Gotta At Least Ask the Question

Richard Griffin asks: Why is it just baseball that falls under suspicion?

For the following unpopular question, blame Major League baseball and all the nonsense it has spewed over the past decade.

Don't blame me.

When it comes to Jose Bautista, how is it exactly that at the age of 29 he's suddenly become the most dangerous power hitter in baseball?

Chance? Healthy living? Diet? New contact lenses? Comfortable batting gloves?

Anyone reading about the Roger Clemens perjury case this week, which of course brings up all of baseball's tawdry steroid history, should at least be willing to wonder about Bautista's sudden transformation into the dinger king.

This is a player, don't forget, who never hit 20 homers before in a Major League season. Some of that was due to a lack of opportunity,although in 532 at-bats in '07 he managed only 15 round trippers.

As of Sunday morning, he had 38 homers, six more than the great Albert Pujols, seven more than Miguel Cabrera and Adam Dunn.

Really? Quite a story, huh?

Makes one remember Brady Anderson, who went from 16 homers to 50 and then back to 18 right smack dab in the middle of baseball's steroid problem.

Things happen in baseball, I guess.

The great news for Bautista is that these numbers will surely net him an enormous increase on his current $2.4 million salary when his contract expires. That would motivate any player to find a way to improve his stats.

The Blue Jays, we know, have quietly become known as a bit of a nest for alleged steroid abusers over the years. Clemens played here. Gregg Zaun has been implicated. Ditto for Troy Glaus.

And now comes Bautista. Blue Jay fans will, of course, angrily respond to the suggestion that everything isn't on the up-and-up, just as I remember getting bushels of bitter emails from baseball fans when questioning Mark McGwire's open use of androstenedione back when he was smashing Roger Maris' record.

My favourite line was always how steroids couldn't help a baseball player hit home runs. Too funny.

Maybe Bautista is just one of the great individual stories in baseball this season. This could be his career year, and he could deserve nothing but credit and praise.

But the fact is that baseball's history, and the Nixonian way in which the Selig administration and the players association have chosen to deal with the steroid issue over the years, should compel any intelligent person to wonder when a player suddenly starts displaying abilities never before seen in his career.

Blue Jay fans won't like it. But you've got to at least ask the question when it comes to Jose Bautista.

For the fact that we do, blame baseball.

Comments

[Daniel]

The question has to be asked, it's true, but there are a couple of things one can say in response. The first is that this isn't happening TOTALLY out of nowhere; Bautista had a great end to 2009 too.

Now, that's not a great answer, because it might just mean that Bautista found himself a better, shall we say, connection, once he got to Toronto. But that segues to the second, better answer, which is that since the end of the steroids era -- and we can date that to the Bonds book or the Mitchell report or what have you -- we haven't really seen any other out-of-nowhere bombers like this. At least none that I can remember. Players like Brady Anderson, Brett Boone and David Ortiz discovered their home run strength at the peak of the steroids era. But now the steroids era is effectively over (we hope). If anything, it's the Year of the Pitcher. So it might be a little unfair to paint Bautista with the same brush that deservedly smeared others before him.

[Rick Grace]

The list starts at Jose Bautista.
I think you can add Aaron Hill as well.
The guy has a 200 batting average yet has almost 20 home runs?
A bit suspicious to me.

[Kevin Connolly]

Damien,

Slow news day I guess, and someone was going to ask the question sooner or later, but this feels more like that year George Bell had where he got an a roll and just never got off it. Pretty sure he never juiced. I'm not sure he ever even worked out. People like Anderson and Bonds and McGuire and Sosa were all weight-room freaks whose bodies changed dramatically when on the juice. I mean, just look at Jason Giambi's rookie card!

Now look at J Bau, who looks like a latin dance instructor. I've watched the whole year and it's clearly a case of someone shortening his path to the ball, and perhaps a little incredulity on the side of opposing pitchers -- "This guy, really? I'm going to throw the heater anyway." And there's another souvenir. Maybe it's opportunity as well, and probably other teams will eventually find a weakness, but this is Bautista's first full year as a regular and the whole team has found power under the new batting coach.

You're right, given the sport's recent history people are going to ask themselves what gives. But it kind of sucks he has to read this in his hometown paper.

[snacker]

This guy isn't on roids. They actually test now...why would he start when everybody's coming off the stuff. He doens't look like Barry Bonds sizewise...he hasn't bulked up. Cito overhauled his swing in August last year and he's been socking dingers since. Give me a break...Bautista isn't a juicer.

