by modmark46 » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:49 pm
1. I too am sick of it all and don't really care any more.
2. There's a part of me that feels sorry for the guys getting crucified now, like McGwire, Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, etc. We cheered them mightily, and they thrilled millions with their exploits. Now many want to burn them at the stake. If you can't punish/identify them all, how is it fair to make these once revered icons the scapegoats/public faces of the Steroid Era?
3. Owners, managers, coaches, agents, Union leaders, the Commish; they HAD to know it was going on. I feel they encouraged it, either openly or by turning a blind eye, because it was good for business. Why aren't they vilified?
4. And yeah, cheating in various forms has probably been employed since men started getting paid to play the game back in the 1800s. Doesn't make it right, but we should keep things in perspective. I remember watching an excellent documentary a few years ago about Hank Greenberg (The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg). In an interview before he passed away, he mentioned how the coaches/mgmt figured out a way to steal signs by having a guy with binoculars out in the OF stands, then quickly relay to the Tigers dugout via radio, and a quick hand signal was then flashed to the batter, indicating if a fastball or breaking pitch was coming. I don't remember the particulars exactly, but I think it was in one of the WS games vs the Reds?, whenever that was. I think it was the late 30's? Anyway, Hank chuckled and said something like, if a big league hitter KNOWS that the pitch coming either is or isn't a fastball, it makes all the difference in the world. They got a bunch of hits that day and easily won the game. I think Hank said he hit a HR off of an off speed pitch he knew was coming. The other club got wind of it, and the commish had agents out in the bleachers the next game looking for the spy, but the Tigers got wise to the plan and didn't do it again. Hank didn't sound guilty in the least, it was just a fond memory. Granted, he didn't initiate the scheme, mgmt did, but he benefited, along with the other Tiger hitters. I'm not picking on Hank btw, he's one of my all time favorite players. It was just so revealing to hear him openly admit that this had happened. He indicated that kind of stuff went on all the time, and always had in some form or another.
The little boy in me wishes the game was played for the sheer love of it, in it's purest way. The middle aged adult cynic that I am knows that probably hasn't ever happened beyond LL. I still love and watch the game. Just wish I could still play it. :(