Let steroids into the hall of fame response questions 5-7

5) What kind of audience is the writer addressing?

I believe the audience the writer is addressing is fans of baseball. The reason I believe this is the object of the writing is to try and sway the readers to accept chemical enhancements as part of the sport. In his article he states “Fans will accept anything except the sense that they are lying to.” So he is saying that the fans would accept chemical enhancements as long as the athletes are admitting it and it is out in the open.

6) What are the writer’s assumptions about the audience? about the subject?

I think the writer’s assumptions about the audience is they don’t realize how much of a role that chemical enhancements have played in the history of baseball. That's why Chafets states “as far back as 1889, the pitcher Pud Galvin ingested monkey testosterone.” He uses that instance to show the audience that these kinds of instances have happened even over a 100 years ago. Then an assumption I feel like he makes about the subject is that a chemical enhancement rule change in not any different from any other change the league has seen. “But since the hall opened it’s doors, baseball has never stopped changing. Batters now wear body padding and helmets. The pitcher’s mound has risen and fallen. Bats have more pop.”

7) Are the writer’s ideas consistent with your own?

I absolutely disagree with the writer on this subject. The reason is I don’t believe in athletes using chemicals that destroy their bodies just to try being great. These chemicals are proven to cause medical problems. Saying you support what this writer is saying is in my opinion like saying you support anorexia in models, and saying it's fine because it keeps them looking fit without them really having to try and it's their choice. When instead they have to do it now because that is the norm, and they have to do it to keep up with where their industry is going. So if chemicals enhancements became allowed athletes who don’t want those medical problems will be forced to take them to be able to compete with the other athletes that are using them.

Timothy J Wellmann