandez as my favorite player of all time. I will give im the benefit of the doubt on this one though. On Tony Fernandez, why does he not get more HOF pub? He was the second best defensive SS in his era (Ozzie being 1st) and had a little better stick than Ozzie. Anyway, the Jays will be fine this year, and look for them to take the wild card behind the Red Sox. Thanks
MW: It’s a stretch to see the Jays taking the wild card, but I admire your optimism. Good point about the weight on Rodriguez’ shoulders. As for Fernandez, we’ve discussed it before. For some reason, guys don’t hang around on the ballot much anymore if they don’t pass the immediate smell test for the Hall of Fame, except for Don Mattingly. Fernandez should have gotten the 5% to keep him on so that voters could take a better look at his career.
- JustinMike,
You were bang on with A-Fraud and Alomar.
Just wondering though, that part where you attempted to equate Ruth drinking alcohol to the modern day use of steroids, was that supposed to be written in Chinese or Arabic? I’m wondering as it made absolutely no sense.
Don’t play it down. MLB has
to wear it now.
MW: Chinese or Arabic? I’m assuming that was supposed to be funny.
- ProkopecI will never forget going to Pizza Hut(bellamy/eglinton in Scarborough) with my sister, to meet Roberto Alomar.
I was probably 13.
He signed a card, and i embarassed my sister.
“Mr Alomar my sister is in love with you hehehehe”
The pizzaria erupted with laughter and my sister turned red.
The End
A-Rod is a complete weirdo.
The End
M-Dub,
Kazmir Vs Billingsley
Soria Vs Fuentes
Jeter Vs Young
who wins?
MW: Right now, Kazmir, Soria and Jeter.
- slobberfaceYes A-Rod did the juice but so what?..Many ballplayers were doing the stuff..He did juice at at time when it wasn’t banned by MLB..He didn’t break any rules..
Many athletes do whatever it takes to make them better ballplayers..I wonder why the so called “clean” players didn’t blow the whistle on this years ago..Nobody cared in 2001 what these guys were doing because the game was at its peak..The fans loved all the homeruns..I know I did..
I have to ask what it is that steroids does to help your swing and hand-eye co-oridnation? If I took steroids would it help my golf swing?..I bet it wouldn’t..
You don’t have to be a mound of meat to hit a baseball..Just look at Rios or Brian Roberts, Jason Bay even Justin Morneau..These guys are big but certainly not a Barry Bonds body type..
All this steroids stuff has been bloated by the media..I really don’t care what A-rod took..I go do ballgames to be entertained not pass judgement..
MW: Your arguments are valid, except that steroids were illegal, and if something is illegal in society then it’s also against the rules of baseball. Like, you can’t impale someone on your bat just because it’s not against the rules of baseball.
- gumpYou said regarding the spitting incident…
“Of course, the spitting incident with John Hirschbeck at SkyDome was disgusting.”
I don’t remember that happening at Skydome…was he not with the Orioles at the time?
I also seem to remember the case of a female stalker that subsequently led to his departure from Toronto. It was so long ago, so the details are foggy.
I will add this, I’m 30 years old and I’ve been watching baseball since the mid 80’s. I have never seen anyone play 2nd base better the Robbie…nor have a seen a 2nd baseball hit as well and as consistently as him. Do you agree?
MW: Alomar was with the Orioles at the time of the spitting incident, but it still happened in Toronto. I don’t believe that a female stalker caused him to leave the Blue Jays for Cleveland. I agree with you, Alomar was easily the best all-around second baseman of my lifetime.
- Micke in LondonMike, a quick question:
In Bob Elliott’s article (today) on Michael Barrett, he says “He’ll compete with Curtis Thigpen and J.P. Arencibia for the backup role behind Rod Barajas”.
I thought the Jays had given up on Thigpen when they DFA’d him a while back?
Is Elliott forgetting about the DFA, or have the Jays re-signed Thigpen to a minor league deal?
MW: When a player is designated for assignment, he’s removed from the 40-man roster and the team has 10 days to either trade, release or outright said player. After Thigpen was DFA’d, he was outrighted to Las Vegas. He’s still the Jays’ property, just no longer on the 40-man. He’s in camp fighting for the back-up job, just like Mr. Elliott wrote.
- NormHave you read Macleod’s spring training blog in the globe yet? In one of his posts he talks with Rogers exec Phil Lind who says the decision to cut payroll was completely Beeston’s decision. Does this not seem like an odd thing for an interm president to do. He’ll have the job maybe 4 to 6 months and he cuts payroll. I could understand this when I thought Rogers cut payroll because of the economy, but Beeston making this decision actually leaves me somewhat angry and confused.
MW: Beeston has explained several times that he believed that if the Jays weren’t going to spend $120 million, they might as well only spend $80 million.
- ClintWhat the hell is wrong with you people???? Pete Rose is a bastard for betting on baseball???? Bonds McGwire, Sosa and Rodriguez get an oh well what do you do???? Rose bet on baseball those morons changed the stats of the game for cryin out loud!!!!! Rose should be in and ANYONE caught using PED’s is automatically excluded!!! Why the heck is betting worse than drug use!!!
- Blair MartinMike,
A few things….
Are you lucky enough to be heading to Dunedin this spring?
Any word on when the MLB Network may be available in Canada?
I agree that Alex is sorry he got caught as well, not for the fact he actually used steroids.
I’m sorry that it’s such a big deal to people.
What angers me more is the amount of money that players are paid to play a GAME, regardless of whether or not they continue to perform.
It compares to the role of an Investment Advisor. They should only get paid based on performance incentives…. they perform well, they get paid well…they don’t perform well, they don’t get paid well.
Of course, players have to be judged on past performance, but what is the incentive to continue to work hard and perform if they’re getting paid regardless of what they do after the signing of a massive contract?
Players should get a base salary, plus incentive bonuses, based on performance….like the real world.
MW: I don’t get any incentive bonuses based on performance.
- DJJAYHello Mike..
Just wondering what you think of the Jays moving into the 2011 season and beyond..They have 40 million dollars committed to 3 players: Wells, Rios and Hill..The Rios and Hill contracts aren’t so bad but 23 mil to Wells is excessive..
Riccardi structured this contract around his final year..The big money doesn’t kick in until his contract is up..1.5 in 09′and 12.5 in 10′..But in 2011 (after Riccardi’s contract is done) it jumps to 23 mil..He will leave a Delgado sized contract for the next GM unless the Jays are completely insane and give this guy another extension..
If the Jays sign Halladay it will cost a min. 20 mil a season..Riccardi could leave this team with 4 contracts and around 60 million bucks committed to them..
Unless this team somehow competes in the next 2 seasons, Halladay he will be gone..No doubt about it..
He could into his 12th MLB season without pitching one meaningful game..Not one start in September that means anything..Imagine a competitor like Hallday never pitching in the post season..
Toronto doesn’t deserve this guy..
- gumpI think you have been very restrained with your comments about other local journalists so I wouldn’t worry too much about what you said about Steve Simmons. I don’t see him winning a Pulitzer Prize any time soon.
- Oz RobHello Mike, I have few questions.
-Abreu signs with the Angels at 5 mil. I think this guy would have been a good free-agent signing!
Probably not willing too play in T.O?
-Wolf signs with the Dodgers. Do you not think this guy could have been a number three in this years rotation?
-Millar his final eight weeks.
.203 avg. 4hrs. 18rbi’s.