[Michael Yakubowicz]

Talk about complete speculation passing for news.
They test for steroids now, Damien. Find someone else to focus your witch-hunt on.
Brady Anderson gained 20 lbs of muscle over an off-season.
Batista looks the same, just that he is locked in at the plate.
And mentioning Pujols, who was probably on 'roids from 2000-2006?
The guy is the size of a small country, and you think he is clean?!
(Admittedly, this is pure speculation too, but I am not publishing as "news")
Sad, sad reporting.

[Colin Freeman]

So what exactly is "the question" you are referring to Damien? If you are going to raise this issue then don't dance around it at the same time. Most of us remember the beating the the blogger took last year for "just asking the question" about Raul Ibanez. It sounds to me like you are passively accusing Bautista of steroid use - seems pretty gutsy.

[Tabber]

And intelligent readers have to wonder what testing is done in the Star's newsroom. Is there any? I have never heard of drug testing at the Star, and I have to think there would have been a mention of it if there were such a thing. We know that past reporters were under the influence of alcohol, and as reporters are members of society at large, other drugs can be assumed to have been consumed. I say we throw all Star reporters under the bus and demand that they prove their cleanliness (drug related, not hygiene, as long as we don't have to smell them!). Damien, please consider getting help - I'm sure the Star has a program that you can undergo - before you damage yourself any more than you have.

[Cory]

Wow that's quite an accusation. Any chance you might actually have some facts to back it up? How about having spoke to Bautista or the Jays organization allowing them to refute it before printing this story?

I would expect this from one of the many blogs on the 'net but not a daily paper. I guess there's no reason to buy the Star anymore. I can get all my Jays news off www.drunkjaysfans.com

[John Tucker]

Mr Cox you should not be throwing around these accusations and inuenndos without anything to back up these allegations. Do you not think that Bautista is being tested? His homeruns started in early Sept last year and he has added no weight , bulk or any of the other indicators that go along with increased use of steroids.

[Joe L]

Casting shadows on people with very marginal circumstancial eveidence. The guy is a big bodied major leaguer who could always run, catch, and throw now hits 38 homers so he gets this from the local press. Interesting. It's one thing to maybe have a question about a person but to move that suspicion to the front of your mind with no evidence and then blab it to the people who read your paper seems like something worse than Bautista taking the juice. Your article told me nothing about Bautista, but it told me alot about Cox and the paper he writes for.

[Anthony]

I'm sorry. The question doesn't need to be asked unless evidence or accounts force us to. Don't start questioning or making a false accusation when there's nothing against him.

This is actually quite offensive, trying to insinuate that a blossoming player uses steroids when NOTHING but circumstance and hearsay prompted you to do so. Don't go and cite the Steroid Era as a reason for your questioning. That's cynical. Bautista is hitting homers like he never did before. Appreciate it for now.

No evidence or facts to back up your question? Then don't say it at all.

[Bball_Bill]

Insinuating illegal drug use is serious business. Clemens, Zaun and Glaus came from other organizations, yet you suggest they were corrupted in Toronto.

Jose Bautista looks the same as when he arrived. The only difference is he changed his approach at the plate to keep his hands back and drive through the ball. He hits the ball on a line or a frozen rope. That's what is known as good hitting, not steroid or HGH abuse.

[Sam]

Wow Damian,
Is it possible that Cito and Dwayne Murphy might have some thing to do with an increase in Bautista's power numbers? Perhaps a different approach and regular playing time might be the culprit....

Nah....can't be.....let's all look at the glass half empty, instead of enjoying the season that Bautista is having.

[Eric Chan]

he must be using steroids.

its not like theres something like a hitting coach in a MLB team who can change a player's swing, right? No, that would be a silly idea

[norm depalma]

Damien"

While I usually support you and appreciate your writing, I think you may be off base here. If Batista's batting average was hovering around .300, i'd be a little more suspicious. However, the pre-steroid era was replete with examples of hitters who swung for the fences, hitting homers while striking out and flying out a ton. As well, Bautista's power surge has paralleled the similar surge exhibited by other Blue Jay hitters this home run happy year. Either all those hitters are juicing, or the Murphy batting advice is 'working'.

That being said, Damien, you don't deserve the opprobrium being levelled at you here. You simply are stating an obvious point, that major league's pathetic past policies leave room for doubt. Please keep up the good work.

[Gabriel]

The way you've written this, it sounds as if you were the lone voice of reason in a swell of ass-kissing during the home run chase and that you're setting yourself up to be that again by suggesting PED usage in Jose Bautista's home run mastery. Coddswallop!

Steroids were common knowledge. There weren't rules against them because the powers that be didn't want anyone to get caught...because they wanted baseball to be popular. You might have suspected that Big Mac and Sammy "The Incredible Fading Man" were cheating, but that doesn't make you special, because a huge number of people felt that way. Bautista...not so much. There isn't smoke, maybe?

PED don't guarantee anything except that you'll be a stronger, more durable hitter.

That means that people who were previously hitting the ball can be hitting the ball farther that they did before, not that you're automatically a home run hitter. Notice, on that account, that only three people have beaten Roger Maris' home run record, but many, many, many more used PED.

Jose Bautista wasn't a physically weak player before, he was just a weak hitter.

This might be surprising to those of you (Damien) who've never been taught anything, but the insight of others can help a great deal. He's been coached and he's much better now than he used to be.

Not, much stronger.

Much better.

[ron basch]

Damien, in those days there were no PEDS but what about Roger Maris . He went from 39 to 61 , then back to 33 and never hit over 30 hrs again. It just happens sometimes.

[Stormer]

Bautista doesn't appear to be stronger or bigger, what has changed is that he is swinging the bat as hard as he possibly can and hoping for the best. So far, it has worked. Although, it doesn't hurt to be on PEDs. I would definitely accuse Puhols and Holliday, as there seems to be a connection between LaRussa and 'roid users/pushers. But, I wouldn't rule out anything.

I am shocked, however, that if Cox is able to raise these questions about Bautista - but not the athletes that he covers on a regular basis: Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Kessel, etc.. There must be a reason why they have thighs thicker than most peoples torsos. Why are we so afraid to ask the question of hockey players? Is it our culture? Is it because they happened to pass Olympic testing?

I am sure these athletes are on the cutting edge of PED technology - and are a step ahead of the tests - it seems it was well worth the investment for them.

[J. B. Rainsberger]

Davey Johnson. 1973. It happens. That is all.

[Rick Grace]

Wow.
All the baseball apologists in Toronto.
Is there a more thin skinned bunch then Blue Jays fans?
They defend Bautista like he's a saint.
But the numbers don't lie.
Popgun hitter to homerun leader by a wide margin?
Almost over night?
Considering how baseball players are the second coming of the East German womens swim team, how can you not question it?

[mark]

Rick Grace, your comments speak to the ignorance of people like yourself and Damien. It's very easy to accuse someone, but what facts do you have to back up your accusation? As other bloggers have pointed out, this type of surge in power numbers is not unprecedented in baseball's pre-steroid eras. A new approach at the plate as preached by Cito, full time position (for the first time EVER), confidence gained by a tremedous Sept last year. These are just a few of the rational reasons outside of PED that Jose Bautista is having a good year at the plate. I think it is really irresponsible to write this type of inflamatory 'question' based purely on 1 statistical observation. To say we are 'apologists' when we point out how Jose's achievements could come without the use of PED is just ignorant baseless name calling.

[Mike]

How is it possible that so many people can be this ignorant? So now it's impossible for players to a) develop later in their careers, b) improve their mechanics, and c) see improvements due to confidence?

Did Carlos Pena not benefit from more playing time with Tampa Bay? He had his career year at 31 because he became an everyday first baseman, hitting in the heart of a strong Rays lineup.
Did Jason Blake not with the NYI when he scored 40 goals? Was he on drugs? No, he went from playing third line minutes to first line minutes with an elite player in Yashin.
Consistent playing times leads to improved confidence, which leads to better statistics.
When you actually take a look at Bautista's swing this year vs. last year (excluding late August/September) you notice a huge difference. He went from a wild swing strictly using his arms, to a tempoed swing involving a shift of his weight, getting set early, and understanding the count better. If you have a plan with a better swing, I'm pretty sure your numbers will improve every time. Zone in on the fastball, or the breaking ball, as opposed to swinging and anything and everything.

[nick5]

fair or unfair, i'm sure many people have asked "the question." given baseball's recent history with PEDs, it's a reasonable response to Bautista's season. if he's juicing, we'll find out - baseball's testing, and people in the game are squealing. i for one just hope he's the real deal; that his numbers this year won't be just an anomaly over his career. if we're going to sign him long term, let's hope we don't pay big money for a .240, 15-20 homer guy.

[D Boughner]

I agree that the media has created this huge cloud of doubt where every great performance has to be viewed with a critical steriod coloured lens.

But why do the media give a pass to other sports and those they like. Why not look at Hockey. The game that is most based on speed and strenght and has ignored the whole steriod issue is never subjected to the same analysis.

And what of Tiger Woods? Why is he never subjected to the same analysis of a Lance Armstrong? Why a free ride for Woods who had shown sudden improvement in strength and driving distance.

I submit that this double standard is because Baseball and Cycling have already done the dirty work of investigating doping and it is an easy story to write. Jounalists (which include Baseball writers) should be doing their job and looking into the other sports. You have grown dependant on the same story.
It is time to do some of the investigating that journalists are supposed to do.

[The J]

A hitter having a great year in Toronto? THe answer is something better than roids. Two words: Cito. Gaston.