Down on the Farm 2024

[LHG]

I think his rise to stardom was a key to the drig issues. Made tons of money and I'm sure everything and anything he wantled was available to him. Also guessing his relationship to Gooden didnt help either. I also think that driug use back in those days was quite a bit more prevalent than one would think.

I remember reading an article a number of years ago talking about that. It even wrote that there was some rumblings in MLB that Aaron was using some of the "uppers" that were readily available in clubhouses toward the end of his career. There was nothing substantial to strongly link him to use but was still an issue even back then. Seems that the 80s is where it all came to a head (for those kinds of drugs, players just switched to different stuff in the 90s).

 

[sf1giantfan]

I remember reading an article a number of years ago talking about that. It even wrote that there was some rumblings in MLB that Aaron was using some of the "uppers" that were readily available in clubhouses toward the end of his career. There was nothing substantial to strongly link him to use but was still an issue even back then. Seems that the 80s is where it all came to a head (for those kinds of drugs, players just switched to different stuff in the 90s).

There has been a few ex baseball players who have mentioned having uppers put in their coffee to keep them going throughout the season. Most adults drink coffee (over 90%) so I find it hard to believe the greats didn’t take advantage of the drug. I think a pitcher wrote a book about that as well.

 

[LHG]

There has been a few ex baseball players who have mentioned having uppers put in their coffee to keep them going throughout the season. Most adults drink coffee (over 90%) so I find it hard to believe the greats didn’t take advantage of the drug. I think a pitcher wrote a book about that as well.

What bothers me about that is that there wasn't all this outrage about players using from that era and how it tainted their legacies. The outrage has been selective and only applied mainly toward those whom they don't like. If the argument is legit, then evenly apply it. How much of an advantage did a player get from a drug in the 70s versus a drug in the 90s?

 

[SF11704]

What bothers me about that is that there wasn't all this outrage about players using from that era and how it tainted their legacies. The outrage has been selective and only applied mainly toward those whom they don't like. If the argument is legit, then evenly apply it. How much of an advantage did a player get from a drug in the 70s versus a drug in the 90s?

I hear what you're saying but I also feel that what they are targeting now (performance enhancement drugs) really weren't that common back then. It was more about the use of recreational drugs. I think Steve Howe was accused of drug usage on quite a few ocassions. Also remember a Pirate pitcher taking about taking the mound under the influence. I just don't remember too much chatter about performance drugs back then.

 

[tzill]

I hear what you're saying but I also feel that what they are targeting now (performance enhancement drugs) really weren't that common back then. It was more about the use of recreational drugs. I think Steve Howe was accused of drug usage on quite a few ocassions. Also remember a Pirate pitcher taking about taking the mound under the influence. I just don't remember too much chatter about performance drugs back then.

I've read many accounts of clubhouses in the 50s and 60s having bowls of "greenies" for the players to use throughout the season. Mays was definitely one of the users. Also Rose, Aaron, etc. I'd bet most were on amphetamines.

 

[LHG]

I hear what you're saying but I also feel that what they are targeting now (performance enhancement drugs) really weren't that common back then. It was more about the use of recreational drugs. I think Steve Howe was accused of drug usage on quite a few ocassions. Also remember a Pirate pitcher taking about taking the mound under the influence. I just don't remember too much chatter about performance drugs back then.

I've read many accounts of clubhouses in the 50s and 60s having bowls of "greenies" for the players to use throughout the season. Mays was definitely one of the users. Also Rose, Aaron, etc. I'd bet most were on amphetamines.

That is what I'm talking about, the use of "greenies". This is different than "recreational" drug use. The whole purpose of "greenies" in the clubhouse was to give players extra energy. Much like HGH was to help in speeding up the recovery process, "greenies" were used to give the players an edge in the game. To me, the usage should be treated the same by the HOF and by fans, but it won't because it wasn't seen as a big scandal and people don't want to taint the image of their favorite players.

 

[Sandisfan]

I still contend that the hatred for Bonds and his usage is applied more stringently against him than any others. Except for Canseco who brought Mcgwire into usage most of the usage were borderline players trying to stay in the Big Leagues, so it was for the most part bottom up where pressure came to those above them, to use, and escalated the move to Prohibited substances. I say that Bonds was motivated to use because of the Media (never proven about his usage though physical signs point to Bonds usage) and even portray that Bonds didn't use till the obvious signs from McGwire and Sammy Sosa who were being celebrated by the Commissioner and Baseball and were making Bank off of those two who were no where near as good as Bonds, when even by Media portrayal Bonds wasn't using yet. The Inaction from Baseball and especially the Major League Baseball Union and obstruction, from the Union, to any testing or rules, Can be linked to Bonds motivation of seeing lesser players celebrated widely by the MLB and the Union where there seemed to be no consequences. The choosing of who gets disdain and who gets a pass is random or is a player who is liked/popular. I think in the future someone who made the Hall, but was loved, will be revealed to have partaken of some of these now prohibited substances. I think there is a good chance Bonds may not have tried the prohibited substances if Baseball and the Union had done what they should have done five years earlier. Bonds should be in the Hall and other should be judged by where they performed against their peers where many of their peers were using and Pitchers against those Hitters and Hitters against those Pitchers.

