The Steroid Legacy, or why no one will ever be able to have a breakout year without suspicion again
Before the 2010 season, Jose Bautista was known for being a part of the most hilarious Rule 5 draft in Major League history.
Not anymore. As of Aug. 24, Bautista is just 10 home runs away from the most unlikely 50-home run season since Brady Anderson.
A player destined to be remembered only as a utility guy has turned into an All-Star, power-hitting third baseman on the verge of reaching a home run total that was all but impossible to achieve just a quarter century ago.
And the one question you have to ask is, what’s this guy on? Of course, as of now, there’s no proof Bautista is on anything more than Gatorade and Power Bars. But you still have to wonder, right?
We can thank The Steroid Era for that cynicism. Maybe if that had existed when Anderson was turning in his career year, things would be different.
Let’s go back to Anderson. For those who don’t remember, he hit exactly 50 home runs for the Orioles in 1996, 26 more than he hit in any other season. That year, only Mark McGwire hit more home runs (52), and we now know how he did that. Those two were only the fifth players since 1965 to hit 50 or more home runs in a season, joining George Foster (1977), Cecil Fielder (1990) and Albert Belle (1995).
There were certainly questions at the time of how Anderson could have topped his career total in one season, but the word “fluke” was used more than the word “steroids.”
Not today. Not after the Mitchell Report. Not after the greatest hitter – Barry Bonds – and the greatest pitcher – Roger Clemens – of that era are facing federal indictments based on their alleged steroid use.
Before the 2010 season, Bautista, who as of Aug. 24 had 40 home runs for the Blue Jays, had a previous high of 16 home runs, which he accomplished in 2006 while a member of the Pirates.
At 29 years of age, Bautista is having a career year and on the verge of the first 50 homer season since 2007. Who saw this coming? No one, that’s who. Anyone who tells you differently – including Bautista – is pulling your leg.
It’s unfortunate for the player, but it’s a lot harder to prove he isn’t taking anything. It would be nice to think that since there is drug testing in baseball these days, if Bautista or anyone else was juicing, he’d get caught. But be realistic, there will always be ways for players to cheat the system.
Not to say that’s what is going on here, but after what has happened in the last 15 years, the questions have to be asked. It’s too bad, but MLB – owners and players alike – brought it on itself.