Will Grunge Look and Muscles Also Make a Return?

The Yankees declining Jason Giambi’s 2009 option came as no surprise, but the fact that he may end up back in Oakland can be viewed as a mild one. The slugging first baseman’s former guru with the Athletics and Yanks, Bob Alejo, has been brought back by the A’s as director of strength and conditioning. Can this spell the return of the former American League MVP?

Giambi’s relationship with Alejo goes back to 1993 and after he was banned from the Bronx Bombers’ clubhouse in 2005, Giambi could not have been thrilled. Rekindling that relationship has to have some value to Giambi, who paid Alejo $125,000 (including a 401(k) plan) to leave his position as Oakland’s strength and conditioning coach in 2002 to become his personal trainer. Continue Reading »

Houston, We Have a Problem

For a man that had been given kudos for giving money to vagrants and preferring to be called by his first name, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison seems like a reasonable man. Maybe that is the problem why he has had such a difficult time coming to a decision in the infamous Roger Clemens - Brian McNamee civil lawsuit.

After hearing both sides argue about the case for two hours in a Houston courtroom, ‘Keith’ said, “I really have been agonizing over these claims.” Perhaps many of us would, but it would probably have more to do with the comedic team of Clemens and his band of merry men. Joe Roden - an attorney with the offices of good ol’ Rusty Hardin - is working on this case. Continue Reading »

Players’ Union and Commissioner’s Office Reach Agreement

Now that the obvious has been admitted, will it mean that baseball’s home run king will return to the game? It was blatant that collusion took place last summer as offenses struggled and Barry Bonds was sitting home. No team had the guts to sign him or go against their brethren by doing so, even if the addition of his lefthanded power would have made a difference for a postseason berth.

If his case is proven, will that open the door for someone to give Bonds a look next spring? It will be difficult to admit a conscious group effort to keep a person out of the game and then have it happen again.

Recently, the Baseball Players’ Union has proven through evidence that teams acted in concert to leave Bonds without a job. They then reached an agreement with the commissioner’s office in delaying the filing of an official grievance, no specific date being set. One has to surmise that nothing will be done until after the World Series is completed. Continue Reading »

LA Ousted in 5 Games in NLCS; Joe’s Moves Questioned

First it was the Mets, then the Brewers and ultimately the Dodgers. The Philadelphia Phillies, who will now have six days off before beginning the World Series on the road, beat out all three, in both the regular and post season.

They earned that right on Wednesday night at Chaves Revine, sending Manny, Joe and the rest of the Dodgers packing. Manny, of course, is Manny Ramirez, who will be hitting the open market after carrying Los Angeles into the playoffs and nearly the Fall Classic. Joe is our old friend Torre, who stuck it to the Steinbrenners by taking a coveted job and making good. Reaching the playoffs and winning a round was a heck of a lot better than the Bronx Bombers did this season. Continue Reading »

Former Slugger and Current Author Practices What He Preaches

Although he hasn’t played a major league baseball game since 2001, Jose Canseco is still taking care of his body, at least in the way he has spoken about in his two ‘tell-all’ books. Perhaps even the once-rich and famous are having issues obtaining performance-enhancing drugs in this day and age of mass hysteria.

Attempting to smuggle in a supply of human chorionic gonadotrophin, commonly known as HCG, through the Mexico/San Diego border, Canseco was held by immigration authorities for 10 hours after the substance was found in his vehicle.

Although a fertility drug, HCG is used in combination with anabolic steroids, either during or after a cycle to return testosterone production and size in the testes. So, in reality, Canseco had his balls busted as a result of trying to limit the shrinkage.

It appears that the 44 year-old is still using performance-enhancing drugs and would have no other reason to take a trip to Mexico and bring back HCG. A commonly-used post-cycle therapy substance, it is popular amongst bodybuilders and used either separately or in conjunction with Clomid or Nolvadex.

Perhaps Canseco wanted to take the bull by the horns, or so to speak, and get his hands on his own stuff. Paying the middle man can jack the price up, but the alternative is what happened to him.

Future Uncertain with Shaky Second Half

Perhaps it was fitting that Andy Pettitte received the win in the final game ever at Yankee Stadium. Improving to 14-14, the veteran southpaw persevered to even his mark after going winless in his previous five starts. His last win came back on August 20 at Toronto.

