I guess for now, with not much to write about, I'm going to talk about a classic baseball blog topic. Steiroids. Wait, I'm so sick of that, I don't want to. I'm tired of all the "surprises", and I'm not saying it negatively, I just don't think it's worth wasting energy on. I cannot blame athletes for taking it, but here's what I say should be done:
- Strict and often drug tests
- Asterisk by any stat of a convicted user
Stats get difficult because if you want to take away someone's statistics, then its not fair to the batter of pitcher that opposed the player. Being that it will get way too complicated and nobody will know how many people got away with it, I think asterisks with a syringe going through it is the best solution.
I've been saying this for a while. Steiroids are killing the game - not because players are using them, it's because that is all we fans have to hear about. I couldn't care less. I want to hear about the players and the teams, things that go around in the clubhouse, etc.
I'm going to have to think of something else to write about, because I don't want this post to be about the juice. I refuse to sink to that level. Anyway, what keeps coming to mind is Brett Gardner slamming into the wall tonight and being forced to leave the game. What happens after something like that is that fans applaud the outstanding effort and catch, and Gardner probably gets a day or two off. But my "concern" is that fans don't truly appreciate the lasting effect something like that will have on a player. He will feel that for a long time. And I guarantee you he will be back before he's 100%. And he's going to be just 1 of 25 players on a team who are playing hurt.
These guys play day in and day out, and they don't get much rest. The injuries pile on, and you don't know things heal because something else is hurting. I'll tell you what though, these guys get taken care of. Massages, hot tubs, saunas, the whole deal- these guys get it all, whatever they need. Gardner will wake up in a world of hurt, probably around 3am- but he won't know what time it is- he probably won't be able to turn his neck to the side. Nothing a little neck cracking session can't fix!
The other problem with injuries is not that something is hurting you - it's the domino effect. Lets take a RHP pitcher, who hurts his left ankle on a base hit, rounding first. (You have to excuse the enthusiasm, he raised his batting average to .107.) When he continues to pitch, he wants to keep weight off of that front foot, avoid more pain. But this unusual adjustment in his mechanics causes him to drop his arm angle, so his accuracy faulters. As he serves up consecutive doubles on a hanging curveball, he starts to overthrow. Stress is building up on his elbow, as the terrible mechanics begin to take effect. These kinds of stories happen more than you'd think, and aren't too noticeable without analyzing pitching deliveries side by side.
To wrap up, it'll be interesting and see how Gardner's play is when he comes back. Some people might slump a bit. I forget where I read once someone injured his neck and he couldn't turn his head all the way and it prevented him from getting two eyes on the pitcher. These things affect players more than fans realize.
You want something to write about? What's it like to sit behind the plate in different types of games. Why do you trust certain pit hers and certain pitches. Have you ever seen something in a game that caused you to alter your calls?
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