Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

savafan · 01-16-2006, 10:11 AM

http://sportsline.com/general/story/9164034

Jan. 14, 2006
Wichita Eagle

Were the 1999 Royals using steroids?

You'd never have guessed it by their record: The Royals finished a woeful 64-97 that season, 32 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians.

But Royals slugger Mike Sweeney said on talk radio Friday and to the Kansas City Star that he was approached by friends on the team who had "the juice."

Sweeney told the Star later Friday that he has never taken steroids.

"There would have been no repercussions back then," Sweeney said by phone from California. "There was no testing like that. But I knew in my heart it was wrong, and I had my faith to get me through it."

Sweeney said he also has no intentions of naming those who may have been using steroids.

"We are a family in the clubhouse," he said. "What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. It's like that saying about Vegas -- what happens there, stays there.

"I also don't want to give the impression that there was rampant usage back then. There wasn't. In my 11-year career, I may have known four or five guys who might have been doing it. That's it."

As bad as the Royals were in 1999, that team did perform well offensively, batting .282 with a then-franchise-high 856 runs scored.

"I took a stand, and when I speak to kids -- to the D.A.R.E. program or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes -- I tell them, 'Look, I'm drug-free and I mean it when I say it,'" Sweeney said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Players on the 1999 Royals:

Carlos Febles
Joe Randa
Rey Sanchez
Johnny Damon
Carlos Beltran
Jermaine Dye
Jeremy Giambi

redsfan30 · 01-16-2006, 10:16 AM

Beltran and Damon are some very interesting names on that list.

marcshoe · 01-16-2006, 10:22 AM

Jeremy G's already admitted to taking steroids, hasn't he?

I get the feeling that you could say the same thing about (nearly?) every team in baseball. But maybe I'm just feeling cynical this morning.

Johnny Footstool · 01-16-2006, 10:22 AM

It's probably Jeremy Giambi.

cincinnati chili · 01-16-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Footstool

It's probably Jeremy Giambi.

Yep. And the KC front office took a lot of heat for unloading him (including from me). If this was the reason, then I beg their pardon.

savafan · 01-16-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savafan

http://sportsline.com/general/story/9164034

But Royals slugger Mike Sweeney said on talk radio Friday and to the Kansas City Star that he was approached by friends on the team who had "the juice."

Friends is plural, meaning more than one.

ED44 · 01-16-2006, 11:35 AM

Wasn't that the year that Febles came out and had people talking all-star? Nothing has been heard from him since either. There are definitely some interesting names there...

Team Clark · 01-16-2006, 01:37 PM

Bob Hamelin??? LOL!!!!!!

01-16-2006, 01:43 PM

I don't think Randa or Damon would have done it.

savafan · 01-16-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by this1belongs2

I don't think Randa or Damon would have done it.

Based on what? Their character? All people have flaws, it doesn't make them bad.

registerthis · 01-16-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savafan

Based on what? Their character? All people have flaws, it doesn't make them bad.

Well, Randa, for one, ha sput up rather consistent numbers during his career. There's been no noticeable "spike" in performance (or in body size, for that matter.) Additioanlly, he's become somewhat renowned for hsi work ethic--so based on nothing more than that I would express surprise if it comes out that Randa had used steroids. I simply don't see any evidence to support it.

Damon, I really have no idea. And that, really, is the saddest result of baseball's steroid scandal. Everyone is under suspicion, regardless of evidence. All numbers and records are viewed with a question mark. And that is truly unfortunate.

cincinnati chili · 01-16-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by registerthis

And that, really, is the saddest result of baseball's steroid scandal. Everyone is under suspicion, regardless of evidence. All numbers and records are viewed with a question mark. And that is truly unfortunate.

Yes.

Hondo · 01-18-2006, 08:28 AM

The Royals have the worst General Manager in all of Baseball South of Cincinnati... Allard Baird is a WAL-MART Greeter at best...Not a GM.

Oh, Say NO to Steroids Royal players...Even though you need every advantage...

JaredRoberts.com

RedsBaron · 01-18-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by registerthis

And that, really, is the saddest result of baseball's steroid scandal. Everyone is under suspicion, regardless of evidence. All numbers and records are viewed with a question mark. And that is truly unfortunate.

Yes, but the players have no one to blame for this state of affairs but themselves. The players union successfully resisted any meaningful steroid testing for years.

Chip R · 01-18-2006, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Clark

Bob Hamelin??? LOL!!!!!!

Maybe he took the fat steroids.

As for the players resisting any steroid testing, when was it ever put on the table by the owners? They are not exactly blameless in this matter.

01-16-2006, 10:11 AM	#1
savafan Maple SERP Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 17,485	Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids http://sportsline.com/general/story/9164034 Jan. 14, 2006 Wichita Eagle Were the 1999 Royals using steroids? You'd never have guessed it by their record: The Royals finished a woeful 64-97 that season, 32 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians. But Royals slugger Mike Sweeney said on talk radio Friday and to the Kansas City Star that he was approached by friends on the team who had "the juice." Sweeney told the Star later Friday that he has never taken steroids. "There would have been no repercussions back then," Sweeney said by phone from California. "There was no testing like that. But I knew in my heart it was wrong, and I had my faith to get me through it." Sweeney said he also has no intentions of naming those who may have been using steroids. "We are a family in the clubhouse," he said. "What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. It's like that saying about Vegas -- what happens there, stays there. "I also don't want to give the impression that there was rampant usage back then. There wasn't. In my 11-year career, I may have known four or five guys who might have been doing it. That's it." As bad as the Royals were in 1999, that team did perform well offensively, batting .282 with a then-franchise-high 856 runs scored. "I took a stand, and when I speak to kids -- to the D.A.R.E. program or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes -- I tell them, 'Look, I'm drug-free and I mean it when I say it,'" Sweeney said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players on the 1999 Royals: Carlos Febles Joe Randa Rey Sanchez Johnny Damon Carlos Beltran Jermaine Dye Jeremy Giambi __________________ This is the Cal Ripkin Jr. of typos. If you ask me to join your fantasy baseball league and I select Legolas in the first round, don't be angry at me. It's not my fault I've read up on the players and you haven't.

01-16-2006, 10:16 AM	#2
redsfan30 Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 7,545	Re: Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids Beltran and Damon are some very interesting names on that list. __________________ "Strickland Propane... Taste the meat, not the heat." - Hank Hill

01-16-2006, 10:22 AM	#3
marcshoe Ex-tixe Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Just past Mars Posts: 4,469	Re: Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids Jeremy G's already admitted to taking steroids, hasn't he? I get the feeling that you could say the same thing about (nearly?) every team in baseball. But maybe I'm just feeling cynical this morning. __________________ At the Edge of the Woods Preview Go to the edge of the cliff and jump off. Build your wings on the way down. --Ray Bradbury Last edited by tixe; 01-16-2006 at 10:25 AM.

01-16-2006, 10:22 AM	#4
Johnny Footstool Churlish Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 13,664	Re: Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids It's probably Jeremy Giambi. __________________ "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

01-16-2006, 11:35 AM	#7
ED44 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mount Sterling, KY Posts: 335	Re: Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids Wasn't that the year that Febles came out and had people talking all-star? Nothing has been heard from him since either. There are definitely some interesting names there...

01-16-2006, 01:43 PM	#9
this1belongs2 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids I don't think Randa or Damon would have done it.

01-18-2006, 08:28 AM	#13
Hondo Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Weatherford, Texas Posts: 2,124	Re: Mike Sweeney: 1999 Royals teammates used steroids The Royals have the worst General Manager in all of Baseball South of Cincinnati... Allard Baird is a WAL-MART Greeter at best...Not a GM. Oh, Say NO to Steroids Royal players...Even though you need every advantage... JaredRoberts.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode