Josh Hamilton Is Not A Hero
Posted by Bill Baer on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 9:23 pm
…not when we condemn Alex Rodriguez in the same breath.
If you happened to catch the new ESPN series “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” yesterday, you saw an hour-long interview with Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. Hamilton impressed us in 337 at-bats in 2007, completely broke out and stole the spotlight last season with a .901 OPS in 704 at-bats, and while he’s slow out of the gate this year, he can be expected to put up similarly spectacular numbers when all is said and done.
I took issue with the show. And I’ll be honest: I didn’t watch the whole thing. When the Phillies-Brewers game went on commercial break, I flipped to ESPN. And I caught around 10-15 minutes of it waiting for sandwiches at a local sandwich shop. So, my criticisms may very well have no basis, but if I know Rick Reilly — and I think I do — then Hamilton was heralded for overcoming his battle with drug addiction.
Not that Hamilton shouldn’t be commended for that. Anyone who can break free from the grip of heroin is incredibly strong. However, the praise for Hamilton is in stark contrast with the outrage at steroid and HGH users. It seems hypocritical.
We have heard non-stop chatter for the last five years or so that the statistics and accomplishments of those who have admitted to or been caught using performance-enhancing substances should be ignored or even completely erased from the books, and no Hall of Fame for ‘em either.
Not a word when it comes to Josh Hamilton. He used drugs that were clearly against the rules of Major League Baseball and against the laws of the United States. Should we asterisk his career numbers? Act like he never participated in the Home Run Derby last year?
If you’re committed to being consistent with your beliefs, then you’d absolutely have to punish Hamilton if you want to punish Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco. Of course, most people would rather engage in lawyeristic activities like finding loopholes in their own logic where they can, in the same breath, laud Hamilton and chastise Rodriguez.
…but heroin isn’t performance-enhancing!
Can we say with any certainty that steroids are performance-enhancing? Alex Sanchez never saw the enhancement. A whopping 14 of Mike Morse’s 64 hits (22%) in 2005 — the year he tested positive — went for extra bases. Ryan Franklin seems to be performing better now, with much more stringent penalties for a positive test, than he did when he tested positive in ‘05.
There has never been a study that has shown a statistically significant positive relationship between a baseball player’s steroid use and an increase in offensive production. And there probably never will be.
Others will say that steroids are performance-enhancing not because they give you more power, but because it allows athletes to recover from injuries faster or work out at a more frequent pace. However, if one is committed to being logically consistent (and many of us are not), then we would have to label Cortizone shots (also a steroid, by the way) as performance-enhancing. Surgery helps players get back on the field faster and are therefore performance-enhancing according to this logic.
What Hamilton is to the anti-drug crowd is a challenge to their commitment to their beliefs. It’s impossible not to like the guy and even if he’s playing in a game against your favorite team, you can’t help but hope he hits a couple of home runs in a Rangers loss. If you praise Josh, though, then you have to praise A-Rod. If you want A-Rod’s stats altered, then you have to ask the same be done to Josh’s stats.
Rick Reilly, perhaps ironically, is slated to interview Michael Phelps on his Homecoming show. Phelps, as you may recall, found himself in hot water (zing!) a few months ago when he was photographed with a marijuana bong. If Reilly wants to be honest and consistent with his beliefs, he will rip Phelps a new one for using marijuana, or he’ll write apology letters to Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and the late Ken Caminiti for redistributing their MVP awards.
Since it’s Rick Reilly, I’m sure he has many, many more apology letters to write for having criticized them for their (some alleged) drug use. But how much do you want to bet that in the same week the Phelps show airs, he writes some contrived article about how Bonds or A-Rod ruined baseball? He’d be no different than most baseball fans anyway.
All these years I was led to believe that steroids were, indeed, performance-enhancing! But then I was presented with Alex Sanchez’s, Mike Morse’s, and Ryan Franklin’s stats! Now all of a sudden I’ve come to the conclusion that steroids don’t help at all (Mark McGwire’s, Barry Bonds’, Sammy Sosa’s, and dozens upon dozens of other players’ stats be damned)! Steroid use wasn’t cheating after all! A player injecting himself with steroids so he can hit a goddamn baseball 750 fucking feet is absolutely no different from going on a three-day heroin bender then playing a game of baseball! Suck it, Hamilton! You’re on my shit list! A-Rod: you’re A-OK! All is forgiven! Thanks for straightening this out for me, Bill Baer! I shall honor you by going to a local sandwich shop to get sandwiches!
