Sports Arena
Baseball Dusts Itself Off
A Yankee fan’s take on A-Rod, steroids, and everyone’s complicity.
Three days, 23 hours and 15 minutes to the arrival of pitchers and catchers. Hope renewed once again.
Winter is loathsome to me. I am a baseball fan. It has been central to my life from the moment I came into this world because it was central to my father’s life.
More than that, I am a Yankee fan. The Yankees have been the constant in our family. The team has held us together through the turmoil of life, providing something to cheer for, something to cry over, or when father and sons struggle to find common ground, something to just get us talking. Yankee Stadium was as much our home as the two bedroom apartment in Mt. Vernon, NY.
So from the moment the last out of the World Series is recorded, I get anxious. I look into the bleak abyss of winter and, God forgive me, wish my time away. I need baseball.
Normally, I’d be starting to breathe a little easier right now. 3 days. 23 hours. 6 minutes.
But I just spent the past two days trying to explain to my Yankee-worshipping son that real reporters don’t print explosive and personally damaging information unless they have it locked down tight. Regardless of the information that is yet to become public, Alex Rodriguez took steroids.
On Monday, Alex Rodriguez came clean. He told the truth. He admitted taking steroids and when given the opportunity by Peter Gammons to spread the blame, didn’t blame anyone but himself. In our eyes, he regained a small amount of credibility and perhaps a little sympathy.
Don’t get me wrong, we were never big A-Rod fans. My father idolized DiMaggio. My brother had Mantle. I chose Thurman Munson (and still say a prayer every August 2nd in memory of his untimely death in 1979). My son has Derek. We really thank God for Derek Jeter. But A-Rod, for all of his personal flaws, is a tremendous talent. And after the misery of the last few years, following the revelations that exposed and hopefully ended the steroid era, we all needed a player to prove that you don’t need the juice to hit home runs. We were willing to forgive Alex his off-field indiscretions, his psychological neediness and even his consummate ability to choke in the clutch. We were stuck with him when they foolishly resigned him. So we were ready to have his back. He has to play to his potential for the Yankees to be successful. Like any fans, we want our team to win.
Now, I have a personal dilemma. I have been public about my disdain for the steroid cheaters. I participated in the landmark book, Game of Shadows, by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, about the BALCO investigation. I defended those two American heroes against threats of being sent to jail for refusing to name the source who leaked to them Barry Bonds’ grand jury testimony. Mark and Lance, in my view, were as responsible for cleaning up baseball as the Justice Department — particularly the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco Kevin Ryan — that investigated the steroid operation. At the time, President Bush agreed with me, telling them that they had performed a great national service.
But now, I’m not angry. I’m not screaming for A-Rod to be drawn and quartered. I’m just sad. I’m trying to put it all in perspective from the point of view of a true fan. And as a fan, I think we have to take our share of the blame for allowing the cheating to continue for as long as it did.
Let’s start with the players. The baseball season starts with Spring Training in February. The regular season starts in the first week of April. It runs 162 games over 6 months. It is physically and mentally grueling. The constant cross-country traveling alone wears down the players. It is the definition of a grind.
From the beginning, baseball players have sought a little extra help to get through the season. Some resorted to booze. Others popped speed to help keep their energy up through the dog days of August and September. Too many started snorting cocaine or smoking pot back in the 1970s and 1980s.
But none of those chemical fixes made them hit the ball harder, higher and farther. Steroids give normal humans extraordinary strength. In baseball, it meant that a lot of long fly balls that without the ‘roids would drop harmlessly into the outfielders’ gloves, instead floated over the walls for a 4 bagger.
So imagine you are 32 years old right fielder. You’ve been playing in the majors for 8 years. Your career average looks like this: .292 batting average; 22 home runs; 90 RBIs; 420 slugging percentage. You’ve made the All-Star team twice and are considered one of the best everyday players in the game at your position. Announcers routinely pay you the highest compliment: “He’s a ballplayer.”