Not sure why they needed too sign Millar (leadership should be coming from players like Halladay,Wells,Hill and even B.J. Ryan all have been with the team long enough too be clubhouse leaders)
-If Millar does stick? It will be at the expense of
McDonald,Inglett or Snider.
Are the Jay’s not going with the younger players this year????(i.e. Snider)
-I would rather see Austin Kearns in T.O. instead of Nick Johnson. (Johnson is hurt too often for my liking)
Kearns could help at D.H. and outfield. (no need to even invite Millar to spring training if Kearns could be traded for?)
With all the young players and bullpen arms I think Kearns could be moved, especially since Dunn is in Washington?
- Finally And I can already tell what your response will be, but here goes!
Trade Talk!
Alex Rios, Aaron Hill,Adam Lind and Brandon League.
For Jake Peavy and San Diego’s top minor league pitching or shortstop prospect. You mentioned that Peavy is under contract until 2013, if the organization can convince him too come to T.O. The only player I would have a problem giving up is Hill.
Inglett can play second as he proved he can last year!
San Diego would like too get rid of any big contracts,this would also keep other teams such as(Boston,Yankees,Mets,Cubs and even the Tigers from getting him.)
Please keep in mind that each one of these questions are too be looked at as indivdual transactions.
Dan
MW: They weren’t all questions, some were statements, but I’ll give it a shot. Abreu didn’t sign here because the Jays didn’t make him an offer - they couldn’t afford the $5.5 million. I would rather see Janssen and Purcey get shots to be the 3-4 than Randy Wolf. Already answered the Millar one. I would much rather see Johnson than Kearns, and it’s not at all close. Peavy isn’t waiving his no-trade to come here, but that’s a bit too much to give up, anyway, and way more than they’d have to move.
- dan harrisonMike,
Your analysis of the Rodriguez “confession” is the best I’ve read. Of course liars will lie when caught about the extent of their dishonesty: “My basic contention is that if one is willing to cheat, then one is also willing to lie about the cheating, and once one is caught, to lie about the extent of the cheating.” It is a peculiarity of human nature that your contention is not the mainstream response.
MW: Why thank you.
- ClevelandMarkMike,
Can you tell me what the Jays are getting in compensation for losing Burnett to NY?
MW: A sandwich pick between the first and second rounds, and a third-round pick.
- marcJP 2006 “I’d have to say for the money we had to work with and what we got, we’re probably doing as expected,” Ricciardi told the Toronto Sun. “I don’t think you’re going to win this division on $70 million. I don’t think you’re going to make the playoffs on $70 million.”
“It’s going to be really tough to catch these guys if we stay at a $70-million payroll. It doesn’t mean we can’t be good, we can’t compete. I just don’t think you’re going to see a chance to win 95, 100 games,”
it’s these type of lame excuses for losing that gives every player an excuse not to try hard and win. he was proven wrong by tampa. can you imagine if the tampa bay gm said that? he didn’t. you should never tell your team “we are not going to make the playoffs” “we can’t compete” that is inexcusable.
MW: Sigh. If a professional athlete uses a G.M.’s lowering of expectations to the media as an excuse to not play hard, then he or she shouldn’t be a professional athlete.
- roccoI, like the Babe before me, am also using alcohol as a performance enhancing drug.
It’s true! Just ask my girlfriend!
Anywho - What do you think? should Doc Ellis be stripped of his no-hitter? Maybe an asterix?
Personally, I’m looking forward to the days when the drug issue has evaporated from the game, and we can all just enjoy the sport.
(BTW - RIP Doc)
MW: Asterix was an awesome comic strip. The drug issue will never go away.
- REANHey Mike…
Now that baseball season is just around the corner, when can we expect to see more frequent blog postings?
Better yet, will there be any spring training Jays Talk on the FAN?
Make it happen… I know you can!
MW: The blog postings will come fast and furious once I get down to Florida in March, and as far as I know, there will be Spring Training JaysTalk after every pre-season Jays game on the Fan.
- EricHi Mike,
I was just wondering when you likely will start your daily blogs?
I always enjoy them and am looking forward to the season although I am not very optimistic about the Jays chances for success.
Regards
MW: Thanks! See above.
- Mike Daviesjays past 7 years:
number of owners: 2
number of presidents: 2 soon to be 3
number of managers: 3
number of hitting coaches: 4
number of vp’s leaving: 3
number of 90+ win seasons: 0
number of gm’s: 1
how long do you continue changing coaches until you realize it aint working?
MW: Actually, I think it’s 4 managers.
- roccohi mike
if the jays are out very far behind by june, would you trade roy halladay? Im sure you can get 2 or 3 really good prospects for him. I don’t want to see him go, but for the future, it might be time to trade him to get something for him. I realize the season hasn’t started but it is a legitimate question.
MW: It’s been asked and asked, and the answer remains no. Look at the packages that came back for guys like Johan Santana and Danny Haren and you’ll see that it’s not exactly a panacea. If the Jays deal Halladay and then progress to where many believe they’ll be in 2010, they will then be looking for a Halladay-type in the off-season. I don’t understand why so many think the right thing to do is to trade him.
- andyWhy does the Fan 590 count on other media stories and reporters to keep up with the Jays down in Fla. during spring training?
I mean, they carry all the Jays games all season long, they have pre-season game broadcasts with J & A, but no Mike Wilner.
Spring training is the perfect time for media types to re-kindle, mend and/or begin new player-media relationships. When that happens, I believe a media guy could get a lot more from players as to availablity for interviews etc during the season.
Mike Wilner, your a huge part of the Fan 590 and their success as to broadcasting the game, pre-game and post game all season long - so why not from the start of spring training also.
I realize you will be down there at some point (we we hope so) but the beginning of it all, I think is where you may find the players much more accessible.
Some of the Toronto media types who are there, or on their way seems a bit odd to me as to choice (not mentioning any names). We don’t hear from a lot of them during the season as much as we do you.
The Fan 590 needs to re-think the importance of having the pre/post game voice of the Jays not being in the thick of things as spring training starts up! I’m sure you know more of the players Mike, and they recognize you, more than some of the media types that are there now!
I’m still, just as I was last season, going to keep sending emails to the Fan 590 as to a baseball show at noon Vs a ridiculous hockey show during basball season. Everyone who enjoys this blog and Mikes’ work, should be on the same “band wagon”!
Thanks.
MW: Thanks, Bob, but I don’t know if I want an extra hour of work every day during the season. As for Spring Training, those other media outlets send more than one reporter down in shifts, except for mlb.com, and aren’t always there from start to finish. I have usually gone down for five weeks, which works very well for me, and I’ll be down less this year because of the World Baseball Classic. I don’t know that having me down there on day 1 would make a huge difference. By the way, there hasn’t ever been a pre-season broadcast with which I haven’t been involved since I started at the station outside my being at the WBC in 2006.
- Bob from BurlingtonMike…It was nice to hear Aaron Hill in good spirits this morning talking with Don and Gord. But opening the “Insider at 8:10″ with U2’s “Vertigo” was either a strange coincidence or a shot at light-hearted humour I guess…Nevertheless, he put all health issues aside and he’s itching to go….Didn’t the Habs used to play “Vertigo” after a goal until Alex Kovalev came down with a bout of it?
MW: I have no idea.
