Jucied Players And Juiced Pockets

To no one's surprise, Mark McGwire came out and admitted to steroid use. Did not see that one coming, right? McGwire states that he took steroids, and HGH at various times during his career. He also claims that he toook them for recovery purposes, not for strength. The subsequent effect of speedy recovery, is that it makes it easier to get stronger. This is the same reason that 99% of athletes that take steroids, take them in the first place. However, I do agree with what he says in regards to steroids (or HGH) not giving you the hand-eye coordination to put the bat on the ball (or catch, throw, make a 3-point shot, a glove save, or whatever sport you want to apply it to).

Here's the closest thing to 2 identical (literally) examples I can give:
Jose, and Ozzie Canseco. Identical twin brothers, in genetics, and steroids. The Canseco brothers are both imposing figures, both standing around 6'3", and 220lbs of juiced muscle. If steroids was the only cause of someone being able to crush a baseball, it stands to reason that they should've had comparable careers right?

Jose's career stats: 17 seasons, 7057 career at bats, 462 HR, 1407 RBI, and a .515 slugging percentage. Gotta be the roids, right?

Ozzie's career stats: 3 seasons, 65 career at bats, O HR, 4 RBI, and a .292 slugging percentage.

Why didn't the roids work for Ozzie?.......Anyone?........Anyone?........Bueller?

Look, I understand that yes, they enhance your performance in that your ability to quickly recover adds to your strength, and stamina. But, to take someone to task for doing something, that almost everyone else was doing, and WAS NOT against the rules of the sport at the time, is just asinine. I also understand the plight of the players that did not partake in the "steroid era", and the fact that their accomplishments are called in to question because of those times.

The bottom line is that McGwire is right, you do not obtain natural ability with steroids. Question his motives all you want, but this is in no way easy on him or his family. Furthermore, baseball knew what these guys were doing, and let it go to help repair baseball's image after the strike. They used these players, and now want to turn around and put the players (and their families) through the ringer, for something they did 10-12 years ago? That was all common knowledge? Give me a break! We all knew it, and ignored it for the spectacle that they put on for years. Home runs put butts in the seats, not a pitchers' 1-0 duel (which I happen to love).

I like baseball, but sometimes it makes me sick, and here's another reason why right in our own back yard.

I wrote in my very first post, how the Marlins pocketed something like 45 million dollars that they pocketed in revenue sharing 2 years ago.

If you are eating something, swallow it now.

This past season, they have unspent revenue to the tune of, $150,000,000.

It's so bad that the MLB Union has stepped in and pretty much forced them to increase their payroll. Now, as I said before, I admire how they can turn around young talent with a low payroll and stay competitive. But this is getting out of control. The team is gonna pocket 150 million, and expect the taxpayers to cover the money for a new stadium? Okay, there is nothing we can do about the funding for a new stadium, that is done. This team needs to start spending money. If they limp into a new stadium, and all we have to show is Hanley Ramirez, 84 wins, and no playoffs, the new stadium smell is gonna wear off real quick. And all that ticket and concession money is gonna stop coming in, and the cycle will continue just as it always has. A competitive, yet mediocre franchise, with poor attendance, and on baseball's welfare list.

What they have done makes sense in the short term. It's hard not to imagine not taking the opportunity to pocket millions of dollars, but they will run themselves right out of town if they keep this cycle going. The Marlins franchise does deserve that stadium, but it's time they start taking initiative, and show us what the greatest minds in baseball can do when they spend some money.