In January an article was released about a spray being used in the NFL. Not a foot spray, not a deodorant spray, and not even hair spray. This spray was ground up New Zealand deer antlers.

It’s not suprising that players will go out of their way to keep their bodies stronger as the wear and tear of playing a pro sport starts to take a toll, and some NFL players even admitted to using the spray. What makes this spray so effective? HgH.

To make a long scientific explanation simple, deer antlers grow a moss that help the antlers grow. This moss naturally contains the substance IGF-1 that is banned in pro sports everywhere. This doesn’t stop players from using it, however. Bengals safety Roy Williams was even quoted as saying “Two to three times a day (I use it). My body felt good after using it. I did feel a difference.”

“Spray it twice a day. Once before the game and once after to help aid in recovery” said one minor league baseball player.

Wait. Weren’t we talking about the NFL?

Well, Yahoo! Sports writer Dan Wetzle was, but I’m here to talk to you about the MLB.

Word around the minor leagues is that this deer spray has been used by what one ballplayer guessed “probably 50% of the leaugue. Well, the big leagues.” The kicker here? The claw and antlers that took over the Texas Rangers organization last year has been rumored to have stemmed from the use of this deer hormone. Multiple ballplayers have been told that the Rangers started using the “claw and antlers” sign as not only a way for, as Michael Young has said, “to pull for our teammates,” but as a way to secretively pull for the bond that held some of their big leaguers together as deer antler Hgh users.

Is this unlikely? According to a Texas Rangers personell, it’s not. ‘Uhm, no. These guys were doing this when guys would get up and hit singles and doubles… they were doing it all the time… the fans finally caught on and now its a national thing? A claw and antlers? Thats the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Now we’re all hearing about this $70 bottle that can be sprayed in our mouth that the MLB can’t detect. Whoever doesn’t think there’s a connection is dillusional.”

Josh Hamilton even had a 10-point buck mounted over his clubhouse locker according to USA Today. The same article credits Esteban German as the one who introduced the claw and antler sign to the team after coming back from the Dominican Winter League in 2009, and with most illegal substances rooting from other countries, that’s no suprise either.

Apparently Nelson Cruz also had something to do with the claw and antlers catching on in Texas- before the non-verbal sign, Cruz used to yell “deer!” from the clubhouse until one day he started flashing the antlers instead of yelling word.

The story here just doesn’t add up. This isn’t a case of a big league team using Journey’s Don’t stop Believin’ as a rally song in the play-offs, or selling “fear the beard” t-shirts. I can’t for the life of me remember when something so strange went on with a team. Last year when everyone was hyped up for the play-offs it was over-looked as quirky but now when pro ballplayers are coming out admitting (anonymously, of course) that they’ve heard about this drug from actual Texas Rangers big leaguers, it sends up red flags.

The problem here is that we will never know for sure if the Rangers were using the spray or if they were just getting in the Texas hunting spirit (right..). It stands to reason, however, that with so much information circulating in the pro ball community about this “new” drug and the rumors behind the rangers absurd rally sign, that there is still a need for mandatory blood testing in the MLB. Unfortunatly, the players union will never allow that and this sort of drug or a variation of it (whether it’s being used or not) will continue to circulate around pro sports as the “bigger, better, faster, stronger” craze holds fire.

**I originally wrote this for another website backed by an ex MLB player and was told to take it down because my views directly reflected those of the site as a writer and there was fear of backlash from the MLB… so I did. Now I’m choosing to repost this after getting word this morning that while the spray has been banned, there’s people buying into a new company that’s making a Chinese version with no additives that can’t be detected even via blood work. (Dont get stupid ballplayers.. there’s no proof it can’t be detected, and you minor leaguers can still be tested via blood work… screw “adapt or die,” try respecting the game first and foremost.) I also want to go on record (for legal reasons) as saying that I have NO 100% proof that the Texas Rangers or any other ballclub is using this hormone for PED reasons and my opinions are solely that of mine and do not in any way reflect the views of Major League Baseball. Any ballplayer that I’ve talked to or interviwed about this subject is and will remain anonymous for obvious reasons. Also, PEDs are bad.**

“There are rich teams, and there are poor teams, and then there’s 50 feet of crap, and then there’s us. It’s an unfair game. Now we’ve been gutted, organ donars for the rich… Yankees have taken our kidneys, Boston’s taken our hearts, and you guys are sitting around talking the same old fair bodied nonsense like we’re selling jeans… like we’re looking for Fabio. We’ve got to think differently. We are the last dog at the bowl. Do you see what happens to the runt of the liter? He dies… If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees out there. That’s just logic.”