- chris m.Mike…Hope the Wilner’s had a nice Valentine’s Day and Family Day…forgot to ask that in my previous entry…Mike, I remember asking you about Jim Thome at the end of last season and you saying that he was a great guy..From your dealings with MLB players, what others jump out from your memory as similiar to Thome? (Jays or non-Jays)
MW: No apostrophe when you pluralize. Lots of guys jump out in my memory as great people to deal with. Of the non-Blue Jay variety, Ken Griffey, Jr. immediately springs to mind, Kevin Millar, Mark DeRosa, any Canadian. Really, there are far too many to mention.
- chris m.“Can we give Howie Clark some credit for not being a complete and total moron? you can clearly hear A-Roid yell “mine” on one of the replays.
MW: I don’t think too many people think that Howie Clark is a complete and total moron. I sure don’t.”
What A-Rod did is commonplace in all other sports and totally accepted. It this is his biggest crime, there would be no issue with him.
And Clark should just catch the damn ball and deal the shortstop he thought was calling him off afterward. When was the last time a shortstop called a 3B off a pop fly that he had already settled under. The statement that MW made earlier that shortstops do this regularly is simply not correct. Even JP, had said to Bart Given and probably others that it was Clark’s responsibility to ignore the base runner behind him and catch the ball. It’s not rocket science. To think that the shortstop was behind him and calling him off, is just not credible.
MW: And yet, that’s obviously what happened.
- Ken“The saddest part of this steroid mess, is that no player is above suspicion now. I even saw Halladay’s name brought up in one blog because he had pitched so many complete games. How does a clean player fight that?”
Why is Halladay above suspicion?
K’s per 9IP & ERA
2005 - 6.9 2.42
2006 - 5.4 3.19
2007 - 5.6 3.79
2008 - 7.5 2.78
Yikes !! That’s a 34% improvement in one season. How’d you do it Roy? How did you turn around that declining K-rate trend.
I know it was kind of annoying listening to Howarth constantly praising you for “pitching to contact”, as if this were somehow a good thing, so you went out and did something about it. Good for you, and keep it up in 2009.
- Ken“With the exception of Clemens (and maybe Mussina, who is a fringe HoFer IMO), I don’t think there’s a single starting pitcher who you’d suspect of using and who has moved way up the all-time charts.”
How do Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Schilling, Kevin Brown, & Doc Halladay get a free pass from simple suspicion. That improvement in Halladay’s K-rate in 2008 was pretty dramatic.
- KenMW: The reason for Litsch’s increase in velocity was the addition of a four-seam fastball to his repertoire while he was down in Syracuse.
How does a four-seam fastball increase velocity? Just curious. Glad it happened.
MW: Sorry, six comments in a row is too many for me to answer.
- KenMW: I agree with you, Alomar was easily the best all-around second baseman of my lifetime.
Using WARP analysis, best five seasons and career totals Joe Morgan is by far the best. In fact he is the best of all-time.
Morgan:
14.3
13.9
12.9
12.8
11.9
166.1
Alomar
12.5
11.7
11.7
10.7
9.9
129.3
That said, Alomar is still the 2nd best second baseman since WWII and should be an automatic induction into the HOF.
MW: Sorry, make it seven.
- KenDid you watch that A-Roid interview? What a rehearsed, phony piece of junk. I’m surprised that he took so long to bring god into the conversation; like this was some sort of divine plan. My personal favorite comment is when he said that he didn’t even know for sure that they were steroids.
WHAT A FRAUD!
What was the high point of the interview for you?
Since a lot of other people are bringing up the Howie Clark incident, why didn’t Brain Wolfe put the very next pitch in Giambi’s ribs? The fans would still love him for that.
MW: What I loved most were the questions that he refused to answer, almost ignoring the question in its entirety or giving a response that had nothing to do with the actual question. The best one of those was when he was asked why he kept his drug use a secret from everyone except his cousin when he said he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.
- SteveIbanez Vs Ordonez
MW: I’ll take Ordonez, in a heartbeat.
- slobberfaceHi Mike,
First time poster, long time lurker.
Just one comment that is really irritating for myself is those who say “Roy Halladay deserves better, we dont deserve him” - thats complete BULL.
If we trade him, or god forbid let him go via free agency without signing him in 2 years, these same people will be up in arms because we didnt do everything we could to build our team around our ace pitcher.
MW: Thanks for coming out of the closet. You’re right, too. I’ll never understand why people want to trade great players on not-great teams simply because they feel those players are “owed” a better chance to win a championship. No one made Roy Halladay sign the contract.
- Jamie TMike:
Roy Halladay doesn’t carry the salary baggage of Jake (I won’t play for an East Coast team, unless I get a huge extension) Peavy or Johan (that will be $20 million per) Santana. I think there is huge demand for Roy Halladay and if the Jays can exploit it, they should — NEXT YEAR.
I do not think he should be traded this year. Mostly because we need innings. I do not want to see Brett Cecil, Casey Janssen, or David Purcey anywhere near 120 innings (look at the minor league numbers). Even Litsch is pushing it to expect 200 from him.
Also — how do we lose John Parrish to Baltimore so we end up getting their junk in Brian Buress?
MW: The fact that the Jays claimed Burress has nothing to do with the O’s signing Parrish. Neither one will be a significant contributor in the major leagues.
- Jim BHey Mike,
Just a question, what do you think of stat categories like Range Factor or Ultimate Zone Rating.
MW: I think that they have their merits and their faults. It’s really hard to try to quantify something like defense, but I like that people are trying hard to come up with a way to do it.
- JeffMW: Sorry, six comments in a row is too many for me to answer.
MW: Sorry, make it seven
I thought that “Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome”
MW: Oh, they are. But I’m not going to answer them all.
- SteveAn article with a link to a New York Post piece on how the Jays are probably going to trade Halladay at the deadline:
http://www.realgmbaseball.com/src_wiretap_archives/13622/20090216/will_jays_deal_halladay_at_deadline/
I think this is the fourth or fifth time I’ve read this article over the past few years. The Americans just cannot stand the idea that Doc pitches in Canada. And, I agree with you, what would be the point of trading him? By the way, there is a reference in that article to Ricciardi having shopped Wells around this winter. No takers. Which, given the size of his contract and the weakness of his performance over the past two years, doesn’t surprise me one bit.
In other news, there are a bunch of marquee players still without contracts, both pitchers and position players. Will we go after any of ‘em? I am assuming we won’t but I would love to be surprised. As long as I’m not surprised by Frank Thomas…
MW: I don’t think it’s that the Americans can’t stand that Halladay pitches here, I think it’s that a lot of people assume that the Jays are “going nowhere”, so why wouldn’t they trade their best player? Like you, I doubt we’ll see the Jays sign any free agents the rest of the spring.
- isabella reyesM-dub,
i agree. Ordonez in a heartbeat. however, ibanez in the middle of that order, in that park, could be monsterous.
Is there going to be any sort of fan590 fantasy baseball going on this season?
MW: Ibanez could have a very good year in the middle of the Phils’ order, for sure, so long as they break up him and Ryan Howard. I don’t know anything about fantasy baseball and the radio station.
- slobberfaceNormally, I wouldn’t point this out, but I, like many others, find your corrections on language and spelling to be very irritating and condescending.
So here’s your response in post 89.
MW: No apostrophe when you pluralize. Lots of guys jump out in my memory as great people to deal with. Of the non-Blue Jay vareiety, Ken Griffey, Jr. immediately springs to mind, Kevin Millar, Mark DeRosa, any Canadian. Really, there are far too many to mention.
