Andy Pettitte admits using HGH!

RonBurgundy · December 15, 2007 7:25AM

For two days in 2002. Yeah, right.

This will be the spin in the coming days. "I did it but I didn't do it very much."

Ron

Carew29 · December 15, 2007 7:35AM

Plain and simple, he cheated. I don't give a dam if it was one time. I busted my arss in high school and college as a ballplayer and never felt the need to cheat. A cheat is a cheat is a cheat. As of today 250 minor leaguers have been suspended in the last 2 years alone. I hope Selig breaks the player Union into little frikkin pieces. Fehr has done everything he could to block this report from being done. And CLEMENS, thou doest speak too much!!!

Mercury10c · December 15, 2007 7:51AM

<< I hope Selig breaks the player Union into little frikkin pieces. >>

RIGHT ON!!

The Union does more to f up baseball than drugs, steriods, alcohol, and Steinbrenner combined.

stown · December 15, 2007 8:53AM

Sounds like Andy just threw Roger under the bus.

Some friend he is

Barndog · December 15, 2007 8:54AM

I believe Pettite, sure he only used it twice just like Bill never inhaled or had sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.

Mercury10c · December 15, 2007 9:04AM

The true story is, Roger and Andy were poking each other in the butt......with.....errrr...their needles.

bxb · December 15, 2007 9:13AM

I can hardly wait until Pettitte pitches his first game at Fenway this year. What a scene that will be.

I'm working on my signs right now.

It is illegal to throw syringes onto the field, right? - Just wondering.

Mercury10c · December 15, 2007 9:21AM

<< It is illegal to throw syringes onto the field, right? - Just wondering. >>

I think you can get booted for throwing anything onto the field. Better to make a large cardboard
sign with a drawing of a hypodermic needle so the Fox cameramen can spot it from a mile away.
You'll get yourself on TV, and you won't get kicked out of the game.

Barndog · December 15, 2007 9:27AM

his defense:

"at least I didn't kill anyone, like OJ did"

MantleMarisFordBerra · December 15, 2007 9:31AM

Very disappointed in Andy (and Roger) It makes you wonder how many other players cheated but were not named in the report.

thegemmintman · December 15, 2007 9:41AM

I'm extremely disappointed in Andy, but at least he admitted something. No one else has admitted chit since this Mitchell Report was released.

I agree about the Clemens comments. This is totally damming to him now.

Carew29 · December 15, 2007 10:28AM

Saw John Kruk last night--ask Lenny Dykstra "how did you get so buffed up over the off season?" Lenny responded " Oh just ate the right foods and worked out more". You could tell Krukky was PO'd yesterday at Lenny. Hey, does Lenny still operate that strip girl car wash in L.A?? Gotta admit Lenny, my car back then never looked so clean!!!

frankhardy · December 15, 2007 11:14AM

Hang with me here fellas - what if Pettitte IS telling the truth. People can be very quick to pass judgment without knowing all the facts. The fact is that he could be telling the truth. If he is telling the truth, then I feel sorry for him because (if his story is accurate) I see nothing wrong with what he did.

Barndog · December 15, 2007 11:23AM

if someone fessed up to their actions before being named in the report, I might have some respect for the person. Didn't happen here or with any other players (other than Giambi). Giambi retains some honor, more than the Cleopatras named in the report.

frankhardy · December 15, 2007 11:29AM

<< if someone fessed up to their actions before being named in the report, I might have some respect for the person. Didn't happen here or with any other players (other than Giambi). Giambi retains some honor, more than the Cleopatras named in the report. >>

I agree, to an extent. However, why would you want to open up a can of worms like that? Giambi was caught up with just like the others.

yankeeno7 · December 15, 2007 12:47PM

Well, HGH is only illegal if illegally obtained which some of these guys did do.

Remember that MLB did not make HGH illegal until 2005. So, other than obtaining it illegally, some of these guys really didnt do anything wrong IF they were using it for healing. They should have been smart enough to get a dr's Rx.

