McGwire comes clean about playing dirty
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 11, 2010 
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Mark McGwire, former home run king and new Cardinals hitting coach, admitted today that he used steroids during his career. In his statement released to The Associated Press, McGwire said: “I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.”
McGwire said he used steroids off and on through the 1990s, including 1998 when he set the single-season home run record. McGwire was hurt quite a lot in his career, and his statement suggests he turned to steroids to help him recover more quickly.
It will be interesting to gauge the reaction around baseball. It surely won’t be a reaction of surprise, and probably won’t be one of outrage either. As we’ve seen in the past — when we agree to talk about the past — admission seems to be the best way to (sort of) clear one’s name in this era of performance enhancing drugs.
Andy Pettitte admitted it, and he was hardly vilified. Alex Rodriguez admitted it, and the story went away fairly quickly. Jason Giambi didn’t quite admit it, but we all understood what he was saying, and he was back to being a fun-loving baseball player. As more and more names come to light, the perception of steroids and steroid users seems to change. Not for everyone, but for a lot of people. McGwire is now in that group that’s asking forgiveness instead of denying the truth.
UPDATE, 4:20 p.m.: Hey guys, Sam here. Just wanted to post the statement that MLB just sent out from Bud Selig on the McGwire admission. Here it is:
“I am pleased that Mark McGwire has confronted his use of performance-enhancing substances as a player. Being truthful is always the correct course of action, which is why I had commissioned Senator George Mitchell to conduct his investigation. This statement of contrition, I believe, will make Mark’s reentry into the game much smoother and easier.
“While we, along with all sports organizations, continue to battle the use of such drugs and continue the intensive search for a valid test for HGH, I believe our drug testing program is the toughest and most effective in professional sports. Last year in the Major Leagues, we had only two positives for steroids out of 3,722 tests. We have banned and aggressively test for amphetamines, substances which club doctors and professional athletic trainers have told me had presented serious problems for the sport for decades. Our minor league program will begin its 10th year in 2010. We conducted 8,995 tests in the minor leagues last year of which less than eight-tenths of one percent was positive.
“The use of steroids and amphetamines amongst today’s players has greatly subsided and is virtually non-existent as our testing results have shown. The so-called “steroid era” – a reference that is resented by the many players who played in that era and never touched the substances – is clearly a thing of the past, and Mark’s admission today is another step in the right direction.”
UPDATE, 5:03 p.m.: Chad here, with rule No. 1 of covering baseball: If you decide to go to the grocery story, the commissioner will issue an official statement the moment you walk out the door. This is not negotiable.
UPDATE, 5:38 p.m.: McGwire is going to be interviewed by Bob Costas on MLB Network tonight at 7 ET. Might be worth watching.
And in other news, the Pope is Catholic and bears go to the loo in the woods.
Rebecca: Bears also use Charmin ultra-soft in the woods.
Hmmmmm…..where does this leave Ortiz?
Unfortunately, it was not “illegal” because MLB had no policy in place at the time. Sounds like Mark is trying to woo voters for HOF balloting to me…
Absolutely a surprise to no one.
As for Pujols, if he’s shocked and dismayed, then he’s just not that bright is he?
It actually was illegal it just wasn’t tested for. Kinda like having a speed limit but no policeman. Its still illegal to speed but there was no way to get caught.
Andy Pettitte’s name keeps coming up over and over. From St. Louis columnists to Jerry Crasnick, they keep bringing his name up.
talk about apples and oranges.
they were completely different situations.
Ortiz is a victim of GNC remember?!?
butterball
this leaves ortiz in the same place as before…
Boston heaven.
Manny and Ortiz took the easy way out, said nothing, and got away with it scot free from the media.
Why is Manny’s name not being dragged into every conversation.
It’s Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte, Clemens…
Hey, Rebecca’s back. Welcome back to the insanity!
I guess ESPN forgot about Manny not admitting it than testing positive
Clemens looks more the fool, and Bonds too, after this.
Well, this will come as a surprise to absolutely no one.
Jayston Stark just laid a timeline for when it’s okay for Mark to no longer answer questions regarding the steroids.
He said……..blah blah blah…. and then “McGwire is then free to no longer answer questions”
To be fair, I don’t think McGwire ever denied using them. He just refused to answer the question.
Either way, this is obviously no shock.
Shrek and Manroids would never be vilified by ESPN. That station is overflowing with Red Sox lackeys.
It is amazing how Manny and Ortiz’s names magically get left out of these stories. Manny could always hit but I think Papi was one of the biggest steriod made freak shows of them all.
tampayank
January 11th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
I guess ESPN forgot about Manny not admitting it than testing positive
*********************
Of course they did.
Meanwhile I have a feeling the names Pettitte, Rodriguez and Giambi are being brought up non-stop, right?
Since when does the media decide when someone is free to do or to not do something?
David Ortiz is free. He did not answer anything. Why?
ok here come all the yankee apologists who are going to say why the yankees ped usage was different or less severe than everyone else’s. the same people who gave a pass to clemens but condemn ortiz, scream about manny but dont mention arod, beleived pettitte’s first story, then his second story, but dont but belittle tejada or sosa or palmiero.
its unfortunate that all of them used steroids and its even more unfortunate that those who didnt will never get credit for playing straight on a crooked playing field. but spare me the ‘difference’ between pettitte and mcgwire, please…
People on MLB, from Dave Parker to Harold Reynolds to the idiot, Verducci keep talking about baseball having never seen anybody hit baseballs as far as McGwire. Apparenly, they never saw players like Mantle, Killabrew, Dick Stuart and Willie McCovey hit baseballs. Mantle was hitting 500+ foot homers as early as 1951 and at least 6 over 500 fet in 1953 alone.
Of course Verducci was slobbering all over McGwire’s admitting to using and actually saying the word “steroid” when Rodriguez would only say “boli” or “HGH”. He must still be sleeping with Selena Roberts.
sorry for the bad edit
Yes Erin, every Yankee has been brought up by ESPNews and MLBN and ESPN, by different people, ranging from St. Louis columnists via phone conversations.
It’s almost as if only players that once or currently play for the Yankees used them.
re-post for Erica:
So maybe the players who are joining the 2010 team will contribute to some wins as Damon and Melky (and Matsui) did in 2009?
Or: The fact that Player X contributed to Win A in 2009 does not mean than the Yankees can’t win in 2010 without Player X in the lineup.
From the last thread…
Interested to see if HOF voters will give more consideration to those HOF borderline pitchers like Mussina who had to pitch during the Steroid Era?
Surely they can never know if Mussina was clean or not, but still…how is it fair to a “clean” pitcher with 270+ wins and a low 3.00 era who had to face McGwire 50-60 times per season, Bonds 12 times, Sosa 12 times, Canseco 50-60 times, and countless others?
Wouldn’t pitchers naturally during the Steroid Era be looked upon more favorably as having survived the barrage?
(A guy like Pedro, however, mowed down most of those guys in the 1999 All-Star game, steroids be damned. Unless he was juicing himself…?)
While typing this though, I’m convincing myself that the answer is “no”, and that pitchers will continue to be judged on those benchmarks set before them. Wrong?
chad or sam,
have you ever asked an espn colleague of yours why they never mention manny or ortiz in these stories.
stfu cr9 u are paranoid get of the boards. ur carzy ur paranoia of baston is just plain weird. and go back to ur old name jim pir one.
F$%& McGuire…too little wayyyyy too late. Big Papi will have his moment in Steroid confessional…just not until he is out of the game…which should be in a couple years.
I have to say, and I know I’m biased, but it was a total BS job by the media with Ortiz.
Arod had Selina Roberts scaling fences and digging through his trash and Dave comes to a presser and says I didn’t do it and I will get to the bottom of this and everything is ok.
This PED issue is and always has been about who the media likes and who they don’t.
Manny, Ortiz, Andy, and Giambi hardly were vilified like Arod, Bonds, or McGwire. And nothing differs from one to the other.
Good for Mark. At least he can look people in the eye again knowing that he’s got nothing to hide. I wonder if The Cards asked him about doing this knowing that his past denials( really just silence) could be a distraction in camp next month.
