It is not a significant distinction to make anymore. This particular banned substance has usage in the "Roid Users World." It ain't like Manny thought it was a calcium supplement or a fish oil supplement. It's basically "the smoke" from a "smoking gun." The journalists will scour around for "the gun" now.
I disagree with that statement. Sure, it has implications in the steroid using community, but bottom line, it's not a steroid, and he didn't fail a test for
steroids. Additionally, I don't think it's fair to assume what Manny thought when he took it, because both he and his doctor have said they didn't know the drug would fail a test or contained a banned substance. Until there is evidence to the contrary, it's just speculation to assume otherwise. Manny will probably do the same thing that J.C. Romero did and sue the doctor for essentially being negligent. I'm not sure what there is to say that Manny didn't legitimately use the stuff for ED.
Greinke (who I do recall from 2004/2005 but I'm obviously completely wrong with his teams) has all the motive in the world to use banned substances to "recapture his promise" and "land a whopper contract" is getting thrown in with the entire world of MLB as being probably a user. Dontrelle Willis has mechanical issues with his throwing motion. I don't think he'll ever pitch well again because his throwing motion is too complicated, nobody can figure it out, and he can't "relearn" a new throwing motion.
I have no doubt that Greinke has reason to try to impress. But then again, so does every other Major League player, it's the nature of the business. However, this lends absolutely zero credence to the idea that he is factually using steroids. The most telling part of Greinke's "rebirth" so to speak, might in a few of his stats.
Zach Greinke Average Fastball MPH
2004-2007 - 94.8 MPH
2008 - 93.0 MPH
2009 (So far) - 92.9 MPH
Average Slider Movement (Horizontal)
2004-2007 - 5.7 inches
2008 - 5.0 inches
2009 - 4.8 inches
Average Curve Movement (Horizontal)
2004-2007 - 8.1 inches
2008 - 7.5 inches
2009 - 6.0 inches
But the most telling statistics of his so far:
BB/9
2004-2007 - ~2.9
2008 - 2.49
2009 - 1.36
K/9
2004-2007 - ~7
2008 - 8.14
2009 - 10.02
Strike Zone Swing % (The percent of pitches in the strike zone, that a batter swings at)
2004-2007 - 67%
2008 - 65%
2009 - 59.6%
The guy has walked fewer batters, struck out more, his fastball has lost speed, his offspeed pitches have lost movement, and people are swinging at fewer pitches in the zone. Anyone who knows a damn thing about pitching would tell you that means exactly one thing: he's hitting his spots, plain and simple. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of a steroid or any other PED that will magically make you hit your spots and throw strikes.
And one of the startling things about Dontrelle Willis was that his mechanics were actually sound once he was sent down. He just couldn't hit the damn strike zone, and that's the exact reason that he went in for psychological testing this spring, and was finally diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, which quite often leads to depression. Simply put, if you can't mentally focus and pitch, you aren't going to be successful. Dontrelle and Greinke have mirror stories, Greinke was just diagnosed earlier.
Again, I understand that in your opinion nearly everyone is suspect to taking steroids, but the evidence is quite clearly stacked against that accusation with regard to Greinke.
