MLB to Begin Steroid Investigation

[Wilson A2000]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2389391

 

At least they aren't doing it themselves

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd like to know exactly who they're investigating.

[Wilson A2000]

ESPN says Bonds and others

[UBlink]

If it doesn't include amphetamines as well it's bogus.

[Wilson A2000]

Why? They are already testing for them?

[wade]

I'd like to know exactly who they're investigating.

 

If it's supposed to be legit, then they need to investigate everybody at every level. Player's Union, Selig, and reporters, along with the players.

 

Sure, there were some reporters asking questions before a lot of this came out, but I think there are many who are ripping MLB now that were glorifying the home run exploits of the early 2000's while they likely knew what was up.

 

If they don't look at everyone, it's a disingenuous reaction to the "Game Of Shadows" book.

 

I'd also like to know what they plan to do. Retroactively suspend people? Offer them a chance to repent?

 

It's all interesting to me, but doesn't change the fact that I'll watch about 1,000 baseball games this year.

[TheDude]

ESPN stated that a former Congressman was heading up the investigation.

 

I don't like this one bit. Baseball chose to do nothing 20/15/10 years ago. Too late now Bud - you're just as guilty.

[CubinNY]

ESPN stated that a former Congressman was heading up the investigation.

 

I don't like this one bit. Baseball chose to do nothing 20/15/10 years ago. Too late now Bud - you're just as guilty.

 

Joe Jackson and the rest of the Sox who threw the 1919 WS weren't suspended from baseball untill 1921.

 

------------------

Doesn't Disney also own the Braves? If so this really isn't an independent investigation.

[Scott G. F.]

Closing the barn door after the horses already left comes to mind when I first read about this investigation.

 

To investigate properly and completely I would do the following.

 

I would give Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sosa, and all the others a "get out of jail free card". Free and clear (Clear haha). Autonomy.

 

I would allow them to tell of what they used, how they used, whom they bought it from or how they got it. I'd have them tell everything without the threat of prosecution. If not, then the investigation will chase it's tail and never come up with anything of value.

 

I would have the statements of those individuals sealed for all time too.

 

You might ask why?

 

It's simple, if steroid's were really an issue before say 2005 then testing would have already been in place. But it wasn't.

 

So for the future health of the game why not ask the major players of that era to tell all for the benefit of the game? You can't expect to punish someone if it wasn't illegal at the time, but you can use their knowledge to shape the future of the steroid testing.

 

Just my $0.02.

 

 

It's to late to go back. Shame on baseball but it has an opportuinity to make things right again at least for the future.

[CubinNY]

I would give Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sosa, and all the others a "get out of jail free card". Free and clear (Clear haha). Autonomy.

 

I would allow them to tell of what they used, how they used, whom they bought it from or how they got it. I'd have them tell everything without the threat of prosecution. If not, then the investigation will chase it's tail and never come up with anything of value.

 

What if McGuire and Sosa say they didn't do steriods?

 

It sounds to me like you've already convicted them. What about other players, Termell Sledge, Palmerio, and the dozen or so minor leaguers who have been caught?

[Scott G. F.]

I would give Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sosa, and all the others a "get out of jail free card". Free and clear (Clear haha). Autonomy.

 

I would allow them to tell of what they used, how they used, whom they bought it from or how they got it. I'd have them tell everything without the threat of prosecution. If not, then the investigation will chase it's tail and never come up with anything of value.

 

What if McGuire and Sosa say they didn't do steriods?

 

It sounds to me like you've already convicted them. What about other players, Termell Sledge, Palmerio, and the dozen or so minor leaguers who have been caught?

 

The point is I'd give them a free pass. Free from prosecution. So they can tell what they know. If it's nothing, then it's nothing, but I'm betting it's something and this would ensure that their rep. will be intact.

[jkrapfl]

I would give Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sosa, and all the others a "get out of jail free card". Free and clear (Clear haha). Autonomy.

 

I would allow them to tell of what they used, how they used, whom they bought it from or how they got it. I'd have them tell everything without the threat of prosecution. If not, then the investigation will chase it's tail and never come up with anything of value.

 

What if McGuire and Sosa say they didn't do steriods?

 

It sounds to me like you've already convicted them. What about other players, Termell Sledge, Palmerio, and the dozen or so minor leaguers who have been caught?

