BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Mariotti: Bad time to acquire a juicer

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Mariotti: Bad time to acquire a juicer

Such is the claim of Brian Roberts, who could be a Cub by the time you read this. Last month, Roberts was named as a steroids user on Page 158 of George Mitchell’s report probing baseball’s juice era. He didn’t comment immediately, waiting a full five days before revealing he’d used performance-enhancers.

Only once, of course.

...We have reached a fascinating juncture, then, as baseball observers. Facing Cubdom is an ethical debate far removed from the usual beertap arguments, such as when a manager should pull a starting pitcher or if the girl in the halter top looks better than the girl in the t-shirt. What is more important: (a) trying to win your first World Series in 100 years by acquiring an elite leadoff hitter and second baseman, which would let Lou Piniella drop Alfonso Soriano to third in the batting order and create a powerful lineup; or (b) maintaining integrity as an organization during a scandalous period in baseball history?

I choose integrity.

Repoz Posted: January 10, 2008 at 12:53 PM | 28 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Chi Cubs, Steroids

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

1. bob gaj Posted: January 10, 2008 at 01:12 PM (#2665244)

if mariotti chose integrity, he'd no longer be appearing in print OR on television.

2. Brian White Posted: January 10, 2008 at 01:36 PM (#2665261)

So, is Brian Roberts a fraud who poops his pants?

3. Craig Calcaterra Posted: January 10, 2008 at 01:39 PM (#2665264)

I choose integrity.

I choose the potato!

(those with toddlers who watch the Disney channel will understand).

4. JRVJ (formerly Delta Socrates) Posted: January 10, 2008 at 01:41 PM (#2665265)

Hopefully the Cubs will trade for Roberts and Mariotti will never, ever again write about baseball.

5. thedad01 Posted: January 10, 2008 at 01:51 PM (#2665272)

Only once, of course.

I wonder how many of these self-righteous columnists "only once" did something illegal when they were young, foolish, desperate or curious?

Just come clean they say and all will be forgiven. With comments like these it's no wonder players practice omerta.

6. Voros McCracken, Human Shield Posted: January 10, 2008 at 01:54 PM (#2665273)

I choose integrity.

Since when, Jay?

7. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:05 PM (#2665278)

With apologies to Gary Larson, this is how I read the column:

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah juicer blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah juice blah blah blah blah steroids blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah integrity blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah poop blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah poopies.

blah blah blah blah blah blah. blah blah blah blah.

blah blah blah blah blah blah integrity.

8. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:08 PM (#2665279)

Ok look, a Maridiot quiz.

Is it possible a man can use steroids only once?

Yes.

Does he feel a needle pierce the hide of his buttocks and realize, right then and there, that he has violated his conscience and made a grievous mistake?

everybody's butt is built different.

What is more important: (a) trying to win your first World Series in 100 years by acquiring an elite leadoff hitter and second baseman, which would let Lou Piniella drop Alfonso Soriano to third in the batting order and create a powerful lineup; or (b) maintaining integrity as an organization during a scandalous period in baseball history?

Win

Won't another leadoff hitter be on the market eventually?

Yes

Isn't Mark DeRosa a solid second baseman for now?

Meh!

Why sacrifice your soul for a .377 on-base percentage?

Depends whose soul we have to give. Thats a very nice OBP. Mind if I start the nomination process?

Do the Cubs really want their newly acquired steroids guy to be a national story line in Arizona?

well, you are pretty much the only guy, 'outraged' .. so I doubt it will be National Headlines. Lord knows you will try though.

Do they want their moral code and value system questioned?

If you are the only one questioning it, I think they will be ok. Just a hunch. bear.chit.woods

How do the prospective new owners feel about inheriting one of Mitchell's poster boys?

My guess is you are asking because they refuse to return your call. Or is that next weeks piece.

Anybody have the answer's i want to see how i did.

9. Gern Blanston Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#2665284)

"Sacrifice your soul." Uh-huh.