It is February. You’re packing for Florida with the awareness that your contract is up and you’re heading into free agency at the end of the season. You are coming off a slightly down year - .270, 15 homers, 70 RBIs. Fact is, you’re getting a little older and you played hurt for a good part of last season. You’re married and have 3 kids. You came up with a small market team and stayed when they offered you a pretty good deal after your rookie contract was up.
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Crusasder| 2.11.09 @ 8:17AM
I was a big baseball fan until 1994. Now I rarely go to a game, let alone watch them on TV.
As far as feeling sorry for a 32 y/o, 8-year MLB vet with a wife and three kids, when the average salary in MLB is around $3 mil/year, umm, I have none. If he has problems feeding his family if he gets cut then he needs a better financial advisor. If he has no life skills other than "flipping burgers" well too bad. Live off the $24 mil you made playing a frigging kids' game.
stu.b.con| 2.11.09 @ 8:22AM
I can be counted among those who find all the kerfuffle about steroid use hypocritical. I am most disgusted with all of the sanctimonious sports writers who carry on about the "cheaters" and the "shame" they bring to the game they play for a living. The lords of baseball and the feckless legislators only recently and suddenly been shocked, shocked to find out there's players using steroids. This after the promotion of the McGwire and Sosa home run race after the cancellation of the World Series (I forget the year). Please, there were no rules, sanctions, or limits on their use at the time and though I don't condone lying about using steroids I certainly understand their hesitance to incriminate themselves to the pious.
And in my mind I have to wonder that if the players of the past had access to steroids who is to say they would not have taken advantage of the opportunity to strenghten themselves and possibly extend their careers, maybe even make more money for themselves and their family.
Enough of the witch hunts, enough of the demonization, enough of the pious moanings of Mike Lupica, Mitch Albom, et al. Make it illegal going forward if necessary, enforce the rules evenhandedly and across the board and stop all of this nonsense, I'm sick of it!
Crusader| 2.11.09 @ 9:03AM
Stu, the WS was canceled in 1994 after the players went on strike. Just lookin' out! :)
Inter Alia| 2.11.09 @ 9:33AM
Good column. I haven't really thought about it from the struggling-player perspective . . . but cheating is still cheating. What's honor worth, anyway?
BTW, I believe it's "cachet," not "cache."
Crusader| 2.11.09 @ 9:44AM
Inter Alia, I will take being a "struggling player" on a MLB team any day over just about, well heck ANY other job out there.
According to mlb.com, the average salary of a MLB player on opening day 2008 was $3.15 MILLION!
The "work" is a grind? Physically taxing maybe but I can't imagine it is any harder than say what the Marines do for 15 months straight in Iraq. On a much lower annual salary. Not to mention the "family seperation" ballplayers face (my heart BLEEDS I tell you!) as compared to the folks in the military.
Now, don't get me wrong, these guys can do what very few folks in America can do, that's why they get paid what they get paid. Hey the capitalist in me always roots for the guy to get the best contract he can. But puh-LEEZE don't write articles about the "struggling" MLBer and how hard it is for him because he has to provide for a wife and 3 kids. The capitalist in me then says too bad. Get a frigging real job like the rest of us. Manage your money better.
What's next, bailouts for washed up ballplayers?????
Michigan-Matt| 2.11.09 @ 9:55AM
Unlike MichaelPhelps and his bongpipe dopehead antics, A-Rod lied to his fans, he lied to young athletes, he was disrespectful of the tradition of baseball in America.
I don't buy that he is sorry anymore than I bought his lies when he told us he wasn't doping with 'roids or HgH. Others may have believed him and he owes those fans a long period of selfless voluntary community service underscoring the harm 'roids, lying and deceit have on your soul.
He can do it inside baseball or outside. He can do it before or after a trial. But in honor of the sport and our youth, he needs to do it.
1921 and "Say it ain't so, Joe" is still haunting baseball. Don't just tell us no, A-Rod; make amends.
