Catherine Trammell - contributing reporter
Steroid use is running rampant throughout Cobbfather and the commissioners office has very little to say about it! We went undercover to Dr James Keggi's office and gained access to a few clubhouses around the league, with the most prominent being the Oklahoma City Barons and the defending World Champs, Atlanta Expos. And in the wake of the William Thompson injury, we are hearing rumors around the league about the NOOFs sending him to Oklahoma City to visit their 'lab'.
- Oklahoma City
- Midre Benavente - If Midre wasn't the ace of the staff before seeing the "doctors" he definitely is now. Word has it, he's improved his stamina, 4 points on his control, 2 on each of his splits, and even the quality of his two primary pitches, a sinker and a slider. Those kind of improvements are almost underheard of for a 33 yr old. The sinker went from good to down right nasty!
- Nefi Sierra - The Nefi we all see today isn't the same as the one who played for Columbus at the start of the season. Since benefiting from OKC's "doctors", Nefi has seen two stints on the DL, each time recovering better than when he went down. By the ratings of our scouts, he's gone from an 82 at the start of the season to an 84! Though most of that growth has come in the field as he's getting to balls faster. His health and durability were said to improvement but maybe the OKC doctors were trying out a new serum because you ask "Hey Catherine, if his health improved why did he land on the DL a second time?" And I'd suggest the second stint was another ploy to try out a new batch of their power serum. Rumor has it, given their pitcher's park; the team is looking for ways to improve their power hitting.
- Stretch Story - What Midre did as a starter, Story did as a reliever. This 29 yr old saw a 4 point bump in his control, 2 vL, 3 vR, and 2 bumps in all three of his pitches; putting his 4-seam above quite a few others in the league. Story saw a 4 point bump in his overall ratings by the Blog's scouts. The lab seems to work it's wonders!
- Rafael Rodriguez - Like Nefi, Rafael saw a big jump in his range, durability, and health. Unlike Neif, Rafael also saw a 4 point ratings bump in his speed. I'd expect a small uptick in his average since he's a tad bit tougher to throw out at first.
- Pedro Puello - Yet another starter who comes back from the DL healthier than ever before! Pedro's increases were minimal but across the board. When a playoff team's SP1 and SP2 see these kind of increases when they shouldn't be improving, every medical person raises an eye brow.
- Atlanta
- Alan Street - Atlanta liked what they saw so much like OKC with Sierra, they sent Street back to the labs for "tendinitis". The Expos are hoping for another 1-2 points in Control, Splits, and maybe even a little bit on the velocity. Going on the 60 day now, should have him back for the ALCS...assuming Expos put an end to their current losing streak.
- Steve Etherton - Yet another pitcher who picked up control and splits, righties will have an even tougher time getting a base hit off him. And that velocity! The lab is working for Etherton!
- Chicago
- Eduardo Cespedes - EC may not be starting anymore, but the 33yr old is guaranteed $8.7M next season and has a $10.7M mutual option the follow season, so the Chicago owners are vested. Rumor has it, he was sent down to OKC for 'a second opinion' and like Puello and Benavente before him, saw increases across the board.
Mr. Comissioner, the ball is in your court. Think of the kids who look up to these players! Soon American kids will be bottle fed steroids, think of the kids! Oh wait, he loves Canada more than America. BOO!!!!