(guest blogger) Spirit of St. Louis
spiritofstlouis
I’m honored to have the great Spirit of St. Louis in the house. We call him Louie at WordPress. I guess the folks around Blogsville call it “a guest blogger” Drinks on the house. enjoy!
In light of the current A Rod scandal, the steroid issue has once again been thrust, center stage, into the court of public opinion. And the 3 major actors in this ongoing Greek tragedy have returned to reprise their starring roles. For those that have been living in a hostel on the outskirts of the Arctic Circle for the past 10 years, allow me to introduce the players.
The Naive : Widely recognized, this faction never fails to be surprised when a player is linked to steroid use. The very idea that these incidents continue to occur is taken as an affront to their sensibilities. Terms like ” tooth fairy ” and ” rose colored glasses ” are often used when referring to these folks.
The Angry : Also familiar in most circles, this group sees the epidemic of cheaters as a violation of everything they hold sacred, and feel that the only remedy is to yank it out by the roots. Terms like ” lynch mob ” and ” mob mentality ” are often invoked in reference.
The Indifferent : These fatalists are of a mindset that this problem, much like death and taxes, is inevitable, and will live in infamy for all time. Does ” who gives a rat’s ass ” strike a chord ?
Now that we are up to speed on the cast, on with the show.
Who is the hero ? Who is the Villain ? The good guys, the bad guys ? Who is right and who is wrong ?
That’s easy. They’re all villains. They’re all bad guys. They’re all wrong.
Here’s why. The naive refuse to admit that this grand old game is, now and forever, big business. And in big business, people are inherently ruthless. And selfish. And Greedy. The warm and fuzzy game that we grew to love is about as likely to return as $ 1.50 beers. Live with it. Are there still players out there who respect the integrity of the game, abide by the rules, and play the game the right way ? You betcha. But they don’t make headlines.
The angry need to get a grip. Face it, the game doesn’t care about you. Just your money. And you know it, and it pisses the shit out of you. Blood is what you crave, and you want every guilty party exposed to the light of day. You rationalize this by claiming that it’s the only way to clean up the game. If only you truly believed that.
Expose these overpaid, pampered, prima donnas for the frauds they are. How dare they laugh at sums of money that could support some third world countries, while you work your ass off just to pay the bills. They hold out, and play when they feel like it. You would never disrespect the game like that. You guys call baseball work.
So let’s release the list of 104. Make them pay. Who cares about their right to privacy ? They cheated, and should be outed. It’s not fair to those who are clean. Do you know who’s clean ? Never mind that the ” list people ” were randomly selected and promised that the results would never see the light of day by their bosses.
What about those who were fortunate enough to skip the lottery ? Might there be some cheaters who escaped the gallows ? If I was an “outee ” I would probably be bitter, and leak a name or two. So might a reporter, or a personal trainer. And never mind that there is probably a PED out there that won’t even be identified for another 10 years. Admit it, you just want vengeance.
Ah, you indifferent types. Look where that ” can’t stop it, so why bother ? ” attitude has gotten us. Just let it go, and focus our attention on important stuff. They probably all do it, and always will do it.
Tell that to the Tyco employees, or the Enron folks. Is your local bank still around, and if it is, who owns it ? What the hell, give ‘em a mortgage, they look like hard working folks. The Army can handle those guys at Gitmo, why police them. Do you hear a buzzing on your end of the phone line ?
So there you have it. All the world’s a stage, and we merely players. Just not very good ones.
Mornin Sal,You left one out.The slightly inebriated delusional(not that there’s anything wrong with it)the ranks of which I am slipping into.It’s wonderful.For example,today I’m heading out to the Stadium,to watch the Yank’s play KC.It’s a beautiful sunny day,and Gator’s on the mound.To make things even better,the only game altering substances I’m aware of are pine tar and Rheingold.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thanks unk, I think I’m blushing. Kind words in deed
P.S Now if I could ask assistance on the finer points od editing ( and deleting ) comments on wordpress, I could clean up the minutae that found it’s way into the middle of the piece ( and delete this paragraph )
Sorry to drop in unannounced.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 3:51 pm
GDY: Its funny you describe a game that could have taken place in the 70s.Mets4 just asked me if I think Bonds is the HR king right now.I told him I think sooner or later you will look at the record books and there will be a 2″ thick black line between 1979 and 1980 and if ya scroll down further you will find 2 sets of records.
