Fantasy Baseball in the Post-Steroid Era

By the turn of the 21st century, it had become routine for Major League Baseball players to remain productive deep into their 30s and into their 40s. Players who are in their mid-30s suddenly look … well, kind of like they did before the Steroid Era.  What does this mean for their fantasy owners?

By the turn of the 21st century, it had become routine for Major League Baseball players to remain productive deep into their 30s and into their 40s. They got stronger and maintained that strength throughout the long summers, and when it came time to negotiate a new contract, club executives had a reasonable expectation that the production that they were seeing would continue.

But now, in the wake of increased steroid testing and federal investigations into human growth hormone distribution,  Players who are in their mid-30s suddenly look like they did before the Steroid Era.

The age of decline has seemingly been reset into the age range of 33-34, rather than at 37-38.
Or at least, that’s what some scouts and GM’s think they are seeing. Nobody knows for sure. And without absolute and irrefutable evidence, it’s not something that they are talking about on the record.

Not only are players reverting back to the classic Robin Yount physique, but they seem to be dragging as well.  With the absence of Steroids and HGH comes the absence of methamphetamines or “greenies”.

Because of this fact, Fantasy baseball players should be cognizant of the reality that drug-free players simply are not as well-equipped to deal with a grueling schedule the way that players once did, presumably — with amphetamines, with human growth hormones and steroids aiding daily physical recovery.

If it’s getaway day, the last day of a series, and they have to play a night game on the road, and then they board a flight and don’t check into the hotel until 5 a.m., and after another night game, they might have back-to-back day games. Their body clocks never really have a chance to recover. They never get caught up. It’s no wonder that a lot of guys look like they’re dragging.

With the dog days of summer fast approaching, owners of aging veterans take heed: SELL HIGH!  Without the benefit of performance enhancing substances, these players will wilt and perish in the hot summer sun and be chewed up and spat out by the dog days of summer.  While they still have name recognition and decent first half stats, it is imperative that you dump them for younger talent with a greater upside. Players I recommend dealing are Chipper Jones, Jermaine Dye, Magglio Ordonez, Pat Burrell, Jason Giambi, Tim Hudson, Mike Mussina, Randy Wolf & Johnson.