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Old 11-19-2007, 06:42 PM   #7
RedsManRick
Stat Wanker Hodiernus
 
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
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Re: Cheating - Looking for that Edge

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spitball View Post
Steroids and other drugs are an extremely dangerous and unnatural way to achieve an edge in any sport. It is not the same as scuffing a ball, sculpting the infield, or applying a phantom tag to a runner.

I guess I really don't understand your position. Do your questions imply your acceptance of the practice?
No, I don't condone cheating in any form and would prefer that nobody cheated in any form.

While I think it's stupid that anybody would risk their health for such marginal gains, I just don't see the moral difference in finding a way to build muscle better so you can hit the ball further and corking your bat, so you can hit the ball further. Cheating is cheating, no?

To take it further, if taking steroids is the worst form of cheating, then what about Lasik eye surgery or cortisone shots? Are those natural?

There seems to be two basic groups of activities: ones that affect the player and one which affect the implements of the game. Are the former worse than the latter due to some structural difference? If steroids were "healthy", would they still be so horrible?

Steroid use is sad and should be strongly discouraged because of the precedent it sets which would encourage others to risk bodily harm for their success. But I think it's a much much grayer conversation than the one that's being held in the media.
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Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.
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