The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

by Allen Chace on Dec 16, 2007 1:07 PM EST in Open Thread

After today, I wonder how close Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens remain.

If Andy Pettitte admitted to doing HGH, and essentially admitted that the "evidence" in the Mitchell Report is true, then what does that do to the story Clemens is currently spouting? Can the few people who are giving him the benefit of the doubt truly do so, now? Now that a guy who was mentioned less in connection with the same supplier has admitted to PED-usage?

This isn't to exonerate Andy Pettitte. After reading his statement, I'm not sure that's what he's looking for. Is he still a bit of a hypocrite? Was the language a little less firm than we might've liked? Sure. Am I still not a fan of his? Absolutely.

But there's some value in him being the first prominent PED-user to do more than make a vague apology about nothing in particular.

And let's be honest, as this story is dragged out longer than we might like: It's not just the "dynasty" Yankees who did steroids. Is it more than a coincidence that a healthy number of mid/late-90s Sox appeared on the list? Does this mean that those names (Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon, amongst others) that truly shook us, on the false "leaked" list(s), are innocent?

I will say, given the accuracy of the non-factually based statement that I just made, that I'll defend Mitchell as being non-biased in this. The NYM and NYY clubhouse guys/trainers were simply easier to catch up to for whatever reason.

Mo Vaughn, Boston.com

And when I think about it: as a child of the late 80s/early 90s, only Mike Greenwell could've hurt me more than Mo Vaughn. I'm sure everyone here has their own semi-rational fave player along the Greenwell-line, but Mo. Mo was the one constant positive for a number of years, and we had not yet become so used to PEDs to the point of expecting one of our own to be named. This doesn't taint the work he has done outside of baseball, or by most indications, not his entire career in Boston. But Mo was a Boston staple when there wasn't much to be counted on from the Sox, and all of that was during a "simpler" time, so to speak. Somehow, I feel like Mo being named should and does hurts us more than the possibility of Trot Nixon or 'Tek could've.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

As much as I live and die Red Sox...Albert Belle deserved that 95 MVP. If Mo did use and its true they should award it to Belle. I really believe the only way to eliminate steroids is to strip records. Roger should lose, Barry should lose, all these guys should suffer...it is the only thing that will make guys think twice in the future. I know that will never happen because its far too complicated to pull off. There will always be a dark cloud around the "steroid era". Its part of baseball history.

by Matzushocka on Dec 16, 2007 3:06 PM EST reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

Belle had a good argument regardless, though I'm pretty sure the "evidence" shows Mo to be a user mostly post-Sox, not that that's any guarantee.

by Allen Chace on Dec 16, 2007 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

I know he wasn't named, but I've got to think Big Al was on the juice himself.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Dec 16, 2007 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

Belle screwed himself by the way he treated the media and every other human he came into contact with. To be honest, it shouldnt have been close...its was Belle's award. Albert Belle was probably on the juice, ,you are correct; if his name was on the report I would say give it to the next guy after those two. For me, it was a shame to see Belle's career end too early. Albert Belle was a terrible human being, but he was an absolute beat at the plate. I would love to know what he could have done had his not gone on him.

by Matzushocka on Dec 16, 2007 3:38 PM EST reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

You bring up a good point on stripping awards, which is that the # 2 guy could've been a juicer too. And the # 3 guy. And so on.

Where do you draw the line? You can't strip anybody of awards...

Yankee Ombudsman

by LateInningRelief on Dec 17, 2007 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

It's a bit of a tangent, and doesn't answer your question, but what about the dirtiest race in history?

Either you strip everyone in that race of a medal, or just acknowledge it was part of an era that was corrupted by the use of PEDs.

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Dec 18, 2007 3:13 AM EST up reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

***Beast at the plate

by Matzushocka on Dec 16, 2007 3:38 PM EST reply actions

candy?

didn't they name a candy after him?

that is much cooler the.

by OilCanBoyd on Dec 16, 2007 3:44 PM EST reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

I was always a Dewey Evans and Mike Greenwell guy. I liked Mo Vaughn, but never to the extent that I like Manny & Papi. Mo is, by all accounts, one of the most upstanding human beings you can find in a post-baseball career.

All that being said, I think 'Tek, Pedro, Papi, and Manny, in that order, would be the most damaging to the Red Sox Championship credibility and overall, recent reputation.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Dec 18, 2007 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Re: The Sox, PEDs, Andy Pettitte.

Evans?
puuhh, i do not want to think about that too much :(

i believe in the integrity of Tim Wakefield.
and he is the one i would really be a bit disappointed.

my first favorite of the Sox was Boggs but somehow i would not be so much disappointed (or surprised) from him as from Wakefield.

actually my first Red Sox favorite would have been Todd Benzinger but his career with the Sox was over before i could learn the rules of the game.

there are other players from different teams which i could think of.

the most of all players i would be disappointed is Mr. Ripken by far.

but i have good hope that he is the real deal and so i still adore him (i heard stories about his father and how tough he was).

and there are people i do not care much.

Clemens.
i was convinced he did it before and more important i knew that he is an asshole before.

and guys where i just doesn't matter to me if they did take stuff or not.
Offerm...

by OilCanBoyd on Dec 18, 2007 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

What's wrong with Dewey?

Respect the moustache.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Dec 18, 2007 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Re: What's wrong with Dewey?

Dewey did have a sort of "Smokey and the Bandit" thing going on, didn't he?

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Dec 20, 2007 12:16 PM EST up reply actions