Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A-Bombed again (Yanks 4, Mariners 2)



Another A-Bomb from A-Rod lifts the Yankees to victory against the Mariners. All that talk just last week of A-Rod's energy problems and the links to his supposed abstaining from steroids (and subsequent decline in production) turned out to be nonsense.

I contributed to the conversation on the NYTimes blog. And if they don't print it there (they didn't print my last critical comment of their work, but that may have been because I used the word "stupid" to describe the questions that reporters must have been asking Jeter in an attempt to elicit a quotable response), then here it is below:

"I think it’s very unhealthy for the national conversation about baseball when we quickly assume that the lack of steroids is responsible for a player’s slump. We’re now learning that A-Rod didn’t appear energetic because his famously intense pre-game routine was not reduced in intensity, as the doctors had advised. But for several days we were in the dark about this, left to contemplate the possibility that A-Rod would never be the same without his anabolic steroids.

After a few game-winning home runs, we are now learning the truth. Let’s hope that in the future we learn the truth sooner, and that we do more to explore alternative, and more likely, reasons for slumps.

A-Rod’s positive test in 2003 was one among over 100 others. Surely many other players, like Bonds, escaped detection. And the evidence is overwhelming that players are still using and benefiting from PEDs, and not just in baseball. I think it would be wise for us to acknowledge the depth of the problem and look for better solutions than outright prohibition and witch-hunts for known or suspected offenders."

Anyway, I have to say this every so often, to remind people of how naive they're being when they complain about a player's apparent steroid use (or lack thereof).

In any event, Melky had a big hit for the second straight day, a majestic blast that seemed to soar over the foul pole. The Yankee pitchers kept Ichiro off the bases for a whole game for just the 2nd time since April 28th, and the 5th time overall this year. And Pettitte was dominant and very intense on the mound, more intense than I can remember him in years past (he's starting to seem like a pitching Paul O'Neil).

Projected record for current homestand: 4-3
Target record for current homestand: 5-2
Result 2-0
Games remaining: 5

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