BURN HIM!

“I didn’t need to,” Byrd said. “From our conversations, there was no need to ask.”


Jeez, Marlon, would it kill you to ask? This just seems indescribably dumb.

"..he turned me into a NEWT!!"

Jeez, Marlon, would it kill you to ask? This just seems indescribably dumb.

Actually, it seems fairly smart. If something triggers a positive test down the road or Conte gets into more trouble for something, Byrd will already have it on public record that he has no idea what's in the supplements he's taking.

Actually, it seems fairly smart. If something triggers a positive test down the road or Conte gets into more trouble for something, Byrd will already have it on public record that he has no idea what's in the supplements he's taking.

Because he deliberately chose not to ask, and publicly stated that he was deliberately choosing not to ask. That strikes me as like someone claiming that they didn't know they were speeding because they closed their eyes everytime they passed a sign showing the posted speed limit.

Going out of your way to avoid critical information is not usually a good strategy.

Actually, it seems fairly smart. If something triggers a positive test down the road or Conte gets into more trouble for something, Byrd will already have it on public record that he has no idea what's in the supplements he's taking.

But...but...but...!!!!!!

Also, if the supplements are the difference between being a Quad-A lifer and making millions as a major leaguer, it's probably worth risking a 50-game suspension. It's not like Marlon Byrd is staking his legacy on this - he has no legacy.

“I didn’t need to,” Byrd said. “From our conversations, there was no need to ask.”

"Oh no, these suckers are so strong that the test equipment will overload and melt down when they put your pee in it."

Going out of your way to avoid critical information is not usually a good strategy.

But in the Steroids Witch Hunt, logic is turned upside down. The less you know, the better. If Bonds had gone on record in 2001 saying he lived in a state of ignorant bliss, he'd probably have 800 homers right now.

Also, if the supplements are the difference between being a Quad-A lifer and making millions as a major leaguer, it's probably worth risking a 50-game suspension. It's not like Marlon Byrd is staking his legacy on this - he has no legacy.

My thoughts exactly.

I just hope the Angels don't sign him to a five-year deal after this season believing some players just put it together later than others....

If Bonds had gone on record in 2001 saying he lived in a state of ignorant bliss, he'd probably have 800 homers right now.

I thought that's what he did and what the Feds have taken such exception to.

Going out of your way to avoid critical information is not usually a good strategy.

It's a strategy that has served politicians well since 1000AD.

If Bonds had gone on record in 2001 saying he lived in a state of ignorant bliss, he'd probably have 800 homers right now.

C'mon Dan, you don't remember "flaxseed oil"? :)

But Bonds didn't do that. He claimed he knew it was flaxseed oil. He should've stated he had no idea what he was taking on the record prior to the brouhaha.

You can claim ignorance all you want, and even be truly unaware of the details, but you can still be responsible for what happens if bad things happen. If mob boss Barlon Myrd says "Rocco, go take care of him" and Rocco puts some poor unfortunate in a car crusher there's a serious chance Mr Myrd can go to prison. There are burdens of proof, but the idea that "I had no specific information on what Rocco was going to do and I didn't want to know" holds very little water if that standard is met. As this is not a court of law there's going to be a lot of disagreement what that standard is, but the notion that not asking absolves you from responsibility is absurd.

EDIT: OK, that last part is a little over the top, but willful ignorance in the context of actors like Victor Conte puts serious strain on credibility. "Rocco, give me some drugs but don't tell me what they are" sounds pretty stupid when Rocco has a history.

1000 A.D?

C'mon. The Romans had this down to a science at least a millenia before

This makes Byrd's monster AA season in 2001 a bit suspect, doesn't it? :)

Fun fact: Byrd was the only batter from the 1999 Batavia Muckdogs (who RMc saw play) to make the majors. (Pitchers Frank Brooks and Ryan Madson also made The Show.)

This makes Byrd's monster AA season in 2001 a bit suspect, doesn't it? :)

And this is the real tragedy of the steroid era -- we just can't trust the numbers anymore. :-)

As to Byrd -- it may be dumb, it may be clever but it seems incredibly common. The most interesting thing about the Mitchell report to me were the several stories of athletes just taking whatever some guy was peddling or some teammate was taking without caring what was in it. Even Pettitte's supposed conversation with McNamee was along the lines of "Roger's really bulking up, why won't you give me what you're giving him?"

And when a trainer or a team doctor comes to give them a shot of some painkiller, do you think the ballplayer quizzes them about the potential side effects and the addictive properties? Would you expect them to?

Athletes don't seem to care much at all what they take as long as it works.

And of course, if Byrd asks, what is Conte's incentive to tell him the truth? His sense of honor?

And really, if there's one thing I have faith in in this world, it's that nothing Conte sells will result in a positive drug test today. Next week or next month or next year when the tests catch up to him maybe, but not today.

And really, if there's one thing I have faith in in this world, it's that nothing Conte sells will result in a positive drug test today. Next week or next month or next year when the tests catch up to him maybe, but not today.

According to the article, he could pay around $100,000 to have all of his products certified and approved by MLB, but won't so. Seems a bit risky to me, but if he and the players are willing to take the chance, that's their business. But as J.C. Romero could no doubt tell you, caveat emptor.

But if there's nothing at all shady in his products, I guess he doesn't have to worry. Who knows what the hell is really in there, it could be damn near just about anything I suppose.

could be damn near just about anything I suppose

mostly sugar with a tad of salt and cinnamon, but since he thinks he's getting a boost he'll have more confidence and work harder

And of course, if Byrd asks, what is Conte's incentive to tell him the truth? His sense of honor?

I've always suspected there's an incentive for the trainer to lie to the player about what he's taking. It increases dependence and obscures what the trainer is doing vs. what the drug is doing.