Any Interest in Joe Torre's book?

[Andy]

Wow just when it seemed like we were having a quiet off season POW...Torre, A Rod and whats next?

[Molly]

Regarding the steroid/HGH/whatever use by A-Road, sadly it didn't really surprise me at all. That's how cynical I have become which is too bad.

I saw Torre's interview on Letterman and he explained very matter of fact that the sensationalism around the excerpted A-Rod related quotes was no big deal. It was a joke they made with him about his less than stellar defense at 3B calling him A-Fraud.

Tejada is in trouble now too. How fast they fall from the pedestals we put them on.

What fascinates me most is how Manny is still unsigned. Greed is a bad thing.

[Andy]

I admit that I was naïve enough to believe that A Rod was not using drugs and that he just happened to be an extraordinary player. These guys are really getting under my skin.

Furthermore, I am becoming frustrated with the journalists who are in part blaming the fans who they claimed contributed to the problem by demanding more homeruns and who fell in love with the homerun era and homerun derby. I honestly believed that the watered-down pitching, smaller ballparks and better athleticism were the reason for the surge in statistics. “Say it ain’t so…”

As a Mets fan, the buzz around here is getting Manny. He is a great player and could help the Mets right now, but I would rather pass on him. I like what the Red Soxs are doing with bringing in young players through the farm system

I find myself interested in reading the book by the Mets personal trainer during the ‘90’s titled "Bases Loaded"

[Molly]

You know who I admire more now than ever before? Pedro. The pitching stats he had during what is now confirmed to be the steroid era of inflated offense are mind blowing. Now of course, he could have been juiced up too but that tiny little body never looked it to me.

I think the change from steroids to HGH is a more interesting debate. Players went from wanting to be strong to get better performance and a better paycheck to wanting to heal more quickly to get back onto the field and collect paychecks over a longer period of time. I don't know enough about HGH but I can better see why/how a player would be tempted into using them. Does HGH give a greater benefit beyond healing? It must, otherwise it wouldn't be illegal.

I have not read any of the steroid realted books - Game of Shadows, etc. I find it all to be too depressing.

Interesting that we didn't get any of the other names on A-Rod's list. Wonder if that means he was the only big name or if someone intentionally leaked only his name just out of spite.

People say apolgizing makes it better - and I guess from a PR standpoint it does - but it is insincere regardless.

[Andy]

I admire Pedro too, although his better years were before joining the Mets.
The book “Games of Shadow’s” really opened my eyes to drug abuse in sports, especially the Olympics. I always enjoyed watching our amateur athletes complete against other countries and was disappointed to read about so many track and field stars that cheated to win.

Here in NYC, a local sports radio broadcasters stated that we would all do what A Rod did if we were in his shoes. I guess meaning since almost everyone on the Rangers was using drugs it seemed less offensive.

I worked with kids who grew up in tough neighborhoods where too many kids got caught up seeing and using drugs, but many do not. They work hard and avoid trouble and contribte to society. I refuse to be that pessimistic