So Boston’s David Ortiz is the latest drug cheat outed by Major League Baseball (MLB). Is anybody truly surprised with this latest revelation? The big names just keep falling, with another 97 or so yet to be revealed on the list of those testing positive for something banned by MLB.

            My guess for the next big name to come out?

            Ken Griffey Jr. &/or Albert Pujols. I offer these names not because I have any proof of their cheating, but simply because too many of the players who have been putting up big hitting numbers in recent years have also tested positive for a banned substance. This, coupled with their injury history and some unsubstantiated rumors I’ve heard over the years, places them under suspicion in my mind. Flimsy evidence, I will admit, and I do hope I’m wrong.

            What’s interesting to me is that of the three MLB entities culpable for the steroid mess, it is still only the players who continue to pay the price. Management and labor? Not so much. Perhaps this is just, as it is the players who actually broke the rules. But when you consider that the testing conducted in 2003, from which the names of Ortiz, et al, are being revealed, was supposed to be confidential, something is very wrong about all of this.

            At a minimum, the union which was supposed to maintain the confidentiality of the names testing positive is coming across as incompetent bozos. They had a chance to destroy the list of names and didn’t do so. I wonder when/if a player will finally get tired of this dog and pony show and sue someone (the union? the commissioner?) for allowing these names to get out. All of this would seem to make any future “anonymous/confidential” testing more problematic. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn't trust either the union or commissioner’s office to properly handle my sample for testing purposes. Oh well. MLB continues to sell tickets at a record pace, giving the appearance that not many fans care about any of this.

            In this report I’ll provide some basic information on the differences between a few of the types of drugs banned by MLB as well as substances that are, as of this writing, considered to be safe, legal, and beneficial.

            Let’s start with this basic concept:

Anything an athlete does to improve his on-field play
can be considered “performance enhancing”

            However, I don’t care for the term, “performance enhancing drugs.”  While it is an accurate description for what these substances do for players, it also seems to have the effect, in some minds, of casting a shadow of suspicion over legitimate performance enhancing activities and substances such as strength, conditioning, and nutritional supplements.

            I routinely get questions and see things written on other baseball web sites that indicate to me a widespread lack of understanding regarding these matters. So I think it’s time to define a few terms to help anyone involved with the game - coaches, parents and players of all ages and ability levels – to be more informed on the issue of drugs and supplements, both legal and illegal.

            Please be aware, this in not intended to be a guide for the use of any drug or substance mentioned herein. If you have questions or require additional information on anything contained in this report, contact competent medical authority.

            First, there are 4 basic and accepted areas in which a player can enhance their on-field performance:

• Skills and Drills

• Strength & Conditioning

• Mental Training

• Nutrition & Recovery

            Most players utilize one or more of these components in developing their game. The more of these a player employs, the better he likely will perform. Likewise, neglecting any of these elements can keep a player from maximizing their potential.

Performance ENHANCERS

            Generally, these are drugs banned by MLB that are widely accepted as improving athletic performance. These include anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and agents that mask these substances. I also include amphetamines (aka speed, greenies, or beans) in this category. I do this because a player using speed during, say, a day game after a late night game will likely perform better than a player who is not. This is even more true late in the season. However, greenies would not add 5 mph to a pitcher’s fastball, or 40 feet of distance for a hitter.

            What’s interesting about this is that as far as I’m aware, there are no clinical studies that demonstrate that steroids improve on-field performance. Yet is widely accepted by medical science that they do enhance athletic performance, such as hitting power, running speed, and throwing velocity.

Performance ENABLERS

            These are drugs, either prescription or over-the counter, that allow a player to play but do not improve their normal abilities. All of the items that fall in this category are legal for use by anyone, including MLB players.

            A good example of this is a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. A well known drug in this category is cortisone. Cortisone reduces pain and inflammation, such as is felt in an elbow or shoulder with tendonitis. This pain reduction may allow a player to stay in the lineup, but it does nothing for their resulting performance. A pitcher who throws, say, 88 mph, will not suddenly throw 95 mph because of a cortisone shot. Cortisone will only get this player on the field due to feeling less pain in their arm. It’s analogous to taking an aspirin for a headache.

            Note that there are two types of steroids – anabolic (growth promoting, banned by MLB) and corticosteroids, allowed by MLB under a doctor’s supervision.

            Other things that fall in this category are items such as contacts or eye glasses that allow a player to see better. While improving a ball player’s vision might improve their hitting ability, this type of “enhancement” is allowed by MLB rules and is also legal and safe.

Nutritional Supplements

            This category includes the well known micro-nutrients – vitamins and minerals as well as macro-nutrients – protein, carbohydrates, and fats. All of these are components of a well balanced diet and can also be taken in pill or powder form as supplements.

            It is widely accepted that eating properly can enhance athletic performance, while eating poorly can detract from it. Supplements can be an important adjunct to even a well balanced diet. However, players need to carefully choose the source of their supplements. In recent years, some nutritional companies have supplied products that were tainted by various banned substances. Any athlete who is subject to testing for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) should use only products from reputable companies.  

            It's important to know that it is impossible for untainted nutritional supplements to cause one to test positive for banned substances such as anabolic steroids or speed.

            Back in 2004, Experimental & Applied Sciences (EAS) entered into an agreement with MLB to be their official supplier for various supplements. Put another way, EAS paid a fee rumored to be in the millions of dollars for the exclusive right for this designation as the only supplement company approved by MLB. Presumably, their products could be used by ball players and they would never test positive for any substance banned by MLB. I don’t know if this exclusive arrangement is still in force.

            To sum up, drugs of all kinds have been an integral part of all sports, including MLB. Most are legal and safe, some are not. My message to ball players at all levels of the game is this:

Not everyone is using PEDs and cheating!
Appropriate strength, conditioning and nutrition
can safely and effectively enhance your game.