In Defense of Ballplayers Gone Bad

As everyone knows by now, Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for using a performance enhancing substance (PED.)  Once again, a hue and cry is raised about the effect that the use of steroids and other PEDs have had on the game of baseball.  While I do not condone what individual players have done (especially Ramirez whose boorish behavior is frequent), I can certainly sympathize with them and I think we condemn them too harshly.  With everyone from the Commissioner to the owners and yes, to us fans, turning a blind eye to what was happening before us, the temptation to use PEDs must have been (and still is) great indeed.  These are very competitive people who want to maintain their competitive advantage.  And when another 10 home runs a season might mean another $10 million on the next contract, let us make sure none of us would succumb to such temptation before leveling criticism at those players who did.  After all, Manny refused to play in order to get out of Boston, yet L. A. fans wore fake dreadlocks and cheered his name and the Dodgers threw $45 million more at him for two more seasons.  What do you suppose he learned from that?

Furthermore, I find it hard to feel anger towards players who go astray in their personal lives.  Anyone good enough to play in the major leagues has probably been told how great he was since his early teens.  Then we (and yes, I mean we--baseball only acts in ways of which we approve and for which we pay) throw large sums of money at them right out of high school or college.  Even if the player is not a highly touted prospect, the minimum major league salary for 2008 was $390,000.  The average salary for the same year was $2,824,751.  If, say at age 25,  I had received that kind of money, had strangers idolize me, and had to constantly look over my shoulder at the next great kid in AAA who wanted my job, I can't say that I would have a very accurate perspective on the world--or myself--either.

Our ballplayers are a product of our society.  If, they are personally irresponsible, they are no more so than other people their age who have never been asked or taught to assume any responsibility.  If your married neighbor is seen escorting a stripper to her car, it will not make the paper.  If Alex Rodriguez does it, we'll all see it on ESPN.  Is there really any difference in the conduct of your neighbor and that of Rodriquez except in scale?

The media protected Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford and other players, choosing not to report their wild and wooly escapades.  Reporters protected the hero status of players then because they believed that we fans, especially kids deserved untarnished heroes.  Our current culture seems to believe in nothing.  Perhaps more than any other explanation, that is the best one for why our ballplayers sometimes go bad.

Comments

[Anna Kipps]

I think you have a good point here. It has to be pretty hard for these guys to keep their priorities straight and their morals and ethics in line when they're receiving so much pressure and attention.

I also think though that anyone can get caught up in all this. Brad Ziegler once told me that the trainers in the club houses will feed them protein shakes and supplements and all kinds of things, and they have no idea what is even in it. He said he was often nervous he wouldn't pass the drug tests.

So yeah.. a little bit too much attention is going at the players.. if accusations have to keep flying, maybe a few of them should go beyond the players.

[Melissa Dodge]

You both make good points. Austin, people do get away with what society will allow but I'm not so sure their poor choices are a result of societal apathy. Anna your inside scoop is indeed scary---it certainly makes me feel sorry for the rookies and guys who feel that they are just hanging on by a thread--of course they'll do, take, drink, inject whatever their trainers or managers suggest if it means they have a job tomorrow. Yes, these inquiries need to go beyond just the players. A hard look needs to be given to the trainers, team doctors, managers & owners. I also think that rookie education/orientation classes should be mandatory so that they can learn what is acceptable and what is not---then there can be no excuses of "but I didn't know..." They need to learn how to handle themselves in the white hot spotlight.

I believe the underlying root of this evil is the almighty dollar. Players feel pressured to enhance themselves so they are worth their outrageous salaries. Teams encourage or look the other way at these enhancements because having that high performing hotshot means more duckets in the coffers through ticket, merchandise, and advertising sales. All of this results in more media scrutiny which leads to the pressure to perform. It's a vicious cycle. Until reasonable salary caps are put into place and the rules are enforced all the time, every time I don't think you'll ever see it end.

[Jessica Dankmeyer]

I have boycotted the majors since the strike in the early 90's and I was a be-all, end-all O's fan. It's headlines like this that keep me out of the major league parks - despite my love for the game itself. I refuse to contribute to the ridiculous salaries and deify these men who are little more than children with no self control and an over-abundance of self worth. I love baseball and I hate what this generation of players has done to spoil and tarnish the game.