 

The point is I'd give them a free pass. Free from prosecution. So they can tell what they know. If it's nothing, then it's nothing, but I'm betting it's something and this would ensure that their rep. will be intact.

 

How can you say that their rep will still be intact? MLB may give them a free pass, but if these guys are openly admitting to using performance enhancing substances, I would bet that most fans would not be so kind. And what about hall of fame voters? These guys would have way too much to lose and nothing to gain.

[Scott G. F.]

I would give Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sosa, and all the others a "get out of jail free card". Free and clear (Clear haha). Autonomy.

 

I would allow them to tell of what they used, how they used, whom they bought it from or how they got it. I'd have them tell everything without the threat of prosecution. If not, then the investigation will chase it's tail and never come up with anything of value.

 

What if McGuire and Sosa say they didn't do steriods?

 

It sounds to me like you've already convicted them. What about other players, Termell Sledge, Palmerio, and the dozen or so minor leaguers who have been caught?

 

The point is I'd give them a free pass. Free from prosecution. So they can tell what they know. If it's nothing, then it's nothing, but I'm betting it's something and this would ensure that their rep. will be intact.

 

How can you say that their rep will still be intact? MLB may give them a free pass, but if these guys are openly admitting to using performance enhancing substances, I would bet that most fans would not be so kind. And what about hall of fame voters? These guys would have way too much to lose and nothing to gain.

 

I don't have an answer for that. I bet the HOF induction would come around if the "players" involved, participated in this investigation.

 

Again, I never said they'd have to publicly admit to anything. Just to be open for questioning by baseball and not be prosecuted by their answers.

 

I mean come-on there is a massive pink elephent in the room and the player know it and the owners know it and so does MLB. So address it for all of the fans sake and get it done.

[goonys evil twin]

I mean come-on there is a massive pink elephent in the room and the player know it and the owners know it and so does MLB. So address it for all of the fans sake and get it done.

 

As a rule, whenever you have to add "for the fans sake", you can be assured that your pleas will go unanswered.

 

These guys aren't going to open up, publicly or privately, with or without some sort of MLB endorsed immunity.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would give Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sosa, and all the others a "get out of jail free card". Free and clear (Clear haha). Autonomy.

 

I would allow them to tell of what they used, how they used, whom they bought it from or how they got it. I'd have them tell everything without the threat of prosecution. If not, then the investigation will chase it's tail and never come up with anything of value.

 

What if McGuire and Sosa say they didn't do steriods?

 

It sounds to me like you've already convicted them. What about other players, Termell Sledge, Palmerio, and the dozen or so minor leaguers who have been caught?

 

The point is I'd give them a free pass. Free from prosecution. So they can tell what they know. If it's nothing, then it's nothing, but I'm betting it's something and this would ensure that their rep. will be intact.

 

Worked for the grand jury testimony...whoops!

[Scott G. F.]

As a rule, whenever you have to add "for the fans sake", you can be assured that your pleas will go unanswered.

 

These guys aren't going to open up, publicly or privately, with or without some sort of MLB endorsed immunity.

 

I cringed when I wrote that.

 

It'd be "to bad" if they wouldn't open up if given immunity. They really have nothing to lose.

 

As for the grand jury leak. I have no answer and the leaked info hasn't set the world on fire, just lined the pockets of book writers.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

As a rule, whenever you have to add "for the fans sake", you can be assured that your pleas will go unanswered.

 

These guys aren't going to open up, publicly or privately, with or without some sort of MLB endorsed immunity.

 

I cringed when I wrote that.

 

It'd be "to bad" if they wouldn't open up if given immunity. They really have nothing to lose.

 

As for the grand jury leak. I have no answer and the leaked info hasn't set the world on fire, just lined the pockets of book writers.

 

These players have a lot to lose. They are extremely arrogant individuals and I think many would do anything to keep from admitting that they needed "help" to achieve what they have achieved.

[Chris]

The investigation is to start from the 2002 agreement but permission has been granted to go "wherever necessary", even before 2002.

[Chris]

"Those that cover the sport regularly understand that MLB officials never turned a blind eye to the possibility of steroids" -Selig

[CP_414]

Results of the investigation WILL be made public.

