Baseball's S Word

Baseball this season has done well with the varied stories around it. Mark Buerle's Perfect Game, Johnathan Sanchez throwing a no hitter, the rivalry and the sweeps with it, and Albert Pujols being praised as if he is the new God of the baseball world. But it wouldn't be baseball if we didn't look to the past with it's dirty little secret: Steroids.

This year, there has been names released from a anonymous survey that was taken back in 2003. The point of the survey was to determine whether or not MLB needed a mandatory drug testing program. (as if Mark McGwire's biceps weren't enough). This survey was agreed to by the players with the promise that they would remain anonymous. It was also agreed that any player that was turned up positive would not be punished. The survey was taken and over 104 names came up positive for some type of performing enhancing drug. Because over 5% of the players turned up positive, mandatory drug testing came a year later with penalties and violations. However, federal investigators came in and took a copy of the list as part of the Balco investigations.

Let's skip forward a few years to 2009. So far, a few names have been released from this list: Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Sammy Sosa. I would like the thank the person who gave us the names in the first place. YOU HAVE EFFECTIVELY KEPT BASEBALL IN THE PAST WITH YOUR UNETHICAL ACTIONS YOU PIG (OR PIGETTE)!!! The point of this survey is to determine whether baseball do more against drug use and it has done that. There has been very few PED's stories that have been reported on recent events. Manny Ramirez seems to be the only one and he was suspended for 50 games (kind of).

The only thing that this source has done wave baseball past shame in it's face again and again. The source has contributed nothing new to the conversation. It's like when a dog craps on the rug and you rub its face in it to show the dog the error of its ways and then keep doing it for the next six years reminding the dog what happened there. This names shouldn't have been released in the first place. It's unfair to the players who thought it was safe to give a sample without being judged.

Another thing with PED's I hear is that many people think they shouldn't be allowed into the hall of fame. Personally I think these people are wrong. I understand why they take this position what with the morals and not cheating. But I think that Steroids and the PED Era needs to be in the Hall of Fame in some way. This was a era in baseball and no one that works in media can deny that fact. As any era of baseball, it's history needs to be told. I would even go as far as to say that Jose Canseco needs to be in the Hall of Fame or at least mentioned. Not for his stats or his career, but his steroid and drug use. This man has basically been the poster boy for the era what with admitting it and writing a book about it and the testifying in congress. The players of this era need to get in. This is the Hall of Fame, it doesn't have to be good fame.

P.S. Thank goodness the weekend is over. Ah crap we were swept.

P.P.S. And no. I don't think the rest of the names should come out. BUT THEN AGAIN, I'M NOT THE SOURCE WHO THINKS WE SHOULD NEVER LIVE THIS DOWN!!!