I don’t see how this admission helps his HOF chances much.
10 yrs of use? Probably in the prime of his career?
How can you vote for that?
I admit that Mark was a great guy and did so much to help the game. And that steroids weren’t technically against the rules of MLB at the time but what lesson does putting him in the HOF teach young fans?
Chad, I recall you being a supporter of Mark. Does this change anything for you?
ok here come all the yankee apologists who are going to say why the yankees ped usage was different or less severe than everyone else’s. the same people who gave a pass to clemens but condemn ortiz, scream about manny but dont mention arod, beleived pettitte’s first story, then his second story, but dont but belittle tejada or sosa or palmiero.
___
not yankee apologists. the uproar is because the yankees are attacked while others go free. arod and co have taken their fair share of hits here, but ortiz and manny have had nothing. in fact, manny was so dumb he even got suspended this year, and still he is down the list.
Manny has been caught TWICE. Yet, nobody ever talks about it.
McGwire admitting usage as far back as 1990 means there may be someone in the HOF who will always have their fingers crossed.
Chad
Did Andy,Alex,Sheffield,Giambi, et al sit before congress, OR try to work out a protection deal before giving testimony, and WHEN HE DIDN’T GET THE PROTECTION , say he’s not there to talk about the past when questioned?
The fact that he’s even allowed to influence young hitters is wrong!
waaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!! they are all being mean to the yankeees!!!!!!!!!!make them stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!waaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!
it makes me ashamed to be a yankees fan when this starts up.
Imagine how tough it was to admit to his son, who was his shadow during that great home run race, that he in fact had been cheating all those years.
Wow.
Baseball Year Calendar:
Jan – Feb: Steroid allegations/confessions
Feb-April: Spring Training
April-July: first half/trading deadline
July-September: pennant race heats up
October: Greatest sports month of the year
November-December: Hot Stove
Good to see McGwire ‘man up’ and come clean.
No one will care in a week. The ‘dont ask dont tell’ era will be notable..
McGuire had no choice but come clean. If he’s going to be the hitting coach for the Cards, he had to get this out there; otherwise, it would have hung over him and the team the entire season. Also, I’m sure he noticed that he’s not picking up many HOF votes. He’s probably hoping this clears the way for him to get in some day. It won’t be soon though.
Can Selieg step up before he retires and give the homerun title back to Maris?
It’s days like this that makes me really appreciate the young players (assuming, of course, that they’re clean). They may not throw as hard or hit the ball as far, but it’s real.
BigSix,
Did you hear about Nikolai Bonds? Threw a doorknob at his mother. She wasn’t hurt, but he’s in legal troubles. I’m sure Koby Clemens has his share of negative attention as well.
“Baseball Year Calendar:
Jan – Feb: Steroid allegations/confessions”
This is funny and sad all at the same time.
William Buckner
January 11th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I have to say, and I know I’m biased, but it was a total BS job by the media with Ortiz.
***********************
Completely agree. That was ridiculous. Sadly, I wasn’t surprised though.
“Manny has been caught TWICE. Yet, nobody ever talks about it.”
When was the other time?
What’s up with the “I wish I never played in the steroid era” comment? That’s pathetic, trying to place the blame on the era in which he played. I can’t believe some of the “poor Mark” or “good for Mark” comments I’m reading. By the way, does Roger Maris get his record back? I thought not.
stltoday.com and http://www.globe-democrat.com
both St louis papers that carry the story.
Who would have thought that Jose Conseco would be the one to shine the light on the corruption in baseball?
Who-da-thunk-it?
From the last thread…
Interested to see if HOF voters will give more consideration to those HOF borderline pitchers like Mussina who had to pitch during the Steroid Era?
Surely they can never know if Mussina was clean or not, but still…how is it fair to a “clean” pitcher with 270+ wins and a low 3.00 era who had to face McGwire 50-60 times per season, Bonds 12 times, Sosa 12 times, Canseco 50-60 times, and countless others?
Wouldn’t pitchers naturally during the Steroid Era be looked upon more favorably as having survived the barrage?
(A guy like Pedro, however, mowed down most of those guys in the 1999 All-Star game, steroids be damned. Unless he was juicing himself…?)
While typing this though, I’m convincing myself that the answer is “no”, and that pitchers will continue to be judged on those benchmarks set before them. Wrong?
_______________________________________________________
More pitchers have tested positive than position players.
Wait till some more Red Sox names come off that steroid list. Varitek, Trot Nixon, Gabe Kapler, Kevin Millar, MArk Bellhorn, etc. ESPN and Red Sox Nation will be silent.
The thing is that fans of all teams should stop talking about which team did what because every team had users. Red Sox fans need to stop talking about the Yankees users because they had plenty on their team.
Ham Fighters
What each Yankee steroid user and each MLB steroid user did was wrong. Nobody argues that.
The argument is the double standard of the media to let some guys off the hook and villify Yankees.
One point that never gets brought up is only Andy Pettitte used as a Yankee.
The difference with Ortiz is he isnt in the record books for anything or about to crush someones historic record. Its like Brady Anderson being on it. Who cares?
Pete Abe still taking shots at A-Rod on his twitter.
Shame. I used to like Pete.
January 11th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
“Manny has been caught TWICE. Yet, nobody ever talks about it.”
When was the other time?
1. probably 2003 in the FBI list.
and this past season.
2. it isnt poor yankees it is just why people are asking about the choices of who is mentioned in the roid convo.
3. mark did seem to blame the era (the one which he and canseco seem to ahve started). Wouldnt necessarily even have been an era if not for the bash brothers.
Agreed, every one of Gardner’s called-strike-3s is pure Brett.
No revelation here. EVERYbody knew McGwire did it. One reporter even asked him about the andro in his locker and he said ‘it’s just a supplement’ or something like that. OK so he may have been wrong about that, but he was already acknowledging taking it at that point.
cano he didnt
Manny tested positive in the 2003 and got busted last year with the Dodgers trying to mask the substance with fertility drugs. Which is why he got suspended.
And he was smart not to lie to congress. Dancing around the truth while still answering questions is not lying. At least technically …
McGwire manned up and came clean? He embarrassed himself in front of Congress and only came clean because he got a job as hitting coach. He’ll be treated very gently when compared to Alex.
Every time I hear a new steroids confession, I hope the BBWAA gives leans a little more towards voting Mike Mussina into the Hall of Fame when his time comes.
It still amuses me that Jose Canseco has still not been wrong. Or proven wrong, anyway.
CR9
January 11th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Andy Pettitte’s name keeps coming up over and over. From St. Louis columnists to Jerry Crasnick, they keep bringing his name up.
talk about apples and oranges.
they were completely different situations.
____________________________________________________________
I agree. And this isn’t because I love Andy. I read this book about Clemens( Fallen Icon? I can’t remeber the name of it right now but the book is in my house). Anyway, it has the transcripts of the steroid hearings of both Andy and Roger. After reading that its hard to believe that Andy wasn’t 100% honest in his revelations. I’m not saying he was righ for taking the HGH to come back from an injury, but comparing him to McGwire who juiced for 10 years and used it to break a pretigious record is ridiculous IMO.
“Dancing around the truth while still answering questions is not lying.”
No, but it’s not being honest either. His performance in front of Congress was shameful. I was embarrassed for him. Him and that idiot Sammy Sosa, who expected us to believe that he all of a sudden doesn’t know how to speak English.
I don’t care if Ortiz is not breaking the record books, but there was talk of him being in the Hall of Fame because of his power numbers as a DH, and his clutch hitting. Now all that talk is gone. Ortiz should be challenged on his steroid use.
“One point that never gets brought up is only Andy Pettitte used as a Yankee.”
…you actually believe this?
Canseco has been marginalized because he is a self centered head case with ulterior motives, but the fact is, he hasn’t been wrong yet.
Who would’ve thought, Jose “Honest man” Canseco.
Insane.Weird.Unexpected.
Doing steroids means taking tremendous legal, professional, and health risks in order to benefit your team and help them win. Doing steroids is quintessence of being a team player.
