The end of Sammy?

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

ESPN's Insider is reporting that the Royals have said say no to signing Sosa. K.C.? Not a good sign for Sammy. He might have to end up retiring again.

 

link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2ffeatures%2frumors

[OleMissCub]

ESPN's Insider is reporting that the Royals have said say no to signing Sosa. K.C.? Not a good sign for Sammy. He might have to end up retiring again.

 

link: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2ffeatures%2frumors

 

I'm by no means a Slammy homer, but that's just sad. He's still a productive hitter as well as a name to put butts in the seats.

 

21 HR, 92 RBI in just over 400 AB's isn't bad at all.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think some of the lack of interest in Sammy comes from comments that Sammy made regarding how much playing time he'd want and that he wasn't interested in a minor league deal this time around. Sammy isn't very good in the field any more, but he can still hit lefites very well. If he were willing to accept a very limited role as a power bat versus lefties, especially in a DH platoon, he would have value. As it is, it looks like he wants a larger role than that, and it doesn't appear that teams are wanting to give it to him.

 

The HOF ballot in five years could be awful crowded with some controversial players if 2007 really becomes the last season for Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds.

[DiamondMind]

 

The HOF ballot in five years could be awful crowded with some controversial players if 2007 really becomes the last season for Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds.

 

This is definitely factoring in to Sammy's desire for increased playing time, in my opinion. Whether it's true or not, the average fan probably assumes Sammy is off the juice now, if he ever was on it, so maybe he's trying to prove something by playing 'clean'. Who knows.

[abuck1220]

i wonder if it would benefit sammy to be on the ballot with those guys...they're "confirmed" cheaters, while he was only speculated to be a cheater.

[UMFan83]

i wonder if it would benefit sammy to be on the ballot with those guys...they're "confirmed" cheaters, while he was only speculated to be a cheater.

 

*AHEM*

 

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/_photos/2003-06-03-sosa-lower-inside.jpg

[MSG T]

i wonder if it would benefit sammy to be on the ballot with those guys...they're "confirmed" cheaters, while he was only speculated to be a cheater.

 

*AHEM*

 

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/_photos/2003-06-03-sosa-lower-inside.jpg

 

To be fair, that's a little different than Sammy being proven to have used steroids.

 

Did he use steroids? I don't know, I'd like to think there would be some pretty definitive evidence if he had, since he's 5th in HR now. Maybe he just hid it better than Bonds and Roger? Who knows, but they aren't going after him the way they have a few others. You'd think if there was evidence, it would be as looked as the others.

[David]

Is it really cheating when the act itself gives the player no actual competitive advantage?

 

I guess the intent is there.

 

If Sammy took a lucky rabbit's foot and put it in his pocket because he thought it would help him, and lucky rabbit feet in pockets were deemed illegal in MLB ages ago because rabbit feet were, at the time, believed to help, would THAT be cheating?

 

If a tree falls in a forest, but nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

[cbbryan]

I wouldn't have a problem with Sosa as a bench player with the Cubs.

 

Trade Marquis and Dempster to Toronto for A.J. Burnett and RESIGN the real #21 in Chicago! :pig:

[Irrelevant Dude]

Did he use steroids?

I think any reasonable person would say yes.

[Roast]

i wonder if it would benefit sammy to be on the ballot with those guys...they're "confirmed" cheaters, while he was only speculated to be a cheater.

 

*AHEM*

 

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/_photos/2003-06-03-sosa-lower-inside.jpg

 

To be fair, that's a little different than Sammy being proven to have used steroids.

 

Did he use steroids? I don't know, I'd like to think there would be some pretty definitive evidence if he had, since he's 5th in HR now. Maybe he just hid it better than Bonds and Roger? Who knows, but they aren't going after him the way they have a few others. You'd think if there was evidence, it would be as looked as the others.

Exactly.

 

Plus, the corked bat thing was a one time incident. Do we know if he used it more than once? No, but they checked each and every one of his other 70-some bats plus all of the ones in the hall of fame and they were all clean. Maybe you don't buy his bat boy put the BP bat in the wrong bin story - that's fine, it's a stretch. But either way - the point is a most-likely one time (or very few time, if that's what you chose to believe) is most likely going to be perceived very differently than bonds/roger's steroid use.

[Roast]

Did he use steroids?

I think any reasonable person would say yes.

Wouldn't any reasonable person also say that if he used steroids (its clearly obvious to you and 'reasonable' people since you can say that without a doubt) his name would have been mentioned in at least one of the reports so far. The best evidence they have against him so far is that someone overheard him talking to some other people about what they would do if/when amphetamines, not steroids, were banned.

 

I don't know. I know I'm a total Sammy Homer, but the longer he goes without having his name brought up at all in any semi-credible steroid report, the more doubt it should instill in ones mind that he ever did actually use steroids.

[Derwood]

Did he use steroids?

I think any reasonable person would say yes.

Wouldn't any reasonable person also say that if he used steroids (its clearly obvious to you and 'reasonable' people since you can say that without a doubt) his name would have been mentioned in at least one of the reports so far. The best evidence they have against him so far is that someone overheard him talking to some other people about what they would do if/when amphetamines, not steroids, were banned.

