For the first time ever, I think, this is a blog that was provoked by something that I have seen on this site. This was something that may seem to make sense, but it's just simply wrong. The story can be found here. Check the comments to see why I'm writing this.
This is how the story goes: There was a little blurb in the Denver Post on Sunday that mentioned that Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki, and Chris Iannetta will have to step up their production for the Colorado Rockies this year, due in part to the fact that Todd Helton won't be playing nearly as much as he normally does. Helton was diagnosed with a degenerative back condition last July, and it caused him to miss most of the 2008 campaign. What is the first response in the comments section of the T&R that this appeared in?
"In other words, Helton is off steroids, and his aging body won't allow him to play a full season" - Cousin Eddie
The conversation just went on from there, and most everyone was in agreement with Cousin Eddie. Look, I understand the skepticism, but the fact is, there are some guys that played in the steroid era that did things the right way. Todd Helton is one of those guys. I've never been in the training room with Helton, or any MLB'er for that matter, so I can't say that I know with 100% certainty that he didn't take steroids or HGH. I can, however, tell you that I know with 100% certainty that Todd Helton never took steroids or HGH. If you think that he did, you are simply wrong.
Much of the reason for this sentiment amongst the commenters on this particular T&R centered around the fact that Helton experienced a dramatic dropoff in weight, homeruns, and batting average in the 2005 season, as well as the fact that he was diagnosed with a degenerative back condition in 2008. The thinking amongst these commenters is that he has a back problem, so he MUST have been taking HGH to deal with it. That's logically fallacial, and it's simply not true. When a couple of other commenters dared to disagree with Cousin Eddie, he talked about "looking at history" and "uneducated fans" and "how some people come on here and write posts that give an indication that they personally know the player and are completely knowledgeable about their training habits". His thinking was that Helton's dropoff that coincided with the 2005 season, which is perceived to be largely the end of the steroid era, and the revelation about the back condition in 2008 mean that Helton must have taken steroids. Cousin Eddie, I hope you read this blog. I'll tell you exactly why you're wrong.
First off, like I said before, that thinking is logically fallacial. The argument simply doesn't follow. I'm not on here to talk about logic and Philosophy 110, though. Here are some facts for you to consider.
Todd Helton has never been a homerun hitter. That's something that you have to observe for yourself in order to believe, but he simply hasn't been. He has always been a line drive hitter, and the stats would indicate just that. He has always been concerned with his batting average more than anything, and he collected over 35 doubles in 10 consecutive seasons from 1998-2007. In fact, throughout his career, he has averaged 46 doubles per season, and that includes 2008 when he had only 16 doubles in 299 at-bats before going on the DL. The argument that his statistical dropoff - from .347/32/96 in 2004 to .320/20/79 in 2005 to .302/15/81 in 2006 - indicates that he stopped using steroids during that period seems to make sense on the surface. It's wrong, though. There's no other way to describe it.
Helton never spent one day on the disabled list prior to 2005. Early in that season, he went on the DL with a strained calf. It only cost him 8 games that year, but calf injuries are always nagging, and they cost hitters at the plate. They will always rob you of power, and there's not sufficient time during the season to completely rehab it. The fact that he didn't climb to his previous totals would indicate to me that there were no steroids or HGH, but let's dig deeper. In 2006, he missed 18 games, and he had his second stint on the DL. That wouldn't indicate a reason for the dramatic dropoff that he incurred, but the reason for the DL stint does. In April of 2006, while on the DL, Helton was diagnosed with an illness known as "Acute Terminal Ileitis", an inflammation of the Ileum, which is part of the small intestine. It is essentially a less intense form of Crohn's Disease, and in fact the illness was first diagnosed as Crohn's Disease. It caused him to lose an awful lot of muscle, and he hasn't been the same since, with the exception of his double totals. It all culminated in 2008 when he was diagnosed with the back condition.
In no way do these ailments indicate that Todd Helton was ever on steroids or HGH, and to think that he was based on these facts is foolish, and it's unfair to Helton, the player and the person. Furthermore, if steroids are going to keep Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire out of the Hall of Fame, then Helton's career .328/310/1116 with at least three seasons left, all while clean during the steroids era, should put him in the Hall of Fame. There's no way to prove either side of the argument. However, like I said before, I can't say that I know with 100% certainty that Todd Helton never took steroids or HGH. I can, however, say with 100% certainty that Todd Helton never took steroids or HGH.
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Comments (14) Add A Comment
Never, ever have I or do I think that Helton took roids. The thought has never ran through my mind. This does remind me of a post on an Oakland A's fan site that said Nick Swisher used roids. I was FLOORED!!! I love how people just pull things out of the air and claim it to be fact when they have no facts to back there comments or claims up. Those people need to get a life.
Leave Helton alone!!
Great blog Chief!!
auldone
Gig Harbor, WA
Total Comments (546)
I often see - on FanNation and on other sites - people who post opinions as if they were established fact. When challenged, their response is, "Of course, how else could it possibly be?"
We are even seeing a lot of this irresponsible confusing of opinion with fact in those who are professional journalists and even scientists. The attitude is "I know more about the situation than you do so I know what is happening. Don't try to confuse me with the facts."
These are the kinds of people in the past who burned "witches" in Salem and ruined careers in the McCarthy era, partly because many other were too dumb to see how dumb the "opinion confusers" were.