I will also say this. The HOF is total BS.
Jim Rice? Andre Dawson? How about the hall of really good.
So now Rice and Dawson are in the same hall as Mantle, Aaron, or Ricky Henderson.
NFL had Shawn Meriman test hot during a season and still win defensive MVP. If he maintained he would be in their HOF, no question.
MLB 1990-2005 in no different from NFL since 1980, maybe earlier.
HOF voters need to grow up. Like Keith Law once wrote, PED’s in baseball are taking echinacea for a cold. You think it’s doing something, but it’s not.
It’s part of the era, like coke in the 70s-80s. You note it, but you still put the players in.
Jeremy
January 11th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
cano he didnt
Manny tested positive in the 2003 and got busted last year with the Dodgers trying to mask the substance with fertility drugs. Which is why he got suspended.”
But Peter Gammons said that Manny might have had a valid reason for using those fertility drugs…
Shouldn’t I believe Peter Gammons?
“Every time I hear a new steroids confession, I hope the BBWAA gives leans a little more towards voting Mike Mussina into the Hall of Fame when his time comes.”
It won’t. The fact that he wasn’t a cheater isn’t enough of a qualification for the voters to ignore the non-300 wins stat. I like Mussina, but he’s not HOF material.
Per usual, the spineless jellyish of a Commissioner (Selig) will be surprised to learn of the McGwire admittance of abuse.
That would be Allan Selig, the U.S.A.’s biggest cheerleader in ’98 watching the bombs going out of NL parks by Sosa and McGwire.
All he truly cared about was seeing rumps in seats.
PeteAbe I thought for sure McGwire would go with the “Dominican cousin” defense.
___
How bout the GNC tricked me defense. Or the i thought i was pregnant defense?
Patrick
I’ve thought the same thing… but never wanted to post something like that, because it would get taken as I think it’s okay to cheat, which I do not.
Will the finger pointer(Palmeiro) be next to come clean? He spoke at that congress hearing with conviction. Was watching little big league this weekend with the kids and he had a cameo. Couldnt get over the anger he showed in those meetings.
What about Schilling ? He talked all this big stuff before approaching Congress saying that he knew who was doing roids and then when he came before Congress he gave no substantial information. Schilling is just as bad as Sosa and Mac.
S.o.S.
January 11th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
The difference with Ortiz is he isnt in the record books for anything or about to crush someones historic record. Its like Brady Anderson being on it. Who cares?
**************************
Good point-but I still don’t like the fact that it was just completely glossed over.
Shawn Merriman actually finished 3rd in the defensive PoY voting after he was found doing roids.
pete abe still taking shots? wow that guy is the biggest DB
Baseball cannot redeem itself until selig is gone.
“It won’t. The fact that he wasn’t a cheater isn’t enough of a qualification for the voters to ignore the non-300 wins stat. I like Mussina, but he’s not HOF material.”
I’m not saying they should vote him in because he didn’t cheat, but because he excelled in arguably the toughest division in the league, full of people who did.
Mike in Harrisburg –
According to “RSM”, more pitchers have tested positive than position players.
I find this hard to believe, though it’s probably true.
But I do agree with you on Moose. The guy had to get through McGwire, Giambi, Ramirez, Rodriguez(es) and countless others continuously throughout his career.
There will be a more favorable look on pitchers during this era by some writers. How can there not be?
William Buckner
Ortiz is still trying to get to the bottom of why he tested positive like OJ is still trying to find the real killer.
the yankees are the first and most talked about team in every conversatoin about baseball or sports in general, good or bad. this is the territory that comes with being the best team ever. so yes, when they talk about steroids or anything else, the yankees come first. if you cant handle that, you neeed to start rooting for the phillies or the mets.
if they ever stop talking about the yankees first, thats when you should worry.
LOL @ Palmeiro.
“I’m not saying they should vote him in because he didn’t cheat, but because he excelled in arguably the toughest division in the league, full of people who did.”
Oh, I see. I still have to disagree. Unlike the fools who voted in Dawson, I think that the HOF should only be for really Outstanding players. Mussina did well under tough situations, but he still didn’t win 300 games. If I had a vote, I’d have to pass on him. I’d hate doing it because I enjoyed his time as a Yankee, but I would.
CR9
Peter Gammons is the biggest phoney out. If the entire 2004 Red Sox team was busted for Roids him and ESPN would find some excuse.
Leave Pete Abe alone. He’s had to deal with enough over the last 48 hours. A Jets win and Pats loss, Sexy Rexy Ryan (another PA target) advancing past Bill Belichick!
How bout the GNC tricked me defense. Or the i thought i was pregnant defense?
========
I believe he already went with the androstien from gnc defense. He did skip the pregnant defense though.
Steroid revelations are the biggest borefest imaginable in modern baseball. They are tailor made to fill the void of news out there for baseball men to report in the slow months of January and February.
I totally agree NYY626. I am not saying what Andy did was right, but there is a world of difference in taking HGH to recover and doing steroids to improve your performance. the really sad thing is Clemens and Bonds didn’t need to take anything, they were already great players.
Jeremy
I was being tongue-in-cheek.
So basically, as long as you did Steroids and DID NOT wear pinstripes.. you get a pass from the media… OK Got it
Don’t Hassle the Hoff
January 11th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
So basically, as long as you did Steroids and DID NOT wear pinstripes.. you get a pass from the media… OK Got it
**********************
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.
“if they ever stop talking about the yankees first, thats when you should worry.”
Ham, are you kidding? So we should just be glad that the Yankees are being discussed even if they are being treated unfairly? I’d rather they not be mentioned at all than have them mentioned unfairly or in a bad light.
“So basically, as long as you did Steroids and DID NOT wear pinstripes.. you get a pass from the media… OK Got it”
no, its, any yankee doing anything is more noteworthy than any non-yankee doing anything.
its a good thing and if you cant handle it, the marlins never get mentioned about anything and there are plenty of good seats available…
NYY626
Agreed. No matter the reason, it was wrong of Andy.
But the difference between the 2 is enormous. And I have heard at least 8 people bring up Andy’s name already on the assortment of networks.
I can’t believe there is so little talk about how this admission proves what a great teamatte Mark Mcgwire is. He put his health, integrity and career at risk by taking steroids just so he could help his team win. Give the man some kudos!
pat -
Unfortunate, but probably true.
This is old news.
RE: Damon, all the Yankees really need to concern themselves with is waiting and identifying the best solution in LF.
At this point, they have all the leverage because they don’t really need him. BUT, under the right circumstances, I wouldn’t mind having Damon back in LF next year.
The whole topic is kind of a non-factor for NYY at this point.
Leave Pete Abe alone. He’s had to deal with enough over the last 48 hours. A Jets win and Pats loss, Sexy Rexy Ryan (another PA target) advancing past Bill Belichick!
___
Dont forget his insistance yesterday that after 2 seasons without a playoff win, BB owes the fans a ‘real’ explanation. how dare they go 11-5 two years in a row and not win a superbowl.
“Ortiz is still trying to get to the bottom of why he tested positive like OJ is still trying to find the real killer.”
——————————————————-
This is what really bothers me the most out of this entire steroid conversations. Guys like Manny and Ortiz can both avoid all media criticism by avoiding speaking about this issue but guys like A-rod and Pettitte who admit to some usage and at least try to be as honest as they legally can get ripped for not being honest enough or not giving enough information. Someone really needs to address this double standard.
Laura: It will be interesting to see what happens. I think, even absent the steroids factor, he’s a borderline type of guy, and I don’t know off the top of my head who else would be in the class of 2008. Would his circumstances push him over the top? I don’t know.
His wikipedia page offers a nice outline of his HOF credentials. “His numbers are often compared to those of Jim Palmer. Their win-loss record is differentiated by a 21 games (both finished with a .638 winning percentage) and are separated by an earned run average of .80. Mussina finished his career with 601 more strikeouts than Palmer.”
Bud giving the biggest load of a statement. He confronted it? Um he only admitted because he wanted to return to baseball. If the Cards hadn’t wanted to hire him he’d still be living in a hole somewhere.
