The Reporting of Pettitte's HGH "use" = Overrated

Thursday was a heck of a day for baseball for it was the day the long awaited "Mitchell Report" came out. For two years players, owners, unions, and fans knew this day would come but the bottom line is this, there was a LOT of statements from two people, with little physical evidence, this report really doesn't prove anything. There were players named in this report by name for alleged drug use. Two types of drugs were brought up, steroids and human growth hormone (HGH). HGH was banned from baseball beginning in 2005.

Andy Pettitte's name was brought up in the report, and because ESPN and other media outlets don't have a lot going on, they once again misrepresented what the report said for the most part, and dragged Pettitte's name through the mud.

All the Mitchell report said about Pettitte was that he and Roger Clemens used the same trainer and that Pettitte asked for, and was injected with, HGH when he was on the D.L. in 2002 in order to heal faster to get back to his team. The report never said, or implied, that Pettitte used steroids or HGH anytime beside the time he was on the D.L. However, if you listened to every media outlet, you would think because of his relationship with Clemens that he used both substances everyday of his career.

Note to media (especially ESPN): Stop reporting stuff that is not there and making up stuff in order for your 5 Sports Centers in a row to be somewhat different. In the process of trying to "make news", you're dragging a good man's name through the mud.

I'm not saying Pettitte is without blame (he came out Saturday and admitted to taking HGH when on the DL in 2002). As a Christian, Pettitte should be above reproach. I would say that above reproach for Pettitte would have been to either not take the HGH and heal naturally, or come out long ago and just tell everybody what happened. It technically wasn't against the rules in 2002 but at the same time he knew that the report was going to come out. In fact, he was even asked by the peeps conducting the Mitchell report if he wanted to comment on what they were going to put in there about him. Pettitte chose not to speak up, and because of that, now he's got this nightmare on his hands.

I don't know if Pettitte would have made it to the Hall of Fame or not. He's a great left handed pitcher and has been on some of the best teams in baseball. His mechanics are amazing and his control is awesome. I love to watch him pitch. It makes me mad that because of the way many in the media are reporting this story that Pettitte will now be booed at stadiums around baseball. We will now see fans holding up signs at ballparks with pictures of syringes and all kinds of stuff.

So, if Pettitte didn't technically break any rules (which he didn't since HGH wasn't a banned substance in 2002 when he took it) then what's the big deal with his name being in this report? If it's because what he did wasn't moral or above reproach, then some of the greatest players of all time (Ruth, Mantle, Joe D) should be on trial as well. Pettitte didn't use the HGH to improve his everyday game like some currently do.

As a Christian, I am a little disappointed in Andy, but I am absolutely in no position to judge him. Wouldn't church be an interesting place if we put the same expectations of confession on every member confessing their sins to the the church the same way we have expectations of sports stars confessing their wrong doings to everybody?

If Andy didn't think what he did was even somewhat wrong or suspect, he would have told the public about this a long time ago when it was first brought up. Not because he owes it to the public, but because he knew better and part of being above reproach is owning up to your mistakes. That said, his name shouldn't be dragged through the mud. Andy has done such much for so many. He made a mistake, a mistake he didn't make while actively playing, but a mistake nonetheless. Regardless of the reason, he has confessed his mistake. It's now time for the media and the public to let it go. Focus on the people that currently use steroids or those that use HGH to improve their play. If there is ever proof that Andy used steroids or HGH at any other time besides the time that he has confessed to (since in his confession he said that he's never used HGH at any other time) then throw him to the wolves of the court of public opinion. Until such a time, stick to the FACTS of what you know and stop reporting your speculation or "expert analysis" as fact.

To put Andy Pettitte and Barry Bonds's names in the same sentence is just downright stupid and irresponsible. There is LOADS of proof against Bonds taking steroids and HGH during the season, including his own confession that he took it (unknowing that what he was taking was a steroid, ALLEGEDLY).

Jayson Stark has a very well written article about this.

Okay, I feel somewhat better now....