Will Carroll on Jason Grimsley

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 8, 2006 3:07 PM CDT in News

Today's UTK column by Will Carroll is in BP's "free" section, so you don't need a subscription to read it...

As expected, he hits on the Jason Grimsley situation, although he -- like a lot of folks -- doesn't seem to think that there is a whole lot that MLB can realistically do, given the state of testing right now. One of the basic facts of sporting life is that those using PEDs are always a couple of steps ahead of those testing for them, and those athletes who get caught are usually either the dumb ones or the sloppy ones.

One other thing that I think is worth mentioning...

One of the things that people blast athletes for is not living up to their potential. Tim Thomas's performance in the Western Conference Finals is a perfect example of that, a guy with a ton of ability who just hasn't given enough of a damn to be the stud that everyone thought he could be.

Because, of course, we as fans who love the game would do anything, give anything, to have a chance to be a professional athlete on the major league level.

And you know what? There are a lot of people who play the game who feel the same way. Which is why, in baseball, in football, in just about every sport, you have these issues regarding PEDs.

For every Jose Canseco, who rides PEDs to greatness, there are a bunch of Jason Grimsleys and Mike Morses and Alex Sanchezes and Agustin Monteros, guys who end up using to try to get that extra edge that could mean the difference between a ten year career in the majors as a role player and topping out in AAA with an occasional cup of coffee.

And a bunch of Ken Caminitis and Matt Lawtons, guys who see their talent and careers slipping away before their love of the game (and, no doubt, their love of the major league paychecks) has disappeared, who use to try to squeeze a few more years out, to try to help slow the aging process.

I'm not saying that it is right. I'm not saying that those who have used shouldn't be criticized, shouldn't be punished.

But at the same time, we should realize that, when we condemn those who have used PEDs, we are in essence criticizing them for caring too much about being the best they can be, for pushing so hard to succeed that they've crossed the line.

Again, I'm not saying it is right, or okay.

But you know...I can certainly understand why these guys would do it...

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

bah

I have no sympathy and understanding for people who cheat on tests, even though i really really really want to get good grades, even if i was convinced that without cheating, they would fail miserably.

I really really want to be a relief pitcher in the majors but i realize that i don't mave the physical makeup (among other things) for it. the fact that a grimsley is closer to doing it and only needs some PED's to achieve it doesn't invoke understanding in me.

by ab03 on Jun 8, 2006 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

I don't care

If MLB and the MLBPA don't care about cleaning up their own sport then why should I? I just wish they would either implement a real policy with some teeth to it or just STFU about it.

by LoneStarBallUser on Jun 8, 2006 3:17 PM CDT reply actions

yeah but

who could honestly say that given the opportunity to play professional baseball and make millions of dollars they may not have done the same thing. its obviously wrong, but i think we should all have a little more understanding of all of our fallacies. it is easy to pick on those who are caught.

by stoney022 on Jun 8, 2006 3:21 PM CDT reply actions

Well put.

I don't get the witch hunts that are going on right now on who used in the past. Let's get real testing in place, real consequences for juicing, let the players know what exactly they can and cannot take, and go from there.

by SteveP on Jun 8, 2006 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

Interesting take

I must say I disagree, though. What about the players who were marginal major leaguers who chose not to take PEDs, because they felt it was wrong, and never got the big bucks or the long pro career? Do we assume that they wanted it less, or were they just trying to do what was right? What about those who were on the decline but did not cheat because they thought it was unfair and set a bad example? What about guys like Bagwell who were great players and accomplished what they did without drugs? He had a career which has been much more impressive in my mind than a cheater like Giambi. I think those players deserve much more respect and sympathy that those who gave themselves an unfair advantage.

Jackie was a rich punk rocker -- silver spoon and a paper plate

by trza on Jun 8, 2006 3:38 PM CDT reply actions

Bagwell and PEDs...

It is interesting that you list him as someone who hasn't used...

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 8, 2006 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Has he?

I wasn't aware of any evidence that he has used. I could be wrong, I guess.

Jackie was a rich punk rocker -- silver spoon and a paper plate

by trza on Jun 8, 2006 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

That's the point as far as I'm concerned

Nobody's EVER going to know every player who did and didn't use. There are some who we know did, like Bonds, and in my opinion, they're getting too much shit for it because they're definitely not the only ones.

The only thing to do now is move forward.

by Dustin on Jun 8, 2006 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, maybe

I understand your point about Bonds. He has been designated as a target, and is catching all the heat. But, I still think that Adam's bullshit insinuation is...well, bullshit. Unless he has something else to offer.

Jackie was a rich punk rocker -- silver spoon and a paper plate

by trza on Jun 9, 2006 3:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Bagwell

I don't know about him one way or the other.

But I know there has been a lot of talk about him being someone who may have been getting some help.

He's not someone generally lumped in the "we know he's clean" category...

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 9, 2006 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

it's possible I suppose

Unfortunately, I guess we don't know and maybe never will.

Jackie was a rich punk rocker -- silver spoon and a paper plate

by trza on Jun 9, 2006 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions

right now?

even though america is supposed to be about innocent until proven guilty, how can any of us not look at any major leaguer right now without some suspicion. just look at the size of clemens now as opposed to when he was pitching for the sox in the 80's. i have a feeling that a lot of guys were using, but there is no way to know for sure, so i am just going to continue being a baseball fan no matter what.

by stoney022 on Jun 8, 2006 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

This post...

reminds me of the Chris Rock bit about O.J. Simpson... "I'm not saying it's right... but I understand."

by benmor78 on Jun 8, 2006 6:06 PM CDT reply actions

I know what you mean, Adam

It's abhorrent, but these guys have still devoted their lives to the game. They're certainly not working any less than the players of the past. It's a fiercely competitive business.

by Dustin on Jun 8, 2006 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

excellent diary

Really well written, Adam. Like most, I believe in leading an honorable life. You truly can't put a price on being able to look yourself in the mirror. But steroids? If I'm a professional baseball player, whatever my degree of skill, I'm thinking long and hard about using.

Getting a leg up. An edge. If you are an intensely competitive person, like probably every pro athlete is, you must feel a violent pang of hunger to be the best you can be. And if the next guy over is getting that extra something via chemicals, that's gonna eat at you that much more. Personally, if I evaluated the physical risks to be acceptable (which I highly doubt I would), I'd do em. Call me unethical, but I'd probably cheat my ass off.

Many ways to rationalize it. If you aren't cheating, you aren't trying hard enough. Putting food on the table for your family. Being a good teammate. Only hurting yourself. Blah blah.

Its cheating, obviously. Is it a hanging offense? Not in my book...

"I could be wrong-but I'm not." Dan Jenkins

by Brian Thomas on Jun 9, 2006 1:43 AM CDT reply actions

Right

The reason I see in favor of drug testing, is that, if you dont, then it's just open season. And if a guy WANTS to stay clean, for his health, it's just going to be hard to do that.

I also think it gets back to, I would say Americans but it's just people, we're just wealthy enough, tendency to pop pills for dang near anything, which I have NEVER understood.

I mean, people just love drugs, more or less. Just the same way people pop tylenol, diet drugs, down energy drinks constantly.

It bugs me.

I bet if you told most major leaguers, this pill has a 1% chance to improve your performance 5%, and we dont know the health effects, he'd take it anway, just on principle, for the hell of popping a pill, not because he really though it would help him.

by Sharky on Jun 9, 2006 3:53 AM CDT reply actions