***It’s variety, Mike, not vareiety. Please for all your fans let this stuff go.
MW: It continues to amaze me that so many can’t tell the difference between a spelling mistake and a typographical error. Sometimes my fingers move faster than my brain does, I guess. I’ll go fix it anyway, though. I’d like to know, by the way, why you find my pointing out spelling and grammatical errors to be condescending. Irritating I get, if that’s how you feel, but why condescending? This is my blog, I see no reason why I shouldn’t expect contributors to know the basics of spelling and using the English language.
- GerryMr. Mike Wilner.
What do you think of Canada’s chances at the upcoming World Baseball Classic? Also what is your travel log for the next few weeks between Spring Training and the WBC. Will there be room in your life for both?
Looking forward to JaysTalk this season.
Peter, St.Catharines
MW: Canada has a better chance to advance than it did a week ago with the news that Johan Santana and Carlos Zambrano won’t be making the trip north with Team Venezuela. I can see them pulling off the upset, but I wouldn’t bet on it. There will be room in my life for both Spring Training and the WBC, but Team Canada comes first.
- PeterKen,
You’re right about Unit and Ryan and Schilling… I guess I still want to maintain some hope of innocence. Brown is not even a fringe HoFer and Halladay is many many winning seasons away.
Mike - is Schilling a 1st rounder?
MW: A first rounder?
- GautamMike,
….about you not getting incentive bonuses, based on performance. (sorry to hear that)
Do you think YOU should be paid incentive bonuses, based on YOUR performance - (ratings?)
Did you negotiate your own contract or do you get paid based on a collective agreement?
Just curious.
Good bloggagness.
MW: At most radio stations in Canada, if not all, it’s every employee for him or herself. We don’t have a union, or a CBA.
- DJJAYMike….I see your point in past responses to the topic of just attending ball games for the entertainment factor or the 3 hour escape from daily life..But concerning the WBC and all the refusals to participate due to insurance and outright player indifference, don’t you think that indifference will trickle down to the average fan and hence, attendance?
MW: Nope.
- chris m.I think A-Rod dug another hole for himself during his recent apology attempt. I don’t understand why after the first go around he would even bother with more. Perhaps at the insistance of managment.
I mean, “my cousin” and “I didn’t think it was steroids”, wishing he had went to college - enough is enough of the “poor me” attitude.
Regardless of naivity or ignorance - who puts anything into their body without knowing what it is. What does college have to do with it? Oh well, I just hope he leaves it alone now and doesn’t waste anymore time thinking up other excuses.
“if ya aint cheatin - ya aint tryin” That for sure was a great line used in babseball for decades. Now, unfortunatley it is not used at all as the word cheating has taken on a whole new meaning.
If there is legal or acceptable cheating in the game - and the intention of quote - it was for taking that extra 1/2 step off first base, crouching on a pitch to change your strike zone, stuffing the ball back in your glove when you hit the ground with it, pulling the ball back into the strike zone as a catcher,finishing of a relay to first after not stepping on second etc etc. All the neat and funny things ball players do that was considered “acceptable cheating”. Wonder what they can call it now?
Geez Mike, with this many comments to your blogs of late, how are you going to keep up with them during the season. Let’s hope everyone will understand - you can’t answer every one.
Finally, for those who are most certain the Jays will do nothing this year - why not just forget about commenting here over and over again on how lousy they are all season. Your mind is already made up and it makes for very boring reading.
Thanks.
- Bob from Burlingtonhey mike;
In complete agreement with you in regards to the aformentioned, you’re explanation was concise and succint and to the point. In regards to Alomar, He hasn’t publically refuted the allegations thus there may be some merit, otherwise it is slander. In regards to alex rodriguez he is no better than bonds, and that includeds the hr department. There should be no astrix or special catagory for bonds, clemens, and the like as the prevent culture was to use drugs in baseball as in every sport including football and the olympics. Every record should stand because most use and it’s difficult to differentiate yet a-rod deserves our disdain and contempt for doing anything necessary to suceed. At least he didn’t lie to a grand jury. Can’t wait for the season to start, and mike good for you to defend yourself in print, as your the best blogger on the fan unequiovically. Although i like steve simmons his rational on the aformentioned is flawed as he is guessing and his opinion is not necessarily correct. Keep up the great work mike, go Canada go and go jays go.
- robert.sThe spitting incident was in Cleveland, when Robbie was a member of the Orioles. Not in Skydome as you had said.
I dont see Millar, Inglett, Macdonald, and Bautista all make this team…seems like too many infielders to me.
My quess is Bautista is the odd man out. Is this the right decision for a team that has been power starved for the last 2 years? Who would you guess it will be?
MW: Bautista isn’t exactly a power hitter, despite the 15 home runs last season. Inglett makes the team as the all-purpose guy, extra infielder and fourth outfielder, I think. As for the Alomar thing, I’m surprised you remember it so clearly, since you’re completely wrong. The spitting incident happened on September 27, 1996 AT SKYDOME while Alomar was a member of the Orioles. I’m pretty sure I was there, though I’m not 100% sure.
- Micke in LondonHey Mike,
To what degree will the A-Rod confession be a negative distraction to the Yanks this year…if at all?
MW: I don’t think it’ll be much of a distraction once the games start.
- marcmichael,
this blog is getting out of control my friend. you know that right?
you are definitely a popular baseball commentator.
a 106 entries & counting…. it’s becoming rather ridiculous. you seem to bring out the very best & the worst in alot of baseball fans no doubt.
i might have to move into a part time role from my curent fulltime employment to attend to this vice adequately.
i’m still undecided on that one.
MW: Anything that makes you less productive at work is OK with me!
- darrell bishopMichael of the Ballyard:
You should write an intelligent post/column on the WBC — in terms of analyzing the substance of it, it’s been very neglected by the MSM (and all media, for that matter…).
What will your role in the Toronto games be? Journalism?
Anyways, my real question is: where do you think Manny will ultimately wind up, and what effect does the continued delay have on both him and his potential suitors (and more relevantly, their contract expectations and offers, respectively)?
MW: I’ll get to the WBC soon - it’ll be my main focus for most of the month of March, I think. I can’t say what my role will be yet. I don’t know what the effect of the delay will be on the contract Manny eventually signs, it could honestly go either way depending on the desperation of one side or the other. I think he’ll wind up with the Dodgers but don’t be surprised to see the Giants swoop in and try to steal him away as soon as L.A. gets serious.
- JCLJohn Parrish gave the team an ERA of just 4.04 last year. His periphials are horrible, but his Syracuse numbers were fantastic. In other words, I would not expect something great but at least adequate with potential. I expect Parrish will get at least 15 starts in Baltimore, while we get 10 really bad starts from Burres. You heard it here first!
MW: Shows you just how misleading ERA can be, especially for relievers. Parrish had a WHIP of 1.465 last season, second-worst of anyone who actually threw a pitch for the Jays last season. I’ll be stunned if Burres gets anywhere close to 10 starts in the bigs. LOTS of guys are going to have to get hurt for that to happen.
- Jim B1. I can see Millar as insurance in case Snyder has a bad spring, but seriously, is there anyone alive that would rather watch Millar than Snyder? (OK, maybe Millar himself…)
2. My dark horse rotation pick is Brad Mills. I think he’s got a real shot. He seems like a left-handed Marcum: never going to go high on the prospect list because of his stuff. He just puts up the numbers. (I should mention, however, that I’ve never actually seen Mills play, so….)
3. It’s funny that most of the people who are down on this years Jays are also Leafs fans. At least the Jays have more than one real prospect. They also have some decent vets and the best pitcher in the game. Will it be enough to contend? Probably not, but it will be fun to watch (especially when Arencibia gets here mid/late season.)
