I personally think it's those FLINTSTONES VITAMINS he is taking. Especially those Dino ones.
The writer speculates about Jake Arrieta for whom there is no evidence of PED use other than his success; but quotes Ryan Braun - a proven liar and cheater -without mentioning his drug use or even a sniff of irony. Mama, don't let your sons grow up to be sports writers.
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If you are old enough you can remember that Sandy Koufax was just a run of the mill fast ball pitcher until her developed hid 12 to 6 curve ball.
It does happen that athletes do improve as their careers progress.
It does happen that athletes do improve as their careers progress.
There is a difference between Koufax and Arrieta.
Even before he entered the phenomenal stage of his career, Koufax had already displayed flashes of brilliance such as striking out 18 batters in a game, tying the then record.
As far as I'm aware, Arrieta never achieved any similar features with the Orioles.
And remember some of the delay in Koufax's development was that as a bonus baby at the time he was required to be on the major league roster for two years. We'll never but it is possible if he had started in the minors and learned out to use all his skills, he might have been spectacular from the time he reached the majors instead of the delay of a few years.
Even before he entered the phenomenal stage of his career, Koufax had already displayed flashes of brilliance such as striking out 18 batters in a game, tying the then record.
As far as I'm aware, Arrieta never achieved any similar features with the Orioles.
And remember some of the delay in Koufax's development was that as a bonus baby at the time he was required to be on the major league roster for two years. We'll never but it is possible if he had started in the minors and learned out to use all his skills, he might have been spectacular from the time he reached the majors instead of the delay of a few years.
Fellow by the name of Koufax who had a terrible time establishing his control and mastery of the craft of pitching. Eventually he did. As the author wisely pointed out, Arrieta's velocity hasn't changed, it's his control and command of his pitches that's taken him to the next level. Command isn't something that is acquired via drug use. Sorry, Mr Good, Arrieta is just plain old Good!!
Mr. Powell doesn't seem to be trying to funny but one has to at least chuckle reading the opinions of Ryan Braun on another player about whom some people have suspicion of PED use. Let us not forget Braun was suspended for his own use of such drugs after he not only denied use but accused the man responsible for handling his urine sample of mishandling it saying that it was his fault the result was positive.
And as to Arrieta not throwing much faster now as proof he doesn't use PEDS. The sluggers we know used PEDS such as McGwire, Bonds, and Rodriguez weren't hitting 600 or 700 feet home runs and Clemens wasn't throwing 110 mph. What the drugs enabled them to do was work out more and stay healthy.
I hope that Arrieta isn't pumped but baseball has itself to blame for the suspicions. The fact that it has allowed McGwire and Bonds to continue to participate in the game and Rodriguez to continue to play indicates that it has never really cared that much that from now on any player who suddenly does better such as Dee Gordon and Arrieta, whether true or false, will be under suspicion.
And by the way, despite Mr. Powell's exhortation of Arrieta's long standing abilities, he was only a 5th round draft choice.
And as to Arrieta not throwing much faster now as proof he doesn't use PEDS. The sluggers we know used PEDS such as McGwire, Bonds, and Rodriguez weren't hitting 600 or 700 feet home runs and Clemens wasn't throwing 110 mph. What the drugs enabled them to do was work out more and stay healthy.
I hope that Arrieta isn't pumped but baseball has itself to blame for the suspicions. The fact that it has allowed McGwire and Bonds to continue to participate in the game and Rodriguez to continue to play indicates that it has never really cared that much that from now on any player who suddenly does better such as Dee Gordon and Arrieta, whether true or false, will be under suspicion.
And by the way, despite Mr. Powell's exhortation of Arrieta's long standing abilities, he was only a 5th round draft choice.
Well-done column, as usual, Mr. Powell. Here's a request that the insufferable Smith and Bayless will never honor: Either produce a scrap of actual evidence to support your insipid ratings-bait bloviations, or keep quiet.
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Go Cubs Go!
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"522/3 innings" is that 174 innings? 522 1/3 inning? or 52 2/3 innings?
P.S. "That being said..." This garbage phrase has no place in serious writing. NYT should write a piece on its horrid increase in usage over the last decade.
P.P.S. Another defense of Arrieta's ascendence not mentioned in the article: he previously played for tne Orioles, a team notoriously awful at developing pitching talent. Arrieta is certainly not the first talented pitcher to struggle in Baltimore and then go on to dominate with another team
P.S. "That being said..." This garbage phrase has no place in serious writing. NYT should write a piece on its horrid increase in usage over the last decade.
P.P.S. Another defense of Arrieta's ascendence not mentioned in the article: he previously played for tne Orioles, a team notoriously awful at developing pitching talent. Arrieta is certainly not the first talented pitcher to struggle in Baltimore and then go on to dominate with another team
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Probably all teams have let good pitchers go. The Orioles in fact have a pretty good recent record of trading pitchers who were performing well but quickly fell off after being traded such Erik Bedard and Mike Boddicker and getting long term talent in return. And they did get rid of Milt Pappas who has pretty good career after he was traded; of course not quite as good as Frank Robinson for whom he was traded.