I only know that HGH works well if you take it for a long period of time. But it is good on short term for healing.

I dont know if Pettitte is telling the truth or not...but for those who were using it for healing and not long term, its a real shame their names will be smeared.

I have a feeling that Clemens has been using HGH for a long time though.

maxdome · December 15, 2007 2:02PM

I have been bodybuilding for over 20 years . In that peroid of time I have had numerous injuries. I tore both biceps, injured back, knees, deltoids, forearms, etc. I have gone to the doctors numerous times and they have never once prescribed steroids are hgh for my injuries.

yankeeno7 · December 15, 2007 2:10PM

Just because he didnt doesnt mean he couldnt have. Plus, I dont think you are making hundreds of thousands or millions doing body building. A little common sense goes a long way.

maxdome · December 15, 2007 2:16PM

Common sense should tell you baseball players do not take hgh for healing

yankeeno7 · December 15, 2007 2:18PM

And how do you know this? Are you saying this is true for EVERY ball player out there? Do you have inside information that the rest of us dont? If you do, please share.

maxdome · December 15, 2007 2:23PM

Hgh is used to build muscle that is a fact. They do not test for hgh in baseball or the nfl.

yankeeno7 · December 15, 2007 2:31PM

Just a suggestion...if you dont know that HGH assists with healing, quickly creating new cartilage, bone, muscle cells, protien uptake, and accelerate the utilization of fat in the body then you may want to do a bit more reading. It is not ONLY for muscle building.

Also, the only reason they dont test for HGH is because it is not able to be detected on a urine exam. Kind of ties their hands when it comes to HGH with the current testing standards.

maxdome · December 15, 2007 2:36PM

Blah blah blah you don't have a clue. It is obvious you dont know what you are talking about.

yankeeno7 · December 15, 2007 3:02PM

Way to discuss!

Instead of proving your point, you prove that you're an idiot with that type of response. Good going!

DeutscherGeist · December 15, 2007 3:55PM

Nothing will ever happen to Andy Pettite in terms of punishment. His alleged use of HGH was before the baseball ban. Nothing will happen to him. He can still pitch for however long he wants to. No governing body can throw the book at him since there is nothing to charge him with.

However, its public opinion that will haunt him. People are under the perception that two days of HGH during an injury is cheating. Well, not anymore cheating than a pitcher undergoing Tommy John surgery to extend his career. Usually pitchers with those type of injuries retire, but Tommy John surgery gives them hope now. What is wrong with trying to heal properly?? Why should HGH and steroids be so villified when our own bodies produce it as well. They have a practical use. I am not talking about enhancing performance here, but steroids and HGH do have a proper use.

HGH was once hailed as the fountain of youth. It does not just increase muscle mass, but it does a slew of orchestrated physiological events related to youthfulness and vigor. Metabolism is kicked into high gear and fat is burned more efficiently. The body recovers from all kinds of injuries much better. Its use has to be monitored by a trained expert, though. One has to make sure it is working well and that there are no side effects. Medical doctors are not the experts in the field of sports medicine unless they specifically specialized in it and were athletes themselves. I met a lot of idiot doctors when it came to sports related fitness. I think a trainer or physical therapist with proper education in physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, plus an athletic background, can do a much better job than someone who was never an athlete and just used razor elbows to get into medical school.

I do not worry about Andy Pettite. I like him, always will. Its good he addressed the public because some people are in the dark regarding all these substances and what good and bad they essentialize.

