# Rafael Palmeiro: A New Low? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064 "2005-09-23T15:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/1 "2005-09-23T15:17:12Z")
[Here](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9437465/) it says that Raffy has fingered his _teammate_ Miguel Tejada as someone who gave him stuff that he (RP) thought might be doctored and led to his positive test for steroids. MLB cleared Tejada immediately. Can Palmeiro sink any lower? He has gone from bastion of integrity to a hypocrite who rats on teammates in an attempt to shift the blame. Wow - seems like he’s trying to surpass Kobe as a top 10 slimy guy… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/2 "2005-09-23T15:33:45Z")
I was wondering if he plans on playing after this season, because nobody is going to want him as a teammate. ---
**Author:** ![Innuendo\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Innuendo\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Innuendo_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/3 "2005-09-23T15:34:31Z")
> [@](#): > > According to the person familiar with the investigation, Palmeiro listed the B-12 as a possible reason for the positive test but did not make any definitive accusation. I don’t think Raffy was implying that Miggy gave him steroids, when he thought it was B-12. He is saying that _B-12_ somehow caused a false-positive result. At least that the impression that I’m getting. How B-12 could cause a false-positive is beyond me. Raffy is just digging himself into a bigger hole. This whole thing is still a huge shock for me. Raffy was the last person in MLB I would have suspected of using steriods. It just sucks beyond belief! Bye-bye Cooperstown. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/4 "2005-09-23T15:36:26Z")
I think the guy who leaked the story is lower than Palmeiro. And I still think Palmeiro will get into the hall… although whether he does or not doesn’t really matter to me. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/5 "2005-09-23T16:04:38Z")
If he’s getting into the Hall, he’s probably back on the same timetable as he was pre-steroid. Pre-steroid he would have likely played again next year then retired and got in on the first ballot 6 years from now. Now, he’ll likely retire, wait 5 years, not get voted in on the first ballot, and be in in 6 years anyway. Just speculating. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/6 "2005-09-23T17:45:24Z")
Here’s what I think happened: Raffy denies taking steroids. The investigators ask him if he’d taken any pills, etc., that he didn’t know the origins of. Raffy says “I got a vitamin pill from Miguel around that time - could that have done it?” Reporter reads transcript - sees Tejada’s name, writes “Palmeiro Blames Tejada!” ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/7 "2005-09-23T21:08:07Z")
[Orioles say Palmeiro’s season over](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9437465/). > [@](#): > > the result of a positive test for steroids that severely tainted his remarkable career and proved to be too big a distraction for his teammates to ignore. > > “He won’t be dressing for the rest of the year,” Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie said. “We felt it wouldn’t be appropriate for the organization.” At this point it doesn’t matter how Tejadas name came up - the damage is done. Palmeiro is probably finished as a player. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/8 "2005-09-23T22:15:30Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > [Orioles say Palmeiro’s season over](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9437465/). > > At this point it doesn’t matter how Tejadas name came up - the damage is done. Palmeiro is probably finished as a player. The rest of the year? 2005? How many games are left? Or do they mean 2006 as well? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/9 "2005-09-23T22:17:49Z")
Sportswriter’s comments [Palmeiro shows his true (lack of) character By implicating teammate, Oriole doomed chances of ever playing again](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9450651/) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/10 "2005-09-23T23:40:32Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > The rest of the year? 2005? How many games are left? Or do they mean 2006 as well? They just meant done for this season and the O’s only have 10 games left. However, this just the begining. I agree with the story that **astro** just linked to - Palmeiro could just find himself blacklisted. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/11 "2005-09-23T23:43:12Z")
No one’s going to sign Palmeiro next year. Even the Rangers won’t take him back after this. He’s not going to bring fans in, and he’s demonstrating a talent for being a clubhouse cancer. Not that we haven’t heard rumors about Tejada in the past, mind you, but trying to shift the blame like this is just lower than low. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/12 "2005-09-24T03:08:31Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > Here’s what I think happened: > > Raffy denies taking steroids. > The investigators ask him if he’d taken any pills, etc., that he didn’t know the origins of. > Raffy says “I got a vitamin pill from Miguel around that time - could that have done it?” > Reporter reads transcript - sees Tejada’s name, writes “Palmeiro Blames Tejada!” That’s pretty much what Palmeiro is saying happened. Indirectly, it does point the finger at Tejada, even if it’s unintentional. It doesn’t matter much; Palmeiro is through. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/13 "2005-09-24T03:14:45Z")
He never (finger wag) implicated (finger wag) Tejada. (finger wag) Period. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/14 "2005-09-24T03:40:23Z")
I got a funny feeling about Rafael Palmiero years ago, during the Gold Glove fiasco. You may all recall that Palmiero was awarded a Gold Glove in 1999 despite playing almost the entire season at first base. It was a major embarassment, as it revealed what many had long suspected, that the managers and coaches who vote on the awards don’t really pay attention to what they’re doing. Palmiero’s comment to this travesty at that time was “Well, I deserve it anyway, because I should have won it other years and they gave it to someone else.” I was floored by this comment, even though at the time not much was said about it. Most athletes are smart enough to be modest about awards. When it’s an award that was pretty obviously a mistake, you’d think someone with common sense would have said “There has obviously been a mistake, I feel bad accepting this.” Palmiero’s response… it sounded weird to me, and I thought at the time that either he was miquoted, or there was something not right about him. His behaviour through this steroid thing has reinforced my earlier impression. He sounds not just like a man with a huge ego, but with an ego so overblown that it’s affecting his ability to deal rationally with other people. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/15 "2005-09-24T03:56:55Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You may all recall that Palmiero was awarded a Gold Glove in 1999 despite playing almost the entire season at first base. He was a designated hitter most of the season, playing 28 games at first. ---
**Author:** ![twin\_infinitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@twin\_infinitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twin_infinitive)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/16 "2005-09-24T04:01:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That’s pretty much what Palmeiro is saying happened. Indirectly, it does point the finger at Tejada, even if it’s unintentional. It doesn’t matter much; Palmeiro is through. It is pointing the finger at Tejada, because if his question was just whether B-12 could cause a positive test, he didn’t have to mention any names. He only had to mention a name if it was B-12 from a particular person he thought might have done it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/17 "2005-09-24T04:05:57Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > He was a designated hitter most of the season, playing 28 games at first. Which of course is what I meant to say, and is the only thing that would have made any sense. I must be more tired than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/18 "2005-09-24T09:43:07Z")
At least Jose Canseco was “smart” enough to name names after he quit the game. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/19 "2005-09-24T16:29:55Z")
My thoughts of Palmeiro and the Hall of Fame? Every journalist should vote no for five years. Then Rafe is off the journalists ballot. After that, the decision would be in the hands of the veteran’s committee. I’d like to see this decision made by Hall of Famers. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064/20 "2005-09-24T17:14:17Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > The investigators ask him if he’d taken any pills, etc., that he didn’t know the origins of. When you take a pill, how do you know what’s in it? If I give you an an aspirin from an aspirin bottle, are you POSITIVE that what you’re ingesting is aspirin? If you get a prescription filled, do you have each pill chemically analyzed before ingesting it, or do you assume that it contains what the prescription calls for? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-palmeiro-a-new-low/323064.md?page=2)