Cardinals Fans, Your Hero Might Have Dirty Laundry

nychief · 06-08-2006, 04:22 PM

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/baseb...mes-179400.php

2006
So ... We've Got Some Affidavit Names

pujolsblue.jpgEveryone’s guessing about who the blacked-out names in the Jason Grimsley report are, and it has been a fun parlor game so far. But we all knew eventually the names would get out. And we’ve been digging around … and some sources have given us some names.

How reliable are these names? We feel pretty confident in them, but we can’t go 100 percent, since the information is secondhand. We’ll say this: If Bud Selig issuing a press release naming the names is a 10, and picking a player at random out of the Baseball Encyclopedia is a 1, we’re at an 8.

So. Let’s do it then. Remember: Betting lines are for entertainment purposes only.

First: The person who told Grimsley about the positive test in 2003. That’s former Royals general manager Allard Baird.

As many people have guessed, one of the “former players” who were sold out by Grimsley: Sammy Sosa. Our source(s) couldn’t confirm if the other was Rafael Palmeiro.

Nothing new or exciting about that name. Then it starts to get interesting. We’ve heard amphetamine rumors of Miguel Tejada, but we can’t confirm that. What we can confirm? The doozy.

Grimsley says that a former employee of [redacted] and personal fitness trainer to several Major League Baseball players once referred him to an amphetamine source.. Later, this source provided him with “amphetamines, anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.” This trainer? His name is Chris Mihlfeld, a Kansas City-based “strength and conditioning guru.” (And former Strength And Conditioning Coordinator for the Royals.)

Does Mihlfeld’s name sound familiar? If it doesn’t, he — and we assure you, this gives us no pleasure to write this — has been Albert Pujols’ personal trainer since before Pujols was drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 draft. We have no confirmation that Pujols’ name is in the affidavit … but Mihlfeld’s is. If you read the document, it doesn’t say the trainer/Mihlfeld supplied all the HGH and what-not; it just says the trainer was the referrer.

Yeah. Sigh. We just report what we’re told, folks. Ever hope your source is wrong? This is one of those times.

(UPDATE: OK, we’ve taken our head out of the microwave long enough to update you a bit. First, here’s a blog entry from Mihlfeld’s sister about his friendship with Pujols. And, on a more amusing (and somewhat damning) note, here’s a “diary” Grimsley wrote about his quick recovery from Tommy John surgery. (At MLB.com!) He thanks Mihlfeld for helping him with his recovery.

We repeat: We are not claiming that Pujols has taken HGH. We are simply pointing out that Milhfeld is reportedly mentioned in the affidavit, and that he has connections to be Grimsley and Pujols. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go back to our silent screams of pain.)

chief2000 · 06-08-2006, 04:25 PM

wow.

How do they test for HGH ?

Mecca · 06-08-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief2000

wow.

How do they test for HGH ?

It's basically impossible....since HGH is in your bloodstream to begin with.

**Reaper16** · 06-08-2006, 04:29 PM

I just read that by way of Royalboard and was just about to post the same link.

I was never one to think Pujols was juicing, but this has to be looked into. These things usually aren't coincidences. Scary.

Hootie · 06-08-2006, 04:34 PM

I think if any player hits more than 10 HR's in a month, they should automatically be considered a 'cheater' until proven otherwise!

**BigRedChief** · 06-08-2006, 04:37 PM

Sweeney, Pujols and Jason all have the same off season trainer. Thats the only connection.

FringeNC · 06-08-2006, 04:38 PM

My guess is he is juicing. He was on pace to break Bonds' HR record. Guys just don't hit 70 HRs unless they are juiced.

I thought Bonds was being unfairly singled out as an abuser. Bonds has been essentially the best player in the league since he entered the league a long time ago, and the chemicals turned him into Superman...Off the roids, Sammy Sosa isn't even the league any more.