Anthony| 2.11.09 @ 10:32AM
Beautifully written, poignant and insightful. I am a child of the Bronx; it will never leave me, nor I it and the Yankees. Only those who truly love baseball, something akin to animal lovers, can understand this feeling. It's visceral, it speaks through your body without words. To others, all this makes little or no sense. Baseball & sports have indeed been corrupted, for all the reasons you so eloquently posited, nothing more to add to your piece on that. However, you touched on the one group that I truly (viscerally) detest, sports writers. These people are the most useless and non productive members of our society. They contribute nothing of value, not even entertainment. Unable to write a story without players and coaches filling in the paragraphs, these parasites have forced these guys, both pros and college, under penality of league fines, to stage daily, nightly, dog and pony shows for these pathetic losers. "Ah, A-Rod, was that a slider or a fast ball that you hit in the 3rd inning"? "What was Pedro throwing that had you guys off stride"?Geez, give me a break!! Sorry, this really annoys me; O.K., I'm calm now. To finish, these losers are not to be confused with sports announcers, those with the special talent to set up a game tone & narrative that compliments the actions on the field. Yes, I'm a sap for John Sterling and Michael Kay. I can't wait to hear their voices again, it stirs the heart like a spring day. Nothing sweeter than; "It is high... it is far... it is.. gone!!". So, see ya, see ya....
JP| 2.11.09 @ 10:43AM
Mark,
I think you will find few people sympathzing with the 30 year old MLB player coming up on his "big contract year. Said player has already earned $15 million (assuming he already has been playing for 5 years). Compare that to a toolmaker, who will earn about $1.6 million over a period of 40 years.
The minimum salary is more than most corporate Vice Presidents, and MLB has very generous pension and health care benefits for those who are fortunate enough to make it 3 years or more.
The last 16 years have not been kind to MLB. Fans who are willing to pay $50/ticket have priced the game out of the range of most families (Twenty years ago I could go to a Rangers game for $7 a ticket). The owners built $500 million profit centers (formerly known as baseball parks), and need every nickle they can get to pay for free agents and over paid super stars. Even a lousy left handed pitcher can make $2 million a year.
The pressures to get to the big contract year with one health and stats in working order are enormous. But the average fan was walked away from the game. Children don't play baseball anymore, as it is too difficult to look up to a $200 million super star who can not win the big one (aka A-Rod or Sabathia). The game has become one dimensional (home runs), and quite boring. Rarely does a pitcher make it through 6 innings, and forget about base running. Who needs base stealing when a pull hitter can smack a ball 315 feet for a homer.
You did leave out one other person to blame: Bud Selig. Most of the problems with the game today can be traced to his tenure.
mark corallo| 2.11.09 @ 10:51AM
Crusader - If you are a conservative, the amount someone makes at their profession is irrelevant. The market determines the compensation. And as a former Army Infantry officer, I can tell you that the men and women who serve in uniform reject that argument about what a Marine does as well. To make it as a professional athlete takes uncommon dedication and years of sacrifice. Regardless of the salary, when faced with losing one's job, a human being cannot be faulted for panicking. Choosing steroids is wrong, but contemplating cheating is, in these instances, a normal course of action. Those who chose to stay clean are to be held up as the real heroes.
L. Ross| 2.11.09 @ 11:07AM
I have what I'm sure is a minority opinion here, but why do we need professional sports anyway? Wouldn't it be more healthy for society if kids finished their baseball/basketball/football/hockey/soccer careers in college? How many kids dream of making it to the big show, only to be sidelined by injury or lack of talent. If there was no "big show", they might take their scholarships and use their time in college to learn a valuable job skill. Has anyone ever considered the cost to society of tens of thousands of high school and college kids pinning all their hopes and dreams on the slim chance of winning a professional sport contract? You stand just about as much chance as winning the lottery. Besides, fans can get just as excited about a college team as a pro team, plus, the players are constantly changining.
I just think it is sad that so much time, money, and energy is wasted on a group of adults playing a children's game.
I know this is a minority opinion, so go ahead sports fans. Flame on.