Louie, great piece, indifferent here.I have known since around the strike and will not be surprised by any name that comes out.
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 4:01 pm
A game I fondly remember JRZ,well vaguely anyway.Apologies to Unkasal,and Spirit,on my confusion as to the author.More proof of my condition.Too many shots to the head,along with more than my fair share of fun.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 4:07 pm
JRZ,I had a thought the other day(every once and a while one drifts across my brain pan).Why not just build seperate wings on the HOF.You could have pre-steroids,gamblers,steroids,nut jobs,and so on.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 4:11 pm
GDY great to see you as it is all you guys. Pine tar yeah as a kid I used to sniff pine tar in a brown bag when I ran out of glue, ah the good old days, glue was cheap back then. Willie Mays always had a bottle of liquid meth close by, and I’m sure many others did, what do we think made Charlie hustle. Check out Katz Komments (Sal’s Pal’s) in the sidebar, a friend of mine who wrote the KC book ( also in the side bar) references the Willie beverage of choice during the games.
JRZ tell M4 to come see us, we can bang around some ideas on how to handle the scorn when one of the Metsie’s are found on that list.
Louie i’ll edit anything you want, just let me know the specifics, personally I wouldn’t touch a thing
Fellas have a good day, time to make the donuts, I’ll see you later. thanks for the drive by.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 4:14 pm
GDY I love that, lets start to work on it, great idea. we’ll hang it in the tool shed. this office has more cubicles to fill, it’s lonely in here hahaha.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I think its a great idea.The place will be bigger than the original by 2040!
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 4:25 pm
thanks unk. If you could erase the ticket info that begins after ” But wait ” and ends before ” My playbill “.
4 paragraphs down, the sentence ” you call baseball work ” should be ” you guys call baseball work ? ”
Thanks.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I’d like to offer Sparky Lyle as the first double nominee.Pre-Steroids,and Nut-Job.Damn I miss Sparky
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I miss all those players from back then.I loved it when Bert Campaneris came to the Yankees in the early 80s. I liked the way he played SS and 2B.Liked watchin him w/ that small glove before it was cool.When I found out he threw at bat at somebody I was sold.
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I’d give a thousand bucks to have had Nettles on the field the night Paydro threw Zim down.Prepare your people for blood
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Nettles wouldnt have had any of that.Funny you bring up Lyle and Nettles, I have a bat signed by both that I won at a Somerset Patriots game.
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 4:43 pm
WOW,That’s a souvenir I wouldn’t mind having.Two of my all-times.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 4:45 pm
My take on the statistic / era dilemma is that there will never be a fair way to calculate culpability.
The records stay, the stats stay and a disclaimer is put at the bottom of the page.
During the course of the history of baseball, individuals have used various illegal methods to enhance their performance. This has altered the outcome of games, and the subsequent statistics that were achieved.
Please take this into consideration when judging the contribution of any particular plyer, and the validity of any or all statistics.
Then leave it to the fans to judge. Your results may vary.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Hows that Lou? I can still grab text from your comment if i didn’t edit it correctly.
Fellas Tell LB Sean Casey is gonna be on the FAN after his stint on MLB. IOf they post it I’ll grab it and post it. I’m gonna wait until Lou is satisfied, then I have to split for a while
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Right there with ya Spirit.The universe is unfolding exactly the way it’s supposed to.I’m just along for the ride.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 4:57 pm
One more and I’m through. The paragraph that begins with ” expose these overpaid…” should end with the sentence ” You guys call baseball work ? ” instead of ” You call baseball work “.
Thanks pal. Next round’s on me.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 5:01 pm
gdy, I got shotgun.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Deal
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 5:13 pm
ok Lou I think I got it check it now.
GDY I hear you on having Nettles on the field the day Zim got dropped, or just about any of those 70′s guys. Well maybe not some of them. In the sidebar all the way to the bottom I have the interviews from friday with Francesa, click the drop down window and click interviews they should all come up the Cerone and Zim interviews are great. Nettles was a tuff bastard.
make yourself at home fellas i’ll see you later Lou let me know if you want any more edits.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Unk, it didn’t take, but no worries. I’ve taken up enough of your time.
