# Sammy Sosa is a Dumbass!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508 "2003-06-04T03:42:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Chaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chaco)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/1 "2003-06-04T03:42:42Z")
I cannot believe [this!](http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cubs-sosabat&prov=ap&type=lgns) Why would one of the greatest baseball players of our time do something so stupid. Does he _really_ need to cork his bats? I admire Sosa and his accomplishments, but now I find myself questioning his achievements. How many of those homeruns did he hit with a corked bat? Will this affect his Hall of Fame status? I am so pissed and disappointed. I feel like the day I found out Santa Claus didn’t exist. Say it ain’t so Sammy, say it aint so… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/2 "2003-06-04T03:51:27Z")
What a maroon. I really do have to wonder how long he’s been doing this for. And hell, even if he did only use it for exhibitions, it’s stupid. Another question: How do Major League veterans _not_ know that bats fuckin’ break?! Often, at that! Kick his ass, Dusty! ---
**Author:** ![Chaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Chaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chaco)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/3 "2003-06-04T04:24:22Z")
I don’t know if I’m buying his explanation. He says that the bat that he used today was a bat that he only uses during batting practice or exhibitons and he grabbed the wrong bat. If that were the case, then why was the knob of that bat taped? I thought he only taped his game bats. Also, why doesn’t he mark those “exhibition” bats so that he can distinguish which one is which? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/4 "2003-06-04T04:28:23Z")
This idiot, with this one single incident, has managed to cast a shadow of doubt over all of his accomplisments. Were I a ball player of his stature, I would scrupulously ensure that only regulation bats were used by myself at all times. To even be in possession of a corked bat, regardless of whether it is in game play or not is so incredibly stupid that he needs MRI to determine if he is in possession of any brain matter whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/5 "2003-06-04T04:35:46Z")
~groans~ That’s truly disappointing, an otherwise admirable athlete, makes a mistake that will cost him far more than the bat was worth. (reputation wise) ~J ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/6 "2003-06-04T04:52:01Z")
Yep, I just saw this earlier on a news blurb. Is it for sure? Say it ain’t so. Damn shame. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/7 "2003-06-04T05:00:22Z")
Well, I just heard on ESPN that he says he uses corked bats in practice to “impress the fans” WTF? This is not good for baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/8 "2003-06-04T05:05:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > \*\*Well, I just heard on ESPN that he says he uses corked bats in practice to “impress the fans” WTF? > > This is not good for baseball. \*\* That would to wow the fans with long homers. It still sucks though. He says he simply grabbed the wrong bat, but the pundits are saying “How do you put your practice bats in the dugout?” ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/9 "2003-06-04T05:22:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jaade \* > **That’s truly disappointing, an otherwise admirable athlete, makes a mistake that will cost him far more than the bat was worth. (reputation wise)** Good thing I never liked him anyway. 😃 One good point Harold Reynolds made on SC- When the bat shattered, shouldn’t he have held on to the broken handle, and scooped up the barrel on the way back to the dugout? Either way, he’s a dipshit on several levels. > [@](#): > > [http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/ap/ap\_story.html/Baseball/AP.V3410.AP-BBN-Sosa-McClel.html](http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/ap/ap_story.html/Baseball/AP.V3410.AP-BBN-Sosa-McClel.html) > [Crew chief Tim] McClelland gave the part of the bat he saw to security, who took it to the umpires locker room so it could be handed over to major league baseball officials. But a Cubs batboy took the other part, and McClelland said he doesn’t know what happened to it. And, the [evidence](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/04/entertainment/main556843_popup0_1.shtml) in question. You can see a dark spot in the cross-section of the bat. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/10 "2003-06-04T07:40:02Z")
I’ve heard that corking a bat actually will make you hit for a lesser distance. The actual impact time of the ball and the bat is so short that there is no time for the springiness of cork to help. True, it will make the bat lighter so that you can swing faster. But it is legal to hollow out parts of the bat, so couldn’t you just hollow out enough of the bat to get an equal weight to a corked bat? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/11 "2003-06-04T07:54:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nightime \* > **But it is legal to hollow out parts of the bat…** Can you cite that, please? I highly doubt that. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/12 "2003-06-04T08:00:31Z")