4. The serious drag about A.J signing with the Yanks: anybody else and we get our pick two rounds higher. Hopefully he’ll throw Vernon a cookie or two to make up for it….
5. Do you think Brian Dopirak will ever play in the big leagues? I know he’s a bit old for real prospect status, but he had a pretty great year last year…
MW: 1 - Some Red Sox fans. 2 - There’s almost no chance Mills breaks with the team, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a shot at some point this season. 5 - Let’s see him do something significant above A-ball.
- peteMike…I admire the passion you do your job with, whether its blogs, music, Jays Talk or correcting our English language deficiencies. I compare you to a Pierre Maguire or a John Madden, (even though you’re not a colour guy, but has the baseball savvy do the job in my opinion)… Two guys who obviously enjoy their profession and do it with zeal and don’t just punch a clock and put in the hours. Please take the comparison to Madden and Maguire as a compliment as it was sincerely meant to be. I say that because those two guys have been criticized by others for going on and on, but I love their style and I think they make their respective games better as I think you do as well.
- chris m.How can we find out who’s at Jays camp. Would there be a list somewhere?
MW: I don’t think there’s a list per se, but there are plenty of websites that show the 40-man roster and the minor-league invites. mlb.com is probably the best.
- RMI’m sure you already know this, But Cito was talking about maybe breaking camp with 11 pitchers.
Wonder if JP is having a heart attack because that’s on the jays team website.
What are your thoughts? I remember that you’ve wanted to trade an arm for a bat all last year.
MW: I was in favour of a six-man bullpen all year last year because the strength of the starting rotation left the last guys in the bullpen unused for weeks at a time. This year, the story is a little different because the rotation isn’t filled with guys who can be counted on to pitch into the 7th every game. Still, I hate the seven-man bullpen as a concept.
- Sam McLean“The spitting incident was in Cleveland, when Robbie was a member of the Orioles. Not in Skydome as you had said.”
- Micke in London
MW: As for the Alomar thing, surprised you remember it so clearly, since you’re completely wrong. The spitting incident happened on September 27, 1996 AT SKYDOME while Alomar was a member of the Orioles. I’m pretty sure I was there, though I’m not 100% sure.
Maybe Robbie was a habitual spitter. At least while he was an Oriole.
- KenHi Mike,
I have heard of some good 2nd base, 1st base, catching and pitching prospects for the Jays. What about outfield and 3rd base? (I am pretty sure they don’t have any good shortstop prospects at a high level). Are any of them at spring training this year?
Thanks!
MW: Kevin Ahrens is the guy at third base, though Scott Campbell may well get shifted over there eventually. They’ll both make some appearances in Grapefruit League games and Campbell is in camp. As far as the outfield goes, the future is Snider, Lind, Rios and Wells, all of whom (save for Lind) are under control through the end of the 2014 season. Lind will be eligible for free agency after the 2013 season.
- RoryHey Mike,
I read Corey Koskie is trying to make the Canadian Team, and is practicing with the Twins to get back in game shape..
Have you heard anything?
MW: That story came from a report last month by Marty York, and it’s not true. Koskie isn’t on Team Canada’s provisional roster, so he couldn’t play even if he wanted to.
- Stevie H.mike, please tell me what the jays lineup looks like in 2011 at each position
c arencibia
1b ?
2b hill
ss ?
3b ?
lf snider
cf wells
rf rios
dh ?
p will halladay still be here?
lots of question marks
MW: A first baseman won’t be all that hard to find if David Cooper isn’t ready, and Adam Lind may be the answer there, if he’s not the DH. I haven’t got a clue who the shortstop or third baseman will be, but the starting rotation will likely feature Halladay, Marcum, McGowan, Litsch, Purcey, Cecil and Janssen, with Accardo, Carlson and League heading up the bullpen. Hey, maybe that’s how they’ll get that left side of the infield.
- roccoI hear sooooo many people say this but how does drinking alcohol make you a better hitter?(or pitcher).Whatever Babe Ruth did off the field it certainly never made him a better player.If he had ever played without drinking and being out all night nobody would ever come close to what he would have accomplished.And don’t forget when he pitched he was also one of the best!
MW: No one is insinuating that being a drunk made Babe Ruth a better player.
- gabMike….Heard the old Eurythmics song “1984″ the other day for the first time in years and is to blame for my next question. Mike, what comes to mind first for you when you think of 1984?
a) George Orwell’s book
b) Van Halen’s album
c) The Tigers’ dominance of the AL and subsequently the frustration of the Jays playing good ball, but having Roy Lee Jackson, Dennis Lamp and the other usual suspects blowing saves in the “pre-Tom Henke” era.
MW: A
- chris m.Hi Mike!
Haven’t commented in a while but looking forward to the new season.I’m sick of the steroids talk.I thought Jeter’s comments were bang on.At the end of the day..you only cheat yourself.I may be biased, hate the Yankees but like Jeter.
As for our Jays, I’m still convinced that this is going to be a great year.Winning the divison…probably not.However, I think this club will surprise alot of people.I’m looking forward to seeing the young guys getting their shot.With Cito and Gene Tenace, the young guys will not only gain confidence but also learn alot.
With Arnsberg and Walton in the wings and Doc as a mentor,guys like Purcey,Cecil and Richmond should only get better.Listch should be Ok.I’ve liked this kid since the Baltimore start when he was called up.
Most fans were p***ed that the J’s didn’t sign a big name free agent,but I think that this isn’t the year for that.Give the kids ashot to step up and I think 2010 will be the time to add the missing piece.Remember, we still have the best bullpen in the league and if the offence plays as they should,this team is better than most think.If Hill,Rolen, Overbay, and Wells are healthy,why not look at an exciting season?
MW: It should be exciting indeed. On the ‘roids issue though, come on - just cheating yourself? Not so much.
- TerryMike…Did you ever catch a AAA game at Buffalo’s Pilot Field? I never did but ate dinner in the restaurant there overlooking the field during the off-season and then walked over to the Aud with then Montreal Canadiens star Kirk Muller to watch a Habs/Sabres match…It appeared to be a nice venue for baseball.
MW: It’s a beautiful venue for baseball - small and intimate and really, really nice. I went to a Labour Day game there a long time ago (10 years or so, maybe more), back when it was called Pilot Field. I think it’s Dunn Tire Park or North AmeriCare Field or something like that now. I recommend the loganberry.
- chris m.Do you think that Ken Griffey Jr is now the best clean player of all time due to ther steroids era?
MW: What makes you so sure he’s clean? Two weeks ago people were saying that Alex Rodriguez would be the “true” home run champ.
- andrewMike
The ones like Clemons, Bonds ,A-rod would have been great players ..even Hall of famers without steroids.Now they’re tainted.They hurt themselves at the end of the day.For what? A few more homeruns,a few more strikeouts and victories and an extended career with padded stats?Name me one player that made a difference in a world series or a player that had a hall of fame career because of steroids only.What about guy’s like Morris,Borders, Molitor,Glavine,Jeter,Schilling,Johnson,Eckstein,Manny among many others who stepped up and carried their team to victory on the big stage when it mattered most?I haven’t heard any of these names implicated in the scandal.I’m not condoning those who used the crap.However,I’d bet most of those I mentioned above were clean and have much to be proud of.
MW: You hadn’t heard Clemens’, Palmeiro’s or A-Rod’s names mentioned in connection with the scandal either, until they came out.
- TerryRegarding my last comment.
