Comments on: Jeff Pearlman Hates Baseball http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/ Philadelphia Phillies baseball analysis that everyone can enjoy. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:58:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeff Pearlman http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-13271 Jeff Pearlman Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:55:05 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-13271 Jeff Pearlman is the best. Everything he writes is amazing. —Jeff Jeff Pearlman is the best. Everything he writes is amazing.

—Jeff

]]> By: Bill Baer http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-12942 Bill Baer Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:26:39 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-12942 Roger Maris, 1960: 39 HR Previous career high: 28 (39% increase) Roger Maris, 1961: 61 HR Previous career high: 39 (56% increase) Mark McGwire, 1998: 70 HR Previous career high: 58 (21% increase) Sammy Sosa, 1998: 66 HR Previous career high: 40 (65% increase) Nothing really fishy with McGwire. If you think Sosa's 1998 is fishy, then you should think so about Maris' 1961 as well. There are many other factors at play for the HR boom of the 1990's than supposed steroid use. What of the "juiced" baseball? A huge leap in technology that gave hitters a one-up on pitchers in terms of scouting reports? Improvements in healthcare, i.e. surgery, legal supplements, etc. To credit the HR boom solely on PED's is myopic. <i>Just don’t kid yourself, Mark McGwire used steroids, just as Sosa, Anderson, and Bonds did.</i> Here's my thing: I have my own views on what I think they did or did not use. However, I do not use the assumptions I make to affect anything else, since my assumptions are not backed up by any evidence. You can think they all used steroids -- that's fine. But to do what Pearlman did, to assassinate one's character based on those assumptions, is very immature and very immoral (as I mentioned, more so than any perceived infractions by the players). Roger Maris, 1960: 39 HR
Previous career high: 28 (39% increase)
Roger Maris, 1961: 61 HR
Previous career high: 39 (56% increase)

Mark McGwire, 1998: 70 HR
Previous career high: 58 (21% increase)

Sammy Sosa, 1998: 66 HR
Previous career high: 40 (65% increase)

Nothing really fishy with McGwire. If you think Sosa’s 1998 is fishy, then you should think so about Maris’ 1961 as well.

There are many other factors at play for the HR boom of the 1990′s than supposed steroid use. What of the “juiced” baseball? A huge leap in technology that gave hitters a one-up on pitchers in terms of scouting reports? Improvements in healthcare, i.e. surgery, legal supplements, etc.

To credit the HR boom solely on PED’s is myopic.

Just don’t kid yourself, Mark McGwire used steroids, just as Sosa, Anderson, and Bonds did.

Here’s my thing: I have my own views on what I think they did or did not use. However, I do not use the assumptions I make to affect anything else, since my assumptions are not backed up by any evidence.

You can think they all used steroids — that’s fine. But to do what Pearlman did, to assassinate one’s character based on those assumptions, is very immature and very immoral (as I mentioned, more so than any perceived infractions by the players).

]]> By: Tyler C. http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-12940 Tyler C. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:38:34 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-12940 I'll agree on two things, this Pearlman guy goes a bit overboard with his hatred for McGwire and to an extent we ( the media and fans ) enabled the steroid era of baseball to happen( they still had to stick the needle in their bodies though). However, to think that Mcgwire did not take steroids is a bit naive. Yes, we do not have any hard evidence that he took anything beyond androstenedione, but there was a time when even 50 home runs was a true feat, until Brady Anderson did it. There is not any proof that he did steroids either, but mediocre players do not go on a 162 game hot streak where they hit 50 home runs when they had 72 total home runs in his 4 seaons over 100 games prior. McGwire beats Maris' record two seasons in a row, hell Sosa beat his record 3 times when only a hand full of people even got a sniff at the record before. It is reflected this year when the 3 big time sluggers in the game all failed to reach 50 home runs. In summation I do not have a problem with Mcgwire teaching young players how to hit, because he was already a great slugger before the steroid era. If he had never taken steroids or androstenedione he still would have made the Hall of Fame. Just don't kid yourself, Mark McGwire used steroids, just as Sosa, Anderson, and Bonds did. I’ll agree on two things, this Pearlman guy goes a bit overboard with his hatred for McGwire and to an extent we ( the media and fans ) enabled the steroid era of baseball to happen( they still had to stick the needle in their bodies though). However, to think that Mcgwire did not take steroids is a bit naive. Yes, we do not have any hard evidence that he took anything beyond androstenedione, but there was a time when even 50 home runs was a true feat, until Brady Anderson did it. There is not any proof that he did steroids either, but mediocre players do not go on a 162 game hot streak where they hit 50 home runs when they had 72 total home runs in his 4 seaons over 100 games prior. McGwire beats Maris’ record two seasons in a row, hell Sosa beat his record 3 times when only a hand full of people even got a sniff at the record before. It is reflected this year when the 3 big time sluggers in the game all failed to reach 50 home runs. In summation I do not have a problem with Mcgwire teaching young players how to hit, because he was already a great slugger before the steroid era. If he had never taken steroids or androstenedione he still would have made the Hall of Fame. Just don’t kid yourself, Mark McGwire used steroids, just as Sosa, Anderson, and Bonds did.

]]> By: James K. http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-12935 James K. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:05:57 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-12935 Great takedown Bill. His column made me barf up my Cheerios. Great takedown Bill. His column made me barf up my Cheerios.

]]> By: Bill Baer http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-12930 Bill Baer Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:21:48 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-12930 Whale, That's a fair point. If the players did something against the rules, they should be fairly punished for it. That simple. Good point. Whale,

That’s a fair point. If the players did something against the rules, they should be fairly punished for it. That simple.

Good point.

]]> By: The Whale http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-12929 The Whale Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:29:33 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-12929 I fully agree with everything in there with one MASSIVE exception: "They were just baseball players doing what they thought they needed to do to succeed in the game. If there’s anyone to blame for PED use in baseball, it’s the media and the fans, who are always demanding the moon from athletes." To absolve players for the personal choice they made is absolutely ridiculous. I agree that the culture of baseball made it socially acceptable for steroids to flourish, and I'm definitely in the camp that believes that the massive steroids witch hunt is bullshit. But individuals make their own choices; steroids and HGH were obtained by illegal means through invalid prescriptions from doctors who have been relieved of their licenses. The media and fans bought in to the Culture of the Longball, sure, but they sure as shit ain't responsible for guys who chose to do it. I fully agree with everything in there with one MASSIVE exception:

“They were just baseball players doing what they thought they needed to do to succeed in the game. If there’s anyone to blame for PED use in baseball, it’s the media and the fans, who are always demanding the moon from athletes.”

To absolve players for the personal choice they made is absolutely ridiculous. I agree that the culture of baseball made it socially acceptable for steroids to flourish, and I’m definitely in the camp that believes that the massive steroids witch hunt is bullshit. But individuals make their own choices; steroids and HGH were obtained by illegal means through invalid prescriptions from doctors who have been relieved of their licenses. The media and fans bought in to the Culture of the Longball, sure, but they sure as shit ain’t responsible for guys who chose to do it.

]]> By: Rob A from BBD http://crashburnalley.com/2009/10/30/jeff-pearlman-hates-baseball/comment-page-1/#comment-12923 Rob A from BBD Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:41:47 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=573#comment-12923 I'm a troll. I’m a troll.

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