Sorry, I’m all over the place. Sort of like this article.
“A player injecting himself with steroids [...] is absolutely no different from going on a three-day heroin bender”
I never said this.
“Mark McGwire’s, Barry Bonds’, Sammy Sosa’s, and dozens upon dozens of other players’ stats be damned)”
Where is the statistically significant positive correlation between PED use and an increase in offense? If its’ so obviously performance-enhancing, then there should be no problem finding a significant correlation, right?
Bill…you moron. Hamilton did not play while he was drugged. He was out of baseball since 1999 until 2005 He was clean when he played ball. So, how can any of his accomplishments be erased. Now Steroids, THOSE records should be erased. I always say “Those who cannot play the game with talent, need the steroids….the ones who don’t have need for .the steroids, play with TALENT
“Hamilton did not play while he was drugged.”
Yes, he did. He started using drugs in 2001 when he played for A Charleston and AA Orlando. He was suspended in 2004 for failing a drug test. From Wikipedia:
“Hamilton was hoping to return to spring training with the Devil Rays in 2004, but he was suspended 30 days and fined for violating the drug policy put in place by MLB. Because of the length of his suspension, and the terms of the drug policy, Hamilton must have failed two or more drug tests after being put into the program.”
“He was out of baseball since 1999 until 2005″
The only years of baseball he missed were 2003-05.
“Those who cannot play the game with talent, need the steroids….the ones who don’t have need for .the steroids, play with TALENT”
What about amphetamines — the only substance Barry Bonds has ever tested positive for? Could we replace steroids in that quote with amphetamines?
If so, you would be accusing Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, and countless other legends of not having talent.
Either way, I think you’d admit that Bonds, A-Rod, and Canseco all had immense talent.
Mr. Baer,.. Billy boy.. are you getting paid to say things like this? You’re certain to go far as a literary talent with these superb blog writing skills. People like you and good ole’ Perez Hilton make me throw up in my mouth any time their opinions reach the outside world. But then again, if people like you didn’t exist I would have no way to boost my self esteem. So thank you, Mr. Bill Baer, for making me feel half way intelligent and like the public school system has actually done some good for me.
You’re welcome.
I’m going to glean from the fact that you did not argue any of my points that my logic is solid.
Well sure don’t sound like he played to much in pro ball in his early years: I enclose this with Wikipedia:
Hamilton signed with the Devil Rays receiving a $3.96 million signing bonus, and joined their minor league system.[1][6] His first stop in the minors was the rookie level Princeton Devil Rays of the Appalachian League where he played 56 games. He also joined the Hudson Valley Renegades, and helped lead them to their first New York-Penn League championship. After this successful debut in professional baseball, he spent the 2000 season with the Charleston RiverDogs in the South Atlantic League.[7] At the start of his pro career, Hamilton’s parents quit their jobs so they could travel with their son.[8]
Prior to the 2001 season, Hamilton was involved in a vehicle accident. His mother and father were also injured in the accident, and she went home with her husband to recuperate from their injuries. The 2001 season was also when he began experimenting with drugs and made his first attempt at rehab.[8] Hamilton only played 45 games in the 2001 season, split between Charleston (A-Ball) and the Gerronamo Rays, a AA team in the Southern League. Hamilton began the 2002 season with the Bakersfield Blaze, batting .303 with 9 home runs and 44 RBI in 56 games before his season came to an end due to lingering toe and neck injuries.[7]
At the start of the 2003 season, Hamilton showed up late several times during spring training and was reassigned to the team’s minor league camp. He left the team and resurfaced several times, but eventually took the rest of the season off for personal reasons. Hamilton was hoping to return to spring training with the Devil Rays in 2004, but he was suspended 30 days and fined for violating the drug policy put in place by MLB. Because of the length of his suspension, and the terms of the drug policy, Hamilton must have failed two or more drug tests after being put into the program. A ‘failed’ test is a positive result for a drug more severe than marijuana.[9] This suspension was increased several times after repeated violations of the terms of the program.[10]
From 2004 until 2006, Hamilton did not play baseball at all. He made several attempts at rehab, and started off the 2005 season with hopes of being a star major league outfielder. [11] His return to baseball was helped along by Roy Silver who owns a baseball academy in Florida. After hearing about Hamilton’s desire to return to baseball, Silver offered the use of his facility if Hamilton agreed to work there. After several months there, Hamilton attempted to play with an independent minor league team, but MLB stepped in and disallowed it. Hamilton was allowed to work out with the Devil Rays minor league players starting on June 2, 2006. By the end of the month, he was allowed to participate in minor league games.[6][10] He played 15 games with the Hudson Valley Renegades at the end of the 2006 season.[7][12] In addition to returning to baseball, Hamilton also served as a cautionary tale for his young teammates with the Renegades. Rick Zolzer, the Renegades’ director of special events said of Hamilton: “”He pointed (the other players) in the right direction. He said, ‘Don’t make the mistakes I made.’ He was so good with all of the young kids.”[12]
Now, going by your way of thinking and drug use, we would have to throw out all the records of the late sixties, seventies and eighties. Drug parties galore in major league baseball. I know…I had friends who were ball players and they had lots of parties. Some, I heard .even showed up stoned to play.