Honest question: Did Mariottti blather like this when the Cubs drafted Ben Christiansen? Because THAT, to me, was offensive on an ethical level. He's the one Cub draft pick I was GLAD to see crash and burn.

10. Boriole Forester Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:26 PM (#2665287)

The funny thing is that Roberts could have just kept his mouth shut. No one was claiming to have seen or sold him steroids, and in fact, lots of folks were railing about the unfairness of him being included in the Mitchell report. So maybe his claims are a bit more credible than the other "juicers".

11. CFiJ Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:31 PM (#2665293)

Does he feel a needle pierce the hide of his buttocks and realize, right then and there, that he has violated his conscience and made a grievous mistake?

everybody's butt is built different.

Roberts could certainly be lying. OTOH, to me it's entirely plausible for a guy to be hiding in some corner of the clubhouse, his pants around his ankles while a teammate surreptitiously injects a needle into his butt, and suddenly thinking, "What the hell am I doing?"

12. JPWF13

Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2665297)

(those with toddlers who watch the Disney channel will understand).

I HATE Captain Carlos and all he stands for

13. Craig Calcaterra Posted: January 10, 2008 at 02:39 PM (#2665299)

I HATE Captain Carlos and all he stands for

He may not be good for you/but he sure looks like fun!

14. Charles S., consistent since he changed his mind Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:01 PM (#2665320)

I choose integrity.

It's easy to choose integrity for someone else. Where was your integrity when you were taking a paycheck from Conrad Black?

15. Moses Taylor demands to be housewarmed Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:17 PM (#2665345)

It's easy to choose integrity for someone else. Where was your integrity when you were taking a paycheck from Conrad Black?

Oooo. Burn!

16. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:19 PM (#2665347)

"He's the one Cub draft pick I was GLAD to see crash and burn."

Honestly, crashing and burning isn't enough to satisfy my sense of mob justice there. I hope he also contracts an unpleasant venereal disease.

Cancer would also work. Or maybe a wrongful imprisonment.

17. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:22 PM (#2665351)

Christiansen is the kid who drilled a guy in the on deck circle for watching him warm up?

18. Kiko Sakata

Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:23 PM (#2665353)

Christiansen is the kid who drilled a guy in the on deck circle for watching him warm up?

Yes

19. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:24 PM (#2665355)

In case there's anybody here who doesn't remember the Christensen thing, a refresher.

20. Gern Blanston Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:39 PM (#2665372)

"He's the one Cub draft pick I was GLAD to see crash and burn."

Honestly, crashing and burning isn't enough to satisfy my sense of mob justice there.

Well, I didn't say crashing and burning was *all* I wished on him.

21. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:42 PM (#2665381)

As expected, there is some debate on this topic:

Should I purchase a new juicer?

22. Gern Blanston Posted: January 10, 2008 at 03:45 PM (#2665384)

Stankus, the post-Christmas sales at Target are all over by now. Now's clearly a bad time to acquire a juicer.

23. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) Posted: January 10, 2008 at 05:07 PM (#2665499)

Damn. What will I do with all this wheatgrass?

24. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: January 10, 2008 at 05:13 PM (#2665508)

Ah, Jay Mariotti, you never fail to get a response with your bloviating.

25. Toolsy McClutch Posted: January 10, 2008 at 05:13 PM (#2665509)

Meh, there are already too many Molinas playing baseball.

26. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 10, 2008 at 05:20 PM (#2665517)

As expected, there is some debate on this topic:

Should I purchase a new juicer?

Wow. You have no integrity.

27. Gern Blanston Posted: January 10, 2008 at 05:23 PM (#2665522)

Wow. You have no integrity.

Stankus clearly has no respect for the non-union labor that manufacturers those juicers. I'm appalled.

As for the wheatgrass, I hear it's good in salads.

28. Hooked on Phoenix Posted: January 10, 2008 at 07:56 PM (#2665683)

Regarding Captain Carlos, is sister Maria the equivalent of Kim Basinger in "The Natural" or even Jessica Simpson to Tony Romo? She's bad news. "They might not be good for you but they sure look like fun!"

Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Mariotti: Bad time to acquire a juicer

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics