13 replies to this topic

[Bandido]

Just wondering what impression the steroid era has had on people here at the RC.


Since my childhood I've always been interested in the stats of major league baseball players. In fact, but checking stats it's helped me over the years kind of compare players from one decade to another. But now because of steroids it's virtually impossible for me to look at a guy like Sammy Sosa and stand him up against a Reggie Jackson and compare the two. Even pitching comparisons cause me problems. Nolan Ryan could buzz the ball at 100 mph while he was in his 40's and Roger Clemons could torch it in the mid to upper 90's at that age. But Roger had some help while the Ryan Express did it the old fashion way............... So where do I go with all of this now that guys that played in the steroid era have put a black patch over the history books of MLB for the 10 years?............ Can baseball ever truly recover or have they taken something from all the fans that can never be replaced?

[ramoth]

The numbers are what they are.
Simple as that.

Not all of the players of the "steroid era" were juicing and they didn't catch all of the ones that were. MLB never wanted to catch them anyway, the media exposed them not the league.

[lepiota]

The numbers are what they are.
Simple as that.

Not all of the players of the "steroid era" were juicing and they didn't catch all of the ones that were. MLB never wanted to catch them anyway, the media exposed them not the league.

Agreed, the abuse was so far ranging that the record books were mangled. The sad thing is, I think McGwire was capable of taking down the record without the juice. When he was very young and skinny in Oakland, he hit 49 in one year. But he never would have gotten 70 without the juice. No way

[FrOnT RoW JOE]

I feel that you cant judge any of these players for doing what they were doing. They wanted better numbers, when you play a sport, you always want to be better. They werent getting in trouble at the time, many people were doing it. If I blame anyone its MLB. There should be no, you cant go to the HOF, this is the steroid era, thats just the way it is, let em in.

[lepiota]

I feel that you cant judge any of these players for doing what they were doing. They wanted better numbers, when you play a sport, you always want to be better. They werent getting in trouble at the time, many people were doing it. If I blame anyone its MLB. There should be no, you cant go to the HOF, this is the steroid era, thats just the way it is, let em in.

Yeah, I agree, because how do you decide who did and didn't use? The only great HR hitter of that era I can think of with stick arms was Griffey. If he was using he wasn't very good at it. Even if they get into the Hall though, history will look at this as a cheaters era.

[ramoth]

Not all of them.
If they were never part of any investigation or controversy during their career, they will be given the benefit of the doubt.

Henderson played much of his career in the steroid era and I've never seen or heard anyone wonder about him juicing.
Glavine and Maddux played all of their careers in the steroid era and I doubt either one of them will be penalized for it when they are HOF eligible.

[FrOnT RoW JOE]

remember, there is at least 100 more names on the Mitchell Report that we have yet to see...

[ramoth]

If any of the remaining 100 were notable players their names would already have been leaked.

[Hayes Cooper]

There sure were some awesome home runs hit. I think all stats etc. should not have the big *** by it and should be honored by the hall of fame. Sad to say but when most of this was happening I don't think it was on MLB list for an illegal drug. For me let them in the hall but you have to stress that these records were broken in the steriod era. Is it any differance of the pitchers in the hall of fame that pitched in the dead ball era or when the mound was higher?

[flounder]

The whole steroid issue just sort of mushroomed......the players saw what some players were accomplishing while using steroids......they felt they were better than those players, and felt cheated......so, they started using steroids in quest of putting up bigger and better numbers......it was never ending and MLB let it go on.....fans loved all the action, and baseball raked in the money.......until.....you guessed it....hopefully MLB has learned a lesson.........as far as the players and keeping them from the HOF.....who knows what is right.....I love baseball, but think that the sport has been tarnished forever, and I don't know what it will take to restore its integrity..............actually, it is not just baseball, but America as a whole.......the word greed comes to mind!!!!!!!!!!!

[FrOnT RoW JOE]

I like that...the word Greed....Not being old enough to lived to much in the past, but from what Ive seen in this life of mine, is greed greed greed everywhere you go....It doesnt matter if its the local church giving away 100 meals, some people think greed, they go get a free meal, but instead of one, lets put one in the fridge for later....Nobody thinks that there may be someone who really would need it. Money, also with the way things go, money makes the world go round, so therefor it makes people greedy.

[lepiota]

What amazes me is that these guys were willing to take years off their lives by using. If someone told me I could make 5 million but I'd have to shorten my life by 20 yrs, there's no way I would do that. After all, I need to live long enough to see the Browns win the Super Bowl.

[Doctor PainInTheButt]

After all, I need to live long enough to see the Browns win the Super Bowl.

Lepiota

I don't know how old you are my friend, but if you're only 13 now and you want to watch the Browns win a Super Bowl you better live to the ripe old age of 125............. Just do the math dude, cause it's virtually impossible

[lepiota]

Lepiota

I don't know how old you are my friend, but if you're only 13 now and you want to watch the Browns win a Super Bowl you better live to the ripe old age of 125............. Just do the math dude, cause it's virtually impossible

With advances in medicine.....15 head coaches and many, many draft picks from now....I better keep taking my Lipitor.