I can’t believe there is so little talk about how this admission proves what a great teamatte Mark Mcgwire is. He put his health, integrity and career at risk by taking steroids just so he could help his team win. Give the man some kudos!
___
I heard Canseco was threatening his family and that’s why he went along with it. hhahahahahaha.
“I can’t believe there is so little talk about how this admission proves what a great teamatte Mark Mcgwire is. He put his health, integrity and career at risk by taking steroids just so he could help his team win. Give the man some kudos!”
Yeah, STL should erect a statue of him outside of Busch Stadium in his honor. Or better yet, sign him to a 7 year deal worth 120mil. Pujols could use the help.
Laura –
Threshholds change.
No current pitcher is likely to reach 300 wins again. It’s the new nature of the game. Fewer starts, fewer innings pitched.
So 270 may be the new 300.
Is now the time to change that threshhold for pitchers?
I think it is. It’s a perfect time.
“no, its, any yankee doing anything is more noteworthy than any non-yankee doing anything.
its a good thing and if you cant handle it, the marlins never get mentioned about anything and there are plenty of good seats available…”
I think it has more to do with NY having a greater and more prominent quantity of news outlets than a lot of places. I mean come on, how many newspapers are there in NY that cover the exact same junk time after time? You see the same story printed like 15 times in 15 different periodicals all of which are located in the vicinity of the largest sports market in the world.
Part of the gig even if it gets annoying.
People please lay off poor mark mcgwire….
WE AREN’T ON THIS BLOG TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST.
“Shawn Merriman actually finished 3rd in the defensive PoY voting after he was found doing roids.”
Patrick,
Lets say Manny crushed last year. Would he have sniffed 3rd place? Would he get a single vote?
Hyperbole aside, I’m sure you get my point.
tex’s friend
I posted that yesterday, that he’s an ingrate and a hypocrite.
Yankees fans are blasphemed for wanting more and more.
He’s a Patriots fan (since January 2002, like all the rest of them) and wants more and more….
Earlier this year, he said Bill Belichick should be on the hot seat soon if the Patriots do not win!
Laughable.
Bill Belichick should have a lifetime contract for his success.
If the HOF is going to mean anything in 20 years, the voters are just going to have to ignore the whole steroids thing and vote on the basis of performance alone.
If Mac was a Yankee the baseball world would be going upside down over his steroid use. What a joke !
La Russa told ESPN that his feelings haven’t changed about McGwire’s joining the team as hitting coach.
_____________
ha ha Tony knew about it. He was probably helping his players inject.
i just got a direct tweet from PeteAbe.
PeteAbe: I do enjoy when Yankee fans go with the “two wrongs make a right” argument. Didn’t any of you have parents?
Rebecca–Optimist Prime–Montero Fanaticus Primus January 11th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
It still amuses me that Jose Canseco has still not been wrong. Or proven wrong, anyway
—–
He’s proven himself to be less than honest at times. In a book didn’t he say he believed Roger Clemens took PEDs and then said he doesn’t believe he did it?
As usual, he hurts his own credibility, no one else does.
Wave Your Hat: That’s a good point. I think keeping someone out on the basis of his steroid use is more likely to keep the issue alive than voting him in. If Pete Rose had been allowed in to the HOF 10 years ago, the issue would be settled. But instead we still hear about it. If a guy like Bonds isn’t in the hall 20 years from now, people will look at the numbers and ask why, and the steroids era will never rest in peace.
“So 270 may be the new 300.”
Good point. We’ll see. I just think that today’s voters have that mindset that if you didn’t win 300, you’re not getting in. The only guy I don’t think this applies to would have been Randy Johnson. If he had retired two seasons ago and not reached 300 wins, I think he still would have gotten in. The rest of his stats make the difference. He may not have gone first ballot w/o the 300 wins (which he surely will now), but he would have gotten in eventually.
Was Matt McGwire waiting for him after the press conference, wearing the same outfit as his dad, and then they exchanged hugs?
tex’s friend Pete abe missing the point. His true colors have shined brightly since he left lohud.
“Lets say Manny crushed last year. Would he have sniffed 3rd place? Would he get a single vote?”
Who knows, it didn’t happen. Some of the smarter voters would have given him a vote.
I get your point
C’mon Laura. You’re telling me Pedro won’t get in? He’s not close to 300 wins and he’ll get in first ballot.
“Pete Rose had been allowed in to the HOF 10 years ago, the issue would be settled. ”
The sad part is that Pete Rose will probably be voted in, but after he’s dead.
“i just got a direct tweet from PeteAbe”
What was that in response to?
I don’t know what Pete said, but who cares?
No where in Bud’s statement did I hear mention how McGwire “disgraced the game”. So far Alex holds that honor from Bud all by himself.
Recent Most Active Pitchers – Win Totals
Randy Johnson 303
Mike Mussina 270
Jamie Moyer 258
Andy Pettitte 229
Pedro Martinez 219
Kenny Rogers 219
Curt Schilling 216
John Smoltz 213
270 starts to look pretty good, doesn’t it?
No active pitcher will get to 300 wins.
300 wins is, to put it like Mark, “in the past”.
By the way, the esteemed Roy Halladay will still come up short of the 300 mark should he win at least 15 games in each of the next 10 seasons.
“C’mon Laura. You’re telling me Pedro won’t get in? He’s not close to 300 wins and he’ll get in first ballot.”
You think so? I hate Pedro so maybe my bias is affecting my judgement. I don’t know. I’ll have to look at his stats.
Still boggles my mind Selig felt the need to drool all over McGwire’s return to baseball. Everyone knew this. Just moronic.
tex’s friend Pete abe missing the point. His true colors have shined brightly since he left lohud.
___
very much missing the point. he in a glass house should not cast stones, or something like that.
pat
January 11th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
No where in Bud’s statement did I hear mention how McGwire “disgraced the game”. So far Alex holds that honor from Bud all by himself.
******************
Bud is such a joke.
“PeteAbe: I do enjoy when Yankee fans go with the “two wrongs make a right” argument. Didn’t any of you have parents?”
I understand his point. I also like my team not getting beaten over the head by the media and Boston’s Ruth and Gherig getting a pass. Pete took cheap shots at Arod every chance he got.
I just don’t look at PED’s being the issue that some do. I don’t believe they make you one bit better.
“So far Alex holds that honor from Bud all by himself.”
As long as Alex makes more $$$ than everyone else, he will always be crucified by the media, fans and that idiot Selig.
“i just got a direct tweet from PeteAbe”
What was that in response to?
___
he mentioned not going with the domincan cousin defense. i replied to him that he could have also gone with the gnc tricked me defense or the i wanted to get pregnant defense. the reply made no sense.
Pete is a loser ! Who cares what he thinks. What he needs to do is worry about his weight before he has a heart a attack.
# Rebecca–Optimist Prime–Montero Fanaticus Primus January 11th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
It still amuses me that Jose Canseco has still not been wrong. Or proven wrong, anyway.”"
Exactly…. Well Said…. He is the most credible source in one of Baseballs darkest eras.. And the most important. And did it all while juggling his amature wrestling career against Danny Bonaduche… Its actually fascinating…
“he mentioned not going with the domincan cousin defense. i replied to him that he could have also gone with the gnc tricked me defense or the i wanted to get pregnant defense. the reply made no sense.”
Any perceived defense of A-rod by Yankee fans is met by insults from Abe so it’s not really surprising. He’s not really the sharpest tool in the shed..
“Some of the smarter voters would have given him a vote.”
Smart voters. Kinda of like jumbo shrimp.
like i said, baseball cannot begin to clean up the image until bug selig is gone. he is as much the problem as those who used.
Why read PeteAbe to begin with?
He writes about the Red Sox and roots for the Patriots.
What is to like? Pondering how many cheeseburgers he can eat in one sitting? Well, I guess being able to think about that is likable (if not utterly appalling as well).