Thanks, wt. Once again you have zeroed in on a hot topic. Your (and my) common sense in the face of bias is what is needed to avoid being led off the cliff by know-nothings.
Appleseed
Detroit, MI
Total Comments (947)
You make a great point there, chief. Heaven help any player like manny or A-Rod, to use an example, if they get hurt & their stats dry up.
Some "fans" parents should've just stuck with cuddling before going any further.
eylesy
Total Comments (141)
"so I can't say that I know with 100% certainty that he didn't take steroids or HGH. I can, however, tell you that I know with 100% certainty that Todd Helton never took steroids or HGH. If you think that he did, you are simply wrong."
Hey Chief....I saw your email and responded....Since this blog post was in reference to my commentary I do want to clarify a few things.
My point is that any player that has played in MLB since 1994 and has seen a significant, sudden decrease in production (mostly power numbers but not in all cases) and has also experienced a rash of injuries (some odd like an intestinal thing) is suspect. Helton undeniably fits that category. Do I know that he did steroids or used HGH? No. Does anyone really know what happened? No and I don't think we'll ever know. And am I hoping he did - absolutely not - I hope my assumptions are wrong.
This is just my opinion and it is shared by a lot of others here on T&R - just like yours is. All posters are entitled to their opinions. In some cases I have stated something that is my opinion but it came across as something that might sound factual....that happens often with many posters and in most cases the intentions are not there. I also do not try to personally attack other posters and again, sometimes I come across that way.
This is a good blog post and I've certainly learned some new things from it. The above statement that I copied from your blog summarizes the steroid mess into one sentence...."while I don't have any evidence that X player didn't do steroids or HGH I also believe that he didn't..."
One other note....the bonds thread from today just adds more confusion to this mess. A supposed anonymous, negative test from 5 years ago now shows postive???
ME DUM DUM
Total Comments (13589)
Wow... civility. Glad to see it from both of you...
Bigalke
Springfield, OR
Total Comments (22305)
I think both Eddie and wt have valid points. Perhaps we all are a little to ready to take offense at a statement which was only meant as an opinion. Perhaps we are all somewhat careless in not distinguishing whether our statements are to be taken as fact or opinion.
Thanks to both of you. By treating this without ego problems interfering, you have presented this in a form that I can learn from.
Appleseed
Detroit, MI
Total Comments (947)
Good job, but I disagree with the title, I really don't think anyone is beyond speculation. I'm not saying he did anything, everyone is innocent until proven guilty with me, but you can't say that there's no way.
Roberts#1: ROLL…
Total Comments (29260)
he hides his steroids in his stupid beard
zoitoit
Denver , CO
Total Comments (70)
Were you abused as a child? You seem to have a lot of pent up anger.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3649)
Very good wt. Thanks for addressing this. Someone needed to.
RockiesfanTN
New Market , TN
Total Comments (28)
i dont care that youre a helton fan. if you've never been in the locker room, you dont jack ****. helton has never been a power hitter? 42 homers in a season isnt a power hitter? followed by 49? hank aaron never hit more then 47 or 48 homeruns, was he not a homerun either? some people need to get a clue and youre one of them. fact of the matter is none of us will ever know and to say that youre 100% certain is just sheer ignorance and shows how naive you really are.
franco0369
Clifton Heights , PA
Total Comments (1)
Although I cannot say 100% that Todd Helton took steroids or HGH, I can say 100% that Todd Helton took steroids AND HGH.
Once he went off it, those home runs turned into doubles, and the doubles turned into fly outs. Thus, his home runs and overall batting average dropped, but his double production remained the same.
Not to mention his back and colon problems are a RESULT of steroid use/abuse, further implicating him.
Once the rest of the 104 names from MLB steroid testing in 2003 are released, you will see and will also have to say that Todd Helton 100% took steroids (you can still keep up your debate on HGH if you want at that time).
Dr. MH
Detroit , MI
Total Comments (1)
I would agree that Helton was never a power hitter. He has never resembled Adam Dunn or Ryan Howard; archetypal power hitters who invariably strike out a ton, hit for moderate batting average, and post 40+ bombs a year. Helton has always been a pure line drive hitter, and his homers in 2000 and 2001 were mostly a result of him hitting his line drives over the wall; he was in the prime of his career (age-wise and strength-wise) and he benefited from pre-Humidor Coors.
Have any of you ever heard the phrase innocent until proven guilty? You have no right to assert that Helton took steroids because of decreasing numbers. You can say "no one really knows" so you can assume either way, but that is not the case.
I'll make an example for you.
Do I know if my neighbor is a serial killer? I have no reason to think so, but I can't say either way with a 100% certainty as I haven't known them for their whole life.
Let's look at the "facts." He moved from New York 9 years ago, right at a time where homicides were far more prevalent than they are today. Wow! Now I have enough evidence to assume that he was a serial killer and moved away to avoid suspicion! Now let me blog about it.
And if someone tells me that is wrong? The fact is that anybody who lived in New York in 2000 and moved away suddenly is going to be under suspicion for being a serial killer whether they like it or not.
Rockies17
Total Comments (2)
Why dont we just ask him if he used steroids? Im sure he would tell us...
comedyfisher
Castle Rock , CO
Total Comments (1)
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