The good folks at Two guys who, like, never agree recently invited me to participate in a roundtable discussion. Other panelists included John Brattain, Craig Calcaterra, Connor Doyle, Colin Laisure-Pool, Voros McCracken, Jason Rosenberg, Justin St. Germain, and Pete Toms.
There’s lots of good stuff in here, but one of my favorite bits is Brattain’s riff on the current state of affairs regarding PEDs:
Back in 2000, I got to work the inside of major league clubhouses for the first time. I was surprised at how many guys looked suspiciously like roiders (I have known a great many users in my lifetime). …read more

Roger Clemens is at it again. I’d like to stop talking about him, but he just won’t let me. According to published reports, Clemens snapped at a photographer on Tuesday for — get this — taking pictures.
I know, what was the guy thinking? Well, aside from the fact that his job is to take pictures.
Although I don’t envy Clemens’ position, I also imagine that a different decision-making process over the past 20-25 years might have helped him avoid all this. Like, I sympathize but not too much, you know?
Anyway, he’s got some good quotes here, mostly about steroids and the …read more

I shouldn’t be so cynical just as spring training is getting underway, but MLB is kind of forcing my hand. Maybe if I get it out of the way now…
{democracy:38}
As always, additional comments are welcome.

Getting in late on this because a) I have a book to finish writing, and b) I find the whole affair disgusting, but for those interested, pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee are testifying before Congress. Jayson Stark is blogging it at ESPN.
People suck…

ESPN reports that federal agents haven’t been able to track down ex-big-leaguer Chuck Knoblauch to serve him with a subpoena to appear before a House panel investigating steroid use in baseball:
When the committee didn’t hear from Knoblauch or a representative, it issued a subpoena to force the 1991 AL Rookie of the Year to submit to a deposition next Tuesday.
As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, though, that subpoena had not reached the former infielder who, like Clemens and more than 80 other players, was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in last month’s Mitchell Report on baseball’s steroids era.
Knoblauch swiped 407 …read more

Lost in the Roger Clemens – Brian McNamee spat that has resulted in Clemens filing suit against his former trainer is the story of the little guy. You know, the guy who never made it because he wasn’t juicing. Ex-minor-leaguer Rich Hartmann reportedly may file a class-action suit against MLB. Quoth Hartmann:
Was I cheated of my dreams of a big-league career? I don’t know. But I do know there were thousands of guys who were right on the doorstep between 1990 and 2005 and they were cheated because they didn’t use steroids.
And a little further down:
I hear these guys apologize …read more

For your amusement, and mine…

More great games, fewer Congressional investigations.
A commissioner who isn’t one of the owners. Yeah, I know technically he isn’t one of the owners anymore, but he’s one of the owners.
Hall of Fame enshrinement for Bert Blyleven, Goose Gossage, and Tim Raines.
Enough with the Red Sox already. It was kinda cute the first time, but now it’s just annoying.
A real owner for the Marlins, and not someone who only knows how to destroy big-league franchises.
One more season for Julio Franco.
Seventy wins for the Royals and Pirates.
No domed stadiums, designated hitters, or All-Star games that determine home-field advantage …read more

One of the fascinating themes of the current steroids issues is the “loss of innocence” it presumes. I’m not the most cynical or jaded guy on the planet, but I’d be lying if I said the extent of the current findings surprised me in any way. I’d also be lying if I said it didn’t sadden me in any way.
John Thorn offers a thoughtful look at the situation. From his article:
We had pinned our honor to their sleeves and sent them forth to joust on our behalves — we could hardly do battle ourselves, could we? — and they had …read more

As I continue to wade through the report and digest the large number of names contained therein, a few questions come to mind:

How surprised is anyone by the magnitude of this?
How surprised should we be?
Should players and others be held accountable for their actions?
If yes, how forthcoming will athletes be in the future?
If no, what is the incentive for not trying to cheat the system?
Why do we, as fans, continue to support these people and provide them — through our purchase of tickets, merchandise, and the like — with the means to perpetuate their actions?
How will future generations view the …read more

I’m working my way through the Summary and Recommendations. It will take me weeks to read this entire document, by the end of which I’ll probably hate everyone and everything associated with MLB. A few initial notes:

MLB was slow to respond to steroid issue. Although baseball is moving in the right direction, it needs to do more.
The report claims to be a “deliberate and unbiased examination of the facts.” In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that George Mitchell is part of the Red Sox ownership group (he is listed as “Director” in the Front Office directory …read more