My apologies to guys like Mike Lowell and Dave Stewart who are guys that play their butt off and step up when it matters.I should have mentioned them in my comments as they were also former world series MVPs.I don’t recall the likes of Clemons, Arod, Bonds ,McGwire,Palmaro,Canseco doing much in October.
MW: So Mark Lemke is the man? Be careful about putting too much stock in what a player does over a two-week span. Pat Borders was a World Series MVP, but a below-average major-league hitter.
- Terry“At the end of the day..you only cheat yourself” Terry
I think people still miss the point.First off even though it wasn’t against the baseball rules it was against the law to traffic steroids(at the very least)Secondly they have proven that it can make a person more enraged when on steroids(saw a doc. on roids a few years back on CBC about a highschool kid on roids).And thirdly ,I believe,that athletes have a responsibility to the kids that watch and support them and lying and cheating is not a good example at all.
“Babe Ruth also used illegal substances (alcohol) during his playing days. So the “real” Home Run King is, who, Frank Robinson?”
I’m sorry Mike but then what are you insinuating with this comment?
MW: I was trying to figure out who the real Home Run King is. Someone who never broke the law, never took greenies or steroids or such. I have settled on Jimmie Foxx.
- gabMike,
Enough of this about all the guys who used steriods. Obviously there are 100 or more of them. Publish the list and let’s be done with it. Let’s start focussing more on the ones who achieved without resorting to artificial help.
On another matter, I see the press as very eager to make the most of these stories. Fine, that’s their job. But the added pastiche of moral outrage many of them bring to their stories is frankly hypocritical. Do they mean to say that as members of the press close to these teams and the players on an everyday basis all these years that they detected no hint of this illegal substance use when it was going on? Perhaps a little inward gaze at the baseball writers’ ethics in all of this might be useful.
MW: I don’t think it’s just the writers, but you make a fair point. The moral outrage displayed by so many (I’m thinking Bud Selig more than journalists) is incredibly hypocritical.
- GeorgeMike - It wasn’t Marty York that talk about Koskie playing… It was someone from the Star Tribune.. Says he is working out and hopes to play..
Take a look..
http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/39693052.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUqCP:iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
Is there any chance he can play?
MW: I’m a big fan of Lavelle Neal’s, who writes for the Minneapolis Star-Trib. Marty York wrote that story for Metro on January 23rd, which is the one to which I thought you were referring. Regardless, Koskie still isn’t on Canada’s provisional roster, so he can’t play.
- Stevie H.Hi Mike, Do you think the Jays have any interest in Andy Marte?
MW: I would if I were them.
- Even Bradshaw“MW: It should be exciting indeed. On the ‘roids issue though, come on - just cheating yourself? Not so much.”
What negative impact will this have on A-Rod then ? His image is tarnished ? He wont get into the HOF ? I think these concerns are actually secondary to the real issue. Denying him the hall of fame when, as you admit mike all of baseball is suspected of cheating, really just seems like an after the fact weak willed response to a much larger contradiction inherent in MLB.
People are mad that A-Rod used steroids. Fine. But what are they really mad about ?That using steroids made his achievements morally suspect? Are we saying that now that we know what we know, that A-Rods physical feats are no longer attributable to him ? Sorry people that was him! Or, are we disappointed that we can no longer root for these people because they are no longer worthy of being heros? Since we can’t know if baseball players are playing clean, then why is it demanded that they are? I am not just being fasciatus for the sake of being so, but rather trying to point out that when you watch a children’s game played by millionaire men, why cling to this silly romance surrounding the purity of performance?
More to Jeter’s point I think is the question, Would A-Rod even be playing baseball and have accumulated his huge fortune and be considered a hero by many if it wasn’t for his drug use ? Who knows, maybe not, maybe so, but the Roids definitely let him touch the sun first before he fell down to earth.
You are only hurting yourself if you are in a position where no one else can touch you.
This isn’t like cheating in the Olympics where the performance is reflective of human potential. Baseball’s accomplishments are in the moments and memories which are bought and paid for by the fans. Baseball needs hero’s to be successful as a business; fans demand hero’s for the money they pay, and because of the money Baseball will find those hero’s one way, or another, without paying credence to such fantasies as the purity of performance.
You can say what you want about A-Rod, but quite frankly, using drugs has got him everything he wants in life and no one can take that away from him. America rewards the self made man and this is just another case in point. So if you are disappointed by A-Rod, all I can say is grow up, look at the times, being an A-Hole got A-Rod everything he ever wanted. People are just mad because he had the guts to go for it.
MW: I’m not quite sure what point you’re trying to make there, because the conclusion didn’t seem to follow the rest of your rant. I don’t think Rodriguez’ success stems from the fact that he “had the guts to go for it”. That would seem to insinuate that anyone who decides to ‘roid up can be as successful as he has been, and that’s simply not the case. I also don’t see your point about the difference between baseball and pro sports. For a lot of fans,both are about heroes and human potential and all that. You’re absolutely right, though, in that there are no real consequences for Rodriguez, only rewards, which is why I think it’s laughable that he’s now volunteering to talk to kids about the dangers of drug use.
- DaveHey Mike
In 2010 who would you put in the 2 slot if everyone in the roatation is healthy, Marcum or McGowan. Personally I think that it should be Halladay Marcum McGowan Litsch and either Purcey or Cecil whoever impresses the best this year.
MW: I would have McGowan in the second spot next season, because I don’t think Marcum will be 100% to start the year.
- JamesMaroth ripped his meniscus. We need a pitcher. Has Pedro been signed yet? (Just kidding…)
MW: I’m all for bringing in Pedro.
- isabella reyesMike,
RE: Rodriguez / Alomar
I agree with you cheating is cheating… and I am soooo glad the ‘he’ is the one to be called out. He is a cheater in the ultimate sense of the word… as an athlete, but more than that, as a man. To see/hear the “HA” fiasco live (from the 3rd base line seats) was proof enough for me.
Isn’t it ironic and fab-u-lous that a woman (from SI) exposed this coward for who he is… and to be sorry after the fact… well I think the real truth is … sorry that I was caught!!!! As he continues to blah blah blah about it, he surely will bury himself… which makes me smile once again (have any athletes / sports fan heard the saying ‘what goes around, comes around’… well lets apply that to the truth here!! There is simply nothing gracious about this person… its impossible to separate the persona from the person, with athletes or anyone else… we are either genuine or NOT! Indeed, more Roy Halladay’s in sports or life would be a blessing for all of us… now that’s who I would encourage my kids to emulate.
What is unfortunate though is the continum of shame to the MLB.. and its good to see players now stepping up to clean up their game instead of looking the other direction.
Alomar… a punk (personally) is probably being kind… again the truth shall prevail, we hope!
On a sweeter note, looking forward to your show and the 09 season to get under way… Bob (be nice to Bob, Mike) and Peter from St.Catherine’s
Keep up the great work.
- DMPGuarantee you that the Alomar spitting incident happened in Skydome, i was sitting behind Baltimore’s bench when it happened.
- Sean LafortuneHello Mike..
Saw you on the Grill Room..You took your shots well..Maybe all that practice you get out here has helped you immensely..
You commented about the Jays lowering their expectations for this season..
Do you believe Dustin Mcgowan will be in the Jays plan moving forward?..What I mean by that is- will they sign this guy to a big money contract if the time comes?..He is certainly looking more and more like the pitcher we thought he could be ..
