A pill more bitter than steroids
When one major league club executive was asked last week about the union's willingness to allow Major League Baseball to test for amphetamine use, and how that would go over with the rank and file, he cracked, ''They'll ask that the season be shortened to 60 games."
There is a long tradition of amphetamine use in baseball, those substances defined by author Will Carroll (''The Juice: The Real Story of Baseball's Drug Problems") as psychoactive drugs that ''stimulate both the central nervous system and the sympathetic division of the peripheral nervous system." They are illegal without a prescription, yet for decades they have been commonly used as a way to survive a long baseball season, and heighten a player's level of alertness.
Greenies, beans, black beauties, speed -- innocuous names for a product that some players are known to gobble by the handful. Carroll notes that in 2004, Chad Curtis, then a player with the Texas Rangers, told Sports Illustrated that their use is so prevalent that non-users are sometimes ostracized as slackers.
The penalties proposed for amphetamine use are considerably softer than those proposed for steroid use: treatment for a first offense, with discipline imposed for subsequent offenses.
Red Sox player representative Johnny Damon last week echoed what is a widely held sentiment that baseball should not proceed on the same track with amphetamines as it is with steroids.
''One is a performance-enhancing drug, the other is a . . . way guys get ready to play over 162 games," Damon said to the Globe last week. ''That gets to be tough. We'll see what kind of penalties they want. I think it would be real tough if they threw 25 games or 75 games or a commissioner's decision [at amphetamine users].
''We need to see what guys can possibly take. There are days I can't get going when I have to drink two, three cups of coffee to get jittery."
If amphetamines are banned, Damon said, ''We're probably going to see a lot of lethargic guys out there."
But Gary Wadler, a board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency and a professor of medicine at New York University, has argued that amphetamines may be more performance-enhancing than steroids, and habitual use of amphetamines can result in addiction. They also can lead to diminished appetite and sleeplessness.
Ballplayers have shown a stubborn willingness to ignore any discussion of the harmful effects of amphetamines, but with Congress ratcheting up the pressure, MLB may have no choice but to crack down.
''I'll just say that any move on amphetamines is a positive one," said Carroll, a professor of human performance and exercise science, and director of the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Mobile.
''As you well know," said Carroll, best known for his medical reports on Baseball Prospectus, ''it's a very big problem, especially if we include drugs like Strattera, Ritalin, and Modafinil. I hope those are included as well.
''It's tougher to catch these with just urine tests, so usage probably won't go to zero and will push people more to caffeine and the 'natural' alternatives. I do think that it should be paired: performance enhancement is performance enhancement, and [there is] a clearer relationship between uppers and better play than there is with steroids."
September is when it catches up to Varitek
September slumps are nothing new for Jason Varitek. Since 1999, when he hit .303 in September with 6 home runs and 20 RBIs, Varitek is batting a combined .218, with 7 home runs and 36 RBIs in five Septembers (he was out with a fractured elbow in 2001). That includes the career-low .169 (13 for 77) Varitek took into this weekend's series.
Varitek, who did homer against the Yankees Friday, was batting as high as .300 on Sept. 2, then plunged into a 4-for-43 slump. He had a four-hit game against the D-Rays, which suggested he was breaking out, but he began the weekend with the lowest batting average in the American League for the month, as well as the lowest slugging percentage (.195). His single Thursday night broke an 0-for-34 slump at Fenway Park.
The Sox captain would never admit it, but clearly the demands of catching have a cumulative effect by the end of the season, especially given the intensive effort he puts into working with the pitching staff. He also has a history of keeping injuries to himself, including a fractured wrist one season. This season is no different.
''I'm not answering that either way," said Varitek, whose body is encased in ice after every game. ''I will in the end, but no, I'm not answering that either way. No excuses, no blame, not saying anything either way."
Before the Sox signed Varitek to a four-year, $40 million contract last winter, there was considerable discussion over the propriety of making such a long-term commitment to a catcher of Varitek's age (he turned 33 April 11). Varitek responded, of course, by showing up in the best condition of his career. Despite appearances, he insists he is not much lighter than he was last season.
''I am moving pretty doggone good, though," he said.
Varitek, outspoken in his desire to have steroids eliminated from baseball, said he has altered his regimen little.
''I haven't changed a whole lot," he said. ''I take a multivitamin and I have protein shakes. I never change that. I have some energy bars or whatever, protein bars. Sometimes I can't eat before a game so I eat those.
''I took Creatine as a recovery mix for about a month in 2001 when I broke my elbow, but it made me too stiff. That's been it. That was a recovery mix, rather than for weight gain or strength before a workout."
He said that players have to be careful using any supplements. ''There's a lot more wariness, especially when [a product] doesn't have FDA approval. That's what scares you."
Looking ahead, no signs of dramatic finish in 2006
Unless the pathetic Orioles undergo a very quick transformation, there is no way next season can end with the drama of this year.
According to the tentative 2006 schedule, the Red Sox will play a dozen games after their last visit to New York Sept. 14-17, and none of them are against the Yankees (three at home against the Twins, four in Toronto, two at home against the Devil Rays, three at home against the Orioles).