Thanks.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Sal,I heard the Cerone interview.I don’t know who was laughing more,me,or him.Ahhh,the good ole days.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Lou refresh your page, I’m on a mac so sometimes I have to leave the page then come back. You might be seeing the pre- edit. I’m showing ‘guys” was added. I’ll stay with you until your happy. maybe I edited the wrong thing.
GDY i was lucky enuff to have had a TV where i was at the time, the visual was priceless. If he gets on mikes show for a few hours watch out hahaha.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Too funny Sal.I’m out guy’s,have a good one.
giantdamnyankee
February 9, 2009 at 5:33 pm
hey fellas, please excuse my lateness. All this thought-provoking-ness has me thinkin. ST Lou always gets me thinking.
The Germans invented amphetamines back in the first WW because it kept your finger on the trigger, your eyes sharp, and your legs range-worthy. It almost worked for them in that sense.
It did work for them in another sense. They’ve cornered the ped market ever since.
I say if you booked a homer, it’s a homer and will always be a homer in the books. If the game decided that juicing was bad, the ball is in the pitcher’s hand and let he that was without sin cast the first plunk. The game starts and ends on the field. These guys could have led the game in walks, instead of homers, it could have happened that way, and someone could have very easily removed a player permenantly. It’s happened for lesser evils.
Now whether or not high school kids are juicing is irrelevant to the ARod situation. HS kids drink and smoke and juice and their parents may or may not look the other way. The high road is not to play at all, if the competition for a starting role as the defensive end on the varsity squad is so high that you gotta juice, and you can’t vibe to that, then don’t play. Render unto caesar what is caesar’s.
A multi-national like Schering-Plough can sell this Primo stuff over-the-counter somewhere in the world, whether it’s lawful or not to use/transport is a matter of lists in the DEA’s office and whether or not they are updated. So I reject the “PEDs are morally wrong and detestable” argument outright on purely logical grounds.
Let’s not be distracted here. Baseball is a gigantic billboard for pharmaceuticals. None of us have guns to our heads when we buy the book, leave the comment, or click to the game.
I’m a little all over the place, I know, just kind of rambling. It’s a big topic.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Does anyone give a fuck about Curt Schilling? He’s turning into baseball’s pointdexter.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 5:51 pm
the FDA, the medical mafia. I agree kids don’t need ARod to inspire them, or deflate their goals. Baseball is entertainment, entertainers shouldn’t be role models. Little helpers have been around for ever. Should Charlie Parker be banned, or Keith Richards? maybe that isn’t a good example. i think the more guys that come out in reports the less drama, the media is cashing in on this type of stuff. I hate to say it but Canseco is the only guy telling the truth. his street cred is actually better right now than any of these guys, Good or Bad he’s responsible for the change in drug policies. you’ll not get the skinny from recent players or just retired players, These guys are all tip toeing around the fire here. I’ll look for the Casey interview LB. I’m out see you later
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 6:04 pm
curt schilling hahaha…. fat bastard
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Randy Levine just went out and bought a brand new piggy bank. Before ARod the Yanks never drew 4 million. There’s way more to all this….ARod is coming out to speak today. ARod is always gonna have a little wiggle room here, baseball fucked up, the union fucked up. If Schilling thinks this is gonna end it all if those 103 names come out he’s in dreamland, there’s always gonna be something better to take, Schering-Plough is working on it as we speak. As for ARod’s dilemma, The union tried to keep those 104 names around to try to drop to 5 %’s on the false positives so there would be no more drug testing. The union fucked up, I hate to say. They tipped players off to keep the false positive % down. Arod needs to come clean, not that I care but the majority of people do. If baseball doesn’t give the mob what they want it’s gonna get worse. Unless he’s really clean then fight it.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 6:24 pm
A-Rod/Gammons w/ in an hour supposedly….extra extra he admits!
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Nail on the head, lib.
You can’t undo history.
