No Evidence of Cork in Sosa's Hall of Fame Bats [3 X-Rays, 2 CT Scans All Negative]

AP News Ticker ^ | June 5, 2003 | staff writer

[ewing]

COOPERSTOWN, New York-

Tests conducted on five of Sammy Sosa's game bats donated to the National Basball Hall of Fame revealed no cork, unlike the infmaous one he used Tuesday night, the museum announced Thursday.

The Hall of Fame had X-Rays taken of three bats Wednesday, and CT scans of two others on Thursday.M

Conducted by a radiologist at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, the tests were negative.

[ewing]

Added to the archive..

[newgeezer]

So what? He's still a cheater.

(Fact) All of Sosa's confiscated bats were examined and found to be clean.

(Fact) When they catch you with a tricked bat, they ALWAYS confiscate ALL the bats you have at the ballpark. Therefore, ...

(Opinion) Only a total moron would have more than one corked bat at the ballpark. Only a fool thinks those clean bats either exonerate Sosa or lend credence to his "batting practice only" story.
________

(Fact) MLB is testing for steroids this year.

(Observation) Sosa is noticeably "smaller" this year; his arms aren't nearly as big as last year.

(Theory) Sosa stopped using steroids or whatever was bulking him up. Hoping to compensate for that, he corked his bat.

[Wolfie]

As if Sammy would give corked bats to the Hall of Fame in the first place. Did you happen to see George Will on ESPN last night? He was practically drooling on himself, pronouncing the controversy "over" since none of the other bats were found with cork. There's nothing worse than a sycophantic true believer.

[robjna]

So what? He's still a cheater.


EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnnyZ]

How about a psychotic cynic?

[newgeezer]

Did you happen to see George Will on ESPN last night? He was practically drooling on himself, pronouncing the controversy "over" since none of the other bats were found with cork.

Wow. I missed it, but thought George Will was better than that. Did you get the impression he thinks the absense of any cork in those 76 bats means Sosa's innocent? If so, I've lost a lot of respect for George Will.

[JohnnyZ]

Did you get the impression he thinks the absense of any cork in those 76 bats means Sosa's innocent? If so, I've lost a lot of respect for George Will.

Maybe he's just not a total cynic. Maybe there's absolutely no proof to contradict Sammy Sosa's story. Maybe George Will sees that Sammy Sosa has led a blameless life to date and trusts his word a hell of a lot more than he would Jose Canseco, for instance.

Maybe you're just too ready to tear down anyone who is a public figure when you see blood in the water. Maybe you're warped and bitter and don't believe that people can do the right thing in today's world.

[mewzilla]

One was enough.

[Guillermo]

The bats at the Hall were much more than likely taken at the time he achieved the feats.

Those are most assuredly the same bats. It's not likely they wait on him to ship them parcel post.

[OldFriend]

Also heard Will say that the constitution should be changed so Gennifer Granholm could run for president. No fool like an old fool.

[OldFriend]

More like Will is a senile old fool.

[JohnnyZ]

More like Will is a senile old fool.

Pot . . . kettle.

[newgeezer]

Maybe there's absolutely no proof to contradict Sammy Sosa's story.

Admittedly, it is a great story that way. Players should from this day forward have it rehearsed and ready to use. "Oops, it's my B.P. bat. Guess I should have marked it so I could tell them apart. Darn. Just darn!"

Maybe he's just not a total cynic. ... Maybe you're just too ready to tear down anyone who is a public figure when you see blood in the water. Maybe you're warped and bitter and don't believe that people can do the right thing in today's world.

Maybe you'd like to back off and take another look.

If Sosa had taken advantage of the perfect opportunity to put to rest all of those rumors of steroids last year by peeing into the cup, I'd have much less reason to doubt he's been doing the "right thing." (Instead, he got real mad at having to back off of his "first in line" claim. Once the shock of the "trap" wore off, he could've volunteered the next day. But, no.) If he hadn't displayed the tell-tale signs of steroids last year -- notice the puffy face is gone this year? -- I'd have less reason to be "warped and bitter." If it wasn't quite so obvious that his arms are much smaller this year than last -- coincidentally, MLB started testing for steroids this year -- I might not be a "total cynic."

[Scoutmaster]

While listening to ESPN Radio this morning (I think it was the Mike & Mike Show), I heard a print journalist mention that there was a gap of "a couple of innings" between Sosa's broken bat and the confiscation of his other bats; whether this is true or not, I don't know. I haven't heard this reported by any other source.

The journalist suggested that the delay of innings may have been to allow the Cubs organization to remove any other corked bats from Sammy's stash -- for the good of baseball's image.

I don't imagine that all of Sammy's bats are corked, but I do find the delay in confiscation odd if it actually took place.

[JohnnyZ]

If Sosa had taken advantage of the perfect opportunity to put to rest all of those rumors of steroids last year by peeing into the cup, I'd have much less reason to doubt he's been doing the "right thing."

You're implying that anyone who wouldn't agree to be drug-tested was using. That's such Democrat "guilty til proven innocent" BS. If that reporter -- who's a Major League Clymer, by the way -- had gotten Sosa to agree to a test, the onus would have been on every other ballplayer to test to PROVE THEY'RE CLEAN. Anyone who refused to test -- and there's no reason they had to -- would have been assumed guilty. That would have been wrong. Sammy did exactly the right thing. You're totally wrong on this, buddy. You seem to have no clue about right and wrong.

[CdMGuy]

Cynic? I don't think you are. This guy is a cheat, plain and simple. He should not have had a corked bat inside the stadium, not ever for batting practice. In the event that he was stupid enough to do so, he should have had an identifying mark on it. Even without a mark, he should have been able to identify the corked bat. So, he is either a liar or an a-hole.

I believe he was on steroids. Hence, the reason for his relatively poor performance this year. I wouldn't be surprised if he retires at the end of the season using some phony excuse. Without steroids, he will always be playing well below his steriod years.

He does not belong in baseball. Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame long before Sossa is even considered. And, I am not saying I support Rose for the HOF.

[Scoutmaster]

Sammy has certainly bulked up since 1998. What amazes me, however, is how so few sports journalists are willing to marvel at how Barry Bonds could add 40 pounds of muscle in two years.

There was lots of talk about McGwire, but it seemed a forbidden subject to point out that the entire shape of Barry's head changed (usually a sign of the use of human growth hormone) over two years.

I saw a documentary on PBS recently regarding "natural" bodybuilders. One man (certainly much younger than Bonds) was eating a dozen skinless chicken breasts and two dozen egg yolks a day, supplemented with powdered protein, in an attempt to gain weight and muscle while working out hours each day. He was only able to add 20-25 pounds of muscle in two years.

Bonds is and has always been an extraordinary all-around ball player. However, I'm stunned at the Emperor's New Clothes approach that everyone has taken regarding his last three or four years. The man seems to be a poster child for steriods and HGH.

[votelife]

Breaking news, I'm not kidding.

Rumsfeld just refused to comment on Sosa's cork!

[votelife]

baseball tests for steroids, but I think HGH, which they don't test for, and from what I've heard it is VERY hard to test for this. I think HGH is probably safer than roids, so I doubt Sosa used roids, maybe just HGH. Bonds is HIGHLY suspect to use HGH imo.

[newgeezer]

Sosa himself said he'd be "first in line." Painted himself into a corner, and wimped out.

You're totally wrong on this, buddy. You seem to have no clue about right and wrong.

Ah, so young, and so brash.