David Govett| 2.11.09 @ 11:08AM
I'm looking forward to baseball played by robots, because human skills now seem inadequate. Perhaps the fans should be robots, too.
John| 2.11.09 @ 11:20AM
I love hearing Yankee fans talk about their "love" of baseball, the sport their team has ruined. I "love" baseball but I am from Baltimore. Our Orioles were kicked out of the major leagues over a decade ago, due to Yankee-Red Sox overspending. It seems the fans of NY and Boston think those of us not living in either city are content with knowing we will never, never see postseason play again. NY-Boston assures that there will never be a "next year" in Baltimore, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, etc.
Thanks for ruining the game.
Anthony| 2.11.09 @ 11:26AM
Mark, Those who contemplate cheating are indeed wrong. But A-Rod and company will be paraded in front of the same Congressional hypocrites who have no qualms with Tom Daschle, Tim Geithner, or Charlie Rangle. In the make believe world of Washington, there are cheaters, and then, there are "our cheaters". Lewis Carroll could never have immagined!
Bill from St. Louis| 2.11.09 @ 11:36AM
Growing up in Iowa in the late '50's meant you were either a Cubs fan (not in this lifetime) or a Cards fan (they never caught on), but for the Game of the Week the choices expanded to the 2 most watched teams - the Dodgers (who ran out on their fans) or the Yankees. The Yankees and their players and even their field were bigger than life. Each one took on a life of it's own. We traded their cards, used them in our spokes on our bikes, and wished like hell we'd have saved at least one good one for our kids (or maybe Ebay).
1994 hurt almost as much as not having a baseball card from our youth. We hated (and still do) the players union, wanted the shine to return to America's past time and life our lives vicariously through our kids and the game. Then we moved to St. Louis in 1995, just 3 miles from Busch Stadium. My 3 kids at home were 11, 10, and 5. You could take all 5 of us to the park in the nosebleed for less than $20, 3 hours of entertainment, bring your own food, move down the seats without getting an attitude from the real owners. God it was sweet, but the "Game" still missed something. It seemed to be on life support.
Then one year this guy McGwire showed up and a couple new guys like Edmonds, etc. I guess I was naive about steroids, so never put 2 and 2 together, but damn, he was something to behold. When he stepped to the plate you knew something was coming, it did more often than not, and you never felt like he was going to point his bat out to left field to intimidate the pitchers, who you know were TOTALLY intimidated.
The HR duel fired up the entire world and EVERYTHING in Stl Louis stopped when McGwire came to the plate. That year we went to 15 games. Life was good.
The steroids issue arrived and threatened to put the game back in the '94 cave. I am a Card's fan by location, but love the best team money can buy. Got Jeter's autograph when he came to St. Louis and feel for every Yankee fan like me and you . It's not 1994 and maybe the game will die from a thousand cuts, but I have a feeling there will be another set of heroes that will earn that name and stench the flow.
Ed Rasimus | 2.11.09 @ 11:43AM
Coincidentally I wrote about steroids this morning on ThunderTales. I love baseball as you do, but my take was a bit different. I've gotten over the "cheating" aspect and simply acknowledge that baseball isn't a sport any more. It is big business entertainment.
We pay relatively big bucks to go to the ball park, or sit in the cool comfort of our local beverage purveyor, and watch remarkable humans do remarkable things. If we want such out-of-the-ordinary to entertain us, then modern science can give it to us.
It isn't competition, it isn't "sport" (whatever that means), and it arguably isn't "normal". We do't want to see normal. We want to be entertained.
If the record book is your stumbling block, then simply put an asterisk--put it on page one on the legend for the records, indicating "record was established after 1980."
Meanwhile, "Play ball!" and get me a Sam Adams while you're up.
Obama Rules | 2.11.09 @ 12:22PM
Hey, dummies, the last time we had congressional hearings on this, your scumbag Republican senators took the side of these cheating punks.
Why is that?