Math is an absolute. Human nature is not.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 7:28 pm
“It was a loosey goosey atmosphere” I dont know what I took….I f.vckin love it. He admits to use over 01, 02 and 03!
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Smart thing to do. Time to get on with the season.
Speaking of that, in a surprising move, the Cardinals released Adam Kennedy, eating his 2009 salary of 4 million.
Does this rekindle talks of some sort of Cano / Ankiel based deal ?
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm
It’s an infomercial, at this point. Gammons and ARod are conducting an infomercial on steroids. Any and all attention to the issue will serve that purpose.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm
well said louie.
I think we keep Cano.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Yes, loosey goosey….Not sure about Cano to St. Louie.
jrzinbatonrouge
February 9, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I think looking at Kennedy as bench guy would be a thought.But not in a trade for Cano. IMO
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I can’t say one way or another, but somethings afoot.
All winter, the FO maintained that the hang up in moving AK ( Arizona ) was the team’s refusal to assume a lion’s share of his contract.
Now they cut him loose ?
The team said 2B will now be a competition. Between who ? There’s talk of moving Skip Schumaker to 2B, but he hasn’t played IF since college.
Anyway, if not the Yanks, maybe they rekindle talks with Atl. concerning Ankiel and Kelly Johnson.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Lou- Schumaker is a good player.So I would think you guys are getting ready to make a move
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I agree. The Cardinal’s options at 2B are Tyler Greene, Brendan Ryan, Schu, and Brian Barden. Only Ryan has anything more than a handful of games at the ML level in the IF. I love Schu, but the knock on him is that he can’t hit lefties.
Plus, we don’t have a lead off hitter, ans Schu fits the bill. But to entrust him to a position he hasn’t played in 7 yrs. ? Unless he wowed them in Fla. over the last month, I don’t see it.
Maybe they’ll grab the O dog. Great D, and it solves the lead off problem.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 8:22 pm
there you go, bingo, Kennedy out, O’Dog in. He’ll give El Hombre a home town discount, just get a gig no.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 8:27 pm
It would make us a lot better, and who knows ? 3 yrs. / 21 mil. or a 1 yr. deal, and pray the economy improves ?
If that happened, it would mean that the FO is making an effort to assuage TLR, who’s contract is up after this year ( as is Dunc’s ), and the fans. They are projecting a drop in attendence of 400,000 this year, and the fans have been on their ass all winter.
Stay tuned.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 8:37 pm
You can hide a so-so defender at 2B for only so long.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 8:38 pm
One way to get the attendance up, bring in some guys that draw like Hudson. If the fans think the Boss is trying they’ll eventually spend their money on the team. Or get it done on the farm. I saw a story Battle of the Budgets Boston and TB.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Kennedy, 33, batted .280 with a .321 on-base percentage and .372 slugging percentage in 2008.
So it sounds like they have to pay off the rest of his deal, so that might close the trunk on that O’Dog deal, Then your paying two second baseman. It said your gonna go from with in the organization
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 8:50 pm
The Redbirds are notorious for not paying 2B. When they signed AK, people were schocked. And he crapped out.
Surprisingly, AK was 3rd in all of baseball last year in the fielding Bible. Makes the move even more surprising. The guy hit around .275 last year.
Somethings up, maybe they’re worried that they have to start thinking about re-upping # 5. The only way he leaves is if he thinks the FO isn’t trying to win.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Lou looking at his contract he’s got $4m coming this year. Are they paying that off until he gets a gig,or did they buy him out? If he gets his money from St Louis, he’ll work cheap someplace else, he’ll have to, nobody wanted his contract in a trade
Adam Kennedy 2b
3 years/$10M (2007-09)
3 years/$10M (2007-09)
signed as a free agent 11/06
07:$2.5M, 08:$3.5M, 09:$4M
award bonuses: $0.1M for MVP ($75,000 for 2nd in vote, $50,000 for 3rd), $50,000 for All Star ($25,000 for selection), $50,000 each for Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, LDS, LCS or WS MVP
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 8:59 pm
unk, they eat the cash. He’s a FA.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Age.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 9:14 pm
No more drugs, all bets are off. You can’t have a 33 or 34 year old infielder and expect him to have $4M worth of arms and legs by September.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 9:15 pm
LB you think Kennedy gets a call to come to camp?