The '06 schedule is also notable for the return of the three-city road trip. This season, the Sox made just one three-city trip and had only two homestands that involved more than two teams (a three-team homestand in April and a four-team homestand that spanned the end of August and beginning of September).
Next season, barring any revisions, there will be five three-city homestands and four three-city trips. An Amtrak special is a Baltimore-Philadelphia trip May 15-21. In June, the Sox have an unusual Minnesota-Atlanta pairing, visiting the teams that met in the '91 World Series.
Best week to get a tan would be in early July (including the Fourth), when the Sox visit Florida to play the Marlins and Devil Rays.
A Pedro sighting should come June 27-29, when the Mets visit Fenway as part of interleague play. And the last month of the schedule would appear to favor the Sox: Only 10 of their last 29 games come against teams with a .500 or better record this season.
Etc.
An idea out of left field
Nomar Garciaparra, second coming of Yaz? The former Red Sox shortstop told the Chicago Tribune he would do whatever the Cubs ask to return in 2006, even if it meant playing left field. The idea appealed to manager Dusty Baker. ''We'd consider that big-time," he said. The Cubs, incidentally, are said to be working quietly on an extension for Baker, whose contract has another year to run.
Outmanaged?
Jerry Narron, Grady Little's former bench coach, was made permanent manager of the Cincinnati Reds last week, but there could be several vacancies this winter. Lou Piniella (Tampa Bay) and Lloyd McClendon (Pittsburgh) are gone, and others likely to follow are Alan Trammell (Detroit), Jack McKeon (Florida), Sam Perlozzo (Baltimore), and Frank Robinson (Washington). Other possibles are Ken Macha (Oakland; his choice), Jim Tracy (Dodgers), and Clint Hurdle, (Colorado).
Guillen is not all talk
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen prompts a lot of eye-rolling with his nonstop commentary -- even general manager Kenny Williams occasionally gets worn down -- but evidently owner Jerry Reinsdorf has no problem with the former shortstop, who guided the team to the AL Central title. ''Ozzie certainly made it an interesting train ride," Reinsdorf said in the midst of the White Sox' celebration. ''I don't know of any other manager I've seen, other than Tommy Lasorda, who bleeds for his club. He feels this is his family and his team. I don't think anyone can think Ozzie isn't a serious manager anymore. He's going to continue to say stuff. But Ozzie is a great baseball man."
Hurling praise his way
Despite the team falling out of contention, Mets owner Fred Wilpon had nothing but praise for Pedro Martinez. ''He's been a great citizen," Wilpon said. ''He's been a great pitcher. With a little break here and there, he might have won 20 games this year. Everything we've asked him to do, he has done 120 percent. He's a man of his word. He's a man of character."
Gamer was lamer this year
Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez came into the weekend having missed just one game, and that was for the birth of his child. Now it is learned that Chavez may need shoulder surgery. ''This was the first year I had no idea where throws were going sometimes," the four-time Gold Glove winner said. ''The pain was the same as before, but it started to affect my performance. It was mental, too -- it really altered the way I went after balls. I wasn't being relaxed, I was thinking, 'I have to get there really fast,' because I had to think about making the throw."
Roberts is an old-school fan
Best story of an ex-Sox player going to the postseason has to be Roger Clemens, trying to win a World Series for the Astros. But for a close second, how about cult hero Dave Roberts returning to the playoffs with his hometown San Diego Padres? ''I cut school in '84 to see the Cubs and Padres," Roberts said. ''This is my team. It's special. It's doubly special for me. I missed school to watch this team play. I had dreams of playing for the Padres."
Giant question mark
Biggest decision facing the Giants in the offseason: Determining how much they can get out of Barry Bonds, who missed the first 142 games because of multiple knee surgeries. ''I think we've all seen he can still play," said GM Brian Sabean. ''Having said that, I don't know what this means going forward -- the real punch line being how much he will play next year. I'm talking about total games." Bonds will be 42 next season.
Three strikes for Baltimore
Bad news for Orioles fans: Owner Peter Angelos, on whose watch one of baseball's storied franchises has become a perennial loser, was asked by the Baltimore Sun last week, in light of rumors that Orioles icon Cal Ripken might be part of a group interested in buying the team, whether he would consider selling. ''It is not for sale," Angelos said. More bad news for the O's: Pitching coach Ray Miller, given high marks for his work with Daniel Cabrera and Erik Bedard, will undergo surgery Oct. 12 to treat an aneurysm below his heart, and it is uncertain whether he'll return to the club. Last bit of bad news for the Orioles: Bullpen coach Elrod Hendricks told the
The envelope, please . . .One man's award choices:
AL MVP: David Ortiz, Red Sox. No one carried his team more. Runner-up: Alex Rodriguez.
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Great hitter in an injury-riddled lineup. Runner-up: Andruw Jones.
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana, Twins. Runner-up: Bartolo Colon.
NL Cy Young: Dontrelle Willis, Marlins. Runner-up: Chris Carpenter.
AL Rookie: Huston Street, A's. Runner-up: Jonny Gomes.
NL Rookie: Jeff Francoeur, Braves. Runner-up: Willy Taveras.
AL Manager: Eric Wedge, Indians.
NL Manager: Bobby Cox, Braves.
Gordon Edes can be reached by e-mail at edes@globe.com. Material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report. 