Manny + Steroids = NO BIG DEAL

One Weekend; Some Things

1. That was an impressive series win for the Blue Jays this past weekend. The West Coast has rarely been kind to them, and to think they won yet another series without Halladay pitching, has frankly surprised me. What this means in terms of playoffs has yet to be determined, because I believe the Jays will have to split their season series with Tampa Bay to get in. Too many good teams in their division. For now, the Jays roll along a series at a time.

2. Cecil was unbelievable. That is, I can hardly believe it. Who thought the Jays' pitching staff was this deep?

3. The Yankee series is just another series. Sportsnet is promoting this as the first "test" for the Blue Jays, and its good to see the fans excited, but in reality, it is just another series. Everyone keeps insisting the Yankees will be there come September, and perhaps they will, but the real tests for the Jays will be the Red Sox and the Rays.

Manny and Steroids?

Manny Ramirez and steroids? Not many people saw this coming, but I fail to see the big deal. (Except for the Dodgers, who lose their best bat for 50 games) Every sportswriter out there seems determined to brand the guys who use steroids as cheaters. I don't see it that way. Perhaps it is because I work so closely to a field that requires steroid use. (Competitive bodybuilding) Even using the word steroid is a misnomor and speaks to ignorance. It's like using the word "beverage" to describe every drink. "Oh, he's taking a beverage." "Oh no, a beverage!"

Baseball had no policy for years about certain drugs, so how can there be backlash against the players now? Most of this is fueled by sportswriters who never played the game, and were not good enough to compete at a high level. Remember, sports writers need their stories too. And yet they remain mystified why the fans don't care. Selena Roberts has been all over the news promoting her book, talking about A-Rod as if she was talking about the economy. Please! Who cares?!

I'm not promoting drug use, and as someone who has lifted weights for twenty years, I have never touched more than protein powder. As a trainer, I would never recommend my clients to use them because they can be extremely dangerous. That said, I am not a professional athlete. I do not put my body on the line for a living. I asked someone the other day if they knew what "steroids" did. He said, "yeah, they make you bigger." He was surprised when I told him that he was wrong. Steroids, again it feels ridiculous to use such a catch-all term, are used for recovery. A profesisonal bodybuilder is able to work out harder and longer, but he still has to work out. And as for hitting a baseball, drugs can't help you with that. They can help you stay healthy. They can give you a bit more pop in your bat. But they can't hit the ninety mile an hour slider or make a running catch in the outfield. Baseball is not football. I wish the white socked reporters in smoking jackets would step away from their keyboards for a minute and go field a few grounders. Either that, or report on another topic you know nothing about. Like field hockey.

-Steve