I don't get too worked up about all the steroid talk, whether it revolves around Bonds, Giambi, McGwire, whatever.If they didn't want these dudes to take steroids they should've made it illegal.
How many steroid tests has Bonds failed?
And how many pitchers that McGwire, Bonds, Giambi & Co. took deep were also on roids?
Having said all that, I often go back and look at past Twins teams, and think about what guys were likely on roids, and how it never occurred to me at the time.
I don't think the Twins had a lot of roid-heads, but there were undoubtedly a few.
*Marty Cordova
Shown above getting his picture taken topless, no doubt for an underground gay mag in Minneapolis, Cordova was about to be released from the Minnesota organization early in his career.
In 1990, he hit .216 with 7 homers. In '91, he hit .212 with 7 homers.
In 1992, he hit .341 with 28 homers and 131 RBI. Hmmmmmmmm.
Cordova would go on to a pretty good major league career, hitting 122 homers in parts of 9 injury-plagued seasons, and winning the '95 AL Rookie of the Year award.
A unexplained spike in performance? A Canseco-like blend of speed and power? A bodybuilders physique, and an inability to stay off the DL?
Seriously, how did we miss this?
*Bobby Kielty
He's frickin' weird, he's buff, and his back is covered in zits.
He looked like a very promising player right up until the time the Twins traded him, but as the game has put more focus on steroids, Kielty has been little more than an uglier version of Lew Ford.
*JC Romero
Pitchers aren't supposed to be as buff as this guy was, who had one good year (maybe two) and a bad temper.
Recently cut by Boston.
*Chuck Knoblauch
Not that Chucky ever became a real big dude, but he looked a lot different in 1998 than in 1991, and also hit a lot more homers - 5 in his first 3 years, 18 in his first year as a Yankee.
Obviously Chucky wasn't taking the same stuff as some of the big boys, but I'm guessing he relied on more than protein shakes.
*(I hate to say it) Kirby Puckett
Maybe, maybe not.
I will say this:
1984 - 0 homers.
1985 - 4 homers.
1986 - 31 homers.
He credited the power surge to the leg-kick suggested by then-hitting coach Tony Oliva.
I hope that was the case. I'm skeptical.
7 comments:
Just my opinion, but the photographer appears to be a little too eager to take that photo. I think your theory is spot on. So I only have one question, how do those underground mags get their subscription orders to your mailbox in SF?
The Twins were blessed with Brett Boone's post steroid days, which resulted in him not playing worth a sh**.
Al Newman and Kirby Puckett were simply guilty of over indulging in chicken and protein from their repeated trips to KFC. Unfortunately for the both of them, all the protein ended up piling up in their a**.
Here's 2 Non-twins who I've never heard mentioned regarding steroid use. Remember Gabe Kapler? He was this body builder cut up dood who used to play with Texas. Then one year, he just upped and left to go play in Japan. then he comes back with the Red Sox, and he's skinny again. The other is Pudge Rodriguez. Look how skinny he is now compared to how big he used to be. And why do you think he used to be able to catch 150 games a year???
And then there's Roger Clemens. That's a no brainer.
Some of these guys have put in the hard work. They might have used supplements, but that does not mean they were on steroids.
ps marty does'nt even look that big, if he was on steroids his dealer sold him the bad shit and he should be pissed off.
"marty does'nt even look that big" No joke? That's a side effect from roids. What puzzles me is, how could you tell? I mean, he has his pants on in the picture.
Anyone out there in the Sioux falls area ever try listening to the local "sports talk" with Craig and Bob on KWSN in the afternoons? It should be accurately termed Horrible Talk Radio. On a daily basis, they cover such important topics as the WNBA, all sorts of soccer crap, how the Storm and Stampede could compete on a higher level, and worst of all, they have the absolute worst general baseball knowledge, especially any happenings regarding the twins.
Bob mentioned one time that Derrick Lowe (pitcher for the Dodgers) made a great play in the outfield for the Twins. He somehow mistaked Michael Cuddyer for Derrick Lowe. That's a tough one. And then, Bob's in love with anything west river, especially Becky Hammon. Who gives a f*** about the WNBA or Becky Hammon?
Last week I heard Craig say of Julio Franco, "Didn't he pitch for the Twins a few years back?"
Yesterday, Bob was a little annoyed with Zimm-dawg asking Mauer for a little more power at the plate. I guess he is happy with a 6'6" catcher hitting 1 bomb a year.
Matt, it's time for you to redirect your rage from Blyleven to these tools.
Post a Comment