steroids in baseball hullabaloo

yesterday, major league baseball released the findings of their investigation into the use of steroids, called the mitchell commission report. this report, that cost around $20 million to compile is worthless. that's right, it is without merit.

now, i'm not being naive, or pretending that there isn't a steroid problem in major league baseball. and, barry bonds (former giant) probably did use some sort of performance enhancing substance. and, according to this list (summarized from the report) so did many other players.

but, this report is little more than fluff. it is conjecture. it is second and third hand reports. really, this report isn't based on any positive tests. it isn't based on interviews with any of the actual players named, with the exception of jason giambi. it's based on jose canseco. really, canseco? that's one of your reliable sources. or some guy that worked in some capacity for the new york yankees? or some minor leaguer that swears that this or that guy admitted to him that he took steriods?

well, most of those are shot down by a simple statement from the player, "no, i didn't do it." your word against mine.

and on bonds, the report seems to have some credibility. the report talks to his former trainer. but, the trainer didn't give him steroids, the cream, the clear, etc. the trainer says that greg anderson gave bonds a cream and some clear liquid. so, although this seems a little better, it still doesn't prove much because neither anderson or bonds will confirm this. in fact, i'm pretty sure that both have denied it.

here's what really interesting about the report: it doesn't mention the guys that actually have tested positive since steroids were outlawed by major league baseball. so, you have this "report" on the use of performance enhancing substances and you don't name the guys that have actually been caught? instead, you run with gossip and hearsay? it seems that mlb wants to have a big public show, pretend that it's "getting tough" and "cleaning up the league" but really won't do much else. because i'm pretty sure you can't hand out penalties based on unproven accusations. in fact, the report doesn't even suggest punishment, it does recommend that, "The commissioner should give the players and everyone else the chance to make a fresh start," Mitchell said, "except where the conduct is so serious that he must act to protect the integrity of the game."

for it's part, mlb says it will review the players mentioned on a case by case basis. but, i highly doubt any will admit to it, and unless you've got more evidence than the report, not much can come of the reviews.

now, they can pretend they've looked into and solved the problem. future big leaguers will never use any performance enhancing substances.

yeah right.