So Piazza's always had a bit of a question about him, to be sure; any great slugger in the Steroid Era would and does.

Jeff Pearlman's book "The Rocket That Fell To Earth" covering Roger Clemens accuses Piazza citing:

-his famous back acne, often a sign of steroid use
-a player named Reggie Jefferson claiming it was "obvious"
-Piazza's allegedly telling reporters he used
-Piazza's big numbers

All fair points to raise- and all can be explained:

-Everyone's got a physical feature they're not proud of- mny times it is omething you cannot help. There are many kinds of skin issues that would explain the acne besides steroid use; in fact, playing out in the hot sun for a profession would have AGRRAVATED any skin condition Piazza may ot have had. Why not come foward and say this, you may ask? Think- Piazza's an athelete, and atheletes make their living in two ways- playing their sport and endorsements. Who is going to endorse a fellow with a bad skin condition in our shallow culture; and Piazza played in LA and NY for most his career- media hotbeds. It'd be more than understandable if Piazza didn't want to set the media hounds on him.

-I researched Reggie Jefferson: he's a journeyman player with a weak average an a forgettable career; I've said before that atheletes survive through play and endorsements- I think it is a safe theory Jefferson may have just wanted some attention, and posibly the cash that often comes with it, and as he couldn't get it through posting big numbers..........

-Pearlman's book allges Piazza admitted casually to reporters off the record he used. Mike Piazza is, easily, one of the must beloved players of the steroid era with many fans (including this one) attracted not only to his performance, but to the way he handled himself. Piazza was always a class act on the field. Always polite, often smiling even when on terrible teams (ah, my poor Mets.....) and never letting his temper get the best of him a la roid rage- case in point, Piazza, stunning and even disgusting some of his teammates, refused to fight Clemens after Clemens through the bat at him in the 2000 Subway Series. He yelled a bit, undrstandably (who WOULDN'T after a bat was just thrown at them) but didn't let his temper get the best of him. He was Mr. Nice, and NY loved him, ans still does. Piazza never had the surly disposition of Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, or Sosa in his later career- al steroid users (Bonds isn't "officially" caught yet, but come on- is there a man who actually believes "flaxseed oil" allowed him to hit 73 HRs in a season and break Hank Aaron's HR record?) So my point? The media hates those players to averying degrees, adn has sought to destroy them by digging up their little secrets. Piazza played in a time where the resswas the enemy of the player, not the friend; the days of Mickey Mantle's drinking being covered up by the press to preserve a player's image is gon, and Piazza knew it. He did not want the reporters to ruin his life and make him miserable; bieng their pal and telling one or two off the record made him a friend, someone the press wouldn't hound. A smart strategy to keep a sane life in an insane timeto play- who wouldn't do the same?

But couldn't he have done this to actually cover up steroid use? My fourth piece f evidence, the biggest defender of all....

-Piazza's numbers, both on the field and on his hat size, never spikedduring his career. Is it odd a 62nd round player would go on to be the greatest hitting cacher ever? Yes- but don't we love those stories in baseball? Babe Ruth was dscovered in a wayward school for boys, Mantle in an impoverished mining family in Okalahoma. And it is well-documented that Piazza spent HOURS as a kid every day in a batting cage.

But more than that- look at the stats of Piazza, and then look at some of the known steroid users. Bonds? Went form 30-40 homer guy to 60-70 in his LATE THIRTIES. Sosa? Went from never hitting 20 to suddenly, after putting on 25 lbs., to becoming a 40 HR guy, and then a 60 HR guy. McGwire? A skinny 20 HR guy, 40 HRs when Canseco gave him steroids in the 80's, and finally 70 in 1998 as a 38 or so year old.

Piazza?

Came in Hitting 30 or so HRs, and always hit 20-40 for more than a decade. No big spikes from say 20 to 40, even- it goes up, gradually, if you check the stats, and (here's the kicker) DOWN AS HE GOT OLDER.

Just to say it again:

Piazza declined like ALL PLAYERS DO.

Ruth declined that ay, Mantle, Mays- all the greats followed the same stat rise and decline as Piazza.

And Piazza came into the minors a big guy, came into the majors a big guy- and NEVER increased in size a la Bonds and Sosa suddenly adding 25 lbs. and having their heads grow 2 hat sizes.


That's my case. I believe Piazza is innocent of steroid use. Do I think my hero was perfect? No. He may have used something other than steroids; Mantle and others in the 60's and 70's on used amphetamines to stay fresh- and these were legal until 4 or so years ago.

If Piazza used something like that, I wouldn't be surprised- but as generatios of HOF players like Mantle used them, wouldn't consider it cheating- not exactly good or something to brag about, but not like using a cow hormones or whatever to increase numbers artificially.

So who do I name as users (obvious ones like Bonds excluded here):

-Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez: He became rather pudgy rather suddenly, and his numbers went from 17 HRs to 35-40 suddenly as well. Fits the profile, and Caneco, the steroid sultan, named him.

And I'm tired now- more in the morning. :)