'Roid Rage

It just never ends. I was shocked when I found out Alex Rodriguez was found to have used steroids. He was supposed to be the savior of baseball through the Steroids Era, and he failed. I was shocked when I found out Manny Ramirez was found to have used steroids, too. He was one of the most feared hitters in the Major League Baseball, but it was all a fraud. Now? I honestly wasn't surprised when reports surfaced that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (yep, again), are also on the same list as A-Rod of players testing positive for steroid use in 2003. Ortiz is another of baseball's great clutch hitters (or was...though he's getting back in his groove), but sadly, the steroids reports are no longer surprising. In fact, I would venture to say they're expected, if not already assumed.

So now what? Out of 104 player's names on an anonymous, confidential list of positive steroids test from 2003, only a few names names have been released: Ortiz, Ramirez, Rodriguez, and Sammy Sosa (geez Sammy, way tot bust up the alliteration). All big names. All illegally released (or leaked). Absolutely ridiculous. First of all, why did none of this come up in the Mitchell Report (or click here to read the summary in lieu of the 409 page report), the 2007 report commission by the government and headed by US Rep. George Mitchell to wrap up all steroids allegations? Secondly, who's leaking these names? The testing was anonymous and only MLB and the government have access to the sealed file. Whether it's an MLB staffer or a fed, there's a leak on the inside somewhere. And to boot, it's a federal crime. Also, why didn't Ortiz know about the positive test, or so he claims? Either he was stalling to talk to agents and lawyers, or he really didn't know. And I hope it's now the latter; if it wasn't bad enough to blindside the fans, it's ridiculously unfair to blindside the players...Finally, why are these names just trickling out? If you're leaking the list, man up and leak the whole thing. It's unfair to Manny, A-Rod, Big Papi, and Sosa (damn Sammy, get a sweet nickname...Slammin' Sammy ruins my rhythm again!) for them to be singled out. Yes, they're the biggest headline-making names and allows for idiot journalists to focus in on just one player at a time, but it's not good publicity for baseball. Every time a name is released, the anti-steroid, anti-baseball sentiment spikes and the rumors and reports fly off the shelves. Slowly but surely, tensions ease (for a month or two), and then the cycle starts over again. It's a painful situation for the players, teams, owners, and most of all the fans. It's taxing. It's tiring. And it needs to end. Two options:

1. Seal the List. For Good. Sniff out the leak, stop releasing names, and persecute the heck out of the rat. After all, it's a federal offense and someone's gotta make an example to keep this from happening again. Is it fair? Almost 100 players get off for free while the superstars named that's year take all the blame. It's immoral for sure, but at least it's legal.


2. Spill the Beans. Release all the names and get it over with. No more names trickling out, no more circus acts in the clubhouse, and all the guilty parties will be known. Yes, things may be hectic for a while, but one spike is more manageable and less taxing than repeated flare-ups. But it's illegal...So unless the seal is removed, then someone's gotta break the law.

But seriously, enough's enough. A slew of players and managers, including Torii Hunter and Ozzie Guillen, have said it's time for the list to be released. There's only so much of this reporting that everyone can take. I too think the list should be released. The Steroid Era is essentially over, and with all the names released then we can stop dwelling on the darker days of baseball.

And you know the craziest part of it all? Jose Canseco was right...the whole time. He was chastised for releasing his two books detailing the Steroid Era, and no one believed him, but as it turns out, he was right all along. Here's his take on today's news: "When you tell me something I didn't already know, I'll be surprised". I think I would start taking Canseco seriously (even if he challenged Vai Sikahema, a former NFLer to a boxing match..and lost. Badly. The video is hysterical). And now Canseco says MLB has a huge problem on their hands: though he refused to name names, he said there is a steroid user in the Hall of Fame. McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro, Bonds, and Co. haven't made it in yet, and hopefully the Baseball Writers of America will take a stand and ban them from the Hall. But if what Canseco says is true, and I believe it is, then I am seriously worried for baseball when that controversy explodes. But for now, let's stop the bleeding. Release the list and end the tortuous cycle.

P.S. For another, albeit similar take on this, check out Curt Schilling's blog (I wouldn't be surprised if his name was next...). Always controversial, never afraid to speak his mind. Et voila.