What is a worse baseball crime?

[born2reign]

Colin Cowherd had this discussion (or more of a rant with him) this morning about which was worse in baseball terms, Pete Rose's gambling or the use of performance enhancers. I wanted to pose this to the community.

 

What is a worse crime in baseball:

 

Gambling on games in which you can influence the outcome

 

Using performance enhancing drugs

 

 

Would a mod please add a poll?

[stickymitts]

b2r, I think it's important to emphasize the, "in baseball terms". If that's your intent.

 

Easiest answer is PED's because they're illegal but we're talking baseball rules only, correct?

[formerkywrestler]

Gambling...

[formerkywrestler]

b2r, I think it's important to emphasize the, "in baseball terms". If that's your intent.

 

Easiest answer is PED's because they're illegal but we're talking baseball rules only, correct?

I'm not very familiar with his case, but I would venture to say that Pete placed a lot of his bets with bookies...which aren't legal.

[mexitucky]

W/out a doubt gambling. It calls into question the very integrity of the competition. If a guy juices and faces a pitcher who juices, the statistics may be tainted. However, the actual competition, and whether it is true is not called into question. If a guy is batting and is facing a pitcher who is trying to throw the game, then whole character of the sport is in doubt.

[MJAlltheWay24]

Gambling on games is worse...unless of coarse you are betting on your team to win.

[woodsrider]

Gambling.

[stickymitts]

I'm not very familiar with his case, but I would venture to say that Pete placed a lot of his bets with bookies...which aren't legal.

 

Very true.

[stickymitts]

I guess one initially has to give their definition of "the game". If you're talking about A game, gambling is worse.

 

If you're talking about THE game, PED's IMO. Especially the game that holds it's records in such high regard. How many other sports can you simply say #'s and people know what you're talking about: 61, 4192, 4256...etc.?

[cooperstown]

W/out a doubt gambling. It calls into question the very integrity of the competition. If a guy juices and faces a pitcher who juices, the statistics may be tainted. However, the actual competition, and whether it is true is not called into question. If a guy is batting and is facing a pitcher who is trying to throw the game, then whole character of the sport is in doubt.

 

How does gambling have a greater effect on the integrity of the game than PED's? I would agree with this statement if the gambling would involve your own team and your decisions as a manager/performance as a player. But if you are simply betting on baseball games because you feel you have some special insight to predict the outcomes or are only betting on your team to win (both of which Rose did), then I would submit PED's would have a greater adverse effect integrity-wise. You say that a guy who is juicing only "taints the statistics" and competition is not effected, but clearly those juicers had a direct impact on the very outcome of the games in which they played. Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Palmerio, Clemens, and all the other 'roid boys had a major impact on the wins/losses of their teams and their opponent.

[malachicrunch]

Gambling. The argument that Pete only bet to win is weak. Did he bet every game? No. Why not? Could he hold a reliever back in one of those games to participate in tomorrow's game which he did bet on? Rest a star to come back stronger tomorrow? We'll never know the extent that Pete's betting effected the outcomes of those games.

[stickymitts]

Gambling. The argument that Pete only bet to win is weak. Did he bet every game? No. Why not? Could he hold a reliever back in one of those games to participate in tomorrow's game which he did bet on? Rest a star to come back stronger tomorrow? We'll never know the extent that Pete's betting effected the outcomes of those games.

 

Individual games compared to THE game?

 

Also, I've always wondered how betting compromised the integrity of the game but PED's did not?

 

I'm convincing myself more and more that PED's are worse.

[malachicrunch]

Individual games compared to THE game?

 

Also, I've always wondered how betting compromised the integrity of the game but PED's did not?

 

I'm convincing myself more and more that PED's are worse.

 

You don't have a problem with a player or manager knowingly effect the outcome of a game? GGuys on PEDs don't know how they will effect the game. They still went 0-5 many times, whether on the juice or not. Pete could willingly effect the outcome of individual games. Another thing not talked about here is the issue of someone falling into insurmountable debt to his bookies. Never turns out well does it?

[stickymitts]

You don't have a problem with a player or manager knowingly effect the outcome of a game?

 

I simply assumed that everyone was taking the "lesser of two evils" approach. Of course I have a problem with it. I mean, I'd much rather see an MLB full of Sean Casey's but that ain't happening.

 

Never turns out well does it?

 

Not much different than years of drug abuse. Just maybe quicker.

[malachicrunch]

I simply assumed that everyone was taking the "lesser of two evils" approach. Of course I have a problem with it. I mean, I'd much rather see an MLB full of Sean Casey's but that ain't happening.

 

 

 

Not much different than years of drug abuse. Just maybe quicker.

 

I agree. Both are devestating in their own ways.