Ex-Red Sox slugger Mike Greenwell goes 'roid rage' over steroids

Mike Greenwell discussed his career with the Red Sox yesterday.  He related his less-than-rosy memories of the juicing in MLB at the time:

Greenwell, 44, who says he's retired from his post-baseball career as a land developer after scoring a bonanza on a land deal in Fort Myers, said it was an eye-opener when he was told during contract negotiations that the difference between his salary and that of Canseco's was " 'he's hitting 40 home runs,' and I knew why. I didn't tell them I knew why, but I knew why and I always took issue with the fact that I was putting up similar numbers without the power numbers."

"Well, all at once, the numbers got crazy. Well, why? We all know why and I knew why. I did lose the MVP to Jose Canseco and also lost Rookie of the Year. If you'll look back, the guys that finished in front of me, we would all have doubt."

In other words, Greenwell feels cheated; they juiced, he didn't.  One or two went on to put up huge numbers...based on some chemical interventions.  (question: why does the MLBPA let this go on?)  Greenwell points out how he was cheated -- out of stats, and thus out of income.

Mark McGwire was the 1987 American League Rookie of the Year. Kansas City third baseman Kevin Seitzer and Detroit catcher Matt Nokes also finished in front of Greenwell in the voting.

"[If] I could have won Rookie of the Year and MVP in back-to-back years, you're looking at a different person sitting here, aren't you?" said Greenwell. "You really are. You're looking at a guy who did something unbelievable, but the guys that finished ahead of me, I wonder.

"The reason I brought it up and made attention to it was Jose admitted he was doing steroids during that time. He said, 'I would not have hit 40 home runs, I would not have stolen 40 bases without doing steroids.'

The following statement from Greenwell seems very well reasoned; MLB players clearly possess talent, but the enhanced talent puts unjuiced talent at a distinct disadvantage.

"I get a little miffed at people when someone makes the argument, 'Well, does it make the player?' Of course it doesn't make the player, but I promise you as a guy that could hit like I could hit, if the ball would have traveled 20 more feet for me, what kind of player am I then? If I get healthier faster because of that, what kind of player am I then?"

Greenwell said he "was very tempted" to use steroids because "I understood the pressure to perform." But he is proud of the fact that he didn't.

(why didn't Greenwell juice?  Answer after the jump)

Greenwell said he "was very tempted" to use steroids because "I understood the pressure to perform." But he is proud of the fact that he didn't.

And why didn't he?

"The truth? My wife's a nurse and basically told me she'd kill me if she caught me doing it. I looked into it. I studied it. I know a lot about steroids because I was very tempted as a player to do it.

"Probably if I didn't have my wife, I would have done it to try to at least perform at that level. Another reason I retired when I retired was I just didn't feel like [the playing field] was quite even anymore."

Despite his roid rage, Greenwell paradoxically thinks former teammate Roger Clemens belongs in the HOF:

Having said that, Greenwell said his former teammate, Roger Clemens, belongs in the Hall of Fame.

"First of all, he's one of the hardest workers I've ever met in my life," said Greenwell. "I mean, period - in sports and out of sports. It would just blow me away with how much he worked.

"Do I know, or think, or have an idea whether he did do any of that stuff? I really don't. I don't have any idea. My thought is no because he's such a hard worker that he wouldn't do that. Then when you watch the hearings and you see the things going on, it does cast doubt, but I certainly hope people don't judge his career on that. I think that's a shame."

Comments

[jrl]

I appreciate what you and your blog are trying to do, but you must be careful in your demonizing of steroids and HGH. There are medical necessities for their use and the recent witch hunts have caused those who are not educated on the subject to use their ignorance, along with your's and others' words, to belittle and stigmatize those who are taking HGH and steroids for medical reasons.

My brother was HGH deficient. At the age of 14 he was 4'10". For the next two years he received HGH and testosterone injections. He is now 5'11" and is grateful for the opportunity these valuable substances offered him.

My son, as a result of a genetic condition within our family, had normal HGH levels but abnormally low testosterone. He was prescribed a 1% 5 mg Androgel rub, which he may need to use for the rest of his life for normal physical maturation and function. As a result of the recent steroid "publicity" he is now being taunted by his peers at school as a steroid user and all of his athletic accomplishments are being belittled as a result of steroids, never mind that even with the rub my son still has lower Testosterone levels than the average 14 year old. I am thankful this rub was available for my son to ensure his proper physical growth and I am daily annoyed at the constant demonization of these substances simply because a chosen few decide to use them illegally and for the wrong reasons. I would ask that you and others like you make sure to tell both sides of the story, the benefits as well as the vices.

[GRG]

You are correct in that there are many indications for the important use of prescribed anabolic steroids and HGH in the treatment of legitimate medical disorders. However we do not 'demonize' HGH nor steroids.

Anabolic steroids and HGH are simply molecules or compounds. Molecules, or drugs, are neither good nor evil, neither moral or immoral. Molecules are molecules. It is the application of these compounds by humans that enters into the moral or ethical realm.

Take morphine for example. Morphine is an excellent analgesic. Morphine is used for the treatment of myocardial infarction (heart attack) all the time. As an intern I pushed alot of morphine into the veins of very sick patients in an CCU. However, when hustled by organized crime, and used for a 'high' by street users, morphine becomes a problem, and depending on your view 'immoral', 'illegal', 'deliterious' or 'fatal'.

Cocaine is a very potent local anesthetic when used medically. You know the abuse potential when used as a recreational drug, however.

Therefore we make no apologies for the stories recorded here. You see no story criticizing the legitimate use of HGH or testosterone. You will see no account of a properly applied prescription of nandrolone. However, you will see stories on HGH and anabolic steroids involved in cheating, smuggling, illegal distributing, and perjury.

The use of HGH in a child with a growth deficiency is nothing close to the account of pro kicker taking a shot of HGH in the rear for use of performance enhancement.

thanks for the comment

[Delusions]

I understand Greenwell being upset over losing the MVP, but there is no way he would've beaten Seitzer in the ROY voting.

Also, if Seitzer was a juicer, he had a lousy supplier:

1988 Kevin Seitzer

[Teena]

Mike might have been against performance drugs in the day, but maybe someone should ask him how he feels about them now. I am from his hometown and everyone here is pretty sure he and his entourage of male friends are all juicing. What kind of example is he for his son Bo?

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