He was drafted in 2000 and has just over 2yrs of MLB service..I think the Jays can keep him for what 4 years before he goes to salary arbitration?..Do the Jays hold his rights for 6yrs of MLB service before he can become a free agent or 6yrs after he was drafted?..
Anyway, with some large contracts coming up (Wells, Halladay etc..) it would be a shame to invest so much time in this guy to loose him..
MW: McGowan was much better in 2007 than he was in 2008, so I’m not sure how you see that he’s looking more and more like the pitcher they thought he could be. A player becomes eligible for free agency after he’s accumulated six years of service time, so McGowan will be eligible after the 2012 season.
- gumpMike…I’m guilty of asking you questions about the past and forgetting about the present….Where did the Cardinals get this stud named Ryan Ludwick?
MW: He was a failed prospect with the A’s, Rangers and Indians who then signed a minor-league contract with Detroit and another with St. Louis before making his first real impact in the big leagues last season at the age of 30.
- chris m.Mike…Concerning the fact that Toronto doesn’t face Boston or N.Y. in its first 34 games, do you consider it an opportunity to get some wins in the bank? Because wins in April and May DO count in the standings. I know Mike that you’re not big on momentum, but it’s the old adage: does success breed confidence or does confidence breed success? The one thing that often goes unmentioned is that since the Jays are only a “slightly better than .500 team” themselves, is it somewhat cocky for Jay fans (including me)to look past those first 34 games or any games for that matter? I don’t think we’re good enough (yet)to just worry about our games vs. Boston, N.Y. and now Tampa as well.
MW: I don’t think that looking past any game is ever a good thing, no matter how good your team may be.
- chris m.Yes he wasn’t as good in 2008 but after such a large increase in innings pitched from 06′-07′ (80 innings) it just caught up with his shoulder last year..He didn’t have too many poor outings in 08′..He started the season well and tailed off in June because of his shoulder..
I think he has what it takes to be a number one starter and once he gets rolling in 2009, he will be a solid number 2 pitcher behind Halladay..
MW: Who?
- gumpI just don’t understand is all this roids talk..Who cares?..MLB has testing now and all this crap will be cleaned up..Why is it that so many people care so much about what happened 5-6 years ago?
I still don’t understand how juice would help hand-eye co-ordination..
I coach baseball and I teach kids how to hit everyday..Its all about technique..You don’t need to have bulging arms and legs the size of tree trunks to hit a baseball..All you need practice and patience..Is there a drug for that?
MW: Steroids don’t help anyone hit a baseball. But they do help people get stronger and help muscles react more quickly and help confidence.
- gumpHey Mike,
Can you help settl a dispute betwen me and a friend, I’m pretty sure the Vernon Wells big deal got a big go-ahead from ownership and Godfrey played a big role, but I can’t find any link to support it. Got anything on this?
MW: There wasn’t anything made public about how big a role Godfrey had in the Vernon contract, but most people believe that it was a move that came from above J.P.
- CoreyMichael of the Ballyard:
Jeff Blair has written in the past that AJ Burnett is not the ’sharpest tool in the shed’ or something to that effect. Could you please qualify AJ’s stupidity?
MW: Qualify?
- JCLRolen and Overbay seem to be iffy at best going into the start of the season. Who replaces them if they start on the dl? I assume Millar plays 1st base and Bautista plays 3rd?
MW: I would think Millar would play first and Inglett and Bautista would platoon at third.
- reyesI just heard that Vernon Wells is out for the season due to a hamstring injury.
1) does that the Jay’s don’t have to pay his salary for the season and therefore can spend money on another bat to replace him
2) does this mean that Joe Inglett will remain with the team?
MW: Wells isn’t out for the season, chances are he won’t even miss Opening Day. If he missed the whole season, insurance would cover his $1.5 million salary for the year. Inglett should make the team, even with Vernon on the roster.
- Sam McLeanHi Mike, How would you rate J.P.’s off season so far. I’m not someone who likes to bash J.P. in fact I’ve been a fan of his work, but being the only team not to sign someone to a majoe league deal and then only receiving the 36th and 101st picks for AJ instead of trading him in July doesn’t seem to be J.P.’s best work.
MW: So you’re saying that Ricciardi should have known that the Yankees would sign Burnett, along with two other Type A free agents who were rated higher than he was? And I don’t get why people are upset about not signing anyone to a major-league deal. Barrett, Millar and probably Clement will wind up with major-league deals.
- Even BradshawMichael of the Ballyard:
Sorry for the two comments, but I’m feeling baseball-y…
1) Exactly how good is Brett Cecil?
2) Is it still true to say that the core of the team is locked up through 2010, or has that kind of changed over the past couple offseasons?
MW: 1) No one knows, but he has a chance to be a front-of-the-rotation guy, say the scouts. 2) The only players on the projected 25-man roster who will be eligible for free agency after the 2009 season are Clement, Barrett, Barajas, Millar, McDonald and Scutaro so yes, the core is locked up.
- JCLhi mike,
will spring training games be on the radio or website? iam currently overseas.
thanks
MW: You can go to bluejays.com to find out the broadcast schedule - we’ll be doing several spring training games on the air and online.
- nickWhoops! There goes Vernon Wells. Never mind, Bautista can play right field and Rios can play centre field and then Bautista can play 3rd base for Rolen and…
Wait. What?
MW: Oh, you mean with Overbay and Rolen iffy. I doubt any of the three will start the season on the DL, but if they ALL do, then Bautista and Inglett share third, Millar plays first, Lind, Rios and Snider play the outfield from left to right, and the DH may be somebody like a Jason Lane or Randy Ruiz, or maybe Inglett/Bautista, with Scutaro moving to third and John McDonald playing short. VERY unlikely scenario, though.
- isabella reyesMW: I’m a big fan of Lavelle Neal’s, who writes for the Minneapolis Star-Trib. Marty York wrote that story for Metro on January 23rd, which is the one to which I thought you were referring. Regardless, Koskie still isn’t on Canada’s provisional roster, so he can’t play.
Sportsnet is reporting that he is playing for Canada. Are they incorrect?
MW: I saw that, too, and I don’t get it. I was under the impression that if a player wasn’t named on the 45-man provisional roster released earlier this winter, then he wasn’t eligible to play in the Classic. I’m going to have to make some phone calls.
- Sean Lafortune“Hi Mike, Do you think the Jays have any interest in Andy Marte?”
MW: I would if I were them.
Why ? He just doesn’t have any ability to improve, and no matter how good you are when you are 21 or 22, if you can’t learn and improve, you’re toast. In fact he’s actually getting worse every season. Coaches at all of Atlanta, Boston, and Cleveland say “he already has all the answers” and has no interest in getting better. So he’s toast.
MW: Again, it amazes me how it is that you speak from such authority. He doesn’t have any ability to improve? Maybe he has some issues, but he’s 25, he certainly has the ability to extricate his head from his nether regions.
- KenMW: Ludwick was a failed prospect with the A’s, Rangers and Indians who then signed a minor-league contract with Detroit and another with St. Louis before making his first real impact in the big leagues last season at the age of 30.
He was pretty good with the Cardinals in 2007 (818 OPS in 340 plate appearances) at the age of 28. That is actually how he got the full-time gig in 2008. He will be 30 for most of the 2009 season.
MW: He was OK with the Cards in 2007 (.267/.339/.467 - 14 HR in 340 plate app’s), which got him the full-time gig. None of what I said above is untrue, and he turned 30 during the all-star break, so you’re splitting hairs.
- Ken“I just don’t understand is all this roids talk..Who cares?..MLB has testing now and all this crap will be cleaned up.”
