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

[Patrick IL.]

Sammy Sosa was ejected last night after breaking his bat while up, the opposing catcher noticed and pointed out to the umpires that the bat was "corked"...filled with about a 1/2 dollar size wide cork through the center. Sammys story is he only used this bat for Batting practice to put on a show for the fans and grabbed it by mistake. The league confiscated all the bats in his bin for further inspection. Do you think it was an honest mistake? Here is a link to the story
Sammys Bat

 

[jx3smom]

I was listening to this this morning and it seems that most people think his story might have truth to it. They are basing it on his reaction just after the bat broke. He didn't act guilty. He let the bat go and didn't even try to scoop it up. Some think he would have run with the bat if he'd known it was one of the corked ones. Who knows? It really is a shame either way. He seems like a nice guy and his reputation is now questionable.

 

[RUDisney]

It makes me wonder how many times he "accidentally" used it in the past and didn't get caught...

 

[Serena]

I can't help but hope that he's innocent.

 

[Indyman]

I'm leaning towards not believing him. If it's a bat he uses only in batting pratice and is corked, then why is it anywhere near his game bats, or clearly marked as his batting practice bat. He's been in a terrible slump since coming off the DL and needed a pick-me-up to get him back in the groove.

 

[glo]

I do not know what to think. He is a great player and find it hard he has been using one all along. It could have been an honest mistake as he said, and he picked the wrong bat, but I do not think he will ever live this down and his achievements will now be called into question. It is a shame either way

 

[Patrick IL.]

This is not the first time this has happened with MLB players. I think to avoid any "confusion" in the future..only legal bats should be allowed both in practice and in games, anything else even in the possesion of a team or player should be a violation. As far as his punishment MLB will have to at the very least suspend him.

 

[glo]

Several players have been caught using altered bats in the past, including Albert Belle, Wilton Guerrero, Chris Sabo, Billy Hatcher and Graig Nettles. All were suspended...

 

[Minnie824]

I do not believe him. I think he knew about it. His face when they were looking at the bad seemed more scared that he was caught. He said he uses it for practice, but if you can't use it in the game, why practice with it? That doesn't make sense to me.

 

[CathyCanada]

Like Laurie, I hope it was a mistake, but fear it was not. Disappointing when heroes fall from their pedestals...
CC

 

[Towncrier]

Maybe Sammy should give up corked bats and use the same drugs that Mark McGwire uses to give him an edge.

We're looking in the wrong place for heroes.

 

[honeywolf7]

I hope it was an innocent mistake.

 

[d.kurz]

If it was a "mistake" it was pretty stupid.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Indyman
I'm leaning towards not believing him. If it's a bat he uses only in batting pratice and is corked, then why is it anywhere near his game bats, or clearly marked as his batting practice bat. He's been in a terrible slump since coming off the DL and needed a pick-me-up to get him back in the groove.

I think he's lying, I think he knew about it and had a 'ready made' story set just in case something like this happened. Athletes will do whatever they can to get that edge over the competition and in their minds they are not guilty until they are caught.

I think practice bats should be colored different, like a blaze orange grip or something. Still, there is NO excuse for a MLB player to have a bat like that - even for 'SHOW' like he said.

He should be suspended.

 

[FINFAN]

We were just at the game on Sunday against Houston....DS loves Sammy and this was extra hard to break to him after the thrill of going to his first Cubbie's game I too, hope it is all a mistake...I still think he's a phenominal player, and I know I have made mistakes in the past so I am not going to judge. Celebrities are under the spotlight for the good and the bad...DS still thinks he's awesome...that works for me.

 

[newmousecateer]

Unfortunately, I don't believe him. I just don't think there is any way he could have "accidently" picked up that bat.

 

[olena]

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

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I really don't know and I'm not here to judge. This just once again shows that professional athletes are just like all of us, they are human and they make mistakes and/or errors in judgment. To expect more from them is wrong and is our fault for placing them in hero status.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I wish I could believe him but I don't. These guys have equipment managers and if it were a practice only bat it would not have been out in the bat rack during the game. The bat was marked with a "C," but I just can't believe that taking it out there was a mistake. I guess I'm just too cynical.

It is extremely disappointing. I had to tell my 9yo this morning before he saw it on the news. There are more important things in life than Cubs baseball, but it is pretty discouraging to have to tell your kid that one of his favorite players was caught cheating last night.

 

[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.