The only reason I’d go read his column is to make some antagonistic comment about the Pats or Sox. But that’s not really worth the effort.
it is not bad to defend the players on your team. no one is giving arod a free pass. just reminding people that he wasnt the only one…. and that he was young and naive
Wasn’t Manny just trying to get himself pregnant? Who wouldn’t believe that?
Why is it that you can’t write P___r Abr__am out on this blog??????
Is it because his pig face is bigger than David Ortiz’s?
Pete needs to spend more time on the treadmill and less time tweeting*
He knows most of his reads are from this blog anyway so he’s probably reading this having a laugh. rHis Boston blog gets no traffic
rodg12 -
Of course Pedro will. No question.
But a guy like Mussina has to rely more on his total overall numbers to help his case. He was never as dominant as Pedro. Nor did he win a championship, like Pedro.
But 270 wins with a era under 3.70 during the “Steroid Era” should be enough.
Pete isn’t who we thought he was. Can’t believe he would bash the fans who got his blog popular so he could get his dream job. So tired of that guy and glad we have professionals working now.
tex’s friend
I said the same thing to him. How about the i was trying to get pregnant excuse a la manny. Or I didn’t know what I took a la Ortiz. haven’t received a response yet.
Wasn’t Manny just trying to get himself pregnant? Who wouldn’t believe that?
___
Have you ever listened to him talk? i wouldnt be a bit surprised if he thought it would be cool to see if he could get himself pregnant.
Of course, I’d vote Moose in for this achievement alone
“During Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Mussina authored one of the greatest clutch pitching performances of all time. With the Yankees trailing Boston 4–0 Mussina made the first relief appearance of his career. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Mussina struck out Jason Varitek before inducing Johnny Damon to hit into a double play. Mussina went on to pitch 2 more scoreless innings and kept the Yankees within striking distance in a game they later came back to win.”
i mean manny did say in an interview last year before the season that he had nothing left to prove and had no determination to win. the dodgers should have dumped him right there.
Pete needs to lay off the junk food. The guy looks like a pig. I wouldn’t take advice from a guy who can’t stay healthy and is one burger away from a heart attack.
I’ve said it a hundred times on this blog:
I really enjoyed reading P_t_r Abr_h_m when he wrote for LoHud because of the coverage he provided.
I never enjoyed his brash attitude, abundant arrogance, or the cheap shots he took at a variety of Yankee players or any other player for that matter. That was my only issue with him. This is why I take cheap shots at his surly pig face.
I just see little value in reading him anymore. He writes about subjects that do not interest me.
But here’s the kicker: P-t-r knows that controversy sells. He’s darned good at piggybacking it for his own benefit.
Vincent
January 11th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Pete isn’t who we thought he was. Can’t believe he would bash the fans who got his blog popular so he could get his dream job. So tired of that guy and glad we have professionals working now.
————————————————————
I disagree with that. He’s exactly what I thought he was.
Moose should get in. It’s really not much of a question to me. Laura said that nobody with less than 300 wins was getting in first ballot nowadays and I simply brought up Pedro as a counter-point to that argument.
BigSix
Also don’t forget Mussina’s clutch pitching performance in the 2001 ALDS game 3 which got overlooked by Jeter’s great play to get Jeremy Giambi out. If it wasn’t for that pitching performance shutting the A’s out the Yankees would have been swept. The Yankees only scored 1 run in that game.
Also he pitched great in the 2004 ALCS but the Yankees collapsed so that was overlooked.
Pete could use a little boli or Hgh from Arods Dominican cousin.
rodg12
January 11th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Moose should get in. It’s really not much of a question to me.
*************************
Me either-I definitely think Moose should get in.
I highly doubt what Pete did with this blog got him his Boston gig. Making disparaging remarks about his weight is another indicator of no significant IQ.
People were singing his praises prior to The Big 3 taking over.
Freakin’ Spring Training can’t get here soon enough – people getting all cerebral cannabilistic stupid here.
“Knoblauch Beaned my Mom”–keith olbermann?
Mussina should go into the Hall of Fame if you look at his entire resume and his top pitching performances. If Schilling gets in (which is a joke) then Mussina should get in no doubt.
I never enjoyed his brash attitude, abundant arrogance, or the cheap shots he took at a variety of Yankee players or any other player for that matter. That was my only issue with him. This is why I take cheap shots at his surly pig face.
–
That is the definition of a Bostonian.
I love how Selig is basically saying ‘the truth shall set you free,’ but he keeps denying he knew anything about steroids in the early/mid 90′s. C’mon Bud, stop petting yourself on the back for a second (even though HGH is still probably rampant), and tell the truth about the sport sweeping the problem under the rug for a decade.
ham is right. this is the yankees. you either love us or you hate us, so naturally when haters can take shots like that they will.
i dont think mussina will make the hall of fame but hes definitly one of my favorite pitchers ever(only 20 years).
Let’s move on…
It’s sad to see Pete bashing the fans who made his blog populair but let’s be the bigger person(Nick is gonne comment on this)and not bash the person who made this blog
Vincent
January 11th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Pete isn’t who we thought he was. Can’t believe he would bash the fans who got his blog popular so he could get his dream job. So tired of that guy and glad we have professionals working now.
————————————————————
I disagree with that. He’s exactly what I thought he was.
==============================================
can you elaborate?
Case for Mussina: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
I think I’ve beaten this dead horse enough for now…
“I disagree with that. He’s exactly what I thought he was.”
I disagree with that. He’s exactly what I thought he was.
==============================================
can you elaborate?
-
Pete is a phony. A Sawx fan. A disgraceful inhumane thing with a distinct lack of integrity. Any objective person could figure that out.
It will be tough enough for P. Abe to fit sideways in the tiny clubhouses at the Green Sardine can but wait until he sees the matchbox facilities at City of Palms in Fort Myers, Fl., aka the Green Sardine Can – South.
Stop following Pete “Rush Limbaugh” Abe on Twitter.
He knows what he’s doing by trashing the Yanks. Don’t support it!
Roger,
I’d argue that the loyal readership made this blog…
Jim Pir-one,
What do you think about the rumors that McGwire as an A “cycled off” prior to any games against the Sox then “double dosed” before heading to the Bronx?
In happier news, Tex is getting a Legacy Award
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
Bronx Jeers>>>>I find that to be incredibly likely
St Louis Sports radio listen live,host, Kevin Slayten is off the hook angry at the Cardinals, La russa and the roider, and calling out the Cardinals ownership!!
LISTEN LIVE, HE thinks the Cardinal charter should be revoked .
http://www.radiotime.com/stati....._1380.aspx
radiotime.com , call letters KSLG 1380
I should amend my recent post to say that I believe it is the loyal and ENLIGHTENED readers of this blog who made it what it is today. Peter was merely a mechanism, a tool if you will. How fitting is the word tool in the context of Pedro?
Too little too late Mark.
funny how arod gets slammed,
wow, where’d everyone go?
please tell me you’ve all taken a good look at Pete’s Twitter picture…
WOW.
When does Sammy So-so come out of the woodwork ?
Haiku-man
Wow that radio host Kevin is really calling out the Cardinal ownership for bringing back Mcgwire, he loaths La russa. Thanks for the radiotime.com link too
Change that awful headline.
While I certainly don’t condone what McGuire, et al, did during the Steroid Era, we can hardly call it “playing dirty.”
To wit, Major League Baseball did not implement a steroid policy until well after home run records started to topple. League officials rode the wave of good tidings caused by McGuire and Sosa and the rest of the HR hitters to recouperate from the 1994 strike. They turned a blind eye toward PED use — as did the fans, the players, the teams and, most importantly, the media. So to accuse players in retrospect of being “dirty” is cheap.
This is a link to a lesser known baseball site with an interesting breakdown on player stats for each organization (both major and minor). It includes month by month splits. Some may enjoy it, especially if you want to follow the kids.
http://firstinning.com/players.....nd+Players
haiku-man
The venom coming from the radio host in St Louis, is entertaining. He’s calling out Mcgwire now. This is rich!