Your logic is clearly rock solid. That is, if you consider it completely impossible that a player needs performance enhancers to cross the threshold to even make it in the major leagues. And your logic is definitely rock solid if you ignore the fact that heroin breaks down the body. And while we’re ignore that, let us completely ignore the fact that it’s difficult enough to overcome a drug addiction and become a normal, functioning, citizen within society, let alone overcome a drug addiction to be able to play a sport at a world class level. I applaud your logic and I applaud your obvious professionalism.
p.s. I know I know.. like my mother always said, “Why do you drop down to their level?”.. in this case.. I couldnt ignore the vomit in my mouth any longer, and I just had to tell you how stupid I think you are Mr. Baer.
“Now, going by your way of thinking and drug use, we would have to throw out all the records of the late sixties, seventies and eighties. Drug parties galore in major league baseball. I know…I had friends who were ball players and they had lots of parties. Some, I heard .even showed up stoned to play.”
If you want A-Rod’s stats altered, then you have to alter the records of anyone who used substances that were against the rules of Major League Baseball unless you can provide conclusive evidence that there is a positive and statistically significant correlation between steroid use and an increase in offensive production.
So, if the M.O. we’re going to go by is to punish A-Rod, then I want you to also punish Hamilton. If you don’t want to punish Hamilton, then I am advocating that you not punish A-Rod. It’s just being consistent with your morals.
“if you consider it completely impossible that a player needs performance enhancers to cross the threshold to even make it in the major leagues.”
As I’ve been asking repeatedly, where is the evidence that steroids are performance-enhancing? Just because it’s the popular opinion doesn’t make it right. I’ve been searching database after database and I cannot find any evidence for steroids increasing offensive performance.
“if you ignore the fact that heroin breaks down the body.”
I never ignored this. Steroids break down the body too, by the way. Cortisone, for example, suppresses the immune system.
“it’s difficult enough to overcome a drug addiction and become a normal, functioning, citizen within society, let alone overcome a drug addiction to be able to play a sport at a world class level.”
I addressed this in my article. I said, “Anyone who can break free from the grip of heroin is incredibly strong.”
If I may make a suggestion, I ask you to re-read my article and pay closer attention to it because it sounds like you either skimmed it or went into reading the article with your mind made up already.
Well, unfortunately my Doctoral thesis entitled “Micelken’s Super Duper Report Showing a Statistically Significant Positive Correlation Between PED Use and an Increase in Offense” was on a floppy disk that I accidentally ran through the washer last night and now it’s ruined. Cripes!
You, my friend, are a Steroid Era Denier.
You say that like it’s supposed to be insulting. If there’s a “steroid era” then there should be an “amphetamines era” and a “juiced ball era” and a “small ballparks era” and a “videotape era”.
And your sarcastic response “a floppy disk that I accidentally ran through the washer” just proves that you’re willing to put all your eggs in the basket of a theory that has no proof. To each his own.
And let’s not forget the “Whites Only” Era… think baseball would be a little easier for some of the suprerior talent today if the 40% non-whites were replaced by the white players at Triple-A and Double-A? Then you’d have what Babe Ruth played against, basically… You see, no Era is without it’s advantages and disadvantages.