Are you sure you can hollow out the bat? I really doubt it, as I’ve never heard of it being done in the majors. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/13 "2003-06-04T08:04:44Z")
You can hollow out the end to a certain degree, as witnessed by the end of the bat being shown as part of Buck Showalter’s 2001 demonstration of how to cork a bat. But it’s not like you can drill a hole in it half an inch deep. It’s like a bowl cut. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/14 "2003-06-04T08:12:48Z")
> [@](#): > > [1.10](http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/baseball_basics/mlb_basics_objectives.jsp) > > (a)The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2 3/4 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. **The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.** NOTE: No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and methods of manufacture. > > (b) Cupped Bats. **An indentation in the end of the bat up to one inch in depth is permitted and may be no wider than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter.** The indentation must be curved **with no foreign substance added.** > > © The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance to improve the grip. Any such material or substance, which extends past the 18 inch limitation, shall cause the bat to be removed from the game. NOTE: If the umpire discovers that the bat does not conform to © above until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out, or ejected from the game. (d) No colored bat may be used in a professional game unless approved by the Rules Committee. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/15 "2003-06-04T08:28:02Z")
…but I guess it just happens. So here goes. Okay, the umpire made the right call. The run didn’t count, Sosa was called out, and now he faces a suspension. The man was _held accountable_ for his actions…for crying out loud, how mad can I be? (Don’t ever get me started on Bud Selig, or for that matter anything involving the word “Olympics”.) He used corked bats in practice because he wanted to give the fans what they wanted. That’s pretty damn decent in my book. When has Albert Belle (who reportedly used corked bats for his entire career) ever been so generous? As for putting his home run numbers into question (which is a minor issue anyway, since he never set any records), I truly believe that the prevalence of performance enhancers is _far_ more serious a factor, in this regard, for the _entire_ sport. I don’t care what the player’s union says. Rick Reilly interviewed none other than Slammin’ Sammy himself, who refused to answer any questions about the existence of performance-enhancing drugs. Exactly what I feared appears to be happening…fans getting so riled up over a minor issue that they start ignoring a much deeper problem that’s been going on for much longer. ---
**Author:** ![H8\_2\_W8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c77e96/32.png) [@H8\_2\_W8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H8_2_W8)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/16 "2003-06-04T11:48:18Z")
Since the Cubbies are owned by the Chicago Tribune co., don’t you think they will have to fire Sammy or terminate his contract? The last Trib employee caught cheating, Bob Greene, was summarily fired by the paper for having a brief affair with a former subject of one of his articles. About 10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/17 "2003-06-04T11:56:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > \*\* > He used corked bats in practice because he wanted to give the fans what they wanted. That’s pretty damn decent in my book. When has Albert Belle (who reportedly used corked bats for his entire career) ever been so generous? > > \*\* Pardon me, but that’s insane. You wanna give the fans a show? It’s **batting practice**. If you’re half the slugger the **fans** think you are, you can hit a batting practice pitch well out of the park. Don’t hand me this bullshit about how he was doing it for the fans. The fans thought he was hitting tape-measure batting practice home runs without cheating. He lied his ass off. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/18 "2003-06-04T12:44:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > **As for putting his home run numbers into question (which is a minor issue anyway, since he never set any records), I truly believe that the prevalence of performance enhancers is _far_ more serious a factor, in this regard, for the _entire_ sport.** I am not the only one who has realized the none-to-subtle increases and current decreases in the size of Sammy’s body and head, over his career? I am not the only one to notice his refusal to take tests for those same enhancers. And I am surely not the only one to think that a corked bat is but the tip of the iceberg with Sammy. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/19 "2003-06-04T12:47:25Z")
Lemme give you a tip… I wouldn’t be surprised if 50%+ of major league hitters corked their bats at some point. It’s fairly pervasive in the game. So don’t point to Sammy as some moral degenerate just because he got caught. Instead blame the system. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508/20 "2003-06-04T12:50:11Z")
Why blame the system? Is the system forcing him to do it? Are you saying Sammy Sosa is succumbing to peer pressure? He’s hit 500 home runs. Bad excuse. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sammy-sosa-is-a-dumbass/179508.md?page=2)