“Being truthful is always the correct course of action, which is why I had commissioned Senator George Mitchell to conduct his investigation.”- bud selig
hey bud-
id being truthful is always the best option, then why aren’t you and the owners truthful about paying out hundreds of millions of dollars out in settlements for collusion cases. why aren’t players allowed to comment on how much they received ?
you like truthfulness until you and the owners get caught with your hand in he cookie jar.
then you probably hire someone like george mitchell to make settlements and cover up your illegal activity .
nice try bud.
Welcome to Spring Training. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Mark McGuire. I’m going to teach you how to hit.
First, you’ve got to work out.
Second, you have to go to GNC.
Third, if you can bulk up with steroids, great. If you can’t then I can’t teach you how to hit.
Any questions?
anthony g
January 11th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Vincent
January 11th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Pete isn’t who we thought he was. Can’t believe he would bash the fans who got his blog popular so he could get his dream job. So tired of that guy and glad we have professionals working now.
————————————————————
I disagree with that. He’s exactly what I thought he was.
==============================================
can you elaborate?
————————————————————
What part of that confused you? He was an obnoxious know-it-all. He also had issues with anyone that disagreed with him. There was only one point of view when talking to him. Other than being a jerk, what else is there?
Mets should sign Jarrod Washburn
if healthy, expect he would pitch well in that park.
haiku-man
Never ever would’ve believed that St Louis callers were so feisty when they called in to speak. Kevin is slamming anyone trying to take up for Mcgwire. This is great to hear, he’s angry.
Put me in the camp that using PED’s was playing dirty.
Players who used had an unfair advantage over players who did not.
Unless Jeter and Mariano used too (among the other clean players) the playing field was never level.
PED’s help you recover quicker and come back stronger and reduce the wear and tear most clean players have to deal with.
Not to mention they make you hit it further and throw it faster.
As long as some of the players in MLB were clean, the one’s who were not were most definitely “dirty”.
I remember Pete once did Post literally directed to a reader/blogger. I never forgot about it, because i tried to stand up (online I know) for the guy and Pete just bashed me to.
It went along the lines of “Congratulations, You’ve won nothing” and basically called him an idiot in professional terms.
Excuse my french, but McGwire is a POS.
As a nod to my perspicacity (or willingness to believe that Canseco was on to something the minute none of the accused bothered filing defamation suits) I think I was one of two people in the US who believed Canseco from jump street.
Anyway, if there were any integrity in the office of the commissioner, McGwire would officially be stripped of the home run record.
As I said, there is no integrity in the office of the commissioner.
I remember once when Pete took some kid’s post about thinking Arod would come back strong and lead the team to a title and copied it as a new post by calling it “the most hilarious post ever”, or something. Very classless. I was very turned off by the blog at that point.
USA TODAY
Hall of Famer and former all-time home run king Hank Aaron says Mark McGwire has a clean slate with Monday’s admission that he used steroids in the year he broke baseball’s home-run record.
“I think that it’s wonderful that he did this,” Aaron told USA TODAY. “It takes a big man to admit this and I want to commend him for that. A lot of people make mistakes, and for him to stand up and admit what he has done in the past, I think it’s very admirable.”
Aaron also said McGwire should get renewed consideration for the Hall of Fame. McGwire has never gained more than 23.7% of vote from members of the Baseball Writers Association of American in four years on the ballot.
“As far as I’m concerned he has asked for forgiveness,” Aaron said. “He has my forgiveness. If that’s all that stands in the way between him being inducted into Cooperstown we should all forgive him.
“He didn’t commit murder. He didn’t commit robbery. He said he took steroids.”
Good move by McGwire, but when is Selig going to come clean? His mendacity is nauseating.
“He didn’t commit murder. He didn’t commit robbery. He said he took steroids.”
———————————————————–
I respectfully disagree.
He killed honest competition and robbed the public of the right to watch a game with the expectation of integrity.
In the Olympics, steroids gets you stripped of medals.
In MLB, it’s a “clean slate”. O-K.
About Pete. I’ve never read anything of his since he left here. Why would I? I have no interest in anything he covers, nor in reading any of his Yankee bashing that others here have reported is part of his very existence.
YAWN!!!
(By the way, I was told on this forum, by Pete, that “anyone” who said YAWN again would be banned. I guess some posters were upset when I would YAWN at their posts and decided to work out their angst by reporting my yawns.) I would have offered to send the wah wah wambulence to their cyberhomes but figured if yawns didn’t play with Pete, the wah wah wambulance might not be the vehicle of choice…
Crazy stuff there!
GB7–I went to a Yankee game in 1964 and saw Mantle hit one over the 461 sign in center. In the paper the next day Mantle laughed he almost slammed his bat because he didn’t think he hit it well. That is power. As a sidenote it was Stottlemyre’s first game. Now that was a family trip.
“I respectfully disagree.
He killed honest competition and robbed the public of the right to watch a game with the expectation of integrity.”
Absolutely awesome response. Kudos to you Da Saint.
“Stop following Pete “Rush Limbaugh” Abe on Twitter.
He knows what he’s doing by trashing the Yanks. Don’t support it! ”
There is nothing to support. Nobody has figured out how to monetize Tweets, including Twitter.
It’s good that Bud Selig hired former Senator George J. Mitchell to be objective in summarizing his report by being objective and with no baseball connections whatsoever.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/t.....p?c_id=bos
DaSaint007,
I gotta hand it to you…well put.
He’ll be forgiven though, and he definitely should be.
Now, whether or not he goes to the HOF is an entirely different story.
you people do realize that sam is a good friend of peter a.
i don’t think you’re going to get much support from the present blog authors in bashing peter a.
peter a created a very good blog.
he’s a good writer.
so what if he’s opinionated. so what if someone doesn’t like him.
i don’t mind gb7 saying he doesn’t like pete because he’s always said that and did so directly to pete on the blog.
most of the rest of you are taking cheap shots after the fact when you didn’t have the courage to say sometime to him while he was here.
Oh, Chad. I feel bad for you.
This is the corollary to the Rule that says the phone will not ring all day, but the minute you sit down to dinner, what do ya know?
That’s why you have Sam.
Personally, I don’t care about the steroids in the first place. If they had any affect on numbers, at the very most, it was 10% and most likely no more than 5%. Is it stupid to use them? Most likely, if for no other reason than health. I seriously doubt that they kept a player on the field (as has been mentioned by the yutz that was here for 3 years) in the heat in Texas. If that’s the case how did Teixeira play in over 450 straight games or, how did Jim Sundberg catch in at least 148 or more games for 5 straight years (3 over 159) and another season of 140 games or Michael Young who only missed 26 games in 7 years. They’ve never been connect to using. Apparently, it didn’t help that much.
“What part of that confused you? He was an obnoxious know-it-all. He also had issues with anyone that disagreed with him. There was only one point of view when talking to him. Other than being a jerk, what else is there?”
I wanted to hear some examples, but as far as i can remember, on one occasion you were getting e-bullied by him. Not that i cared, i just found it hilarious whenever someone ticked him off, as he would have no problem bashing that person.
Well said Roger (packing to leave Amsterstam) and randy l.
No one is covering him or herself with glory taking shots at Pete Abe.
Thx Trisha & Prince.
I really do not get the Pete bashing. He put this blog here, spent a lot of time on it and the guys took over a really good operation. They have of course, picked up the ball and are really running with it.. However, Pete put this thing here. I have had an email line with Pete and he was always more than forthcoming and sharing information. When our good friend Todd Drew of Yankee Justice went in the hospital and passed away, Pete and I commiserated for days. Furthermore, Pete always made himself available if you had a question. And yes he had his opinions, etc. But there is no reason to bash him especially the infantile personal remarks. I am sure we have better things to do with our time.
Now that Mac has ‘come clean’ many will forgive him. Forgiveness is good, when heartfelt. I have no idea if it is or not, but it must have been part of the plan when he agreed to be hitting coach. Otherwise he could have become a distraction to the team.
So be it.
Nick/Randy L.,
I let Pete know I didn’t like him when he was still writing for this blog.
My cheap shots are nothing new and I know for a fact they are SUPER SUPER, falling off the shelf cheap shots.
Best bargain in town.