~Billy Beane, “Moneyball” The Movie, 2011.

With the release of the best selling adaption of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball this September, as fans we have been pushed to re-examine the whole reason why we hate New York. I used to be a Yankee hater. I have no problem telling people I was. I always follow that statement, however, with “and then I decided to grow up as a fan.”

It’s 2011 and are we all really still feeling the affects of post player arbitration and free agency as badly as we were when Steinbrenner was running what Jim Caple likes to refer to as “The Evil Empire”? I think it’s safe to say that the answer is “no.” As a fan we’re taught to grow up respecting the game and I cant see a reason not to respect a team who has produced such legends as Whitey Ford, Lou Gehrig, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Roger Maris (and heres a fun fact… no one with the last name of “Stienbrenner” purchased any of them…).

This is what I love about baseball… try and follow:

The Yanees do have the highest payroll in the game (and before we get into it, and for those of you who continue to annoy me with the salary cap argument, listen closely: there will NEVER EVER EVER BE A SALARY CAP IN BASEBALL. Two Words– Players Union. The only legal monopoly in the US… these guys are a part of it to keep themselves rich so if you wanna blame someone, blame Marvin Miller), at $202,689,028 and finished 1st in the American League East, 6 games above the wild card winning Tampa Bay Rays. The Royals have the lowest salary at $36,126,000 and finished in 4th place and 24 games back in the American League Central this year. Seems like a pretty big gap between talent related to payroll, doesn’t it? On paper, yes.

As it stands, I’m sitting in bed watching the Detroit Tigers battle it out with the Texas Rangers for the American League Championship, after the Yankees, Phillies, and Bosox have all been eliminated either before or during the post season. Consider the following.

2011 Team Payroll:

Yankees (eliminated in the ALDS): $202,689,028
Phillies (eliminated in the NLDS) $172,976,379
Red Sox (lost the race for the Wild Card by 1 game) $161,762,475
Tampa Bay Rays (Made a mad end of the season run for the wild card, tearing up Boston and everyone else to come back, and were eliminated in the ALDS by the Texas Rangers) $41,052,571

What’s even better? The Rangers and Tigers ($92,299,264/$105,700,231) combined payroll still doesnt match the payroll of the Yankees, and neither does the Cardinals and the Brewers combined payroll ($105,433,572/$85,497,333), and they’re the ones still playing in the post-season!

The concept of Moneyball and buying championships respectively is all well and good but the fact remains that this game will always surprise you. You can’t buy a championship. You can buy players who can score runs and be high strike out guys and afford to eat their contracts when they dont pan out, but you can’t buy a ring. At this point it’s getting a little old to constantly hear “I HATE the yankees.” I understand the past and the affect that monopolizing players had on small market teams but I think it’s obvious now that even when you’re in the bottom 10% of the MLB payroll its still an absolute possibility to make not only a post season run, but to bring a championship home to the fans as well.

The entire point of this post is to remind everyone that baseball is constantly evolving and changing. Aside from the Chicago Cubs who just continue to lose every year, all teams go through streaks and years of extreme prosperity and disparity.  It’s simply time to let the bandwagon Yankee hating go. I mean how can you hate a team that won 74% of their championships PRIOR to the ability to “buy a championship team” ? I can’t hate a team who housed a man like Babe Ruth who is arguably the best player of all time and who’s home run hitting at the end of the dead ball era helped bring fans back to baseball after they had their hearts broken by my Chicago White Sox in 1919.

I urge everyone to go out and watch discs 1-5 of Ken Burn’s “Baseball” documentary (I own it, but I’ll charge to borrow… kinda like Netflix.. that shit’s expensive and I’ll kill someone if it gets effed up), and not get goosebumps when learning all about the Yankee’s history. It’s storied, it’s impressive, and it helped shape this game from the bottom up. While you’re doing that, remember that no one likes a hater, but its alright to hate a cheater, so continue the anti a-rod banter because I’m totally ok with that. (I’m also ok with men and women getting turned on when Mo walks out of the bullpen at Yankee Stadium… its totally acceptable.)

