Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

[wwharton]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Carlos Beltran falls under that category of "If he's not clean, then no one is clean" category for me.


My hunch is Jim Thome is clean

I think Albert Belle was clean

This one might be a litle dicey, but I think Juan Gonzalez was clean.

I don't see any reason to think one way or the other on Beltran.

And really don't know why anyone would think Thome, Belle or Gonzo (especially Gonzo) were clean.

[SPTO]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

I recently watched a '92 and '93 game. Gonzalez and Pudge (especially Pudge) were unusually ripped around the arm/shoulder areas. I think they might've been taking stuff that early.

[cubsfan203]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

This one might be a litle dicey, but I think Juan Gonzalez was clean.

I think he was on something. Only Rangers in that time period that I would put my money on that they were clean would be Greer and Clark.

[rsox]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Gonzalez was on something. in 1994 he got so big he could not get around on the ball and in 1995 he hurt his back tying his shoes...while sitting down.

With Belle i'm not sure. On one hand he had all of the roid rage (chasing kids in his SUV on Halloween, a locker room outburst against then NBC reporter Hanna Storm, tossing Fernando Vina like a rag doll instead of sliding to avoid a double play) and the degenerative hip condition could have been the result of using steroids. On the other hand i'm not sure i have heard his name linked to anything or anyone. Odd's are he used, but unless he comes out and says it we will never know.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Carlos Beltran falls under that category of "If he's not clean, then no one is clean" category for me.


My hunch is Jim Thome is clean

I think Albert Belle was clean

This one might be a litle dicey, but I think Juan Gonzalez was clean.

I agree with Beltran.

The next three? Not a chance in hell any of them were clean.

[SportsTop]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

I don't see any reason to think one way or the other on Beltran.

And really don't know why anyone would think Thome, Belle or Gonzo (especially Gonzo) were clean.

Agree with your take on Beltran.

However, I'd be shocked if Thome wasn't clean. He actually seems like he has some strong convictions against PEDs.

Gonzo, on the other hand, appeared to be a 'roid freak.

[Freelance]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Sadly, I find myself questioning pretty much everyone. Watch the ESPN classic games from the 70s and 80s. It's like watching a bunch of intramural college kids compared to these guys.

I remember when Dave Winfield looked HUGE at the plate. Now half the league looks like him at the plate.

[N51_rob]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

I wouldn't be shocked by anyone having used them or even "experimented" with them. It would be hard to be in the clubhouse with guys that you know are using and watching them propel their careers forward and earn one more contract. That said. I would be heart broken in Ken Griffey Jr. was every to be linked to PED and to another extend Cal Ripken. I can say that I'm sure that about 95% of them used 'greenies".

I read the Mitchell Report and it's not just stars using them. There were fringe guys that benefited more. There was a story about a catcher for the expos guy had a lifetime average of .208 or something a guy that at anytime could get released or sent to AAA. He used them and extended his MLB career by 3-5 years (I can't remember). That is 3-5 years of MLB minimum salary and meal allowance on road trips. Makes more sence for him to use that a guy like A-Rod, Giambi, Big Mac etc.

Edit: Guy I mentioned above was Tim Laker.

[wwharton]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Agree with your take on Beltran.

However, I'd be shocked if Thome wasn't clean. He actually seems like he has some strong convictions against PEDs.

Gonzo, on the other hand, appeared to be a 'roid freak.

I haven't heard anything on or from Thome and I'm not accusing him by any means, but I wouldn't be shocked. Belle and Gonzo, on the other hand, I'm accusing, lol. Hell, Joey changed his name to try to lose his image that was tied to anger problems that resemble roid rage. Along with the things already mentioned, he turned and threw a fast ball square into the stands at a fan that was heckling him. And Gonzo had whispers of things that would bring about follow up investigations today but were swept under the rug 10 years ago.

Good points, Rob.

[NYJets]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Didn't that trainer that there was a big story about A-Rod being close to get thrown out of baseball for getting caught with Juan Gonzalez's steroids, or supplying them to him, or something like that?

[wwharton]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Didn't that trainer that there was a big story about A-Rod being close to get thrown out of baseball for getting caught with Juan Gonzalez's steroids, or supplying them to him, or something like that?

He was carrying Gonzo's bag. That's one of many stories "around" Gonzo over the years. And of course he was on the Rangers when people could get a positive test just from breathing the air in the lockerroom down there.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Agree with your take on Beltran.

However, I'd be shocked if Thome wasn't clean. He actually seems like he has some strong convictions against PEDs.

Gonzo, on the other hand, appeared to be a 'roid freak.

lol, this is the same guy who said you'd have to tear the Indians jersey off his back...

Throw-me's convictions mean absolutely nothing. And look at Thome when he first came up to where he is now...it's Sammy Sosa like.

Nevermind, I'll just show you:

1992:

1995:

1999:

Phillies:

[N51_rob]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Couldn't some of that weight gain be attributed to getting older? When I was 19 I weighed 177 pounds. I'm 27 and I'm a healthy 225. I look nothing like the skinny kid I did then except in the face.

Not saying that he didn't use but as people mature and get older they get bigger more or less. I've never used any PEDs either.

[SportsTop]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

I love how people think because you get bigger past the age of 22 you must be on something.

I can show you my high school graduation picture (17), my boot camp graduation picture (20), a picture from ten years ago, and a picture now and you wouldn't think it was the same person.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Name players that you think were clean during the steroid era

Couldn't some of that weight gain be attributed to getting older? When I was 19 I weighed 177 pounds. I'm 27 and I'm a healthy 225. I look nothing like the skinny kid I did then except in the face.

Not saying that he didn't use but as people mature and get older they get bigger more or less. I've never used any PEDs either.

But his biggest weight gain was from the 99 Indians till when he went to the Phillies.

I'm saying that he was a pretty skinny guy until about 96-97 then he just all of a sudden blew up.

It's pretty odd...