Chicago Cubs: Jake Arrieta not bothered by talks of PED use
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta has to deal with speculation of PED use based on how well he has pitched since the 2015 season.
Jake Arrieta has emerged as the most dominant pitcher in baseball since the beginning of the 2015 season. He finished 2015 with a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA. He also pitched a no-hitter and won the National League Cy Young Award.
2016 has started off in similar fashion for Arrieta who has posted a 4-0 record with a 0.87 ERA thus far. He also threw his second career no-hitter on April 21 against the Cincinnati Reds.
He rose to the top of the league after being relatively unknown since his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2010.
This instant success and total dominance has led some around the league to discuss Arrieta as a possible user of performance-enhancing drugs.
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An article from ESPN.com notes how Arrieta is “flattered” when people suspect him of using steroids to turn his career around and become a dominant pitcher.
It seems that whenever any MLB player becomes elite the question of PED use is one of the first things discussed. It is unfair to assume all top players in baseball are using these drugs, but after so many were busted nearly a decade ago, it is hard to block out the thoughts of cheating.
But Arrieta has never been linked to PED use by any credible source, as these “accusations” are merely gossip and speculation.
The article explains how his workout routine has more to do with his health than anything else:
"Arrieta’s workout routine is well known for being rigorous, and it includes heavy Pilates. He claims he only eats healthy. “I challenge anyone to go with him for his workout program for maybe one week — I won’t even say a week, I’ll say for two days,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Just go keep up with him for two days and see what he actually does and see if you could keep up with that particular workout program.”"
The existence of rumblings about Arrieta’s physique make sense, but he is just someone who has reinvented his career. Cliff Lee is another example of someone who did not make it big until later in his career, so this type of situation is not rare.
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Jake Arrieta’s play is great for baseball and something that should be appreciated instead of looked at with skepticism.