The IOC and NFL also have testing, and they have cleaned up their sports. I sure MLB has been just as successful.
The war on PED has been won. Great news !!
MW: See? Now here’s a well thought-out, intelligent comment that I agree with! I couldn’t have said it better myself - it’s too bad there’s no sarcasm font, though. For your comment, not my response.
- KenMW: So you’re saying that Ricciardi should have known that the Yankees would sign Burnett, along with two other Type A free agents who were rated higher than he was? And I don’t get why people are upset about not signing anyone to a major-league deal. Barrett, Millar and probably Clement will wind up with major-league deals.
Mike People are upset because nothing has been done to improve a fourth place team and we have to watch another year of the Jay’s missing the playoffs. I don’t no what is so hard to understand about that. 2) J.P. should of been well aware that the Yankees would go after Burnett if he didn’t no that he should be fired for his stupidity and if he thought the Yankees would stop spending money once they landed him then he should be fired for his stupidity.
MW: I don’t think you should be calling anyone stupid - as a general rule, but especially given that you don’t know the difference between “no” and “know”. There’s nothing wrong with people being upset about the Jays’ lack of action this off-season, but they should direct their upsetedness at the proper target, rather than making up new reasons to dislike J.P.
- Even Bradshaw“Steroids don’t help anyone hit a baseball.”
That depends on how you define hit a baseball..
Sure it doesn’t help you make contact, or increase your hand eye… But does it not turn a 380 foot flyout to center into a 410 foot homerun?
MW: It very well might, we don’t know.
- Stevie H.A-Rod….
Is he going o the hall of fame?
Is he going to be signed by any general manager? Or is he going to be inactive (similar to Barry Bonds)?
I think they should do tests very often (for performance-enhancing drugs). How often are they tested?
MW: 1 - Probably. 2 - It depends. He’s going to be 42 when his current contract expires. Tests are random, it’s not like everyone is tested x times over the course of the season. One guy might be tested three times and another not at all.
- SunkenDPr0RE: comment #155….
Well gee whiz guys I do believe I sensed a wee bit of sarcasm there..I guess MLB should just go back to the old way of testing players-Just ask them..
Just for your information..The NFL was the first major sport to test for steriods and although it isn’t perfect, it is certainly better then nothing..More then 100 players have failed these tests and in 2007 they have added more testing to the players..Of the major sports, its the most comprehensive..
The IOC has done a great job cleaning up the cheats…They may even go a little too far..
Most of the people that are so upset about the juicers are the fat guys sitting in front of their computers..These guys wouldn’t know what a weight looks like let alone know what it takes to stay in shape..I think most people are just jealous that these players look better and make more money then them..So they call them cheaters and feel good about themselves..
“Yea if I did that I could look like them too but I would rather sit on my butt and eat a hoagie”..
Most people have no idea what steriods actually does to your body and just assume you take this stuff and your muscles miraculously grow like toe fungus..
If you take these so called banned substances you still have to eat right and go to the gym..If you don’t work out or eat properly, the juice does absolutely nothing for you..It certainly won’t make you hit a baseball better but it may help your mental approach…
If you guys want to blame someone blame Bud Selig..The players used whatever they could to make themselves better athletes..
By the way..A 380ft. flyball is a 380ft. flyball..Inject that..
MW: You’re right - if you take steroids, you still have to work your tail off in the gym. There’s no “magic” pill. If you take ‘roids and don’t work out, then you turn into a Mo Vaughn-looking type. Still, though, I think you’re pretty naive if you think that the NFL’s or MLB’s drug-testing programs are actually doing a good job catching the cheats. I maintain that you’d have a to be pretty big dummy to ever fail a steroid test.
- gumpTeam Projection: (from CHONE)
AL East
Yankees 97-65
Red Sox 96-66
Rays 89-73
Blue Jays 76-86
Orioles 74-88
The Yankees just absolutely dominated the offseason and it might just be enough to get them back into the position of being favorites. Of course to do this they will probably spend more money next year than the Rays and Red Sox combined. The Red Sox still have an excellent team, second in this division equals second best in baseball. Last year a prediction of 89 wins was a bold one for the Rays. This year, 89 wins and third place will be a bit of a disappointment. The Blue Jays, and even the Orioles, are not terrible teams.
The AL East is so tough that just playing half your games in this unbalanced schedule will knock a few games off your win total. And the AL is 5-10 games better than the NL. The Orioles and Jays are probably as good as projected 2nd and 3rd place teams Oakland and Minnesota, and any of those teams would be contenders in the National league.
If I ranked the teams in this division among all MLB teams, and everyone played the same schedule, here is the overall rank of the AL East teams:
1. Yankees
2. Red Sox
3. Rays
12. Blue Jays
15. Orioles
MW: That’s interesting. You think the Orioles are a middle-of-the-pack team? I don’t think they’re that good. Nor do I think that the Rays are the 3rd-best team in all of baseball. I’d probably have the Jays around 9th or so right now.
- KenMW: Again, it amazes me how it is that you speak from such authority.
Just doing lots of corresponding, reading, and Googling. After all, isn’t that how you came up with the Hank Aaron steroid connection at “Steroid Nation”.
MW: Yes, but I didn’t present it as a fact, like you did with Marte.
- KenMike, why in the ‘Fan Fun On The Morning Show’ (sorry not sure of it’s exact title) are you always napping?
MW: They used to call me at 7:00 AM to go on the morning show after I’d gotten back from the ballpark at 1:00 AM the previous night, so I’m guessing I didn’t sound especially chipper.
- Justin from ArdtreaHey Mike,
No reporter I have read/heard so far has picked this hole out in A-Rod’s story. I thought one reporter was actually getting close in the press conference but it didn’t come up.
So A-Rod keeps admiting his best years in the majors were outside the 3 years of usage. 1 of the seasons prior to and 1 year after the 3 year window.
No one flat out asked him directly…After using it for 1 year you noticed your performance actually was worse then a previous year why did you keep using it? Same question after 2 years? It doesn’t take some that is “stupid” and “naive” to know that you are not as good as before.
The truth obviously is that he was using it prior to the 3 years he has admitted.
I thought it would have been good for someone to poke another hole in his story.
What do you think?
MW: His performance in 2001 wasn’t worse than it was in 2000, it was basically the same. And though his overall performance declined slightly from 2000 to 2001 to 2002, his home run numbers went from 41 to 52 to 57. So there’s your answer.
- AKYea I agree the testing programs in the NFL aren’t great but cosmetically speaking, they are in place to at least check for something..
MLB had virtually nothing in place to test the players..So these guys used everything they could without worrying about being caught..It is much easier to get certain drugs then it is to get the designer stuff..
Your dead on when you say you have to be a dummy to get caught using the juice..They might as well left the syringe stuck in their arse..
I am just curious as to how this reporter only found out about A-Rod and nobody else?
MW: People leaked the info to her, I guess they wanted to out the biggest name of the bunch. Maybe to make sure that people knew that the man many were calling the “true” heir to Hank Aaron had feet of clay as well.
- gumpHi,
It was nice to hear Aaron Hill in good spirits this morning talking with Don and Gord. But opening the “Insider at 8:10″ with U2’s “Vertigo” was either a strange coincidence or a shot at light-hearted humour I guess…Nevertheless, he put all health issues aside and he’s itching to go….Didn’t the Habs used to play “Vertigo” after a goal until Alex Kovalev came down with a bout of it?
Thanks
Coetsee
- coetsee