Even if the performance is indeed “enhanced”, they are the best players of their Era… an Era that by the day looks to contain as many players that did something to “enhance” their performance as those that did not. So, like the pitchers of the Deadball Era who had the advantage of spit balls (until it was outlawed in 1920 due to concerns for the health of the batters who had difficulty seeing a tobacco chew-covered ball and the residual advantage of increased “power” numbers with the emergence of Babe Ruth who hit 29 homers in 1919 and would obviously benefit from the rule change the rest of his legendary career) each Era has to be held to its own merits.
Now, I don’t completely agree with Bill as far as the Josh Hamilton/A-Rod comparison… but I don’t agree with the criticisms of A-Rod either… especially when Andy Pettitte gets out on the mound every five days and pitches without much talk of the fact that he used PEDs… you know, because he was sorry.
I think that’s the important correlation here. Both Pettitte and Hamilton humbled themselves in a tough situation. It was endearing to the critical masses. It’s the same as when Ken Griffey Jr. says he wants to finish his career where he started and gets praised and Manny Ramirez says it and gets criticized. There’s a list of guys “we” like — tax cheat Derek Jeter, vehicular manslaughterer Donte Stallworth (in football), “I only cheated because I wanted to win” Andy Pettitte, “I wrote a desperate apology letter to get myself back into baseball” Jay Gibbons and self-destructive but lovable Josh Hamilton to name a few — and a list of guys “we” don’t — the personaltiy-less Barry Bonds, the easy-to-be-jealous-of Alex Rodriguez, “we saved baseball” scapegoats Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and perceived team destroyer Terrell Owens to name a few on that list — and whatever they do, the decision of “love” or “hate” will be justified further.
History will fix a lot of this. Babe Ruth wasn’t as beloved as he is today. Pick up a Sporting News from his Era and you’ll read a lot of negative things about the Babe. He was greedy, not worth the money, was unfaithful in his marriage and occasionally broke a team or league rule that required him to be disciplined.
As I’ve been asking repeatedly, where is the evidence that steroids are performance-enhancing?
Ask Any Doctor
PG… if you ask a doctor, so is caffeine… PLUS many of the supplements players take still are legal, acceptable AND performance enhancing.
Actually, I have asked doctors — intentional plural. They told me what it does, which I knew, but none could say that they knew that it would always enhance a player’s performance.
I mean, if it’s so blatantly obvious that steroids are performance-enhancing, there should be no problem collecting data and showing a significant correlation, right? My college has access to a large amount of databases, and I have been able to find absolutely no evidence.
You say you find no evidence that steroids enhance skills. The DR’s you interviewed are quacks then, or your just trying to play devils advocate. You know damn well they enhance. I guess you will not be able to prove it because of the players skill while on it.
Anabolic steroids are a synthetic version of the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone in its normal state promotes and boosts muscle development and growth. When it is supplemented with steroids, you have an increase of muscle mass, reduction of body fat, and enhanced endurance. Steroids pose an unfair advantage for players that use them. They help athletes get stronger, run faster, and pitch stronger. Also, your eyes become more focused and you can see the ball a lot better. As a result of steroid use, the sports pace has changed greatly. More homeruns have been hit and more records have been broken. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa are three of the players involved in one of the most celebrated record chases: the single season home run champ. There’s no coincidence that all three players are under review for steroid use. Another reason why players tend to use steroids is because they will produce better statistics which in the long run will get them higher salariese ball a lot better.
“The DR’s you interviewed are quacks then”
I didn’t formally interview them, I called them and just asked them if they could answer a couple questions off-the-record.
“You know damn well they enhance.”
I have not seen any conclusive evidence that would prove this theory true. Remember, the burden of proof is on the people making the claim you are making; it is not on me.
“They help athletes get stronger”
So does weight-lifting and consuming protein-shakes.
“run faster”
So do the new Nike shoes.
“pitch stronger”
So does weight-lifting and consuming protein-shakes.
“Also, your eyes become more focused and you can see the ball a lot better.”
According to this logic, prescription contact lenses, or those MaxSight contact lenses that players like Brian Roberts use, are also performance-enhancing.