 

I don't know. I know I'm a total Sammy Homer, but the longer he goes without having his name brought up at all in any semi-credible steroid report, the more doubt it should instill in ones mind that he ever did actually use steroids.

 

you can't put him in any report unless someone directly related to his using steroids has given sworn testimony. there are a great number of alleged steroid users not named in the Mitchell Report or BALCO hearings

[Irrelevant Dude]

Did he use steroids?

I think any reasonable person would say yes.

Wouldn't any reasonable person also say that if he used steroids (its clearly obvious to you and 'reasonable' people since you can say that without a doubt) his name would have been mentioned in at least one of the reports so far.

No, not at all. Just because he wasn't affiliated with BALCO or directly/indirectly tied to Radomski doesn't mean that he didn't get steroids elsewhere. The names that have been revealed are likely only a small percentage of steroid users who were unlucky enough to have their sources compromised. By no means does not appearing on the Mitchell report clear anyone of guilt.

[pitchcs]

Is it really cheating when the act itself gives the player no actual competitive advantage?

 

I guess the intent is there.

 

If Sammy took a lucky rabbit's foot and put it in his pocket because he thought it would help him, and lucky rabbit feet in pockets were deemed illegal in MLB ages ago because rabbit feet were, at the time, believed to help, would THAT be cheating?

 

If a tree falls in a forest, but nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

 

 

What does that even refer to?

[SouthSideRyan]

Can we go over the case against Sammy again?

 

He hit a lot of HRs during what should be his power peak.

He used a corked bat.

He gained weight.

 

I cover them all?

[1908]

Is it really cheating when the act itself gives the player no actual competitive advantage?

 

I guess the intent is there.

 

If Sammy took a lucky rabbit's foot and put it in his pocket because he thought it would help him, and lucky rabbit feet in pockets were deemed illegal in MLB ages ago because rabbit feet were, at the time, believed to help, would THAT be cheating?

 

If a tree falls in a forest, but nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

What does that even refer to?

A corked bat doesn't help you hit a baseball any farther.

[Roast]

Did he use steroids?

I think any reasonable person would say yes.

Wouldn't any reasonable person also say that if he used steroids (its clearly obvious to you and 'reasonable' people since you can say that without a doubt) his name would have been mentioned in at least one of the reports so far. The best evidence they have against him so far is that someone overheard him talking to some other people about what they would do if/when amphetamines, not steroids, were banned.

 

I don't know. I know I'm a total Sammy Homer, but the longer he goes without having his name brought up at all in any semi-credible steroid report, the more doubt it should instill in ones mind that he ever did actually use steroids.

 

you can't put him in any report unless someone directly related to his using steroids has given sworn testimony. there are a great number of alleged steroid users not named in the Mitchell Report or BALCO hearings

Very true, however few of them are as high profile as Sammy. I mean, he's the #5 HR hitter of all time, wouldn't you think that people would be looking at him really hard/closely? Who knows, maybe they haven't. Maybe he's just lucky enough to have escaped the wrath of MLB/Mitchel Report thus far. Or maybe he just didn't do roids.

[pitchcs]

Is it really cheating when the act itself gives the player no actual competitive advantage?

 

I guess the intent is there.

 

If Sammy took a lucky rabbit's foot and put it in his pocket because he thought it would help him, and lucky rabbit feet in pockets were deemed illegal in MLB ages ago because rabbit feet were, at the time, believed to help, would THAT be cheating?

 

If a tree falls in a forest, but nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

What does that even refer to?

A corked bat doesn't help you hit a baseball any farther.

 

No, but it makes your bat lighter. I would call that cheating.

 

Edit: Or should I say, I would call that a 'competitive advantage'

Edited February 11, 2008 by pitchcs

[seanimal]

I don't think it's outrageous to suspect that Sammy used PED's, but I do think it's outrageous people are forming a conclusion based on such little evidence. Totally lame.

 

Anyway, I wonder if Sosa will call it quits or change his demands to stay in the game just a little bit longer.

[1908]

No, but it makes your bat lighter. I would call that cheating.

 

Edit: Or should I say, I would call that a 'competitive advantage'

Why would you call that a competitive advantage?

 

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats-new/corkedbat.html

[ConstableRabbit]

Did he use steroids?

I think any reasonable person would say yes.

 

Or any person who convicts on circumstantial evidence alone. There's no proof, and just like anyone else who may have been on steroids, its not worth it for me to speculate.

 

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[Garwilly]

Is it really cheating when the act itself gives the player no actual competitive advantage?

 

I guess the intent is there.

 

If Sammy took a lucky rabbit's foot and put it in his pocket because he thought it would help him, and lucky rabbit feet in pockets were deemed illegal in MLB ages ago because rabbit feet were, at the time, believed to help, would THAT be cheating?

 

If a tree falls in a forest, but nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound?

What does that even refer to?

A corked bat doesn't help you hit a baseball any farther.

 

No, but it makes your bat lighter. I would call that cheating.

 

Edit: Or should I say, I would call that a 'competitive advantage'

 

They do make bats of varying weights.

[OleMissCub]

I'd take him back on the Cubbies....although not sure where he'd go.

[UMFan83]

Honest question. If you had 2 players that had the exact same statistics in their career, but one got caught using a corked bat and the other did not, which one is more likely to use steroids? A caught cheater or the non-cheater?