Bud Selig Maintains his "Perfect" Record

Two questions: "Will it make us money?" or "Will it increase ticket sales?"

These appear to be the only ones Bud Selig asks of himself in any situation he presides over as Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB). Has he ever taken a principled stand? Certainly, the St. Louis Cardinals' recent hiring of Mark McGwire as a hitting coach offered Selig and MLB such an opportunity in regards to its problems with Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). But taking a principled stand rarely results in improving one's bottom line. And it requires some work too - again, not a popular thing these days.

By blowing this one, Selig keeps his streak intact of doing the wrong thing when it comes to MLB's handling of PEDs. Selig's (and hence, MLB's) acceptance of McGwire back into the Cardinals' organization with open arms sends a curious message. At a minimum, Selig missed a great opportunity to send the right message to the millions of kids who follow pro baseball and aspire to become a "big leaguer" someday.

For me, this is the issue, the principle at hand: the impression made on young ball players, by this and every other situation involving major league baseball's association with PEDs. Selig interprets continuing strong ticket sales as the public's approval of his handling of this issue. Perhaps he is right. But he could not be more wrong in how all of this is perceived by young players. I know, because I talk to them.

This is the bigger issue at hand, which Selig is missing, and may well impact the future of MLB. Baseball is far from the most popular activity amongst youngsters these days. It cannot help MLB if youngsters think they have to take drugs to succeed at it.

As an aside, I wonder why would anyone think that a "reformed" PED user is an appropriate "role model" to speak out against PEDs? Why doesn't MLB trot out star players who haven't abused PEDs? Surely there are a few. Have them speak to youngsters about the dangers of PEDs and how you can succeed without them. But I digress.

By requiring nothing of McGwire in his return to pro coaching, the message appears to be, "Break some rules, refuse to answer questions, and hide for a few years. When you're ready to return to the game (the game you helped tarnish), all will be forgiven!" Is it a stretch to think young ball players would have some questions about this? How about Selig's own MLB players?

So what should Selig have done? At a minimum, the following:

1. Before taking his new job with St. Louis, require McGwire to fully come clean about his use of PEDs - how he got them, what he used, when he used, and the like.
2. Require McGwire to honestly answer questions in a one or two hour presser. Selig reportedly said, "When he comes back, you'll all have a lot of opportunities to talk to him. The fact that he's coming back gives you an opportunity you wouldn't have had."
   

Right. If Congress couldn't get him to talk, does Selig really think a gaggle of reporters can, at least a few of whom will likely be hostile? Selig must require of McGwire a complete, full account of his PED use as a pre-condition for his new job with St. Louis, or we'll see the same kind of pitiful obfuscation previously shown.

Personally, I'd like to see some punitive measure applied to McGwire, say a ban from the game for a few years. When you look at how Pete Rose has been dealt with, it's astonishing to me that McGwire is getting off completely, with no apparent negative outcomes whatsoever. Yes, what Rose did was worse than McGwire's "crime," but not by a huge degree. Betting on games as Rose did does strike at the integrity of the game, and that is a damaging thing.

Yet who would argue that what McGwire and other PED users did did not impact the integrity of the game? How can breaking records while using illegal, banned substances be helpful or positive? But now, because these artificially acquired, PED-generated records will stay on the books (as I suppose they should, only because we don't know who all the cheaters were) baseball may be even more tarnished by PEDs than anything Rose did.

I'm not a Pete Rose fan or sycophant, but I have to wonder, what is the lasting impact of what he did? Have youngsters been affected more by what Rose did, or what McGwire did? I don't think it's even close. If you're not sure about this, spend a few minutes on Tayler Hooton's web site.

Yet Rose is banned from baseball, while McGwire merrily saunters back in.

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Performance Enhancers, Enablers, & Supplements - Part 2

So David Ortiz denies taking anything banned by Major League Baseball (MLB). Surprise, surprise. Even when the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that players are better off owning up to their "indiscretion," guys like Ortiz insist on their innocence.

Yet it appears possible that Ortiz did not test positive for a banned substance. Well and fine - I do not want any player to be vilified for something they did not do.

My problem is with what Ortiz said, and how this matter is being covered by the media. He said he may have been careless in his use of supplements. Such a statement clouds the issue of the use of legitimate supplements. More to the point - it is IMPOSSIBLE to test positive for a banned substance, such as an anabolic steroid, by taking untainted nutritional supplements.

Why does this matter? Because Ortiz's statement suggests that one can test positive merely by taking the wrong kind, or combination, of nutritional supplements. It appears to condemn the use of legitimate products, substances as harmless as whey protein or vitamins.

So, Ortiz's positive test may have been the result of a tainted supplement. But, because the MLB Player's Association hasn't released information that would help clear up this important detail, we are left to wonder just what Ortiz might have taken to trigger his positive result.

Among the lessons for ball players is to use only products from reputable companies. Assuming proper manufacturing procedures, it is rare for supplements to be tainted by something, even accidentally. For this to happen, the manufaturer has to go out of their way to procure and intentionally add the banned substance.

Bottom line? Not only can ball players dispense with any fear regarding the use of nutritional supplements, such products can even improve their on-field performance.

Performance Enhancers, Enablers, and Supplements: What You Need to Know

So Boston’s David Ortiz is the latest drug cheat outed by Major League Baseball (MLB). Is anybody truly surprised with this latest revelation? The big names just keep falling, with another 97 or so yet to be revealed on the list of those testing positive for something banned by MLB.

My guess for the next big name to come out?