It has been a trying season for Pettitte, who had to deal with all the performance-enhancing drug allegations against himself and good friend Roger Clemens. That seemed to be forgotten as he started out 9-5, but since going 4-0 in June, he has not faired as well.

Once the season concludes, both Pettitte and the Yankees need to make some very important decisions. First off, Pettitte has to decide if he wants to return for his 15th major league campaign. At 36, he is not very old, but has obviously passed his prime some time ago. He can still be a good starter in this league and would probably be invited back on a one-year deal with an option if he decides to come back.

Figure on the Yankees to be very active in both the trade and free agent markets, especially for starters. With the opening of the new Yankee Stadium, money will be no object (as if it ever was in the Bronx). Top of the line free agents like C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets will receive offers from the Yanks and they may land one of them.

The Yankees’ general manager situation is also up in the air. Incumbent Brian Cashman’s contract is up and he is no lock to return.

Rocket Not Invited to Pre-Game Reunion

Most of the former players that were held in high esteem were there. Not just old timers like the greta Yogi Berra, but more recent ones such as Paul O’Neill and Bernie Williams. But nowhere to be seen was Roger Clemens, who was an important piece in the Yankee dynasty during his tenure from 1999 to 2003.

A favorite of owner George Steinbrenner, the Rocket even came back out of another brief retirement in glorious fashion in 2007 by making the announcement himself from the Boss’ private luxury box. But even that wasn’t enough to bring him around for one more appearance at his old stomping grounds.

The Yankees’ silence on the subject spoke volumes. By not touching Clemens with a 10-foot pole, they have made it clear that due to his performance-enhancing drug allegations, he is no longer welcome in their home. Regardless of his repeated denials, it is so blatantly obvious that Clemens used them and has hurt his image by not coming clean. Continue Reading »

Family Members Feeling Heat; Trainer May Decide to Flip

It’s an old ploy, used by a number of different agencies. If you don’t care about your own freedom, then we’ll start picking on your loved ones. Maybe their well-being means more to you, and then we can finally get what we want out of you.

Greg Anderson has sat in a jail cell because he refused to testify against Barry Bonds, who has - for some reason - become John Dillinger and Al Capone rolled into one. They will stop at nothing to get the goods on baseball’s home run king, even if that means going after his mother-in-law.

Both the New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle reported that Madeline Gestas is being investigated for possible tax violations, an obvious tactic to pressure Anderson into coming clean of what he knows of Bonds’ alleged steroid use. Continue Reading »

The Ramblin’ Freak Speaks his Mind About Steroids in Sports

The following article will appear in the October 2008 issue of New York Sportscene magazine. (www.nysportscene.com)

At Arm’s Length

Gregg Valentino Flexes his Opinion About Steroids

The old saying “Don’t throw stones in a glass house,” doesn’t apply to Gregg Valentino. When he talks about anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, people listen. It’s sort of like that old Payne Webber television commercial. You see, Valentino has no problem admitting to steroid use that would probably eclipse every baseball clubhouse in the late 1990s.

“I was up to 4,000 milligrams of testosterone a week, and that’s not even counting the equipoise,” he said, not bragging but just being truthful. When you inject such high quantities of juice in your body, it should come as no surprise that Valentino laid claim to having the largest biceps in the world. At one point during the height of his usage, his arms were an astronomical 28 inches. Continue Reading »

Pound Bombers at Stadium Again; Playoff Run May Be Over

It appears that the obvious that has been staring us in the face is now even more glaring. The New York Yankees are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, and a team that was in the early stages of transition may have to do more than the old ‘retooling’ phrase general managers say about their teams when they don’t want to admit that a rebuilding is in order.

After dropping the first two at home versus the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees are seven out of the wild card and double-digits separate them from the surprising Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.

Not only did the Sox come in and do what the Yankees needed to do to salvage their season, but also they spanked their host and made a statement in doing so. Their newest editions – left fielder Jason Bay and starter Paul Byrd – were instrumental in the 11-3 drubbing on Wednesday night. Bay, who took over for Manny Ramirez in a three-team deal at the trading deadline, drove in four runs with a triple and a double, while the journeyman Byrd went six workman-like innings for the win in only his third start for Boston. Continue Reading »