Some interesting storylines developing this weekend.
Alex Rodriguez, Donald Fehr and Bud Selig are going to have some splainin' to do with Sports Illustrated breaking a blockbuster HERE regarding ARod testing positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003 while with Texas. In fact, it's not just ARod but 104 players in total are on this list, which led to MLB adopting a random testing program for steroids in 2004. More than 5% of players tested were showing positive results in what was hoped to be proof that steroid use was nothing more than a rare situation. When the games biggest stars get pantsed as cheaters, in this case as defined by ARod turning his talents into $25-30 million/year contracts, the steroid era stain just keeps on spreading. Kind of like that pink spot in "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back".
When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."
Primobolan, which is also known by the chemical name methenolone, is an injected or orally administered drug that is more expensive than most steroids. According to a search of FDA records, Primobolan is not an approved prescription drug in the United States, nor was it in 2003.
Rodriguez finished the 2003 season by winning his third straight league home run title (with 47) and the first of his three MVP awards.
Because more than 5% of big leaguers had tested positive in 2003, baseball instituted a mandatory random-testing program, with penalties, in '04.
Truth or Consequences? This is the Katie Couric Interview with ARod after the Mitchell Report was released last year where he flat out denies using PED's. Here are three blunt questions he was asked in that interview:
Q: For the record, have you ever done steroids, Human Growth Hormone or any other PED's?
Q: Have you ever been tempted to use any of those things?
Q: Who do you think has the real HR record, Hank Aaron or Barry Bonds?
Bruce Levine
was on vacation (at the Dunes in Vegas) for his regular ESPN radio
"Talkin' Baseball" show. Jonathan Hood substituted and Len Kasper was
interviewed. Len did say they will have 9 Cub games on TV this spring starting with two from Las Vegas begining March 4th. ESPN-1000's website now has downloadable archives
to Levine's weekly show for those who need a "BRUUCE" fix.
The Waddle and
Silvy show, daytimes (locally in Chicago) on ESPN-1000 radio has a similar site that has archives.
Their show from Feb 4th has an interview with Steve Stone who typically
is critical of the Cubs (this time for trading DeRosa and not signing
Blanco).
In a separate interview (same show) they talk to Todd Hollandsworth who will
now be doing the pre/post game duties for the Cubs on Comcast Sports
Network. Hollandsworth should be a nice addition, replacing Dan Plesac who has moved on to the new MLB network. Hollandsworth had been a weekly feature on David Kaplan's WGN radio Sports Central show, which essentially turned into a test run for him getting the CSN job. Color me a big fan of Plesac's work and the new MLB network which just added Bob Costas to their talent pool this week.
Rock on Len. Roll on Bruce.
Recent comments
crunch 09/28/2023 - 09:07 am (view)
one thing people aren't too open about is his ego. it's huge. hopefully it doesn't get in his way.
that said, i've not heard that his ego has caused any teammate issues and with people that have "strong egos" that's a big deal. having a big ego isn't necessarily a terrible thing if you're still coachable and it doesn't make your workplace toxic.
i honestly think the PCA we see now is the PCA we're getting...only with less instances of being asked to bunt. he's a better hitter than his numbers, obviously. i dunno what he will change with his approach at the plate, though.
hopefully his game will mature, especially learning when to let one fall in front of him and when to not to try to make a miracle throw. he takes pride in his defense, and he should, but a highlight reel shouldn't be an every-game goal.
Dolorous Jon Lester 09/28/2023 - 09:35 am (view)
I agree. Of course he has the offseason to work on things and he’s super young, but at the moment I don’t see an MLB level player in April 2024. Hopefully he takes this experience and gets more figured out and can come up and contribute sometime next year. There’s a lot of talent there but he doesn’t look ready for this level yet.
Charlie 09/28/2023 - 09:44 am (view)
I'll be curious to see him at a time when the team isn't desperate for every little edge. What would he look like debuting for a team that already sealed their fate for the season? I think he'd still be struggling at the plate, but his other tools might show up.
Dolorous Jon Lester 09/28/2023 - 09:09 am (view)
Yup. Unless he plays a key role in a World Series run or pulls an Addison Russell or something, that Will unfortunately be his lasting Cub memory.
Brant Brown was a solid player. No one remembers how important he was to the ‘98 miracle team.
Dolorous Jon Lester 09/28/2023 - 09:07 am (view)
He looks terribly overmatched at the moment in almost every way.
Charlie 09/28/2023 - 09:55 am (view)
He appears to be playing with desperation at this point.
crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:12 pm (view)
i know this 2023 ATL team is one of the best teams of all time, like easy top 5 by any metric...but these 2 losses stung.
crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:50 pm (view)
PCA with -another- overly aggressive play he didn't make that punishes the team.
crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:38 pm (view)
"here's a helmet that fits." - cubs staff
"naw." - PCA
crunch 09/27/2023 - 09:01 pm (view)
cubs out here forgetting how to play D again...