“As a result of steroid use, the sports pace has changed greatly. More homeruns have been hit and more records have been broken.”
I’ll have a post up in a bit that disproves this claim.
“Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa are three of the players involved in one of the most celebrated record chases: the single season home run champ. There’s no coincidence that all three players are under review for steroid use.”
What about the coincidence that none of them have ever failed a drug test for steroids? Bonds tested positive for amphetamines, and if you’d like to lampoon him for that, then you have to do so for the oh-so-clean idols of yesteryear like Willie Mays and Mike Schmidt.
Sammy Sosa corked his bat.
McGwire was caught using androstenedione when it was legal under MLB rules and U.S. law to do so.
“Another reason why players tend to use steroids is because they will produce better statistics”
Evidence?
Regardless if Steroids break down the body eventually, heroin NEVER gives you any form of advantage. Steroids will allow the body to work out longer, harder, and develop quicker than someone who doesn’t utilize the drug. Heroin does not do this. Heroin users basically trip out and become useless when they use it. There is no way heroin helped Josh with his abilities. In fact, it makes things alot more difficult for him.
And the basic thing we are missing here is that Josh did not use heroin while playing in the MLB so his MLB numbers can’t be taken away. Take away his minor league numbers, who cares? Those don’t matter.
Ay-Rod on the other hand should either have his numbers restricted, or he should be banned from baseball for every year he used. As should everyone on steroids. Those who are already retired should have asteriks next to their names as well and be stricken from the record books. There needs to be examples made for others to fear the consequences.
“heroin NEVER gives you any form of advantage”
So you’re all right with athletes harming their bodies as long as it doesn’t do anything to help them play the game better? In other words, you don’t care about the athletes as human beings; they are just semi-sentient beings who are put on the planet to entertain you.
“Steroids will allow the body to work out longer, harder, and develop quicker than someone who doesn’t utilize the drug.”
This can be said about many nutritional supplements. The only difference is that they are not on the list of banned substances. It’s fine if they ban steroids, but they have to be consistent and ban protein shakes and the rest of the still-legal stuff from GNC.
“In fact, it makes things alot more difficult for him.”
Doesn’t change the fact that it’s illegal. I’d much rather prefer my kids emulate A-Rod than Hamilton.
“Take away his minor league numbers, who cares? Those don’t matter.”
Flawless logic here. ‘Use steroids? Are you a Major Leaguer? No? Who cares!’
“have his numbers restricted, or he should be banned from baseball for every year he used. ”
A) There was no punishment for using steroids during the time period in which he has admitted to using. We can’t go back and add a punishment ex post facto. What if we illegalized eating French fries tomorrow? I’m sure you’d be cool if a cop showed up at your door and arrested you.
B) If MLB did this, it would be cutting off its nose to spite its face.
“Those who are already retired should have asteriks next to their names as well and be stricken from the record books.”
I’ll tell you what I tell everyone who suggests this: You want the record books changed? That’s your job, then. You just signed up for this. Volunteer your time to actually removing any trace of the athletes’ existence.
Here’s one example of what you’d have to do. Let’s use A-Rod’s home run tonight as an example. A-Rod hit a first-inning home run off of Jeremy Guthrie. So, what you will have to is remove the plate appearance, at-bat, hit, run, three RBI, four total bases, decrease his batting average, OBP, SLG, etc. Don’t forget to remove the plate appearance and run for the two base runners that scored. And you remove one batter faced, one hit, one home run, and three runs for Guthrie.
Now imagine doing that for every single event in A-Rod’s career. And then do it for all the other “cheaters” as well. You’re literally revising history. Why don’t we go back and prevent the U.S. from being colonized by British people fed up with taxes and religious persecution? Hiroshima? What’s that?
It’s easy for you to suggest that MLB take the time to do this because you know you don’t have to do it. Your tune would change if you actually considered the time and effort (and money) it would take to get this done.
“There needs to be examples made for others to fear the consequences.”
For what reason? No one ever has any solid justification for this. Why should there be consequences for using anabolic steroids, but not for getting Cortizone shots. Both are steroids, both enhance performance, both allow you to recover from the strain of athletic activity quicker. The lines between steroids and everything else are completely arbitrary and completely hypocritical.
We are punishing players just to punish them. We are following the pack on this one.
It’s because we love a good witch hunt.