A Look Ahead To The Off-Season Not the Post-Season

There are only 8 teams headed for October baseball, so for the disgruntled, disappointed fans of the other 22 Major League Clubs, here is an excellent link to some of the news and rumors in regards to the eliminated teams' off-season outlook. They also focus on other various topics in terms of team record predictions, roster adjustments, etc. concerning all 30 teams.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Steroids: Good For The Game And Your Health?

So, with the steroid cloud incessantly looming over Major League Baseball, I ask this question, just how bad are steroids from a health standpoint and a business standpoint? After 1994 strike, baseball was in dire straits for the several seasons that followed it. It wasn't until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa battled for the homerun record chase in 1998, that baseball became the national pass time once again. Many credited the Sosa-McGwire home run chase in 1998 with "saving baseball," by both bringing in new, younger fans and bringing back old fans.

There was also Barry Bonds' record breaking season where he hit 73 homeruns in 2001, which captivated fans and generated much positive publicity.

There was Eric Gagne's single season record of 63 consecutive saves by a closer in 2003. All the aforementioned players showed up on the Mitchell Report and are alleged steroid users. One can make the argument that these records may not have been broken if it weren't for their steroid use, but regardless of steroids, no one can argue that these players are talented individuals and deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Bonds, Sosa and McGwire are still amazing hitters and just because one takes steroids does not mean that individual can suddenly have outstanding hand to eye coordination and can suddenly play major league ball. One thing is for sure, it was certainly a much more exciting time in Major League Baseball. Who doesn't want to see baseball players hitting 60 to 75 dingers a year or pitchers throwing 104 mph? Especially when that player is on the team you're cheering for.
As far as steroids being a legitimate health risk for users, well..there's use and overuse like any other drug. There are in fact several proven medical side effects from overuse of steroids such as acne, high blood pressure, lower sperm count, and the potential for gynecomastia, known in the gym as “bitch tits." None of these side effects are fatal. Columnist Jordan Heller wrote an article entitled, "Roid Rave: Steroids, They Do A Body Good?" Heller tackled the hard-hitting issues and asked a doctor trained in this specific field point blank questions in regards to the link between steroids and life-threatening side-effects. "It’s all anecdotal,” says Mauro DiPasquale, M.D., a widely renowned expert on ergogenic aids, of the so-called evidence linking steroids to various health issues. “The studies that blame steroids for certain heart problems, for sudden death, etc., are not the kinds of things that make up evidence-based medicine and the adverse effects of steroids have been wildly overstated.” There is a simple reason for this. Steroids are in fact still a drug and if not prescribed, why should an individual take them? A lot of it is simply sensationalized propaganda. The same way marijuana use is overtly criticized in our society, yet alcohol is legal and causes several deaths a year from drunk driving accidents to cirrhosis of the liver. How many people overdose a year on marijuana? What serious fatal illnesses are directly linked to marijuana use? I think you would be hard pressed to find any in either situation.
Heller indicated in his article that, "while Dr. DiPasquale won’t say that steroids are innocuous, he does allow that, under the right conditions, he’d give the green light to a healthy adult male wanting to use them."

http://www.thefanzine.com/articles/science/312/roid_rave-_steroids,_they_do_a_body_goodY/2

Major League Baseball And Their Attempt To Clean Up The Game

There has been much talk in regards to the rampant steroid use amongst players in Major League Baseball ever since mandatory, random testing began in 2004. In 2006, U.S. Congress questioned and made it their personal mission to investigate Major League Baseball's Drug Policy, which was originally implemented by Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, in conjunction with the Player's Union. The two parties reached an agreement to incorporate mandatory testing to all Major League Baseball players, starting in the 2004 season, but Congress members were unsatisfied and very critical of the effectiveness of these steroid tests.
After mounting pressure from Congress and several media outlets, due to the BALCO steroid scandal, former Senate Majority Leader and federal prosecutor, George Mitchell was appointed by Commissioner Selig to investigate the use of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. George Mitchell and media outlets insinuated that players who failed steroid tests were considered cheaters, bad role models for our youth, and drug addicts. Baseball also launched several ad campaigns about the health risks of steroid use. ESPN used every waking moment to launch several allegations about many prominent players in their potential use of steroids, in attempt to diminish their career. In May of 2009, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez were among the roughly 100 major league baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results. The results of the 2003 steroid tests were supposed to be anonymous and at the time, there was no penalty for using steroids within the Major League Baseball, but the players' names have slowly begun to surface. Alex Rodriguez was forced to admit his name was one of those on the list after a Sports Illustrated report in the spring. The information was seized by federal agents investigating performance-enhancing drug use among professional athletes.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and their Reign of Dominance Over The San Francisco Giants

Let me first start off by pointing out that I am huge supporter and fan of The Los Angeles Dodgers, but I think there simply needs to be some acknowledgment of just how great of a franchise The Dodgers have turned themselves into and still maintain the best record in the National League despite the Manny Ramirez suspension, and their pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda, being beamed in the face by a line drive, just as he had battled back from an oblique strain which sidelined him for two months. Granted the Giants have some quality pitching, but that lineup is a joke offensively. I hate to burst the bubble of any Giants fans out there, but this team is not going to catch the Dodgers and is unlikely to even get the wild card spot. Face it, this season was a good run, as many experts didn't even expect The Giants to finish the season with a .500 record. The Giants are lacking two power bats in their lineup to be considered serious competition, but in the off season, maybe they will acquire someone to fill that void, until then, a post season birth is highly unlikely. Well...theres always next year right? The Dodgers record against their own division is 36-17 which is the best record in the Majors. Stats do not lie and that equates to ownage.

Batter Chatter and Brief Introduction To The Forum

Hello all! This blog is dedicated to Major league Baseball and any topic or issues surrounding, "The Great American Pass Time." Team to team coverage including, transactions, rumors, league rivalries particularly the the National League West rivalry i.e. The Los Angeles Dodgers vs. The San Francisco Giants, steroids, teams in the heat of a playoff race and pennant chase, A-Rod and his ongoing scandals with call girls, etc. etc.