RYAN THERIOT
Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot is astonished. He suddenly finds himself in the midst of a steroids controversy based on a throwaway line by a Chicago columnist.
Last year Theriot hit one home run all season as the Cubs starting shortstop. He already has five homers so far this young season. Those are hardly Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire-like numbers but we ARE living in the steroids era. Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote that, based on past history and the recent Manny Ramirez suspension, EVERY baseball is suspect. Telander said in his Friday column,
“Sorry, Ryan Theriot, you are a suspect. The whole proposition may be ludicrous. In fact, I’m pretty sure it is. But this is what baseball has wrought.”
The sudden power surge has both the Cubs and Theriot having to defend the 5’11″ shortstop against charges that he may be using performance enhancing drugs. Telander makes a valid point but at the expense of what in all likelihood is a completely innocent man. Theriot sure doesn’t look like he’s juicing. He weighs 175 pounds.
For the record, Theriot denies any drug use saying he is “amused” by accusations even if they’re backhanded. He called the comments by Telander “comical.” Cubs manager Lou Piniella called the controversy “crazy.” Theriot says the only supplement he uses “is gatorade.”
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHICAGO SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST RICK TELANDER FOR MANUFACTURING A STEROIDS CONTROVERSY OUT OF WHOLECLOTH
