MLB Off-Topic

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That book changed me as well.


I was against PEDs before, but after reading that book, I began to loathe anyone associated with it.


It's why I despise A-Rod and think he should have all his numbers wiped clean.


Until he subjects himself to random blood tests, I'll continue believing he's still on the sauce.





If you get a chance, read "Blood Sport: A-Rod and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era":


http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sport-A-.../dp/B00HZ1EE40





Another great book focusing mostly on A-Rod, but the relationship between PEDs and MLB as a whole.


If you didn't like A-Rod before, you'll hate his guts afterward (especially the part where he pays for supporters to wave signs and cheer for him when he enters and leaves the MLB offices while he was fighting his suspension).





The Game is also a tremendous book following Bud Selig's tenure.


They get into the PED issues as well. Very interesting stuff.

I don't want to read that A-Rod book lol but im definitely going to. I was a supporter of his comeback and everything and I dislike Bud Selig, but if it's as damning to A-Rod as Game of Shadows is to Bonds, I might be looking to get rid of a jersey. A-Rod being caught really killed a lot for me. I was too young to deal with he strikes but that was a time when I was really just frustrated with baseball and I really believed him. So many bad memories remembering that time, it's crazy how baseball is under this microscope and I don't doubt for a second every NFL player is juiced to the gills.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't want to read that A-Rod book lol but im definitely going to. I was a supporter of his comeback and everything and I dislike Bud Selig, but if it's as damning to A-Rod as Game of Shadows is to Bonds, I might be looking to get rid of a jersey. A-Rod being caught really killed a lot for me. I was too young to deal with he strikes but that was a time when I was really just frustrated with baseball and I really believed him. So many bad memories remembering that time, it's crazy how baseball is under this microscope and I don't doubt for a second every NFL player is juiced to the gills.

LOL, I hear you.
I was actually an A-Rod fan at one time.
When PEDs first started showing their ugly head, I was ticked off FOR A-rod because I felt he was clean and was putting up great numbers - numbers that were going unnoticed due to all the inflated stats.
Then some of the stories started coming out.
Reading this Blood Sport book, you start to realize that he was most likely on roids since highschool.

I didn't even realize that he was given medical clearance by MLB to use testosterone in 2007 due to his inability to produce Testosterone on his own - which typically only happens because the player has shot so much PEDs into his body, it stops producing it on its own.

I believe the first words he said to Anthony Bosch were "What did you give Manny Ramirez".
Bosch understood what he meant by that question. First, I want the same results. But secondly, and more importantly, how do you do that without getting caught.

Anyway, it's a really enlightening tale and I think if you liked GoS's you'll enjoy this one too.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

What do you guys think about A-Rod now? He's definitely tried to be a more respectable human being, but I really feel like it is just to try and get a 162 game retirement party next year like Jeter got and what Ortiz will presumably get.

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

What do you guys think about A-Rod now? He's definitely tried to be a more respectable human being, but I really feel like it is just to try and get a 162 game retirement party next year like Jeter got and what Ortiz will presumably get.

It would only be fitting if he got the Kobe treatment... which is both sad & funny

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A-Rod isn't delusional, I don't think he thinks he's getting a retirement tour. I think he's just happy to be playing again and trying to keep his head low.

[Money99]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

What do you guys think about A-Rod now? He's definitely tried to be a more respectable human being, but I really feel like it is just to try and get a 162 game retirement party next year like Jeter got and what Ortiz will presumably get.

A-Rod LOVES baseball. He lives and breathes it.
As much as I detest him and his PED-induced stats, the one quality I do like about him is how much he loves the game.
In Joe Torre's book, he told a story about how when Alex first came to the Yankees, Jeter threw a small get-together after a night game.
When A-Rod showed up, the first thing he did was grab the remote and look for a west-coast game.
He kept searching the guide but couldn't find it.
So he yelled over to Jeter, who was entertaining by the bar, and asked where the MLB package was.
Jeter just laughed and said he didn't purchase it. A-Rod was incredulous. He couldn't believe Jetes (yeah, Jetes) didn't have the package and said as much.
As Joe Torre said, the only baseball games Jeter watched were the ones he was playing in.
Meanwhile, A-Rod could talk baseball for hours and followed the game intensely regardless of what team he was playing for.

A-Rod lives and breathes the game and it's been documented that he wants to remain in the game after he's retired.
I think this whole 'Head down, be humble' thing is only a ploy to make himself more marketable for a career in baseball after he's done playing.

And as much as I hate saying this, I thought he was really good as a colour commentator in last years playoffs.
That might be a route he pursues, but I think managing an MLB team is his end-goal.

[slickdtc]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Bonds is back in baseball with the Marlins, so I absolutely think ARod will be welcomed back.

It's because these guys were/are supremely talented without PED's. They can teach young players things. The steroids only made them a bit better then they already naturally were.