 

[LHG]

I still contend that the hatred for Bonds and his usage is applied more stringently against him than any others. Except for Canseco who brought Mcgwire into usage most of the usage were borderline players trying to stay in the Big Leagues, so it was for the most part bottom up where pressure came to those above them, to use, and escalated the move to Prohibited substances. I say that Bonds was motivated to use because of the Media (never proven about his usage though physical signs point to Bonds usage) and even portray that Bonds didn't use till the obvious signs from McGwire and Sammy Sosa who were being celebrated by the Commissioner and Baseball and were making Bank off of those two who were no where near as good as Bonds, when even by Media portrayal Bonds wasn't using yet. The Inaction from Baseball and especially the Major League Baseball Union and obstruction, from the Union, to any testing or rules, Can be linked to Bonds motivation of seeing lesser players celebrated widely by the MLB and the Union where there seemed to be no consequences. The choosing of who gets disdain and who gets a pass is random or is a player who is liked/popular. I think in the future someone who made the Hall, but was loved, will be revealed to have partaken of some of these now prohibited substances. I think there is a good chance Bonds may not have tried the prohibited substances if Baseball and the Union had done what they should have done five years earlier. Bonds should be in the Hall and other should be judged by where they performed against their peers where many of their peers were using and Pitchers against those Hitters and Hitters against those Pitchers.

Some would argue that has already occurred in David Ortiz. He was on a list of players who may have tested positive in 2003. Just about the same amount of information to get Bonds denial to the HOF was not enough information to prevent Ortiz from being voted in.

 

[calsnowskier]

Some would argue that has already occurred in David Ortiz. He was on a list of players who may have tested positive in 2003. Just about the same amount of information to get Bonds denial to the HOF was not enough information to prevent Ortiz from being voted in.

I believe Piazza, Bagwell, and IRod were all on that list as well.

 

[Sandisfan]

I believe Piazza, Bagwell, and IRod were all on that list as well.

But those Guys were Love-able so that makes it OK!!! Grrrrrrr!

 

[calsnowskier]

But those Guys were Love-able so that makes it OK!!! Grrrrrrr!

No question. B&C were prickly, so they are carrying all the punishment for the sins of the entire generation.

But guys OFFICIALLY caught are also being thrown under the bus. Palmeiro, McGwire, Sosa, Ramirez, ARod, Pettit were all legit caught, and they aren’t getting close.

 

[tzill]

The Giants have re-signed Ethan Small to a minor league contract. Small missed much of the 2024 season with an oblique strain. He pitched to a 6.00 ERA in 10 appearances with Sacramento. He gives the Giants some left-handed pitching depth in the upper minors.

 

[tzill]

We got the #13 pick in the draft.

 

[LHG]

We got the #13 pick in the draft.

Lottery put the team lower than if it was based solely on record. The Giants were tied for 11th with the Rays.

 

[tzill]

With the Willy Adames now signed, the Giants' 40-man roster now stands at 40. It is a minor detail, they will not be eligible to pick in the Rule 5 draft tomorrow without an opening on the 40-man roster.

 

[calsnowskier]

With the Willy Adames now signed, the Giants' 40-man roster now stands at 40. It is a minor detail, they will not be eligible to pick in the Rule 5 draft tomorrow without an opening on the 40-man roster.

They haven’t signed him YET. They have an agreement with him, but he still isn’t signed.

 

[tzill]

In the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 draft, the #SFGiants lost:
P Wil Jensen (Cubs)
OF Cesar Quintas (Mariners)
P Julio Rodriguez (Astros)
IF Will Wilson (Guardians)
1B/C Andy Thomas (Padres)
P Nick Swiney (Astros)


They added P CJ Widger (Padres) and Sadrac Franco (Tigers)

 

[calsnowskier]

In the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 draft, the #SFGiants lost:
P Wil Jensen (Cubs)
OF Cesar Quintas (Mariners)
P Julio Rodriguez (Astros)
IF Will Wilson (Guardians)
1B/C Andy Thomas (Padres)
P Nick Swiney (Astros)


They added P CJ Widger (Padres) and Sadrac Franco (Tigers)

Wilson, Thomas and Swiney are the only ones I am familiar with. I still have no idea how a player is eligible to be drafted in that phase, though. I would have thought Thomas would have been protected by whatever means are available for that phase.

 

[LHG]

Wilson, Thomas and Swiney are the only ones I am familiar with. I still have no idea how a player is eligible to be drafted in that phase, though. I would have thought Thomas would have been protected by whatever means are available for that phase.

He was drafted in like the 5th phase of the minor league portion as well. That pretty much says “we don’t want you”

 

[calsnowskier]

He was drafted in like the 5th phase of the minor league portion as well. That pretty much says “we don’t want you”

It is amazing how differently we view prospects compared to the professionals sometime. That is humbling, and more than anything SHOULD remind us that no matter how much we may (think we) know, we dont know jack.