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Raul Ibanez is upset someone opined an obvious possibility E-mail
Written by Mike Bock   
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 15:02

From Rotoworld:

Raul Ibanez is incensed over a recent blog post suggesting that his outstanding numbers this season could have been aided by performance-enhancing drugs.

Ibanez referred to an item on the Midwest Sports Fans blog as "pathetic and disgusting," and added that "I'll come after people who defame or slander me." The Phillies outfielder went on to say, "Unfortunately, I understand the environment we're in and the events that have led us to this era of speculation. At the same time, you can't just walk down the street and accuse somebody of being a thief because they didn't have a nice car yesterday and they do today." The 37-year-old is hitting .327 with 47 runs, 20 homers, 55 RBI and a 1.066 OPS.

Well, let's hope a bunch of athletes don't peruse through some of my old articles ...

Anyway, back to Raul Ibanez, anyone who has been paying attention to the sudden ability of players in their mid to late 30s to completely outperform their career norms -- and occasionall get caught using chemical assistance -- has wondered about Raul's incredible season at the age of 37. Yeah, he's been freed from awful franchises, and yes, he's now playing in a bandbox, but still ... I think everyone has wondered. Physically, he's always been Julio Franco-esque in his ability to look like a man 10-15 years younger than he is, but this season defies all statistical interpretation. Do I have proof he's using? No. Do I suspect it as a possibility? Sure.

By this point, I hope we're all completely immune to an athlete's vehement protests at being accused of some feckless misbehavior. Remember Rafael Palmeiro? Or Roger Clemens? Or [INSERT OTHER PROMINENT LIAR HERE]? I don't give a shit if a baseball player breaks down in tears and begins to ritualistically cut his body with knives in sadness, if the circumstantial evidence is there, I'm going to have my doubts.

By the way, the thief analogy he offered seems appropriate at first glance, but kind of breaks down if you look at it carefully. If the gentleman in question had never owned a car before (or hit 35+ homers), had shown no ability to purchase one (never come close to his projected numbers), and in a 24-hour period suddenly has a nice vehicle (or one incredible season at the age of 37), is it such a leap to assume that the car doesn't belong to him? I'll give Raul the benefit of the doubt and say that he's just having a great year, partly because he seems like a nice guy who's finally in a good situation, and partly because he's on both of my fantasy teams and I want no hint of my championships sullied by association.


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Comments (9)add comment

calibob02 said:

...
I targeting Ibanez in all my leagues this year because I knew he was going from a poor line-up in a pitcher's park to a great line-up in a hitters park. I think it's totally predictable that he's having a great year.
 
June 10, 2009
Votes: +0

calibob02 said:

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I meant to say "I was targeting"
 
June 10, 2009
Votes: +0

Kevin said:

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So are you saying that this is the only reason for his uptick in performance? Is Mike totally off base with this thinking?
 
June 10, 2009
Votes: +0

Kevin said:

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"I knew he was going from a poor line-up in a pitcher's park to a great line-up in a hitters park"

If you look at the numbers, always a good thing to do when talking 'hitter's park/pitcher's park" bias, Citizen's Bank park actually is playing neutral this year. In the three categories that matter, Runs, HR, and Hits, here's how 2008's Safeco and 2009's Philly compare:

Runs: Safeco .932, Philly .983- 5% inflation in Philly
HR: Safeco .900, Philly .974 7% inflation in Philly
Hits: Safeco .992 Philly .979 1% inflation in Safeco!!!

So a 7% inflation on a 30 HR season is 2.1 HR. Two damn home runs. Therefore, the park is not the answer. And since each at bat is an independent incident, what the pitcher threw Ryan Howard or Chutley has absolutely nothing to do with what is being thrown to Raul Ibanez. Not to mention the fact that Citizen's Bank is actually playing below the mean for all three categories, making it, so far, a pitcher's park.

Imagine, just for second, that there could be another possible explanation for a 37 year old having a career year spike. You know, just like the kind that Barry Bonds or Luis Gonzalez had. You remember those, don't you?
 
June 10, 2009
Votes: +0

Bob Taylor said:

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I think Raul Ibanez is drug-free, happy and handsome.

So there.
 
June 10, 2009
Votes: +0

Kevin said:

...
I will readily admit he has a handsome, hormone-enhanced soul patch. He's taking Manny's leftover stash. All rumor-mongering aside, it doesn't detract from him being the centerpiece of the Bits o' Hurl. You can rock that tout all year long.
 
June 11, 2009
Votes: +0

Mike Bock said:

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My draft guide got there first. I think.
 
June 11, 2009
Votes: +0

Mike Bock said:

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D'OH! I didn't write that draft guide.

*sigh*
 
June 11, 2009
Votes: +0

Bob Taylor said:

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How'd your foot taste, Mr. Bock?

There has been NO bigger Ibanez championer than I!

Is "championer" even a word?
 
June 11, 2009
Votes: +0

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