That's probably why it's so disappointing. Bonds was insane to see as little amount of hittable pitches as he did and still put up the power numbers he did. That's freakish. Either he got his hands on some year 3000 alien steroids or he was simply that good.

ARod's love for baseball and hypercompetitiveness might be why he ended up going the PED route. Had to be the best, settle for nothing less no matter what it took.

Hey, no one ever said great players, legends of the game, weren't scumbags too. I don't think ARod is that good of a dude, seems like an egotistical selfish prick but he can play ball with the best of 'em. The sooner you separate professional from personal, the easier it is to kind of accept PED's as a reality that you can't completely clean up. I used to be shocked when guys were caught. Now it's just a shake of the head and chalk it up "to the game."

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Im just looking through old articles about A-Rod in the 90's and reading about this goody 2 shoes kid and I just don't know lol, I feel like I can't trust Trout, Harper, any of these guys. Not that it matters to me personally if they use or not, but it just seems like there's no way to know unless a test is failed or a report comes out, cant know if someone's clean, only if they're dirty, should be interesting to see how the game moves forward now with a new generation of stars. I just hope none of them are doing dumb ****.



Mostly joking edit: The woman who first reported A-Rod's failed test only decided to write the profile because she wanted to see what was going on with his changing persona, as brought on by him leaving his wife and dating Madonna. Long story short, if the reason A-Rod was outed is because he wanted a celebrity girlfriend, at least I can take solace in knowing there's no way Jeter could've used, he's dated way too many celebrities, they would've found out

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Though, when it comes to ARod, people have been trying to tear him down since he signed that Texas contract.

Jeter was always celebrated. Alex signed a piece of paper and immediately had a target on his back. I think he was unfairly targeted by writers though it obviously led to actual dirt.

No one has really dug into Jeter. He might be private but it's not like the Daily News didn't have photos of Jeter shenanigans when he was young. Commercials once made fun of Steinbrenner hating Jeter and his night life.

For whatever reason, no one wanted to go deeper. They just left it alone and Jeter was never against a wall.

Alex got hit hard because he didn't wear a shirt on a hot day in Central Park. Seriously think about how petty you have to be to even care about that.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I agree, but when A-Rod signed that contract to become the highest paid player, it wasn't that long after that Jeter did the same to become number 2. I guess he didn't leave so that helps, but I find it hard to believe that no one has been trying to uncover the Jeter mystery for 20 years. Then again it could be an issue of who wants to be the NY reporter to take down Jeter?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I never understood that either. I always felt like Jeter seemed totally fake and smug. And everyone just ate it up.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Im at the point where I no longer want to judge athletes personality on the little snippets we get from them from the media. A lot of things have made me feel this way, but mostly because it leads to general opinions of guys and no one can explain it.



"Bryce Harper is a douchebag"



"Why?"



"Because he looks like one" "Because he's arrogant"



What do these things mean? I use Bryce because he's a popular target now, people say he's arrogant but what has he done wrong? I asked someone on another site yesterday and all they could say is "he gives off an air of cockiness". What? You don't like a guy because he kind of seems like he's cocky? They used the example of bat flippers, but Bryce doesn't do that. I dunno, it seems like people just don't want to like people lol. I'll stick to the on the field stuff generally. Personality judgments on people I've never met are pointless.



Jeter to me just seemed smart. Why open your mouth in a town of reporters that are going to jump down your throat at the first hint of any mistake you make? If you know the game, play it. Especially when hes out and about and living his life the way he was, why bring a spotlight on you bigger than the one already on you for being the captain shortstop of a Yankee dynasty?

[slickdtc]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I assume most athletes are douchebags. The product of people riding your dick from HS and up.

I went to school with a kid who turned out to be an NFL LB. Now every time his team plays or he has a good game, my facebook blows up with all his jock riders. Yall didn't care about this kid when he was in HS and suddenly he's your boy and you go way back because he's appearing on your TV every Sunday?

I know for a fact he doesn't buy in. One of his good friends is in my circle, and he doesn't talk to him anymore. This kid is probably one of the biggest fair weather fans I know. Cool kid, but he's a trendie. Thought it was funny when he was all sad because the NFL'er doesn't talk to him anymore. He didn't get too big for you, he just has more important stuff to worry about then another hanger-on. The NFL'er is actually an extremely humble and nice guy. Comically nice actually.

Fun fact: I beat him out for a RB position back in HS (backup baby!). Of course, he got switched to OT and ended up playing some FB later but always played LB on the defensive side.

I kinda forgot where this was going. I guess just that I assume an athlete is a selfish jerk before I assume he's a good guy. You get surrounded by yes-men your whole adult life it'll probably rub off.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Chris Colabello got dinged on a drug test. 80 games.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Chris Colabello got dinged on a drug test. 80 games.

Deployed the ignorance plea on an old school East German oral steroid.