The Major League Baseball Players Association’s approval of a tougher drug policy includes first-time testing and punishment for use of amphetamines.
After six decades of complacency on amphetamines, known as “greenies,” the question is:
How will the ban affect the quality of play? Is this the beginning of a new era in baseball, signaling the end of the iron man and the added importance of reserves?
Executives, managers, players and retired stars are divided on the potential fallout.
“It’s hard to play 162 games,” former Cubs and Montreal Expos great Andre Dawson said. “I definitely think you will see guys who say they are tired and ask for more days off. That will make bench players even more valuable.”
Cal Ripken Jr. played in a major-league-record 2,632 consecutive games. He said he believes baseball’s stance on amphetamines will produce a positive aftershock.
“Aspiring to play more games is not a value that is going to be lost, and maybe it will come back even stronger,” Ripken said. “It’s a sense of responsibility to your team. You are going to be required to meet the new challenges. You can’t just put your hands over your eyes and hope it goes away.”
Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday said said the policy will improve conditioning.
“I have never used amphetamines, and I don’t know how many guys do,” Holliday said. “But I think players will take care of their bodies better because of this.”
Under the new policy, a first positive amphetamines test triggers mandatory additional testing, a second offense draws a 25-game punishment, 80 for a third, and discipline for a fourth failed test is at the commissioner’s discretion.
So what will happen when players stop taking them?
“Speaking as someone who played games in continual 104-degree heat in Texas,” said Billy Sample, who played nine years in the big leagues, “pitchers should definitely have an advantage in Saturday day games after Friday night games.”
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Players take amphetamines to boost energy and make themselves more alert in a sport that demands quick reflexes. At the root of usage is an arduous work schedule and enormous pressure to perform.
A high-ranking National League executive estimated players will rarely appear in more than 140 games next season rather than 162 as a result of amphetamine testing. Apply the 14 percent absence rate to statistics, and it translates into a 30-home run hitter reaching only 26. Or a 100-run season falling to 87.
That’s significant, given that playoff berths are often decided by only a handful of games.
Ron Gardenhire, manager of the Minnesota Twins, said there will be an adjustment period, drawing comparisons to last season when baseball’s offensive numbers declined in the first year of steroids penalties.
While acknowledging the season’s physical and mental grind, Houston Astros manager Phil Garner placed the onus on the players.
“Everything has just gotten to be a little bit easy,” he said. “The whole issue is. `Well, I’m tired, I don’t know if I can play as good as I should.’ The guy will try to rationalize it for you by saying, `Well, I don’t know if I can really produce for you in a key situation.’
“You just go do it! You learn how to relax between innings, how to conserve your energy sometimes, and when the game is on the line, you come through.”
Illustrating the issue’s divisiveness, retired pitcher Curtis Leskanic said: “If you go from the East Coast to the West Coast and get in at 5 in the morning, it’s going to be tough. You are going to see a lot of tired players.”