Sammys corked bat incident...what do you think?

[minniecarousel]

Since he was coming off the DL, I think he wanted a little edge - to get back into the "swing of things". I think he knew what he was doing. Do I think he used a corked bat for all the homeruns he has hit - NO! - but those will be forever tainted because of this incident. I truly hope that none of his confiscated bats show cork.

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by SimonV
Well, they confiscated a lot of his bats. If any more show up as corked, I think he is pretty much cooked. However, if they are all clean, I could attribute it to an honest mistake. There's been no hint of any wrong-doing in his past and it would be terrible to think his whole career could be overturned by a mistake. But baseball needs to find the answer on this - quickly.

I don't think finding all the rest of his bats clean will prove much. Honestly, if you were using a corked bat from time to time, would you keep more than one around at any given time?

 

[Doctor P]

I don't think it was a mistake and I hope (though I doubt) that they find at least one more among his bats. I find Sammy Sosa to be one of the most arrogant, self-centered players I have ever seen (and I have believed this since he played for the White Sox, my favorite team). Even his explanation reeks of his arrogance. Last year he had the gall to say he was the very best player in baseball--what has he been smoking????

I hope he is finally revealed for the ingenuine cheater that he is.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Towncrier
Maybe Sammy should give up corked bats and use the same drugs that Mark Maguire uses to give him an edge.

We're looking in the wrong place for heroes.

I couldn't agree more. Even our Kirby Puckett had feet of clay!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by olena
Yeah! And Joe Niekro had the sandpaper in his uniform pocket ON THE MOUND, because he was building furniture for his daughter! Suuuuuuuuuuure!

LOL! Actually it was an emery board, not sand paper.

 

[Indyman]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
LOL! Actually it was an emery board, not sand paper.

Actually, you're both right. Joe Niekro had both an emery board and a small piece of sandpaper. Check out the top 10 cheaters in baseball history.

 

[Minnie824]

I don't think it was a mistake and I hope (though I doubt) that they find at least one more among his bats. I find Sammy Sosa to be one of the most arrogant, self-centered players I have ever seen (and I have believed this since he played for the White Sox, my favorite team). Even his explanation reeks of his arrogance. Last year he had the gall to say he was the very best player in baseball--what has he been smoking????

Well said! DH & I completely agree!

 

[Dave A]

No wonder my Tampa Bay Devil Rays are in last place.



Dave

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by Dave A
No wonder my Tampa Bay Devil Rays are in last place.



Dave

Ummm, no, I'm thinking there's a few other reasons for that!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

No wonder my Tampa Bay Devil Rays are in last place.

Well you know when all is said and done they lost the game last night on a Wild Pitch.

The batter could have been holding a toothpick up there and the O'Leary still would have scored.

 

[Indyman]

Originally posted by Dave A
No wonder my Tampa Bay Devil Rays are in last place.



Dave

They're not good cheaters?

 

[audflash]

I think Jim Rome put it rather well on his radio show this morning: A 500+ homerun hitter accidentally uses a corked bat once and coincidentally breaks his bat during that one use.

The odds of that are pretty long...


Like I said about Martha Stewart - what goes around comes around.

 

[SideshowBob]

I just traded Eric Gagne last week for this rascal... so he better be slammin' some Sammy homers soon (corked or not), or SSB will be slipping in my fantasy standings!!!!

 

[Figment22]

I don't believe it was an accidental thing, not in the least or that it was just a bat for batting practice either "to make the fans happy" as Sosa said last night. First off, by the time the fans are admitted to the park, the home team has already finished batting practice and the visitors are on the field taking BP. Also, it's been alluded to that this bat may have been used for home run exhibitions. Are we talking about Home Run Derbies here? That's no better. At the HR Derby prior to the All Star Game at
Miller Park last year, Giambi may have won the Derby but no one's dingers were higher or longer than Sammy's. So, was that a corked bat too?

I'm not a major leaguer but if I were taking BP prior to a game, I'd want a bat similar to the one I'd be using in the game to get my stroke down right for the game. No?

This to me completely taints all Sosa has accomplished to date. Put an asterisk next to his final career home run totals that go into the book, just like the (wrongly) put one next to Roger Maris'
name in 1961.

There's probably MUCH more cheating going on than anyone can imagine but when it's one of baseballs elite players it's all the more disturbing. A very disappointing day for baseball fans.

 

[Grog]

I want to believe it was an accident but I doubt it. Every player who gets caught with a corked bat says it was a mistake.

A 500+ homerun hitter accidentally uses a corked bat once and coincidentally breaks his bat during that one use. The odds of that are pretty long...

I have to agree.

 

[December99]

It sure is going to be interesting when he returns from suspension how he is treated when he steps up to the mound for the first time and it will be interesting to see what happens when he hits his first home run after this little incident....

I'm not sure how I feel about this. You know it is innocent until proven quilty but I have to agree with others - if this was a practice bat - what the heck was it doing with the game bats.....awful fishy to me.

And like one of my co-workers said - I feel sorry for his homeland. He has done alot to help them by providing things for them....if this crushes his career it also crushes hundreds of people that need this!!!! But he deserves what he gets!!!

 

[Patrick IL.]

The is no way MLB will admit those confiscated bats being examined are corked, even if they are. Its bad for business and the league is still recovering from bad press. He will be suspended, probably 7-10 games...it will probably go down prior to the Yankee series which is one of the hottest tickets in Cub history this coming weekend. If he did it intentionally or not is questionable, I believe many players do it, he just got caught. Accident or not he gets his hand slapped.

 

[Nagle]

by mistake

 

[glo]

Ok, if many players do it then why not to occassional testing of bats. It stands to reason that a corked bat will float, as opposed to a pure wood one...or there has got to be something...I forgot wood floats anyway darn it. There has got to be something, because if it is true that many do it...and that might be the case, then it is the leagues fault too for turning a blind eye...then they are encouraging cheating by not doing something about it. Ok, off my soap box. If he is guilty...then a 10 game suspension should be done and ASAP. No letting him play in the Yankee series. These guys are examples to kids and as an example should suffer the consequences of his actions...but darn it I am wishing it was a mistake

Chris it is true he does do alot for his people and many hispanic children idolize him...it is a shame

 

[Patrick IL.]

I'm not an expert but I think it would show up on an Xray, most all pro bats are made out of Ash, an very hard wood. Of course you would have to check everyone and have the equiptment and personal to do this...teams travel/play with hundreds of bats daily. I just do not think MLB will admit it's a problem.