How does performance enhancing drug use make a Jake so dominant? Isn't it the varying of pitches, the "command" of the strike zone the key to success in the majors? These guys know how to hit a fast ball. Stronger does not make for no hitters.
What all the experts on the subject say it isn't so much that PEDS make a player stronger (that's why we didn't see 600 or 700 foot home runs) but rather enable players to work out more and recover quickly from injures. As everytime a pitcher throws a pitch (with the possible exception of knuckle ballers) they do damage to their arms.
Jake Arietta's framing of pitches is a thing of beauty. In a day and age of 100mph flame throwers, Arrietta is proving that that there is more to the art of pitching than overpowering hitters. He reminds me of Tom Seaver. As for the PED allegations? Ridiculous! Total shameless promotion by Stephen A. Smith to try and keep himself relevant. He's a radical racist buffoon who absolutely deplores ALL successful white athletes. Ironically, Smith has never accused muscle bound athletes like LeBron James, Dewayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, James Hardin, Dwight Howard, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, Serena Williams, or Cam Newton of PED use? Ironically, Miami Marlins 2nd baseman Dee Gordon gets popped. But Smith suddenly went silent on him. Must be a witness protection brotha thing? P.S. Smith would no doubt claim Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Larry Bird & Pete Maravich were doping if they were playing today.
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"As it happened, in 2015, he mastered his pitches"
The question is how he did that after previously failing so miserably. If he is doping, I won't be surprised. And his scathing condemnation of cheaters is reminiscent of the outrage of others accused who were later caught.
When someone comes out of nowhere to do things no-one else has ever done? The record shows tends to show they're cheating. Doubt he's an exception. No proof...yet.
The question is how he did that after previously failing so miserably. If he is doping, I won't be surprised. And his scathing condemnation of cheaters is reminiscent of the outrage of others accused who were later caught.
When someone comes out of nowhere to do things no-one else has ever done? The record shows tends to show they're cheating. Doubt he's an exception. No proof...yet.
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Good pitching coaches can turn guys careers around. Searage currently in Pittsburgh, Duncan for years in St. Louis, and Mazzone in Atlanta. That's what they get paid for, Dude.
Arrieta was a highly regarded prospect whose delivery the O's tweaked and tweaked. Eventually his confidence dissolved.
After he got to the Cubs he returned to his previous delivery and started to get results. His confidence blossomed. He is in supreme shape, and brings an air of dominance to the mind, like Bob Gibson. Arrieta is a consummate professional at the top of his game and is a pleasure to watch.
Your scurrilous and cynical comments impugn Arrieta and have no basis in fact.
Welcome to the ESPN clown car.
Arrieta was a highly regarded prospect whose delivery the O's tweaked and tweaked. Eventually his confidence dissolved.
After he got to the Cubs he returned to his previous delivery and started to get results. His confidence blossomed. He is in supreme shape, and brings an air of dominance to the mind, like Bob Gibson. Arrieta is a consummate professional at the top of his game and is a pleasure to watch.
Your scurrilous and cynical comments impugn Arrieta and have no basis in fact.
Welcome to the ESPN clown car.
He mastered his pitches by getting out of Baltimore! That's where good young potchers go to die. Do a little more research before you start sounding like another espn pinhead.
Arieta credits several things for his success. His pitching coach in Chicago who let him return to the delivery that made him a star in college was the biggest change. Don't forget that Baltimore saw something special enough to sign him even then and he wasn't the only pitcher to struggle under that pitching coach- who is now a former coach. Arieta also is well known to follow a strict nutrition plan and has a legendary workout plan that is unusual but that other players are starting to follow. I think there is plenty of evidence of him doing it right to discount unproven rumors.
Smith and Bayless are less than respected by most knowledgeable fans. Sensational, unfounded accusations are just part of the reason why this is so.
I'm not a Cubs fan, but how could you not admire the performance of Jake Arrieta? Oh, there's another guy pitching on the other side of town. Chri Sale, who's not too shabby either. Has one city ever had both Cy Young winners in the same season?
I'm not a Cubs fan, but how could you not admire the performance of Jake Arrieta? Oh, there's another guy pitching on the other side of town. Chri Sale, who's not too shabby either. Has one city ever had both Cy Young winners in the same season?
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There may be others but the closest to this I can recall were in 1956 when Don Newcombe of Brooklyn won and Whitey Ford of the Yankees finished third and in 1964 when Dean Chance of the then Los Angeles Angels won and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers finished third. Of course both those occurred when there was still only one Cy Young award for both leagues.
Well done, both Mr. Arrieta and Mr. Powell. I love the mix of intelligent discourse, mysticism, statistics, and humor present in this article and in the game. You restore my faith in sports and specifically baseball writing, especially in a time when the hot take is king. Keep it up, you two! And let's get some runs.
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