RSS
Mitchell Report Not Exactly Shocking
I understand all the hoopla surrounding the release of the Mitchell Report Thursday. I understand how it works when a story like that becomes the top item for the mainstream media - the so-called flavor of the day.
But to be honest, the real shocker would have come had Mitchell stood before the nation and claimed there wasn’t much steroid use in baseball during the last two decades.
There were no surprises there. It would be naive, also, to believe only the players named have done performance-enhancing drugs during that time period. It was many, many more.
To me, the big news was Roger Clemens’ name coming up. It has long been suspected, but that’s first time he has actually been fingered. Wonder how that will hurt his Hall of Fame chances? I have a vote and will have to ponder that one. We’re talking about one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
Clemens is denying this, but he does have the recourse to sue. Why wouldn’t he sue if he wasn’t a user? It’s the question that has kept Mark McGwire labeled "guilty" in the court of public opinion.
I don’t believe this will effect the popularity of baseball. The only thing that really does, honestly, is labor stoppages.
Random Thoughts
- Anybody notice Dick Jauron has the Bills with a 7-6 record and in the thick of the AFC playoff race with a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back? Think maybe the Lions should have taken Trent Edwards instead of Drew Stanton in the draft? Seems like more egg on Matt Millen’s face to me.
- Bud Selig is embarrassing. Baseball thrives despite him, not because of him.
- Can’t wait for the Pistons-Celtics game week. I still see the Pistons as being the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. If there is such a thing as a statement game during the regular season, this will be it.
But to be honest, the real shocker would have come had Mitchell stood before the nation and claimed there wasn’t much steroid use in baseball during the last two decades.
There were no surprises there. It would be naive, also, to believe only the players named have done performance-enhancing drugs during that time period. It was many, many more.
To me, the big news was Roger Clemens’ name coming up. It has long been suspected, but that’s first time he has actually been fingered. Wonder how that will hurt his Hall of Fame chances? I have a vote and will have to ponder that one. We’re talking about one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
Clemens is denying this, but he does have the recourse to sue. Why wouldn’t he sue if he wasn’t a user? It’s the question that has kept Mark McGwire labeled "guilty" in the court of public opinion.
I don’t believe this will effect the popularity of baseball. The only thing that really does, honestly, is labor stoppages.
Random Thoughts
- Anybody notice Dick Jauron has the Bills with a 7-6 record and in the thick of the AFC playoff race with a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back? Think maybe the Lions should have taken Trent Edwards instead of Drew Stanton in the draft? Seems like more egg on Matt Millen’s face to me.
- Bud Selig is embarrassing. Baseball thrives despite him, not because of him.
- Can’t wait for the Pistons-Celtics game week. I still see the Pistons as being the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. If there is such a thing as a statement game during the regular season, this will be it.
posted by Pat Caputo at
9:30 AM
8 Comments:
Book,
I need a life, man.
I sat up until 2:00 am last night trying to parse any meaningful detail out of that report (downloaded from MLB.com).
I felt like I was reading the personal notes of a club of high school snitches.
I am in no way condoning steroids - and I wish this whole era would never have occurred - but this Mitchell report cannot be taken as a legal manifestation of truth.
(This Mitchell report should not be confused with severall other Mitchell reports this senator has produced on tangible topics like middle-eastern peace strategies)
It could have been a lot worse - I saw none of our current roster boys on there - I thought for sure since Conseco's book a couple years back that a prominant couple would be listed.
I am to the point where -
* I accept that this has happened -
* our last 15 years of records are dirty
* I do NOT want this continue - lets fix it and move on.
There is no real way to hold players accountable here without destroying the MLB.
But imagine the new Penal system baseball league that would spring up if they did toss all named players in the clink.
I don't think Mr. Mitchell's report is binding enough to hold players accountable. It is indeed all hearsay.
And I truly agree - Selig is an ass. He is the ass in asinine.
There is a place where accontability must be DEMANDED.
Step down Mr. Selig.
Fred Brill,
I totally agree with you. There is no legal basis for this. The report, actually, revealed very little other than throwing some names into the fray, while many others still got away with it. The main thing is to stop the useage now - and leave the rest to the past.
Caputo
Hi Pat
One thing this investigation hoopla and media coverage over the past years has done is completely change my opinion.
I started out anti-cheater, throw out the records, bla-bla, but now I'm of a different mind. How is this different then no uniform park sizes,soft infields, or amphetamines?
End the use because it's not healthy or a good example for the kids - but hell, management was looking the other way, why should we get worked up by it, much less spend 40 million so needlessly.
I really tire of the draft second-guessing. You can micro-analyze 90% of draft-day choices and find stronger players that could have been chosen by all the teams. As I remember, the Lions recent drafts received decent marks the day after by the "experts".
This is not to excuse the Lions, who remain a pathetic organization right down to the core.
Love your show!
Allan
Pat the Book,
For the price of this report, I believe $40 million dollars, steroids in all professional and amateur sports shold have been investigated. I do wonder when the NFL is going to address steroids. I would guarantee that NFL players are using 'roids to stay in their league.
Dick Jauron should thank his lucky stars that Matt Millen didn't think that he was the one to lead the Leos. You know damn well that everything about the Leos organization is wrong. Coach Jauron wouldn't have the personel or proper management support to coach successfully in Detroit. I believe you wouldn't have to look too hard to find and an ex-Lion head coach to verify that assumption. Obviously he has that in Buffalo.
I'm with you about having the 'Stons vs. Celts game circled on the calendar. I do believe that certain games during the regular season are statement ones. No exclamation mark, especially since this game is before the All-Star break, but definitely a statement will be made. Since the 'Stons are on the road, they have the chance to make the stronger statement.
Book,
I followed baseball closely for years, but left it behind when the the pumped up pinups, McGwire and Sosa, went on their homerun binges. Baseball is unique in American sports, in that we have a huge performance data base that is over a century old. The arc of a power hitters career is clearly defined. A player does not make huge jumps in power numbers in his thirties without chemical assistance. Similiarly, power pitchers breakdown in their mid-to-late thirties.
Want to know the cheaters? Graph their stats and look at pictures from different different stages of their careers. These pictures are worth a thousand words.
Bonds, Clemens, et al, and the Hall of Fame? They've got a more serious problem to worry about. Many of these guys will be dead or maimed long before their time from all the chemicals they've injested. Let's hope that Sosa and McGwire, the "Saviors of Baseball," don't have to pay too high a cost.
Allan,
You're right about the drafts. They can be twisted in a number of ways for the sake of perception. But you must admit, reality is Millen has drafted poorly.
Caputo
Andrew Winkle,
LOL about the Jauron comment. He is lucky. Seems like Marinelli is unfortunate he got his big coaching break here.
Caputo
teach313,
You make many valid points. It is sad baseball's records have been skewed so by the steroid era.
Caputo
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home