Baseball and its Performance Enhancing Drug problem

So the infamous Manny Ramirez of the LA Dodgers today has been banned 50 games by MLB for testing positive for using the female fertility drug human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, which is considered a performance enhancing drug. Manny of course is blaming the doctor that prescribed it. The drug is designed to restart the bodies natural testosterone levels.

Alex Sanchez Jorge Piedra A. Montero Jamal Strong Juan Rincon R. Betancourt R. Palmeiro
Ryan Franklin Mike Morse C. Almanzar Felix Heredia Matt Lawton Yusaku Iriki Jason Grimsley Guillermo Mota Juan Salas Neifi Perez Neifi Perez Mike Cameron Dan Serafini Jay Gibbons Jose Guillen Eliezer Alfonzo Henry Owens J.C. Romero Sergio Mitre Manny Ramirez Damian Moss Robert Machado Clay Hensley Brian Mallette Jon Nunnally Tom Evans Grant Roberts Darnell McDonald Steven Smyth Christian Parker Luis Ugueto
Wilson Delgado Luis Ugueto Nerio Rodriguez Abraham Nunez Yamid Haad Henry Owens
Sergio Mitre

That is the list of players that since 2005 have also tested positive for steroids. That isnt including players that played before this. Granted ARod would be added if he would have "officially" been tested. But eventually the press finally found it and he in time copped to it. Roger Clemens is sweating bullets as the days pass. Barry Bonds walks freely still today.

Has the congressional intervention with baseball worked? Has it deterred the player from cheating? 44 players since 2005 have tested positive. Many of these players were positive in 2005, but it shows that even since its inception, players are still trying to get around the system.

I think the testing has worked. If you look at the amount of players that play for a MLB team, and throw in the minor leagues, the number of players vs the one's cheating, the numbers are small.

The saying a few bad apples holds true here. You can hope to police everyone, but there will always be individuals that feel the need to cheat to get ahead.

Which is worse? Is the Chicago White Sox of 1920 with "Shoeless" Joe and his gang of 8, or Pete Rose and his betting worse for the integrity and game or is one individual such as Manny injecting/swallowing steroids worse?

One good thing that has come of this is Mark McGwire, although never testing positive, only received 22% of the required votes to get into the Hall of Fame. A message clearly sent by the voters that steroids will not be accepted there.

The sad thing is, in July when the suspension is lifted, Manny's 2 month vacation will be over, he will step on the field and play again.

Instead of a 3 strike policy, it should be one and done. Guilty and you are finished. If it is something that isn't true, then in the court system, you have your venue to prove your innocence. Sadly though, the selfish individuals that cheat, that "received it through their cousins", or the doctor prescribed it, will never be brought to light.

There's no other way to look at it but as a success

It is being reported that the Hawks have signed Leroy Hill to a 6 year deal. Keeping the linebacking corp intact, with Tatupu and now Curry. I personally look at the offseason as a success. How cant you. Added 2 lineman, a hard hitting corner, top notch receiver, and drafted the best athelete in the draft. Not to mention gaining another first round pick next year. Kudos go out to the front office.

Nicely done Hawks. Now there's just one thing to do, go out and crack some heads

See boys and girls, this is what happens

When you have the world at your fingertips, decide that everything else is more important than your craft, and spend months destroying it.

Yes, he's back. Sponsorless, an frankly, it shows.

Good god someone get that man a tailor

If I had it my way (just some thoughts)..........

If I had the sports world my way:

The words "Mike Vick" would not be brought up in conversation or topics again

The NBA would go away. Ok, how bout they introduce the 2 minute penalty like in hockey instead of 5 fouls, and there is a 2 for sissy fouls. I want a MMA fight to break out between Yao Ming and Tim Duncan. That would be money.

Someone would shove Sean Avery's dome through the boards and he wouldn't be allowed to play anymore.

The Detroit Red Wings would suffer the same fate as the rest of the auto industry in Michigan and fold.

The NHL would introduce cheerleaders with NFL type uni's on the ice, if you catch my drift

Did I mention the NBA would go away?

Seattle would host a Superbowl, and it would rain like a mofo.

I wouldn't hear things like, a major league baseball player can't play a night/day game, or a double header. They need to rest. WTF.