Crusader| 2.11.09 @ 1:06PM
Mark, yeah I'm a conservative. If you bothered reading ALL my posts you'll see where I am NOT arguing they are overpaid; I am saying I don't have sympathy for a 32 y/o has been baseball player facing the end of his career who appears unprepared for life other than flipping burgers (YOUR description, not mine). Just like I show no sympathy to the Henrietta Hugheses of the world who live outside their means, I show no sympathy for a baseball player who refused to prepare for life after baseball.
As a member of a dual military family with a combined 37 years of service to this nation and about to face another year without my wife (4th deployment for her), I further have no sympathy for primadonna ballplayers who whine about the struggle of being "on the road" away from their families for those whopping two-week road trips. THAT was one of the points you made in your article. Do not try and make it out like I was strictly arguing compensation--in no way was I--or make it about me not appreciating the dedication it takes to be a MLBer. Apples and oranges.
I really have no idea what this means,
"And as a former Army Infantry officer, I can tell you that the men and women who serve in uniform reject that argument about what a Marine does as well."
If it is that your experience as an infantry officer was different than mine, so be it. Again, my experience is that the men and women in uniform I know regularly puke when we hear primadonna athletes whine about being away from their families for 2 weeks. So our experiences are different. Does that make mine less valid? Careful you are beginning to sound like a lib.
Bob| 2.11.09 @ 1:46PM
No. It's not the fans' fault. It's not the writers' fault. It's not even management's fault. It's the fault of the players who took steroids. End of story.
Anthony| 2.11.09 @ 2:07PM
John, What's with you? You sound like a petty, class envy socialist. Sorry pal, just because your precious Orioles won't spend the money to compete, don't blame us. You're not a small market team, you have a beautiful, fairly new downtown stadium, that's the envy of most teams, and yet you complain that the Yankees and Red Sox have ruined everything. Well, boo hoo. The Yankees and the hated Steinbrenners spend big money because they want to WIN. They plug their profits back into the team. It's an old fashioned concept that America of old used to understand and want to emulate. In addition, they pay obscene luxury taxes to the league so that cheaper owners, who don't give a whit about their fans or the team, can keep their payrolls low. You have a bad case of P. envy; Yankee & Red Sox fans don't look down on you guys, your owners do. Your problem is not with us, it's with your own cheap, mediocore loving managment, so get off your class envy horse and tell your owners to get with it. We had owners like you guys did, it was called CBS. They ruined the Yankees for 15 yrs, just like they ruined their current business.
jerryofva| 2.11.09 @ 3:36PM
I am not a Yankee fan so I am not going to cut A-Rod any slack. Any record he breaks will be tainted. As far as I can tell the two greatest natural sluggers of this generation, untainted by performance enhancing drugs, are Ken Griffey and Frank Thomas. I wonder how many Home runs these two great hitters would have hit had they cheated like Bonds and A-Rod. Thomas and Griffey were forever recovering from injuries and steroids are a bigger factor in restoring strength then in creating it. However, both chose to play by the rules.
bill glass| 2.11.09 @ 6:03PM
i wonder, did bud selig know all the details about this back when these tests came up positive?...if so, i put the better part of the blame there. the game has been forever affected by this.
NotAFan| 2.11.09 @ 6:29PM
"Suddenly, the "cheaters" have a face..." and "they is us" quoth Pogo. Perhaps even more so than politicians, we get the sports stars we deserve. Mr. Rodriguez and other sports stars cheat- professionally, matrimonially, individually, collectively. And they do so not in houses that Ruth built, but in stadia that the "oh, please tell me another whopper; I'll pretend it's real" taxpayer built. And we're thrilled when we read about the latest record-breaking contract. A little newspaper and blog scribbling, or even the posturing of congressmen (exactly the sort that on the more local level sell out the taxpayer to the team owner) hardly negates the reinforcements that our society gives to the unethical behavior of our "stars".
Forget Lou Gehrig. Think Ty Cobb, Pete Rose and Selig and Steinbrenner. Would you buy a used car from any one of them?
It's all right for kids to believe in Santy Claus and the Mick, but grown-ups should invest their emotion, and money, elsewhere.
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