Since our latest 2002 survey on steroids, WebBall has been strangely quiet on the topic. As this is written (June 2007) there is renewed interest dute to more hearings and recent assaults on home run milestones.

by Richard Todd, WebBall Head Coach, June 22. 2007

I watched with interest the controversy stirred by recent books and news articles, the latest round of political hearings, the gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands from the commissioners office, and the general confusion among the public as to what we are to make of all this. And now we have the latest round of coerced confession(s).

I am not in a position to know any absolute truth about the MLB names most often associated with the allegations. But there is one category, in which each of us should place players like Giambi, Bonds, Sosa, etc. The category is "skilled athletes".

To be clear, what I'm taking about is NOT the naturally produced steroids which the body needs and healthy males generate (like hydrocortisone, prednisone, testosterone). Nor am I talking about  anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, nor synthetic steroids prescribed for respiratory problems, joint inflammations, blood disorders, and so on.


Why would I say "steroids are overrated"? Because anabolic steroids won't make you a baseball player if you're not one. If someone were to approach a random sampling of young adult males in the general population and put them on a juicing program, it is unlikely that any of them would suddenly find themselves playing in the Show.

But before you write to me and say I've just said steroids don't make a difference and are harmless, let's step back a second and get some facts.

...whether natural or synthetic, whether produced by the body or added artificially.

Experts say steroids, in general, enable longer and harder athletic training sessions, reduce recovery time between sessions, enable training more intensively. Anabolic steroids, specifically, contribute to fat-free weight gain, growth of muscle tissue and sometimes bone strength and size.

No wonder there's abuse, it sounds like a free ride to the top.

But nowhere that I can find in the literature is there any claim that juicing will improve eyesight, hand-eye coordination, the percentage of fast-twitch muscle fiber, the ability to read pitches, etc.

Now, the argument is that if you can train longer and recover quicker, you can spend more time working on these skills, modeling pitches, etc.

Maybe. All that means is that if you're already athletic and quick, and can already hit a baseball really well, then with added muscle and bone, you might be able to make your bat be faster on contact and the ball will go farther. (Hence the controversy over the home run record.)

But there's a big gap between what it can do to someone who is already there, and some kid who thinks that steroids are magic. And that's why I say "steroids are overrated". Sorry, but they just can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. If you don't have the ability to turn on a baseball like Barry Bonds did in his early years - and still does now - then juicing won't get you there. The only question might be how many of those hit balls traveled 50-80 feet farther than they might have otherwise - but that's an issue for record books and hall-of-fame voters. Only.

Of course, if that's all there were to the argument, a matter of distance, then there would be no controversy, no senate hearings, no anguish in the commissioner's office.

The real problem comes because we presume that pro athletes - and pro athlete behavior - serves as a role model for our youth. "If they can do it, I can do it."


Just because I (or anyone) can say steroids are overrated when it comes to enhancing your baseball skills is not the same as saying steroids are harmless. Anything but.

The danger is in the side-effects and the list is long - and frightening. So much so that this is a clear case of the risk outweighing the reward, big time.

A partial list of side-effects:

• hair loss
• acne
• headaches
• jaundice
• hypertension
• high cholesterol
• enlarged breasts
• prostate problems
• testicle shrinkage
• stunted adolescent growth
• susceptibility to infections
• osteoporosis, and liver damage including cancer, jaundice, bleeding, and hepatitis

Nice.

As I said, the rewards of steroid abuse are OVER-rated.
True, but the risks should never be UNDER-estimated.


By the way, you might have considered all the above interesting but someone else's problem. Unfortunately, if you're a coach, parent or fellow teammate, the problem could be closer than you think.

So, let's end this with a few telltale signs. Steroid abuse can also lead to...

• headaches
• insomnia
• mood swings
• anxiety
• paranoia
• increased aggression
• and even suicidal tendencies.

Those are behavioral changes to watch for. Plus of course there are the possibly rapid physical changes: steroids may also cause a redistribution of fat, leading to a swollen face and abdomen, but thin arms and legs. And of course the rapid bulking up in chest and shoulder. (Sound familiar?)

That doesn't mean that every teenager who has suddenly bulked up or has mood swings is on something. Just be aware, and be willing to step in if need be. Doing nothing - even if you don't encourage or condone steroids - is not the answer.