Rooting for the Steroid Guy?

At a press conference this past Wednesday at Busch Stadium the St. Louis Cardinals new third baseman Troy Glaus was introduced to the St. Louis media. I, like other Cardinals fans I have spoken to, do not really know how to react to his addition to the team. This has little I believe to do with the departure of popular former third baseman Scott Rolen who Glaus was traded for, every Cardinals fan knew his leaving was just a matter of time considering Rolen and Cardinals skipper Tony LaRussa absolutely despise each other. So much in fact that it would surprise no one if the two of them squared off in an exhibition before the next Mixed Martial Arts championship bout that would certainly rival the intensity of a Snake Eyes versus Storm Shadow fight. In other words, I will miss Rolen but unfortunately one of them had to go. On the surface it is nice the Cardinals got a quality player in return considering what a bad situation this was but I do think the hesitation in reaction by the fans to the arrival of Troy Glaus has an enormous amount to do with the realization that the Cardinals just traded for a “steroid guy”.

For those not familiar with St. Louis Cardinals fans the best way to describe them is to take the perhaps more familiar Red Sox fan base and relocate them from the Northeast to the Midwest. Send them to reeducation camps to purge all of the anger and hostility from their conscious, and while the reeducators are at it perhaps teach them the art of being humble (by the way, was their rage removed yet? No? Oh .... Just kidding New Englanders….. really, you guys are my favorites. You have really taken the recent success of your local sports teams in stride with no shred of cockiness. Go Patriots). Also because these people now live in the Midwest there is nothing else to do except live, breath, and eat Cardinals Baseball to the point you almost consider the players who wear the 'birds on the bat' a member of the family. When a player has his first at bat as a Cardinal at home the typical reaction is a standing ovation for the player no matter what the result is of his at bat. Just ask Will Clark or Larry Walker (who struck out in his first at bat and continued to get applause) who were not the most popular of players in St. Louis before they were traded and became ‘family’. Even Ron Gant got the welcome treatment before he decided he could not hit anymore.

Sports Illustrated released a report that Troy Glaus received shipments of steroids approximately around 2004 which was also published in the Mitchell Report last month. This marks the first time Cardinals fans really have to deal with this situation and I for one am confused about how I will react to him as our cleanup hitter. Now I know what you are thinking; what about Mark McGwire? McGwire was long retired by the time he did not want to talk about the past in front of a congressional hearing so no one had to decide if they wanted to cheer or not during his next at bat. But wait what about Rick Ankiel? Ankiel is like that member of the family who has had so many problems and setbacks in his life that even though he has done very little to bring pride to the family name….. he is still a member of your family, always has been and gosh darn it all you love him anyway.

Now this brings us back to Troy Glaus. The best way I can describe how I feel about him is if my sister (if I had one) came home one day with her new fiancé who seemed like a nice guy until at dinner when she openly discussed his rap sheet. How am I supposed to react to that? I realize Troy Glaus is not a polarizing figure like Barry Bonds but if Bonds winds up signing with a team this off-season will that fan base automatically put aside their disdain for the man and root for him because he is on their team. To a point I suppose but will they feel good about themselves doing it? I doubt it.

So the questions remain, will Glaus get the welcome wagon treatment on opening day that so many other first time Cardinals have received over the years? Am I supposed to be happy if he does well but not that well? Or is he already a "steroid guy" so let him juice up, not worry about it and watch him hit some dingers. He seems to come preloaded with enough baggage that he pretty much has to hit about 30 home runs next year, any less and he is not effective protection for Pujols and any more you have to wonder what miracle drug he is injecting this year and becomes difficult to root because unfortunately I like players on my team to be the good guys and not considered cheaters. Where have you gone Tom Brunansky a (Cardinals) nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

Knowing Cardinals fans I would have to say he will receive a tepid version of the welcome, but receive it nonetheless. I suppose this is the sports world we live in now and this kind of situation will become ever more common. The question is whether he will be invited over for Sunday dinner as a member of the 'family' even though he has shown up with this rap sheet, I suppose it depends on how good the gravy is that he promised to bring. Here is hoping 'the gravy' he brings to the table is good, just not that good.