The Dirty Edge ...

Baseball's policy for testing positive: First violation: Mandatory random testing. Second violation: 25-game suspension. Third violation: 80-game suspension. Fourth violation: Commissioner's option, with lifetime ban subject to arbitral review. Steroids, right? ... No, we will save that subject for another day ... I am referring to "greenies" ... "beans" ... "speed" ... amphetamines ... synthesized drugs that stimulate the central nervous system and can create physical and psychological dependencies when overused or misused. Generally utilized to treat hyperactivity in children(and some big league ball players), narcolepsy and attention deficit disorder, and also used as an appetite suppressant. "Speed" is the common street name for amphetamines, which were eventually called "greenies" because of their green color ... already banned? ... old news? ... banned yes ... but not really old news ... I'll tell you why (in my opinion) I believe amphetamines (or rather the absence thereof) is possibly as efficacious in today's game as it was in the years before it's banishment by MLB in 2005 ... The law according to the federal Controlled Substance Act of 1970 included amphetamine as a Schedule III drug that has "a potential for abuse that may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence." Penalties for violation of the act can range from up to one year in prison, to terms of 20 years to life and fines of up to $2 million for continual criminal activity ... "Speed" was developed during World War II to assist defense workers and armed forces personnel in the prevention of fatigue. Subsequently, amphetamines found their way into the civilian population and became prevalent in baseball as expansion complicated team travel and schedules. Unless otherwise obtained by prescription, amphetamines had been made illegal by 1970, but it was too late for baseball, "greenies" were everywhere in the game. Many players relied on amphetamines to deal with the hardships associated with cross-country air travel, three-hour day games followed by three-hour night games, a 162-game regular season crammed into 182 days and lifestyles that often involved partying 'till sunup ...

According to former major-league left-hander Bill "Spaceman" Lee, he wrote in his book The Wrong Stuff, "Amphetamines were not being used for kicks, they were being used to sober up ... to get the pulse going on the morning after the night before." It was so rare for a player to go without help from chemistry by not using amphetamines, that he was said to be "naked". Every team had a full assortment of "beans" in the dugout, so it was to be expected that your team would also be made up of a number of "speed freaks". Former Boston Red Sox left-hander David Wells wrote in his book Perfect I'm not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball, "Those little buggers will open your eyes, sharpen your focus and get your blood moving on demand over and over again. I won't ever object to a sleepy-eyed infielder beaning up to help me win." ... The greatest players in the game did "greenies". All-time hits leader Pete Rose said in a Playboy interview that he had used them . Even more surprising to me, was the fact that Hall of Famers Willie Stargell and Willie Mays were described as amphetamine providers during the Pittsburgh drug trials of the 1980's. Good teams did "greenies". It was said during sworn testimony that World Series winners such as the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1980 Philadelphia Phillies were to have been loaded with amphetamine users. John Milner testified that the legend Willie Mays had allegedly gave him the "red juice" when they were with the NewYork Mets, "I don't know what kind of speed it was, but it kept your eyes open," said Milner ... According to Dr. Charles Yesalis, a professor of health and human development at Penn State University, amphetamines and steroids have had markedly differing impacts on the game of baseball. Steroids generally enhance players' overall performance, while "greenies" enable players to simply get on the field and play at their expected level game after game. "It's the whole 'Chicks dig the long ball' thing ... balls going over the fences and records being broken," Dr. Yesalis said. "From a business standpoint, you could argue that anabolic steroids have a far greater effect than amphetamines." ... he added that what makes amphetamines so damaging is their threat to players' mental and physical health. Amphetamine users often get into a dangerous cycle in which they must use barbiturates such as alcohol to come down from the high of "greenies". If given the choice between taking steroids or taking amphetamines, he would choose steroids because amphetamines "can stone-cold kill you." ... Rangers trainer Jamie Reed, who was also group president of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Association, said his organization had agreed with medical experts such as Dr. Yesalis, and pushed for the ban. Reed acknowledged that athletic trainers have had to battle amphetamine use as being an accepted practice. His group has attempted to educate players on the dangers of amphetamines, but he is not so naive as to believe that there is now complete abstinence. The Rangers have made their employee-assistance program available to players who have difficulty dealing with the high psychological dependence that is associated with amphetamine use. Other baseball clubs have taken similar steps. