When the steroid era began, the league was coming off arguably one of the lowest points in its history. The strike of 1994 sent fans packing. Fans quit going to the ballpark in droves. One of the most exciting things about a ballgame is the long ball. With the introduction of steroids the balls were flying out of the park at a record pace. There was no finer example of this at its peak than the Texas Rangers. With Juan Gonzales, Rafael Palmiero, Pudge Rodriguez and Jose Canseco all allegedly taking part in adding a little performance enhancement. The league was complicate in the growth of its use. Turnstiles were turning in record numbers and the money was flowing.

Juan Gonzales
(photo credit: philly.com)

Flash forward a few years and suddenly the office of the Commissioner decides that it has to go. Even Congress (with so much more to worry about than this) stepped in to ask how it could happen. I’ll tell you how it can happen. Greed.

IF these players are going to be on a HOF ballot, the league office needs to come clean like so many players had to. If they were to do that I would support their names on the ballot, even their entry into the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. I am not a big believer in adding an asterisk in the record books. I think any person who loves the history of baseball can find context in any record book. Babe Ruth was still the greatest player of all time to me, because he did everything that was opposite of performance enhancing. The league was steadfast in its refusal to do anything with Roger Maris and Hank Aaron’s numbers and that I understand. But something as epic as our steroid era screams for a disclaimer.

As it is, I don’t support them getting in, much less than on a ballot.

Our catchers this season, Torrealba, Napoli, Martinez and yes Brandon Snyder caught one game, were middle to bottom in every defensive category. Conventional wisdom at the start of the year was that we weren’t counting on a lot of offense form these guys, but they would be an asset behind the plate. Especially handling our pitching staff. By the end of the season, our ERA was soaring and it appeared bases were being stolen with wild abandon. Two side notes. One, Napoli gets a pass because of injury and the games he did play being mostly at first base and DH. The second, Geovany Soto actually helped the Ranger numbers (not much) down the stretch.

On the farm Tomas Tellis is coming off Tommy John surgery and worked as a DH in 2012. Third round selection Pat Cantwell from this year’s draft got off to a good start in Spokane. Let’s face it, they are each a ways off.

There isn’t a lot out there on the free agent market. Even before the injury, Napoli regressed this season. He’s available but will be looking for money based on his 2011 numbers. I see the name Kelly Shopach a lot, but he is a backup at best. A.J. Pierzynski is out there but he reportedly is a polarizing force in the clubhouse. Not good.

On the trade front the name J.P. Arencibia comes up. He’s a former first round pick of the Blue Jays who hasn’t lived up to expectations with the bat, but has been strong behind the plate. To me, go big or go home. Let’s talk Carlos Santana from Cleveland. Or Ryan Doumit from Minnesota.

There’s a grittiness that is missing at that position for us. Napoli provided that in 2011. In a sport that has become so specialized, the catcher position has become one of brains and not brawn. In all of the stats I went through, there is no way to note the X-Factor we are looking for. Back in the 90’s there were some team leaders whose pep talks provided sparks at a crucial time. Who could have stepped up in 2012? There was no way it was coming from that position. Catcher is a natural place for that to start.

When you see a Buster Posey or Matt Wieters, they are in the Pudge and Sunny mold. There’s nobody out there like that now. They don’t come along very often. But we’d take another Mike Stanley, John Russell , Rich Billings or Geno Petralli. Or two.

Photo courtesy of caller.com

One of my goals in life is that when I take a vacation, I try to squeeze something baseball into it.  I hope to see each of the 30 MLB teams play at home.  I try to go to games or if its in the middle of the winter I at least go and see the stadium.  This vacation I did something I have never done before, tour a MLB Stadium.

I got online and purchased the tickets for a tour of National Park and I arrived pretty early since I rode the metro there and checked out the team store,  From the look of the store you would think that Strasburg was their only player on the team.  I did see a couple of Rodriguez and Zimmerman jerseys on hangers though. 

The tour guide made it to the center field gate and the tour group was my wife and I and another couple and that was it.  We started off seeing the concessions and the family friendly areas of the park.  I have never seen this before, but there was literally a play ground inside the gates. 

Within the tour we were able to enter some of the luxury boxes.  The view from the box was pretty amazing, compared to any seat I have sat in a park.  I was even able to see the press boxes and sit down in the chairs where USA today sits for the game which were pretty impressive seats for getting paid to watch the game.

We thing saw the luxury club where you can eat prime rib and watch the game on TV.  We then walked out onto the outside seats available to the patrons of the club  and these seats are right behind home plate, close enough to even hear players talk at home plate.  During the tour we then headed down to where we could look into the clubhouse, unfortunately Pudge’s and Strasburg’s lockers were at the back of the clubhouse where we were not allowed to go.  Outside of the Clubhouse there was a podium for security and there was a desk right inside the clubhouse door which was probably also security.  I guess the Nationals do not want Lady GaGa scantly dressed entering their clubhouse. 

We then headed down the tunnel towards the dugout, but before getting there we entered the indoor batting cages and he showed us what a 100 mph fastball coming from a pitching machine looks like.  After that we then went out to the dugout and I was able to sit on the bench in the dugout and see what the view of the field looks like from that perspective. 

After touring the dugout we were able to step on the field level, where the groudscrew was working on the mound, although we were prohibitted to step on the grass.  The tour guide told us that they are constantly working on the field.  He then guided us down along the warning track to the Nationals bullpen.  One thing he did tell us is that the Nationals Bullpen is in the shade most of the game and the Visting Bullpen is in the sun all day. 

We then went into the bullpen and since it had been raining earlier that day the mounds in the bullpen were wet and he couldn’t let us throw from there.  He but out this square target, that I assume pitchers throw out to get lose before the game.  I was little nervous, but I took two throws at the target and hit it dead center each time, although I was afraid I would miss horrible and make a fool out of myself.

We then ended the tour in the tunnel which was under the seats and walked back to the center gate entrance.  This entrance was something I really liked about the park because if you take the Metro to the game you get off the subway and then ride and esculator up literally 6 floors before coming to groud level.  You then exit the metro and turn left on the street and the street runs straight into that entrance.  From that gate you can somewhat see into the park, although the actual playing feild is 24 feet below sea level. 

 One thing I have to say is no matter where you go on vacation take a tour of the park, because it was one of the most enjoyable baseball experience I have seen.  I can now say I have actually stood on the field level in a MLB Park and only a few feet from the mound where probably the best pitching phenom of this current generation Stephen Strasburg made his Major League debut.  It will be an experience that will be with me forever.