Major League Blunder: Finally Time to Clean Up America's Pastime

Just as baseball fans across North America were ready to kick back, crack open their ice cold beers & take in a game at their local minor league or MLB stadium, another scandal that could further cripple the game has come to light. ESPN dropped a bombshell on sports fans everywhere today as the sports network reported that Major League Baseball is in the process of suspending upwards of 20 players, who are said to be connected to a new drug scandal. According to ESPN, the Miami based Biogenesis of America clinic (now closed) founded by Tony Bosch is said to have supplied performance enhancing drugs to MLB & minor league players.

We're not talking small potatoes either. 3-time AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, former NL MVP & NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, All-Star Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz & Jesus Montero are just a few of the names given to ESPN by sources. These & other players allegedly bought banned substances from Bosch & his clinic. If proven, ESPN sources say Rodriguez & Braun could face a 100 game suspension as they allegedly broke the PED policy & lied to the MLB about taking those banned substances.

Melky Cabrera: In trouble again for PED use?

While the news that came out this morning is shocking, there is still a lot about the allegations & the intentions of Tony Bosch that are still unknown. It seems that no drug tests prove that any of the 20 players on this list actually took PEDs. If the act itself is not documented, than what is the MLB actually working off of? Enter Tony Bosch, the self-proclaimed dealer to the stars. While Mr. Bosch could be seen as doing an admirable deed by spilling the beans on his alleged former clients, that does not seem to be the full story. In return for the details on the players, ESPN reports that Major League Baseball will drop its civil lawsuit against the financially struggling Bosch, indemnify him for any liability in exchange for his cooperation & provide security for him & even put in a good word with any law enforcement agency that may want to lay charges on him in the future. So, to sum this up: no positive tests, and solely working off the information from a desperate former drug dealer, who has something to gain from divulging such information. You hear that? That noise you hear is of the MLB Players' Union's lawyer's saliva hitting the floor.

MLB: Turning into a Joke?

Tony Bosch may be right. For all we know, this could be the tip of the iceberg. But without positive PED test results, this case will be before the courts for years. Now, the question the MLB needs to ask itself is: is it worth it?

The game of baseball needs to clean itself up, but pouring one bucket of water out at a time from a sinking ship is not the way to keep it afloat for a long period of time. The MLB needs a complete re-build. Here's what they need to do:

• Institute a better PED testing system - Rather than doing it internally, get an outside agency (such as the USADA) whose sole responsibility is to investigate drug policy violations in the league. Currently the MLB is relying on the work of good journalists to uncover the scandals in their league.
• Stiffer Penalties - If you really want to rid the game of PEDs & save the game's remaining honor (whatever is left of it), make players think twice about the punishment. Currently, if a player is caught taking a PED, they are given a 50 game suspension for the first time, 100 games for the 2nd infraction & a lifetime ban for a 3rd. Alternatively, what needs to be done is to slap the player with a 100 game suspension for their 1st breach & a lifetime ban for their 2nd "mistake." 
• Get Rid of Bud Selig -  Lucrative TV contracts have made Selig popular with team owners, but he has failed in protecting the integrity of the game. Selig has lacked leadership from day 1 of the steroid scandal by blaming players completely & not accepting that the MLB was also at fault for not cracking down on PEDs in the 90s. The MLB raked in the cash when beefed up stars, such as Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa were belting dingers out of parks on a record pace, but refused to accept part of the blame of the debacle that followed. With Selig at the helm, every step the MLB takes on the steroid issue is tainted from the outset. It seems Mr. Selig is more obsessed with his legacy than that of the game.

If MLB can finally get its act together, may be it will be able to win back the support of the people that truly suffer from all of this: the average fan who spends his/her own hard earned money on tickets & merchandise.

Until next time,

R