By the way, what do you guys think about steroids for a pitcher coming off of arm surgery. There is no doubt he'll heal faster. I think injured players should be able to use it under controlled conditions.

nychief · 06-08-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Sweeney, Pujols and Jason all have the same off season trainer. Thats the only connection.

great. so, never mind. no need to be concerned.

Mecca · 06-08-2006, 04:44 PM

I think baseball has alot more and bigger problems than guys doing roids and HGH. There are always going to be guys who do this in every sport it's personally not a huge deal to me.

**Reaper16** · 06-08-2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nychief

great. so, never mind. no need to be concerned.

JBucc · 06-08-2006, 04:47 PM

If this HGH stuff is so rampant in baseball I wonder how many NFL guys are using it? My guess would be quite a bit of them.

hawkchief · 06-08-2006, 04:48 PM

I can't imagine this comes as a big surprise to many people. Pujols came to mind immediately for me yesterday after Grimsley's outing, as I (like many I'm sure) have continued to wonder how the hell he was cranking out all the HR's over the past few years. It's really sad how the MLB record books are now essentially worthless for the past 10 years' stats. It will be interesting to see this unforld, and how MLB tries to spin things back in control (whenever the last time that was). The amount of integrity and good faith that MLB has lost over the past several years is astronomical.

FringeNC · 06-08-2006, 04:53 PM

I don't see how baseball is ever going to stop this. It's obvious that there is tremendous value in getting juiced up. No sooner will baseball develop a test for one substance, when a chemist will bake up a new substance.

The question that no one addresses is if it makes baseball players so much better....improves coordination, improves vision...perhaps we all should be on it? (Probably not the dosage that Bonds is on though...my head is big enough already.)

Mecca · 06-08-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

I don't see how baseball is ever going to stop this. It's obvious that there is tremendous value in getting juiced up. No sooner will baseball develop a test for one substance, when a chemist will bake up a new substance.

The question that no one addresses is if it makes baseball players so much better....improves coordination, improves vision...perhaps we all should be on it? (Probably not the dosage that Bonds is on though...my head is big enough already.)

Tell me there aren't numerous guys in the NFL using this too......I see alot more things that are frankly unnatural go on with football players than baseball players. Let's talk about 250lb men running 40's in the 4.4 range while putting up ridiculous bench reps.

FringeNC · 06-08-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Tell me there aren't numerous guys in the NFL using this too......I see alot more things that are frankly unnatural go on with football players than baseball players. Let's talk about 250lb men running 40's in the 4.4 range while putting up ridiculous bench reps.

Oh yeah, I don't know why the feds are singling out Bonds and baseball. I don't there is a test for HGH at all.