P.S., I will leave you now with one of the FUNNIEST video’s I’ve ever seen online… it’s a parody of Moneyball all about the Yankees and it is EPIC… I dare you not to laugh your ass off.

This is something new I want to start after literally laughing my ass off over a few glasses of wine last night reading Indian’s prospect, Cole Cook’s, blog. There are some really great blogs out there but some of the best are run by actual players. (Except for CJ Wilson… for a great alternative to his constant holier-than-thou attitude and forcing his straight edge ways down your throat, try visiting www.CJWilsonIsADouche.com .. I promise you it actually exists, and it’s hilarious).

So without further ado, please check out Cole’s blog by clicking the picture of him below… this kid is not only clever but has some pretty insightful posts as well about baseball and life. I’ll continue to update this page as I find blogs that are share-worthy as well, so enjoy!

Discussions about the ground rule vs automatic double tonight got me thinking about a past post I did for the Baseball Network (backed by hall of famer Dave Winfield.. check it out if you havent.. its like facebook for baseball players/coaches/managers/etc)… so I thought I’d repost it for your obvious viewing pleasure

Its jargon we’ve used since we were children playing ball in the local school yard. “You have to tag up!”  (Rule 7.10-), “Interference!” ( Rule 6.08), “fielders choice!” (Rule 10.12(f)(2)

As children we take the rules as seriously as we do when we’re sitting around watching our favorite teams battle it out 162 games a year, screaming at the TV. However how seriously does the MLB take them? As detailed as they’ve laid these rules out in their 130 page Official Rule Book, you’d think that each rule would be followed, well, by the book.

In a sport where fans continue to confuse a “ground-rule double” and an “automatic double,” a batter can be credited with an RBI if the man on 3rd scores due to a bases-loaded walk (even though the batter never “batted” in a run), and theres 23 ways for a man to get on first, its not surprising that a lot of rules are overlooked.

Take for instance rule 6.05(a) which reads “A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed…. ball is in play, unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, falls into a dugout or other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead.

How often have we seen a ballplayer fall into the dugout while making a catch which he holds up proudly and is awarded the out? It happens more than a few times a season and is featured on highlight reels all over ESPN and MLB Network. In fact, rule 7.04(c) states, “a fielder, after catching a fly ball, falls into a bench or stand or falls across ropes into a crowd when spectators are on the field {each runner may advance one base}. If the rules were followed all of these web gems would be dead balls, not insanely amazing fielding plays.

Not only do these ignored rules exist in the actual play of the game,(The Rule Book is broke up into 10 divisions of code- Objectives of the game, Definition of Terms, Game preliminaries, Starting and Ending a game,Putting the ball in Play, The Batter, The runner, The Pitcher, The Umpire, and The Official Scorer) but even the smallest details in the first 7 pages of the book are ignored. Rule 1.11(a) states that “any part of an undershirt exposed to view shall be of a uniform solid color for all players on the team” (we’re talking to you, Brian Wilson). 1.11 (c) “Sleeve lengths may vary for individual players, but the sleeves of each individual player shall be approximately the same length” (Like that happens).

What about when you see a runner chatting with the first baseman or base coaches? Well, that’s illegal too. “Players in uniform shall not address or mingle with spectators…. No manager, coach, or player shall address any spectator before or during a game. Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time while in uniform.” This rule also technically outlaws one of fan’s favorite post monumental home run traditions: the curtain call.

Just think, these are just rules I found simply by skimming the Rule Book. Who knows how many other rules are not followed on a daily basis? We’ve all heard of buffet religious followers, so what is the difference in the MLB when the officials are picking and choosing which rules should/shouldn’t be followed?