MLB would have a salary cap, not this thing they call a salary cap. Forcing equality throughout the league and Alex Rodriguez would find himself in Kansas City.

ESPN the Magazine would concentrate on sports, not lame stories.

In fact

ESPN would stop showing the following (these are not sports):

Horseracing
Poker
Darts
Whatever basketball game is being played when the players have nicknames and there is an m.c. Bowling
Around the Horn (This is a stupid show)

When two drivers in Nascar feud, they get called to the trailer, but the trailers' a cage match

I dont know, maybe its the lack of sun, that's just what I was thinking this morning.

I'm just sayin

Weekend wrap up

So lets do a quick recap:

The AL West leading Mariners played a 3 game set at Anaheim. Surprisingly, the Mariners took 2 out of 3 and would you have believed it that Silva won and Washburn lost? That was exactly what happened. Washburn on Sunday struggled with control and only going 5 innings, giving up 6 runs.

Silva continued his confusing run Saturday with a 5 inning, 3 earned run outing, taking the win. The bullpen this weekend did not hold up that well. In Silva's game, the bullpen gave up 5 earned runs and almost the game, while on Sunday, they gave 3.

Most importantly however, the Mariners continued to stay in front and so far have a 12-7 record.

I do have to do this however. Hi Mr Griffey and Mr Beltre, I would like to introduce you both to this thing we call a Louisville Slugger. See ball, hit ball. In that order. $15.4 million dollars for 2 players hitting under .200. And trust me, Silva saved me from a rant.

The Seahawks had the NFL draft, and selected Aaron Curry. I love this pick, I wanted this pick, but to find out that it came with the expense of losing Hill by pulling the franchise tag, hurts. The drafting of Unger from Oregon was masterful. Unger is a lineman that can play any position, however, likely will be used as the next center for the team.

I do like the pick of the Penn State Deon Butler, and think that the drafting of Rutgers QB Mike Teel has some upside.

I think the greatest coup of the draft and something that is not talked about, is the highway robbery we committed on Denver by giving this years second round draft pick for Denver's first round next year. To those of you that might not like it, WHY NOT? Any time you can get a 2 for a 1, come on. And, most importantly, should be where your next QB should be coming from.

Overall, I give the Hawks, a "B" on the draft. All is not lost, heck, you could be a Raiders fan this morning waking up with a bad draft hangover asking, what just happened? The Oakland Raiders again showed why they are the most ass backwards franchise in the league.

My Flyers showed why you have to put all sharp objects away when it comes to April and being a Flyers fan. Again losing in the first round, this time to the Pens.

Nascar went to Talladega and the big one started early in the 8th lap. Kenseth and Gordon getting together ending the hopes of many. Only to be outdone by Keselowski dumping Edwards in the trioval. I didn't know horses could fly! What? I'm just sayin.

Welcome to the Hawks Mr Curry

Wow, this couldnt have played out any better to me than what happened this afternoon. I have written on earlier posts that I hoped that Curry would somehow slip, that we would not go after Sanchez, and to my delight it played out correctly.

Look, I am not saying that Sanchez isn't going to be, or isn't a great QB. What I am saying is our QB is healthy, they shut him down last year to do this. This pick is going to come in and make an immediate difference, make an impact on the field right now.

I love this.

Oh, and nicely done Raiders. No wonder they are in the toilet bowl, picking Bey? Are you serious?

Ummm, well, we all have one of those days/nights

After giving up 15 hits, 9 runs, 2 errors, the Mariners only scoring 3 runs, 4 total hits by only 3 batters and seeing the team batting average dip again to .246, lets just hope it was one of those days.

Area's of concern:

Mike Sweeney's back. Although reports today are it is not bad

Jr. Umm, love you, but, is it time to get out of the 3 hole? .171 as a 3 hole hitter isnt a recipe for offensive success.

Beltre batting .172, umm where's Tui? Let alone his back to back errors late in the game last night.

Only 4 batters hitting .300 or better on the team, and one of them is Balentien who has 13 AB's.

Again, let's just hope this was one of those nights. King Felix is on the mound tonight, hopefully he can go some innings and keep them in it while the Mariner's look for their offense.