06-08-2006, 04:22 PM
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $6869466	Cardinals Fans, Your Hero Might Have Dirty Laundry http://www.deadspin.com/sports/baseb...mes-179400.php 2006 So ... We've Got Some Affidavit Names pujolsblue.jpgEveryone’s guessing about who the blacked-out names in the Jason Grimsley report are, and it has been a fun parlor game so far. But we all knew eventually the names would get out. And we’ve been digging around … and some sources have given us some names. How reliable are these names? We feel pretty confident in them, but we can’t go 100 percent, since the information is secondhand. We’ll say this: If Bud Selig issuing a press release naming the names is a 10, and picking a player at random out of the Baseball Encyclopedia is a 1, we’re at an 8. So. Let’s do it then. Remember: Betting lines are for entertainment purposes only. First: The person who told Grimsley about the positive test in 2003. That’s former Royals general manager Allard Baird. As many people have guessed, one of the “former players” who were sold out by Grimsley: Sammy Sosa. Our source(s) couldn’t confirm if the other was Rafael Palmeiro. Nothing new or exciting about that name. Then it starts to get interesting. We’ve heard amphetamine rumors of Miguel Tejada, but we can’t confirm that. What we can confirm? The doozy. Grimsley says that a former employee of [redacted] and personal fitness trainer to several Major League Baseball players once referred him to an amphetamine source.. Later, this source provided him with “amphetamines, anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.” This trainer? His name is Chris Mihlfeld, a Kansas City-based “strength and conditioning guru.” (And former Strength And Conditioning Coordinator for the Royals.) Does Mihlfeld’s name sound familiar? If it doesn’t, he — and we assure you, this gives us no pleasure to write this — has been Albert Pujols’ personal trainer since before Pujols was drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 draft. We have no confirmation that Pujols’ name is in the affidavit … but Mihlfeld’s is. If you read the document, it doesn’t say the trainer/Mihlfeld supplied all the HGH and what-not; it just says the trainer was the referrer. Yeah. Sigh. We just report what we’re told, folks. Ever hope your source is wrong? This is one of those times. (UPDATE: OK, we’ve taken our head out of the microwave long enough to update you a bit. First, here’s a blog entry from Mihlfeld’s sister about his friendship with Pujols. And, on a more amusing (and somewhat damning) note, here’s a “diary” Grimsley wrote about his quick recovery from Tommy John surgery. (At MLB.com!) He thanks Mihlfeld for helping him with his recovery. We repeat: We are not claiming that Pujols has taken HGH. We are simply pointing out that Milhfeld is reportedly mentioned in the affidavit, and that he has connections to be Grimsley and Pujols. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go back to our silent screams of pain.)
Posts: 7,899

06-08-2006, 04:25 PM	#2
chief2000 Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	wow. How do they test for HGH ?
Posts: 628

06-08-2006, 04:34 PM	#5
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	I think if any player hits more than 10 HR's in a month, they should automatically be considered a 'cheater' until proven otherwise!
Posts: 56,356

06-08-2006, 04:37 PM	#6
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $2569627 VARSITY	Sweeney, Pujols and Jason all have the same off season trainer. Thats the only connection. __________________ Time is worth more than money.
Posts: 79,320

06-08-2006, 04:38 PM	#7
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $1296014	My guess is he is juicing. He was on pace to break Bonds' HR record. Guys just don't hit 70 HRs unless they are juiced. I thought Bonds was being unfairly singled out as an abuser. Bonds has been essentially the best player in the league since he entered the league a long time ago, and the chemicals turned him into Superman...Off the roids, Sammy Sosa isn't even the league any more. By the way, what do you guys think about steroids for a pitcher coming off of arm surgery. There is no doubt he'll heal faster. I think injured players should be able to use it under controlled conditions.
Posts: 10,174

06-08-2006, 04:44 PM	#9
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2067050	I think baseball has alot more and bigger problems than guys doing roids and HGH. There are always going to be guys who do this in every sport it's personally not a huge deal to me.
Posts: 111,303

06-08-2006, 04:47 PM	#11
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	If this HGH stuff is so rampant in baseball I wonder how many NFL guys are using it? My guess would be quite a bit of them.
Posts: 12,016

06-08-2006, 04:48 PM	#12
hawkchief Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $2468600	I can't imagine this comes as a big surprise to many people. Pujols came to mind immediately for me yesterday after Grimsley's outing, as I (like many I'm sure) have continued to wonder how the hell he was cranking out all the HR's over the past few years. It's really sad how the MLB record books are now essentially worthless for the past 10 years' stats. It will be interesting to see this unforld, and how MLB tries to spin things back in control (whenever the last time that was). The amount of integrity and good faith that MLB has lost over the past several years is astronomical.
Posts: 1,878

06-08-2006, 04:53 PM	#13
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $1296014	I don't see how baseball is ever going to stop this. It's obvious that there is tremendous value in getting juiced up. No sooner will baseball develop a test for one substance, when a chemist will bake up a new substance. The question that no one addresses is if it makes baseball players so much better....improves coordination, improves vision...perhaps we all should be on it? (Probably not the dosage that Bonds is on though...my head is big enough already.)
Posts: 10,174