And I will say it once more, the fans…yes, YOU AND ME…have been the most crucial element in this blog’s ascent to such high popularity. I appreciate Peter’s coverage as I wrote above, but like any writer, readership is what makes your clock go tic toc.
YAWN!!!
Actually I did that because I knew I wouldn’t be banned for it! I for one like the new wave.
Mad Prince, there’s definitely something to be said for consistency — and for humor, even in the form of cheap shots.
I don’t think this community would exist without Pete Abe and it’s to his credit that it became strong enough to survive and thrive (with excellent new writers) after his departure.
Bronx Born, not everyone had the same kind of interaction with Pete as you did. I’m not here a whole lot and admit that I don’t read each and every post but I did say that I don’t bother reading Pete’s stuff since he now writes for his team of choice and I find no need to read that stuff. People have said that he continues to bash the Yankees in his writing. I don’t think that’s real cool but whatever floats your boat, I guess.
Anyway, Pete is yesterday’s news and we have a new team here now. I will say that others have commented that we seem to have fewer trolls and a lot more civility. I’d say that’s a good thing!
When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. Just ask Joe Torre.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....-revealed/
I am not bashing Pete, I appreciate what he did but he was really arrogant and tenacious at the end of his tenure here.
He was great but doesn’t change the fact that he was rude, I just like that Chad and Sam are more open towards the whole community. Don’t take it the wrong way ^^
Bob Costas and Fay Vincent were the featured speakers at a roundtable baseball discusion held at Williams College in 2007. Costas admitted that in ’98 he let his personal good feelings towards Mark McGuire get in the way of the questions he had about the andro juice he saw in in McGuire’s locker.
Costas said McGuire showed a lot of respect for Roger Maris throughout the pursuit of the home run record and could not have treated the Maris family better. McGuire went out of his way to include the Maris family every step of the way. Costas appreciated that and let his fondness for McGuire get in the way of the hard questions he should have asked. Tonight’s interview will be very interesting.
randy,
True, Pete is a good writer and he did a great job with this blog. I take the same shots now that I always did – his constant criticism of A-rod is tiresome. Additionally, he’s a bit too sensitive to fan criticism. Other than that I have no beef with the guy. I wished him well when he left and I still wish him well.
That was the post I was referring to. He was rather rude and it was uncalled for. Especially to email me privately, it was ridiculous.
“I appreciate Peter’s coverage as I wrote above, but like any writer, readership is what makes your clock go tic toc.”
Yes but how do you gain readership? By putting out a good product. I wonder the % of people are that read this blog but don’t read the journal news.
This blog became popular because Pete did a very very good job covering the team. Player interviews, postgame sound clips, inside info, consistent updates, etc.
trisha,
very well put.
I did have periodic private emails with peter and he was downright rude at times. Just as he is allowed to have his opinions on matters, so too am I and everyone else on here even if the readers don’t like it.
But he’s taken just as many cheap shots at readers and players as any of us have directed towards him.
But as you said, he is old news in this circle of the baseball blog world.
austinmac
January 11th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
GB7–I went to a Yankee game in 1964 and saw Mantle hit one over the 461 sign in center. In the paper the next day Mantle laughed he almost slammed his bat because he didn’t think he hit it well. That is power. As a sidenote it was Stottlemyre’s first game. Now that was a family trip.
————————————————————
Mantle had a ’64 game header against the White Sox where he hit 2 each 500 foot+ homers. One was against Ray Herbert, and I think the other was against Juan Pizzaro or Frank Bauman. It was the last time he switch hit homers in the same game. Both went over the monuments and into the bleachers in dead center. The game was on WGN Chicago.
I got to see quite a few live homers in Chicago, Cleveland and Dertoit. It was the one in Detroit that i remember most. On September 10, 1960, he hammered a blast with 2 runners on base off of Paul Foytack that went over the roof in right center…about 75 feet to the left of the transformer that Jackson hit. I read the next day that it cleared the street and into the back of a lumberyard on the fly, according to 3 witnesses. It was measured out at 643 feet. Hard to not forget that size of blast.
Anyways, Anyone else excited and anxious to start this 2010 season already as I am? I’m literally bored, atleast there is baseball tonight on ESPN again.
MLB Network sure did help me a ton this offseason, would’ve been horrible without it honestly.
Mad Prince, I had a few barn burners from him also!
Correction: ***forget that size of blast.***
Sure, the same people that forgave Alex at the time he opened up will forgive Mac. Oops, too bad no one forgave Alex. Watch McGwire get the kid glove treatment….pathetic.
Patrick
January 11th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
“I appreciate Peter’s coverage as I wrote above, but like any writer, readership is what makes your clock go tic toc.”
Yes but how do you gain readership? By putting out a good product. I wonder the % of people are that read this blog but don’t read the journal news.
This blog became popular because Pete did a very very good job covering the team. Player interviews, postgame sound clips, inside info, consistent updates, etc.
————————————————————
I didn’t read anything that he wrote. I only responded to this portion of the blog. His writing didn’t interest me then or now.
Hey randy l – good to see your name show up every now and then. Look forward to your posts.
Hey Kelvin says – my experience has been the opposite this off season and I have enjoyed the heck out of it! It’s nice not to have to spend the entire off season wondering about the next season. The Yanks winning the world series this year really freed me from that bondage!!! I have loved having some quality “me” time. I think the last time I allowed myself that luxury was about the year 2000…
Hey Kelvin says
January 11th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
That was the post I was referring to. He was rather rude and it was uncalled for. Especially to email me privately, it was ridiculous.
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He always sent little nasty-grams. I read them on occassion for the chuckles.
Drive, it’s too bad Maris doesn’t get his record back.
“But as you said, he is old news in this circle of the baseball blog world.”
True, but a lot of people on here read his blog posts and tweets and then comment on them here, after which good people like you and Trisha and GB7 etc. comment on the comments.
So even old news sparks interest during these slow January days. I suspect that will still be the case when the season gets going and comments about Pete’s comments increase.
It’s all just chit-chat on a baseball blog!
Hey GB- How goes… How the twins treating you?
Doreen
January 11th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Hey randy l – good to see your name show up every now and then. Look forward to your posts.
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LMAO. You enjoy being tortured, don’t you?
For any of my fellow gossip hounds, here’s People’s take on the rumored Jeter wedding (they’re skeptical):
http://www.people.com/people/a.....80,00.html
lol. Lots of good stuff.
Can’t decide between Pete battling Yankee fans or Bud tootin’ his own horn.
Pete is right about the “two wrongs” lecture. But he’s wrong about only Yankee fans doing it. But he’s making jokes about Dominican cousins? Where’s the jokes about McGwire trying to get pregnant?
Bronx Born
January 11th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Hey GB- How goes… How the twins treating you?
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Doing well, Bronx. I only get to see them on camera right now. Those little people always have colds, germs and little pockets of gold in their drawers. Can’t really be around people right now.
and, no Randy…it’s not because of my crustiness and cantankerocity.
Nick, I would say you are right. I guess it goes along with “anything on the blog becomes fair game.” I personally wish that people wouldn’t comment on Pete’s comments because they’re usually of an incendiary nature and as such, aggravating!
But oh well, what can you do.
Hope life is good with you. This has been a blissful off season, for me anyway!
Wow -
I’ve been, as Trisha says, “hitting and running” as far as this blog goes. Looks like I’m gonna have to scroll back a little.
Is there a problem because Pete A made a crack that could be construed as a barb against ARod? Sheesh.
Who among you thought that ARod’s interview was without flaw, shall we say?
I look at those things in a whole picture way. Whole picture, ARod (like Giambi before him) did fine. If you’re gonna nitpick, then ARod did no better than Papi or McGwire or Manny or Giambi or anyone else. And I say this in the loosiest, goosiest sort of way.
And though Pete A’s barbs against ARod became tiresome because of the sheer volume of them, one has to admit there was some truth in every ascerbic comment. Plus, it was part of the Pete A way. He was not always warm and fuzzy. And he didn’t shy away from talking about negatives. And if I didn’t like a particular thing, well, then I looked past it. Because, overall picture, I absolutely liked what Pete A created here. Agreed with everything? No way. This is a blog. It is opinion driven. Strong opinions drive stronger response.
