Major League Baseball, Really?

Monday, August 5, 2013, Major League Baseball suspended thirteen players for using PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs, probably HGH - Human Growth Hormone). Twelve of the players agreed to a 50 game suspension. Alex Rodriguez is appealing his penalty of a 211 day suspension. Prior to this, Milwaukee Brewers's Ryan Braun agreed to a 65 day suspension. At this time, MLB has 13 players who have admitted cheating.

Yesterday and again today, I am hearing baseball players, managers, front office personnel, league officials, and some sports writers and commentators trying to put a positive spin on this by saying: "This is a great day for major league baseball. We caught the cheaters and with these suspensions players will not dare use PEDs in the future."

That is bull excrement! It was not a good day for baseball. Thirteen players admitted to cheating and they will all be playing next season, or if their teams make it to the playoffs, they will be participating. What is so "great" about that?

In fact, we heard similar garbage back in the days when McGuire, Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds were charged with using steroids. In fact we were hearing baseball's talking heads pointing to Alex Rodriquez as an example of the new baseball player who was doing it the right way. Oops! It was bad for baseball then and it still is now.

Another fact which no one mentions is that MLB did not catch these guys cheating. Players and team management did not call out the cheats. They were caught by the press and a disgruntled employee of Biogenesis. All MLB did was to say how shocked they were and hand out penalties when all of this evidence was dropped on their desk. If it had been up to MLB, these guys would not have been caught.

And that raises another good question: how many more players are using HGH? Only those doing business with Bosch's Biogenesis company were caught. I find it difficult to believe that his establishment is the only one pushing PEDs. If there are other players with other sources, what are the chances MLB will catch them?

Not one of the thirteen suspended players tested positive on a MLB drug test. Apparently the test is only useful for baseball's propaganda purposes. Obviously the players have figured out a way of beating the test. How many players who use PEDs will be playing in the playoffs and the World Series?

As a fan I will never be able to believe a baseball player who speaks of "those of us who do it the right way."

Yesterday was not a "great day for baseball."

And then there is the National Football League which does not even bother to test for HGH. Are we to believe that those giants who can lift a mobile home and run like a cheetah have done it "the right way"?