Poor Toby's Almanac...Texas Independence Day

A couple of responses to TR's blog above:

1) Hooray for our Texas Independence. May the Lone Star State flag forever wave. If all that hadn't happened, who knows, we might have been trying to sneak into Oklahoma in the darkness of night--not a way to enter your country you supposedly love, otherwise why would you be here? Happy 172nd Anniversary Texas!!!

2) Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman prefer blood tests to urine tests. I'm not in the medical field, but I note they both claim an invasion of privacy. Isn't a blood test an invasion of privacy, if it's not related to your medical health? Is a urine test a better yardstick of steroid use than a blood test? Just wondering.......

Which brings me to a point I've mentioned many, many times on this blog and NEVER YET have had a satisfactory answer: If steroids and human growth hormone are found on Senior radio stations as a possible anti-aging and wellness aid, and both steroids and HGH are found at gyms, at health food stores, and at the CVS's of the world, then WHAT EXACTLY is the illegality in buying or using it? If it might be deemed "cheating" by MLB because it might have the effect of hitting a baseball 10 feet further, then one might be able to argue that. BUT, for the possibility of say Roger Clemens going to prison for this, is UTTERLY ABSURD! I know he possibly lied to a House subcommittee, and THAT is illegal, for sure, but if you are asked to fly to Washington and sit before the pompous Henry Waxman, D-California (who thinks cigarette smoking is on par with a crime), the prospect of either admitting or denying something which is found on Senior's radio stations, gym and health food store shelves, is absolutely nuts. If the wonderful Representatives like Henry Waxman found out that Al Queda members were using steroids, THEN YOU CAN BET, they'd mandate all Al Queda members in Guantanamo prison to be moved to Capitol Hill, due to the "seriousness" of steroids. Maybe, just maybe they can realize the SERIOUSNESS of people who just want to kill us, black, white, brown-just because we are Americans. I never fail to marvel at how "steroid use" is a National calamity, (according to some who sit in Congress), when Al Queda and terrorism is almost an afterthought. Befuddling. I have never smoked anything or used any drugs (short of caffeine), so maybe I'm missing something in marking steroids and HGH (touted as an anti-aging tool), as "Criminal." I'm definitely missing the boat, to think of something as widespread being treated as criminal. All the products should immediately come off the shelves and all the steroid allegations should disintigrate. NOW, if MLB wants to keep McGuire, Palmeiro, Bonds, or whoever out of the Hall of Fame, then that's their right. One can only wonder though who votes on these players to be inducted, what exactly THEY THEMSELVES have done in their lifetimes that might not be sterling. Personally, I cannot stand Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Both should be in the Hall, in my opinion.

Just because you used something which "might" help elongate a player's career or help him rehabilitate an injury, or perhaps even permit him to hit a ball 10 ft. further, the FACT IS, that even with the taking of steroids or HGH, a Major League batter must still hit a Major League fastball at near 95 mph, tell whether it is high or low, inside or outside, and still be able to hit that fast-moving "little pill" 400+ feet to achieve a Home run. THAT, my friends, is still a feat, and I would have to give it to alot of practice, hand-eye coordination, a knowledge of the pitcher, and more intangibles than JUST steroids. I think steroids should be banned at all schools across the country, as, the story goes, it makes bones very brittle. That being said, steroids and HGH used by a Major Leaguer might make himself open to the charge of "cheating", but should certainly not make a criminal out of them. Just my opinion. I still don't understand why the huge behemoths in the NFL don't ever face much scrutiny on this issue, or NBA, etc. Just good ol' baseball. Odd to me.

Seems odd to me also, that we weren't the ones to offer Juan Gonzales a "make-good" contract, a la Sammy Sosa. He could be the ultimate DH, if he has anything left. Based on his few AB's with the Cardinals, it seems he has some left in his tank. Sure wish with Sammy gone, that we could have found more lightning in the bottle.

GREAT POST BINGO. One reason congress is so willing to go after the steroid issue is it is safe. More than likely it won't get them voted out of office. Now there are some issues that they might go after that will.

You are right about Juan, it would have been nice to see him in a Ranger uniform.

Spring training is looking good. I think we are going to be suprised this year. Maybe we are going to have some Rangers take charge. I like how MY handled the TJ Wilson blog problem. I wish that someone had done that with Tex last year. Might have to have been more than one player but constant criticism of your organization can't be good. Chemistry is a great thing for a team. If one thing is missing it doesn't work as well but add another and it will jell. I am not saying we have it yet but it is going to be fun to watch.

T.R., you knocked a decade off Bouton's and Allen's ages. I'm sure they won't mind.