What makes this all so interesting, however, is that despite these “official” rules being ignored, the fact will always remain that the most important rules in baseball are not the ones laid out by Major League Baseball. They’re the unspoken rules of the game. Don’t jinx a no hitter or a perfect game, don’t help the opposition make a play, don’t walk in front of the umpire or catcher on the way to the batters box. Just as it was when we were younger, the idea of always respecting the game, its history, and never talking to a pitcher who has a perfecto going through 5+ innings, will always be more important than if the team is wearing identical Under Armour, and that’s the way we like it.

… in proper baseball terminology.

Here’s the scenario…

It’s roughly 9pm Central time and I’m sitting in bed, putzing (yes it’s spelled that way for a reason… JJ…) around and watching baseball like I have been all day long. The Brewers are trailing to the Cardinals and Im enjoying a rather heated and under all the right circumstances messed up conversation with my WonderTwin, (Second cousin/brother) Mark. (On a side note, apparently I’m no longer allowed in La Bamba’s in Normal IL due to a drunken whiskey Wednesday in which I ordered a burritos and only roughly 1/4 of it made it into my mouth as I yelled “Mexicana!” in between every bite … the rest stayed on the floor and/or table. His friend still tried to hook up with me that night however, which proves my theory that I’m just a genuinely fun girl to be around). Anyways, while chatting about the game, in the bottom of the 5th Ryan Braun hits a fly ball to center which after bouncing up over the wall was ruled a double.

An automatic double.

However the dumb asses running TBS commentary (Anderson and Smoltz) and APPARENTLY even my MLB At-Bat application seem to think that this was a ground rule double.

Screen Shot from my iPhone

I know this is nit picky. I’m well aware, but to me it’s like using “to, too, and two” incorrectly… or saying “I seen that” when you CLEARLY “saw” it (past is “saw”, past progressive is “seen”…. unless you live in Kentucky and are married to your sister). However it is one of my biggest pet peeves, so let me lay out the facts for you.

Baseball is full of quirks and the difference between an automatic and a ground rule double is one of them. If a ball gets hit and bounces over the fence into the stands or bullpen in ANY ballpark, it’s an automatic double. Thats just simply the correct terminology. I’m really not sure what commentators love affair with calling all automatic doubles “ground rule” because it’s SO simple to tell the difference.

Wanna know why? Because the definition is right in the name. A ground-rule is a double that results based on that ballparks….. wait for it….. ground rules. Shocker. For example, when a ball gets lost in the ivy at Wrigley Field, it’s a ground rule double… because according to the ground rules of Wrigley Field, that’s the way it goes. Tampa and the old Metrodome had ground rules for balls that got stuck in the cat walks (not all based on the outcome being a double). In fact, all stadiums have ground rules so just to be sure I went to the Brewers website and looked them up… just in case TBS had a one-up on me as far as stadium rule knowledge. Guess who has no “over the fence” double rule? That’s right, Miller Park. They dont have one because in EVERY PARK it’s an automatic double… so go ahead and stick that in your back pocket. I apologize for each and every future time you cringe when you hear the terminology used incorrectly.

For the record, my friend who plays ball with the Royals told me that he was sure I was 1 of 3 people in America watching the game that understood the difference and I was probably the ONLY one who went online and looked up the ground rules of Miller Park, and he’s probably right. However now I, and hopefully a hand full of other people now, get it and can start spreading the knowledge accordingly. I ask for very little.

Welcome to the southside again, Robin Ventura! While he doesn’t have much (or any) coaching or managing experience I hope we can give him the talent to become a successful manager in Chicago…. I personally can’t wait for Sox/rangers (Nolan Ryan, Robin Ventura matchup anyone??) .. There’s also mews of Frank Thomas becoming the new hitting coach which leads me to believe that Kenny Williams doesn’t scout for managers or coaches, he just opens a 1993 media guide and points to someone….

Thats all for now until I get off work (word press iphone 4 app for the win)…Happy post season and go Yankees!

“This is our 6’4″ 240 lb cather who you know is scared to run to second. This is in the game 6 weeks ago. You’re about to see him do something he never does.. hes going to go for it. He’s going to round first and go for it, and hes going to fall… this is all his fears coming to life right now”-Peter Brand

“Aw they’re laughing at him”-Billy Beane

“And hes about to find out why. He’s about to find out that the ball went 60 feet over the fence. He hit a home run and he didnt even realize it.”-Peter Brand