[badgercub]

Other than penalties imposed by the criminal justice system (assuming they can convict in a court of law) what can MLB do? They had no policy for steroids on the books. There is no way they can go back and suspend someone for breaking a rule that did not exist prior to last year. While I think the players should be exposed I think this is just a dog and pony show. with no physical evidence and a case that is going to be based mainly on hearsay I highly doubt there will be any convictions other than in the court of public opinion. If you really want to stop the used of steroids you have to go after the source.

[CubinNY]

Other than penalties imposed by the criminal justice system (assuming they can convict in a court of law) what can MLB do? They had no policy for steroids on the books. There is no way they can go back and suspend someone for breaking a rule that did not exist prior to last year. While I think the players should be exposed I think this is just a dog and pony show. with no physical evidence and a case that is going to be based mainly on hearsay I highly doubt there will be any convictions other than in the court of public opinion. If you really want to stop the used of steroids you have to go after the source.

 

MLB can do whatever it wants. MLB is a private club, protected by Federal legislation.

 

The White Sox players were acquited in a trial and still got banned.

[badgercub]

Other than penalties imposed by the criminal justice system (assuming they can convict in a court of law) what can MLB do? They had no policy for steroids on the books. There is no way they can go back and suspend someone for breaking a rule that did not exist prior to last year. While I think the players should be exposed I think this is just a dog and pony show. with no physical evidence and a case that is going to be based mainly on hearsay I highly doubt there will be any convictions other than in the court of public opinion. If you really want to stop the used of steroids you have to go after the source.

 

MLB can do whatever it wants. MLB is a private club, protected by Federal legislation.

 

The White Sox players were acquited in a trail and still got banned.

 

The players didn't have a union back then either. The players union is too strong today. I have a feeling they will drag this investigation out for quite sometime and release their findings towards the end of the season or even after the season is done. Therefor if someone like Bonds is definitively found to have used steroids he will just retire anyway. A second thing to think about is, what about some of these players from foreign countries where steroids are no illegal and baseball had no rule against them, what do you do about that?

 

note: I am just playing Devil's advocate here.

Edited March 30, 2006 by badgercub

[goonys evil twin]

Other than penalties imposed by the criminal justice system (assuming they can convict in a court of law) what can MLB do? They had no policy for steroids on the books. There is no way they can go back and suspend someone for breaking a rule that did not exist prior to last year. While I think the players should be exposed I think this is just a dog and pony show. with no physical evidence and a case that is going to be based mainly on hearsay I highly doubt there will be any convictions other than in the court of public opinion. If you really want to stop the used of steroids you have to go after the source.

 

MLB can do whatever it wants. MLB is a private club, protected by Federal legislation.

 

The White Sox players were acquited in a trail and still got banned.

 

The players didn't have a union back then either. The players union is too strong today. I have a feeling they will drag this investigation out for quite sometime and release their findings towards the end of the season or even after the season is done. Therefor if someone like Bonds is definitively found to have used steroids he will just retire anyway. A second thing to think about is, what about some of these players from foreign countries where steroids are no illegal and baseball had no rule against them, what do you do about that?

 

There were rules against using steroids, they just didn't have a rule that allowed for testing of steroids. Getting caught with them was similar to getting caught with other illegal drugs.

[CP_414]

Other than penalties imposed by the criminal justice system (assuming they can convict in a court of law) what can MLB do? They had no policy for steroids on the books. There is no way they can go back and suspend someone for breaking a rule that did not exist prior to last year. While I think the players should be exposed I think this is just a dog and pony show. with no physical evidence and a case that is going to be based mainly on hearsay I highly doubt there will be any convictions other than in the court of public opinion. If you really want to stop the used of steroids you have to go after the source.

 

MLB can do whatever it wants. MLB is a private club, protected by Federal legislation.

 

The White Sox players were acquited in a trial and still got banned.

 

I don't think it really matters what is done to the players who are "proved" to have used steroids. It's about exposing the guilty. It's about showing the fans all of the evidence against those who used steroids. If they can finally prove that Bonds/Big Mac/Sosa/whoever was a steroid user beyond a reasonable doubt, this will be a success.

 

Selig has done a very good job in the last 2 years of cleaning up a mess that he was probably partially to blame for. The current steroid punishments are excellent, the testing policy is going in the right direction, and I expect this investigation to provide information about the recent history of the game.

 

I like it.