There really is no black and white with steroids and HGH. The more one knows, the more gray area one can see. While it is more likely the case that Canseco and Giambi used steroids so much that they enhanced their performance to win MVPs. Guys like Gary Sheffield used the "cream" one summer to recover from injuries and stopped using it when he found out what it really was. Now Sheffield is being tainted a juicer. This was a guy who always speaks his mind even if its not going to be received well. Since there is no other evidence linking him to steroids besides his grand jury testimony, I don't see any fault in his case either. Of course, I am willing to also wait and see what new information surfaces, but let us not make this another Salem Witch Hunt.

yankeeno7 · December 15, 2007 4:57PM

<< Blah blah blah you don't have a clue. It is obvious you dont know what you are talking about. >>

Im just repeating that one for you too DG. I thought I would help maxdome out with they way he discusses the issue.

maxdome · December 16, 2007 12:27AM

Blah Blah Blah you idiot.

bigfische · December 16, 2007 12:42AM

<< Blah Blah Blah you idiot. >>

Why do you use HGH? Not man enough on your own? Too much estrogen to build muscle? Girl.

SoFLPhillyFan · December 16, 2007 1:10AM

I'm a Yanks fan, but this cover from yesterday's Trenton paper is quite amusing. Of course one of their headlines today is "Fetus Found In Laundry."

frankhardy · December 16, 2007 3:15AM

DeutscherGeist mentioned public opinion. I think that public scrutiny is the worst punishment in these cases. These guys have so much money that a fine won't hurt them a bit. Same with a suspension. Public scrutiny is by far the worst thing that they will experience, and if Andy Pettitte is telling the truth, then I think it is a shame. I am by know means a Pettitte apologist. I am just trying to look at it objectively and not fly off of the handle with some irresponsible comment.

DeutscherGeist · December 16, 2007 6:48PM

Yes, Shane,

I agree, public scrutiny is what they have to fear. There won't be any punishments otherwise.

Morgoth · December 16, 2007 10:58PM

Petite was super smart, admit you did it, downplay what you did. Have people forgive you in a year or so. Now looking back on it, I bet some of these guys wished they would of talked to Mitchell so that they had a chance to explain what was going on. Guys like Brian Roberts are associated by very weak evidence that may have been omitted had they explained their circumstance to Mitchell directly. Union told them not to cooperate, looks like a bad move Don. Congress may still get involved and make your players pee in a cup every day thanks to your stalling Don.

stown · December 16, 2007 11:20PM

I actually somewhat forgive Pettitte.

He appears to be sincere and I believe he only took HGH a handful of times to help the team.

I put him in the same light as Giambi. After getting busted, they both came clean, so to speak.

Put it behind them and then move forward as much as one can under the circumstances. Sure, there may be a cloud forever over their head but at least they have a clean conscious.

frankhardy · December 17, 2007 12:09AM

This makes me wonder "what if" about McGwire. I really, really think that if McGwire would have come clean and showed some contrition in the Senate hearing a couple of years ago, I think that he would be in the Hall of Fame right now. Thoughts?

softparade · December 17, 2007 11:54AM

Sox "fans" are quick to jump on Andy .... its almost a shame for these guys that Andy's use of HGH happened AFTER all of the Yankees championships or else they would all be crying a heck of alot louder. Why don't these Sox "fans" whine about Trot Nixon or Mo Vaughn? Yeah, the same guys they all used to cheer on. Mo Vaughn was all Boston had to cheer for for some time at one point...... and he was cheating .....

Carew29 · December 17, 2007 1:31PM

Saw my doctor today for my arthritic elbow i have had since my drywall days. We talked about the HGH. He heard about Andy and the story didn't wash with him. He said if it was a serious arm injury and required HGH, he would give high doses for 1 month followed with less amounts the following month. He said you don't get HGH a "shot here", a "shot there". You would receive a series of shots. 1 or 2 shots will not work properly ( per my doctor). Opinions may vary.

DeutscherGeist · December 17, 2007 2:07PM

Carew29,

That was the point Andy was making. He wanted to heal well and attempted HGH and then never followed through, hence he never got any type of edge from it. Its the same with Gary Sheffield using the cream one summer. Tried it for a period thinking it was a balm to help with arthritis, but then stopped it because he found out what it was via Balco busts and sting operations (when all the truth started coming out). I think HGH should have been presented to the public in a non-villified form as it can actually help so many people when used appropriately.

Andy Pettitte admits using HGH!

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