JUICED

Universal Medical Systems, a company that specializes in computer imaging, released a report this week claiming that baseballs used in the 1998 season had enlarged rubber cores and synthetic rubber rings. UMS, along with a little help from two doctors from The Center for Quantitative Imaging at Penn State, analyzed advanced computer imagery of baseballs from the ’98 season.

Universal Medical Systems President David Zavango has offered the sporting world this tidbit: A record breaking home run ball that season was tampered with.



“Examining the CT images of Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball one can clearly see the synthetic ring around the core, or ‘pill’, of the baseball. While Mark McGuire may or may not have used illegal steroids, the evidence shows his ball, under the governing body of the league, was juiced.”

MLB officials, in an attempt to cover their asses, have tried to explain UMS’s findings, stating the rubber ring is really a cardboard washer. They have also rushed to the defense of Rawlings, the supplier of MLB baseballs since 1977, explaining the quality control procedure and insisting no changes have been made to the core of the ball since Rawlings starting supplying them.

I cannot figure out why this story isn’t getting any press.

Could it be the powers that be want to hide this as best as possible? It’s quite obvious that after the strike of ’94 MLB wanted fans to return to the game. After all, baseball is America’s past time. And remember, baseball is a business and the idea of owning and operating a business is to MAKE MONEY. It’s estimated that the strike cost owners and players a combined total of over $800,000,000.

Is it possible that, in an attempt to spark interest for the game, the honchos buried their heads in the sand when they heard rumblings of steroid use? That they even introduced a juiced ball into the game in an effort to keep fans interested? That they knew big home runs would put asses in seats?

Most definitely.