Ken Griffey Jr. &/or Albert Pujols. I offer these names not because I have any proof of their cheating, but simply because too many of the players who have been putting up big hitting numbers in recent years have also tested positive for a banned substance. This, coupled with their injury history and some unsubstantiated rumors I’ve heard over the years, places them under suspicion in my mind. Flimsy evidence, I will admit, and I do hope I’m wrong.

What’s interesting to me is that of the three MLB entities culpable for the steroid mess, it is still only the players who continue to pay the price. Management and labor? Not so much. Perhaps this is just, as it is the players who actually broke the rules. But when you consider that the testing conducted in 2003, from which the names of Ortiz, et al, are being revealed, was supposed to be confidential, something is very wrong about all of this.

At a minimum, the union which was supposed to maintain the confidentiality of the names testing positive is coming across as incompetent bozos. They had a chance to destroy the list of names and didn’t do so. I wonder when/if a player will finally get tired of this dog and pony show and sue someone (the union? the commissioner?) for allowing these names to get out. All of this would seem to make any future “anonymous/confidential” testing more problematic. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn't trust either the union or commissioner’s office to properly handle my sample for testing purposes. Oh well. MLB continues to sell tickets at a record pace, giving the appearance that not many fans care about any of this.

In this report I’ll provide some basic information on the differences between a few of the types of drugs banned by MLB as well as substances that are, as of this writing, considered to be safe, legal, and beneficial.

Let’s start with this basic concept:

Anything an athlete does to improve his on-field play
can be considered “performance enhancing”

However, I don’t care for the term, “performance enhancing drugs.” While it is an accurate description for what these substances do for players, it also seems to have the effect, in some minds, of casting a shadow of suspicion over legitimate performance enhancing activities and substances such as strength, conditioning, and nutritional supplements.

I routinely get questions and see things written on other baseball web sites that indicate to me a widespread lack of understanding regarding these matters. So I think it’s time to define a few terms to help anyone involved with the game - coaches, parents and players of all ages and ability levels – to be more informed on the issue of drugs and supplements, both legal and illegal.

Please be aware, this in not intended to be a guide for the use of any drug or substance mentioned herein. If you have questions or require additional information on anything contained in this report, contact competent medical authority.

First, there are 4 basic and accepted areas in which a player can enhance their on-field performance:

• Skills and Drills
• Strength & Conditioning
• Mental Training
• Nutrition & Recovery

Most players utilize one or more of these components in developing their game. The more of these a player employs, the better he likely will perform. Likewise, neglecting any of these elements can keep a player from maximizing their potential.

Performance ENHANCERS

Generally, these are drugs banned by MLB that are widely accepted as improving athletic performance. These include anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and agents that mask these substances. I also include amphetamines (aka speed, greenies, or beans) in this category. I do this because a player using speed during, say, a day game after a late night game will likely perform better than a player who is not. This is even more true late in the season. However, greenies would not add 5 mph to a pitcher’s fastball, or 40 feet of distance for a hitter.

What’s interesting about this is that as far as I’m aware, there are no clinical studies that demonstrate that steroids improve on-field performance. Yet is widely accepted by medical science that they do enhance athletic performance, such as hitting power, running speed, and throwing velocity.

Performance ENABLERS

These are drugs, either prescription or over-the counter, that allow a player to play but do not improve their normal abilities. All of the items that fall in this category are legal for use by anyone, including MLB players.

A good example of this is a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. A well known drug in this category is cortisone. Cortisone reduces pain and inflammation, such as is felt in an elbow or shoulder with tendonitis. This pain reduction may allow a player to stay in the lineup, but it does nothing for their resulting performance. A pitcher who throws, say, 88 mph, will not suddenly throw 95 mph because of a cortisone shot. Cortisone will only get this player on the field due to feeling less pain in their arm. It’s analogous to taking an aspirin for a headache.

Note that there are two types of steroids – anabolic (growth promoting, banned by MLB) and corticosteroids, allowed by MLB under a doctor’s supervision.

Other things that fall in this category are items such as contacts or eye glasses that allow a player to see better. While improving a ball player’s vision might improve their hitting ability, this type of “enhancement” is allowed by MLB rules and is also legal and safe.

Nutritional Supplements

This category includes the well known micro-nutrients – vitamins and minerals as well as macro-nutrients – protein, carbohydrates, and fats. All of these are components of a well balanced diet and can also be taken in pill or powder form as supplements.

It is widely accepted that eating properly can enhance athletic performance, while eating poorly can detract from it. Supplements can be an important adjunct to even a well balanced diet. However, players need to carefully choose the source of their supplements. In recent years, some nutritional companies have supplied products that were tainted by various banned substances. Any athlete who is subject to testing for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) should use only products from reputable companies.

It's important to know that it is impossible for untainted nutritional supplements to cause one to test positive for banned substances such as anabolic steroids or speed.

Back in 2004, Experimental & Applied Sciences (EAS) entered into an agreement with MLB to be their official supplier for various supplements. Put another way, EAS paid a fee rumored to be in the millions of dollars for the exclusive right for this designation as the only supplement company approved by MLB. Presumably, their products could be used by ball players and they would never test positive for any substance banned by MLB. I don’t know if this exclusive arrangement is still in force.

To sum up, drugs of all kinds have been an integral part of all sports, including MLB. Most are legal and safe, some are not. My message to ball players at all levels of the game is this:

Not everyone is using PEDs and cheating! Appropriate strength, conditioning and nutrition can safely and effectively enhance your game.

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