We’re losin the Joba to the pen, it’s slipping away
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/02/09/meanwhile-back-on-the-diamond/
Lou who’s on their radar for a # 5
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 9:16 pm
This is good, bad for the old guys, but good for business. I would give guys like Kennedy a chance to make money though, give him incentives for a year with a low salary base. He’s a made man with a ring
Seems that All these left over guys are gonna have to settle for that.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Don’t you back out on me now, sally boy!
Hey, if all the contracts like AK’s have incentives, this being the Age of Incentive, we can look forward to some awesome baseball, no?
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Yes, I think you call AK. Yanks still need a backup defensive middle infielder. AK has D, the experience, the bling, and bats +.270 career.
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 9:27 pm
unk, our rotation, as of today.
1) Carpenter
2) Wainwright
3) Lohse
4) Wellemeyer
5) Piniero
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 9:28 pm
hahaha I’m not backin out, RAB, man those guys are the No Bull Pen for Joba Nazi’s hahaha. they got a sign up saying that’s it no more bull pen or something. I’m still in for him in the pen, but it looks like we’re losing our grip. Yes better baseball, it was nice for old guys like me seeing old guys get gigs, but it’s over, so I say give them the incentive and a low base or find another job. those metric stats VORP are affecting things as much as the “economy” I bet. If a guy like Kennedy doesn’t play everyday can he help, can he stay sharp, I know it’ll be better for his health
This is the guy the Cards have slated for their # 5, Garcia, how is he Lou? they have a pretty good staff
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=448802
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Oh I didn’t know Carpenter was in the mix
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Yeah he say’s he ready to go.
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090117&content_id=3748636&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Mark Grudzielanek I saw his name as a possible invite to Yankee camp
http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/grudzma01.shtml
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 9:41 pm
He’s got great stuff.
As for this year, he’ll need more than PEDs to crack the rotation. He had TJ surgery a couple months back.
Carp is the lynch pin. I’ll believe it when he’s on the mound for opening day.
I think Piniero will pick up his game. He’s in a wlk year.
Looper is gone ( about to sign with Milw. )
Wellemeyer is surprisingly good for a guy who just became a starter in late 2007.
Wainwright is an ace about to happen.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 9:49 pm
unk, Grudz was a bonehead move by St.L. He had a great year for us in 2005, and we didn’t want to pay him 2 mil. a year. 2B has been a black hole since.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I believe that’s the same Wainwright of the dubious “Cano-for-Wainwright” undertaking, correct?
How do the lineups in the Central division look?
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hey Sal, Reader’s Digest article about Sal Fasano, really good one:
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/baseball-player-contemplates-steriod-use/article89787.html
libertyboynyc
February 9, 2009 at 9:58 pm
lib, I see it as
Cubs – Still the most talent on paper in the N.L.
Milw. – Guardado back, a ton of young talent, who closes ?
Hou – If they get Dunn, that starting 8 is as good as anyone in the NL.
St.L. If Ludwick repeats his 2008 numbers, Ank stays healthy, and Rasmus is as good as advertised, they could content. Plus El Hombre’s elbow is healthy for the first time in 6 years.
They need Carp to be healthy, and one of the two flame throwers ( Motte or Perez ) to succeed as the closer.
Pitt. – They are going to surprise a lot of folks.
Cinn. – Good young talent, a year or two away.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Thanks Libs that’s a great article on Sal
Wainwright of the dubious “Cano-for-Wainwright” undertaking, correct? Yes
so if Garcia is a if, you do need a # 5, whose left out there? did Wolf finally sign with LA. I forgot.
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 10:22 pm
here’s a quickie on the NL central http://www.sbrforum.com/Betting+Articles/MLB/10111/nl-central-still-belongs-cubs.aspx
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Piniero. As bad as he was last year, he’s in a walk year. He’s making 7.5 Mil. this year, so he’ll be the # 5 unless he tanks completely.
spiritofstlouis
February 9, 2009 at 10:32 pm
that’s a good staff if Carpenter gets back
unkulsal
February 9, 2009 at 11:43 pm