Steroids in Baseball

Obviously the release of the “Mitchell Report” has been one of the more prominent news stories of the past week, as it has finally “named names” in regards to who has used performance enhancing drugs in baseball. Some are calling this report the worse thing to hit baseball since the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. Others have taken a less dramatic approach and are calling the report a simple indicator of the times, or rather, the “steroid era” of baseball. Either way, it would appear as if there is indeed a lot of explain to do on the part of those indicated in the report as well as a comprehensive drug testing system that MLB needs to put in place. Either way, expect the 2008 season to be riddled with the words “performance enhancing drugs” every time you turn on a game, watch SportsCenter, or even attend a game.

I have reviewed the report over the past few days and listened to the commentary from the “experts,” and a few questions have come to mind. First, many of the names implicated in the report are essentially “no names” or rather, those who didn’t do anything significant while on the drugs; plain and simple, what the hell does it matter? Yes, they cheated, but they didn’t set any records. Personally, I don’t think that Bud Selig is going to waste his time on these present and former players. But then the future hypocrisy will come to fruition. What I mean by this is that Bud will undoubtedly investigate the more prominent names on the list, mainly Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. The numbers indicate that these two men are by far the best hitter and pitcher of this generation, respectively. But should their numbers be looked upon with scrutiny and should they be disciplined?

In my opinion, if any of the names on the list are shown to have taken any performance enhancing drugs, they should be subsequently banned from the game for life. Think about it, if Pete Rose was banned from betting on the game due to the fact that his involvement in the game could have possibly led to illegitimate actions on the field, then why not these men? The use of performance enhancing drugs, at least in regards to some players led to unfair competition. Isn’t fair competition what the game is based upon? I highly doubt that the banning of these players will ever come to fruition, as it will probably tarnish the game even more. But it does bring up the idea of putting the famous asterisk by these individual’s stats. If some of the experts are claiming that this is indeed the steroid era, then next to the asterisk at the legend of the page it should be written “steroid era.” Let future fans judge for themselves whether these individual’s records are indeed legitimate