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#3
07-01-2009, 03:19 PM
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Unfortunately they got caught doing something that there was previously no punishment for, and unfortunately MLB (in my opinion) condoned the behavior by turning a blind eye in the wake of the Sosa/McGwire race.
The policy is still riddled with holes; besides the fact that there is currently no test for HGH, the banned substance list contains a host of chemicals that are present in OTC supplements and others that are legal in other countries (look at the large number of Latin American players who have been suspended; many stated that they took supplements purchased in their home countries at drug or health food stores). The punishment is also weak; even a 50-game suspension for someone making millions of dollars is certainly not an incentive when a multimillion dollar contract is at stake. The risk:reward ratio still favors the user. If MLB wants to get serious about the "problem" they will push for a lifetime ban for first offenders and users of HGH, and stop granting medical exceptions for drugs like Ritalin unless a league doctor verifies it is medically necessary. Until that happens, I'll keep watching baseball and I'll keep marveling at the skills of guys like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, because I assume they played on a level playing field. -Al 
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#4
07-01-2009, 03:37 PM
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Are there any Red Sox that did NOT make the list?
__________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calvindog/sets
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#5
07-01-2009, 03:52 PM
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Wouldn't the only way it was a level playing field be if everyone was doing it? I concur that MLB shares the burden as they knew something was up but chose the heightened attendance and interest in their sport recovering from work stoppages. I also enjoy/love watching baseball and will continue to and continue to believe that Clemens and Bonds were cheating regradless of how marvelous their feets (and feats). This hasn't killed my love of baseball, only reinforced the need to be a cynic regarding anything where oodles of money are involved.
Last edited by HRBAKER; 07-01-2009 at 03:53 PM.
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#7
07-01-2009, 04:05 PM
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I'll play devil's advocate here, although I am in no way condoning usage of these drugs.
The only reason that the Players Union agreed to these tests were to see the extent of the problem. The condition of the tests mandated that the results would remain confidential. For 5+ years MLB kept their end of the deal. The results indicated a problem at a level that caused the current testing program to kick in. This system worked as it was designed to. Flash forward to 2008-2009. Congress gets involved and subpoenas the records. Less than 6 months later, we've had nothing but leaks and innuendos. First ARod. Then Sosa. Now 102 other guys. If my name was on that list, guilty or not, I'd be looking for someone to sue!
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#8
07-01-2009, 04:10 PM
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Jim
You're no devil, I don't disagree with what you say. The Union and MLB were complicit, the results (on field) were just too significant for any thinking fan to not realize that there was a stench in the air. The names however should not have been leaked. However to me it is still very reasonable to cast a jaundiced eye toward anything of an eye-popping nature over the last two decades.
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#10
07-01-2009, 09:30 PM
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Quote:
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Hybrid Mode