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said he was stunned by what athletic trainers had told him about the use of amphetamines, subsequently, their input is what prompted him to push for the ban ... Dr. Yesalis believes that ultimately there will be more mental problems than physical problems. He also believes that some players are convinced that they cannot perform adequately without the help of amphetamines. "As with any drug, the physical addiction is never as bad as the mental addiction," Dr. Yesalis said. "If a guy is partying too much, and can't get his "beans", it is relatively safe to say his play will be diminished." ... San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman said, "Coffee sales will be up." ... Former manager of the San Francisco Giants Felipe Alou said, "It will be a lot more relaxed." ... "No more playing three weeks in a row," said New York Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina ... "Greenies" are gone ... or at least they are supposed to be gone as part of Major League Baseball's latest drug policy. Without those jars full of little green pick-me-ups readily available in dugouts and clubhouses, much of the steam appears to have escaped from many of baseball's previously high-energy and spirited players. Play on the field has become indolent and lackluster, more pop-ups are dropping in front of outfielders, more grounders are skipping past infielders and fewer batters are going all-out as they blatantly amble to first base ... starters seem to be unable to effectively pitch deep into games, and complete games are nearly unheard-of these days ... relievers are apparently becoming fatigued and grossly ineffective far too early in the season ... catchers can't seem to catch ... closers can't seem to close ... and many teams are having terrible outcomes when playing on the road ... it's not unusual for a player who took a red-eye charter the night before a game to nod off half way through the game the following day ... players have found it very difficult to adjust to performing at the big league level without their treasured "beans" ... The most anticipated effect of the amphetamine ban was expected to be a harder time for relievers, some of whom had relied on a little extra lift after sitting idle for several hours before entering a game ... and more use of bench players ... these expectations have evidently come to pass. Anyone who plays all 162 games without the aid of amphetamines would be considered as a true 'iron man'. Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "Obviously, some players have leaned on them. There has always been things that players have used." ... Trevor Hoffman, emphatic in his opposition to using any type of illegal, performance-enhancing substances to gain an edge, pointedly said, "it will be interesting to see" when considering how players will adjust to not having amphetamines. Hoffman's coffee comment was only half in jest, there are now always two pots in the clubhouse, one regular, the other high-test ... there is also the mysterious "Dominican coffee" ... a thick and sweet liquid that some players gulp down shortly before each game. Users have said the beverage heightens senses so much that they can see the inscription on the baseball from the dugout ... Thinking back on "Charlie Hustle" and his admitted revelation of amphetamine use in the Playboy interview ... Pete Rose was given the nickname "Charlie Hustle" because of his play "above and beyond the call of duty" while on the field ... even when being intentionally walked, Rose would run full speed, instead of the traditional 'walk' to first base, and was also known for his signature move, always sliding headfirst into a base ... at one time, I truly admired how hard the guy played the game ... until he was exposed for breaking the rules of baseball by betting on the game he supposedly loved ... was deemed permanently ineligible to play ... banished forever from professional baseball ... and destined to go down in history with the likes of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson ... in addition to betting on games, according to his own admission, "Charlie Hustle" apparently obtained much of that "hustle" from "greenies", as did many other great players ... I still admire Pete Rose's work ethic, but his character, to say the least, is questionable ... So here's a novel idea ... former Atlanta Braves third base coach, and current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, Ned Yost made the following suggestion, "How about a little mental intensity? ... how about substituting some of that if you get tired? ... Let's develop it ... It's a habit of giving all that you have three hours a night." ... Players giving their all under the influence of nothing more than all-out determination ... strong will ... and total dedication to a sport they not only love, but depend on for their livelihood ... now that truly is a genuinely refreshing idea Mr. Yost ... I totally concur with your assertion ... but the search for a dirty edge continues ... and all those energy drinks and stout coffees just don't seem to be cutting it ... --sja