Erin, my first (and still) response was skepticism just based on the date in question. If the Post had pulled, say, January 23rd, 2011, out of the air, I might find it more believable!
I’m waiting for the obvious to happen, and that is for someone to quote either of the two principals or their agents!
Pete’s offerings and up-to-date Yankee news is what made the population grow here. I wouldn’t pat yourselves too hard on the back.
Got it GB. Well get healthy fast so you can play with the munchkins. When do you head back to Tampa?
trisha – OPPC forever – (new lucky picture from last day at the old Stadium) BRING ON THE GHOSTS!
January 11th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Erin, my first (and still) response was skepticism just based on the date in question. If the Post had pulled, say, January 23rd, 2011, out of the air, I might find it more believable!
I’m waiting for the obvious to happen, and that is for someone to quote either of the two principals or their agents!
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I know, Trish I’m skeptical too-that date is just too weird. Hopefully someone will break their silence soon! LOL
The Mad Prince in Pinstripes January 11th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
trisha,
very well put.
I did have periodic private emails with peter and he was downright rude at times. Just as he is allowed to have his opinions on matters, so too am I and everyone else on here even if the readers don’t like it.
=========================================================
Ditto. Where did he get off? Just who did he think he was? Anybody?
“Nick, I would say you are right.”
Bookmarked!
“A-Rod will provide the leadership and heart this team needs. He is a winner and a leader. He will show us why he is the best player in baseball and what we missed the past month.”
It may have seemed the funniest comment at the time to Pete but hindsight being 20/20…….
sexrox, I came here for the interaction with other posters. Period. I am guessing that some others might have been in the same camp. That’s not to say that posters didn’t read Pete’s updates, etc. But there’s no real way to say what caused the growth, as far as I’m concerned. The NY Times Yankee forum was a happening place, and as I remember, there were no stories or updates, other than what we read on the Times itself.
Again, no aspersions to the job Pete did with writing and updates. Just that not everyone showed up for that purpose.
How be the kids?
I would not, nitpicking or otherwise, compare A-Rod’s or even Giambi’s statements to Ortiz. Not even close.
i wonder if McGwire will mention names of other players that used ped’s tonight
Growing healthy and sturdy and gorgeous – all’s well here. How you?
Yeah – that NY Times Yankee forum was some kinda place.
I occasionally check out the ‘escape from elba’ site but not for long(!).
As I never miss an opportunity to rehash an oldie but goodie… Nick old sport, I believe you just commented on people commenting about Pete’s comments.
And that’s commenting cubed.
Does reading Petes stuff on his Sox blog make you a troll? I know i have no interest going to that site for anything. Its like the guy that quits my business. Do i really care what he does and how he does it after. Never.
He was rude, unprofessional at times, ignored some of our questions or concers, but i you cant say he didnt work hard at getting us info. Nuff said.
The funny part about all this is that all of you guys have been posting about Pete more than he has probably recieved posts year to date. Why not pass him a bone and post all this stuff on his blog so he can get something for it.
We all knew you he rooted for but still read his stuff. Says alot.
Bronx Born
January 11th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Got it GB. Well get healthy fast so you can play with the munchkins. When do you head back to Tampa?
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I’ll be going back to Tampa once a month for at least the next 6 months, maybe a year, and if everything’s clean once a year. This was the second time that this came up…just different parts.
GB7,
“I didn’t read anything that he wrote. I only responded to this portion of the blog. His writing didn’t interest me then or now.”
First of all, glad to hear you’re doing better.
Secondly, great post, although I will say that I found a lot of what Peter wrote to be informative. But the conversation on here was always one of the premier parts of the blog.
Nick in SF,
I would have to disagree. Us bantering about pete’s waistline and brash attitude isn’t the same as bantering on here about one of his articles.
But I get your point: old “habits” die hard.
Nick in SF,
I should also add that your little quips about CC last offseason inspired my quips about Pete’s this offseason
SoS,
I explicitly asked Peter who his favorite baseball team was a year or two ago, even asked if he was a Red Sox fan.
He replied “No, I am NOT a Red Sox fan.”
Bronx Jeers, I would reply, but that would be a comment quadrangle, no?
Mad Prince, I think the term for what you just said is ‘a distinction without a difference’. As for my jokes about CC, I have made multiple pilgrimages to Vallejo in pennance (if I ever update my Yankee photo site, you will see evidence); will you go to Boston to square things with that other big guy?
“PeteAbe: I do enjoy when Yankee fans go with the “two wrongs make a right” argument. Didn’t any of you have parents?”
“I never enjoyed his brash attitude, abundant arrogance, or the cheap shots he took at a variety of Yankee players or any other player for that matter. That was my only issue with him. This is why I take cheap shots at his surly pig face.”
The irony is just too great to pass up.
Mad Prince,
Many here asked him on this blog if he was a Sox fan. He never responded to the question. So we figured 1 plus 1 is 2. If your such a die hard Pats fan and have the cajonis to post a thread about them here. Then you must be a sox fan as well.
Only mel can be a Yankee and Pats fan. The Colts are accepting bandwagon applications at this time mel.
Nick,
I’d totally go to Boston and square things up with that other big fella, but I doubt he’d see me.
I’m glad you’ve found penance for your sins..hahaha
Bill,
Gotta fight fire with fire right?
S.o.S.
January 11th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Does reading Petes stuff on his Sox blog make you a troll? I know i have no interest going to that site for anything. Its like the guy that quits my business. Do i really care what he does and how he does it after. Never.
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S.o.S, that wouldn’t make you a troll. I would question your choice of reading material, though.
SoS,
Someone on here told me he was SF Giants fan…makes little to no sense to me, but then again I grew up in California rooting for the Yankees because my mom is a New Yorker, so I guess I am not one to talk.
The Mad Prince in Pinstripes
January 11th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
GB7,
“I didn’t read anything that he wrote. I only responded to this portion of the blog. His writing didn’t interest me then or now.”
First of all, glad to hear you’re doing better.
Secondly, great post, although I will say that I found a lot of what Peter wrote to be informative. But the conversation on here was always one of the premier parts of the blog.
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Thanks, mad. Appreciate the kind thoughts. Doing pretty well, now. I just was never interested in what he had to say. If it weren’t for some of the people that are regs on here (the good ones), I’d have never stayed on here.
GB7,
I have never gone to his site and dont plan to. Hope everythings going better for you and the candy cigs cured your cravings.
Changing the subject a bit.
Watched Avatar this past weekend. Great special effects(never seen anything like it before)and good story. I would recommend it to all of you. GB,not even a black and white movie compares to these special effects. Trust me.
Doreen,
I always read your posts and think you’re one of the best (and kindest) posters here. However, you really can’t lump ARod in with Giambi, Manny and Papi in the way they handled this issue.
“He killed honest competition and robbed the public of the right to watch a game with the expectation of integrity.”
Give me a freaking break. Seriously?
A couple of points:
* Anyone who was involved in a sport where strength is an asset could tell you McGwire, Bonds and Sosa were doing some serious drugs, while sportswriters were clueless. I was branded a jealous Yankee fan for pointing out what was pretty obvious.
* Selig’s statement is crap. Any player who is not a moron and has a decent doctor can beat the current “testing”. Compare baseball’s “testing” (no blood tests) to many Olympic sports (Track and field, cycling, etc.) and you will see how weak it is.
* Not everyone was doing it. There are serious health risks with many of these drugs and some people do not want to take that risk. Unfortunately, those players are penalized when less talented players outperform them, take their jobs or earn bigger salaries.
* There should be an IQ test given before you can write about whether PED users should get in the HOF. What kind of lesson does it teach to kids, if we let McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, etc in the HOF? Maybe they should require a polygraph before getting your name on the HOF ballot.
I think the reaction around baseball was as expected. Nobody was shocked and we still have a number of unanswered questions.
Here’s my take on the matter.
http://sportschump.net/2010/01.....wers/2689/