Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
Some say it has ruined baseball. Others believe the use of
steroids is blown out of proportion.
In the era of performance enhancing supplements -- some illegal
and some natural -- the topic of steroids has been a hot commodity.
Michael Zumpano, who co-wrote "The Underground Steroid Handbook"
in 1981, threw his two cents in Wednesday at Blair Field during the
16th annual Area Code Games, where Crescenta Valley High's Trevor
Bell and Kyle Barratt are competing for the Southern California
all-stars that represent the Milwaukee Brewers.
Zumpano addressed the side effects of steroids and encouraged the
potential collegiate Division I athletes to use natural supplements.
"He said you have to stay away from steroids," said Barratt, who
reached base twice and had a run-scoring single in Friday's 11-1
victory against the Boston Red Sox. "He said you have to find a
natural safe way to [work out.] He was trying to get a point across
that it's unsafe to take steroids."
Barratt, a senior, said he hasn't been offered steroids.
"I think it's more of the college and pro ballplayers that get
offered [to use steroids]," Barratt said. "I think I could keep up by
keeping an honest strength-building program. Some guys are pretty
small and they need it, but it's an easy way to get by."
Bell, a phenomenal and well-built sophomore, also said he hasn't
been offered the drug.
"There are other routes to gain muscle," said Bell, who flew out
in his lone at-bat and played the final three innings in left field.
"I know I would never use steroids. A natural player is so much
better. An all-natural baseball player realizes he doesn't have to
take steroids."
As far as Friday's contest went, in the midst of professional and
collegiate scouts evaluating players' strengths and weaknesses,
Barratt quickly did his job before retiring in the fifth.
In two plate appearances, Barratt swung at the first pitch each
time, reaching base in the second on an error by the third baseman.
In the fourth, Barratt drove in Jason Cable with a single to right
center against Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard, trying the score at 1.
Bard gave up eight runs and four hits in the fourth before being
replaced by Eric Duncan.
"It felt great," said Barratt, who went 0 for 3 Wednesday against
the Chicago White Sox. "I came out and figured these guys were going
to throw fast balls."
Barratt, a 2002 Pacific League first-team selection, started at
third base and didn't have to make a defensive play Friday.
"You have to always stay in the game," Barratt said. "One day, you
might have 12 balls hit to you and another day you might have none.
You have to be ready at all times."
