Now there is a question that needs to be answered: Does Mark McGwire deserve our forgiveness? As a country, we usually give people a second chance. But that second chance usually comes after an apology. McGwire, on the other hand, hasn’t admitted to anything.

If McGwire wants to get back into the baseball world with his head held high, he should come clean. Tell us what he did. Tell us what he didn’t do. Put that ugly part of baseball history behind us and move forward.

McGwire could be a very good hitting coach but he needs to address some issues instead of sweeping it under the rug. If he doesn’t, McGwire could become more of a distraction than an asset for the Cardinals.

Mark McGwire is now a hitting coach for the Cardinals (Image: Zuma Press)

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According to reports, Cabrera was drunk and got into a fight with his wife over the weekend. His wife called 911 and he was taken to a police station. While there, Cabrera registered a 0.26 blood alcohol level — more than three times the legal driving limit of 0.08 in Michigan.

Dave Dombrowski, the general manager of the Tigers, picked up Cabrera at the police station. With Detroit desperately needing a win in their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, Cabrera responded by going 0-for-11.

On Monday, a day before the Tigers play the Minnesota Twins in a tiebreaker game for the AL Central, Cabrera released a statement.

“I am sorry this has become a distraction, and I apologize to the Tigers, my teammates, and all of the fans. I would appreciate it if you would respect my family’s privacy as I prepare for our next game.”

If Cabrera doesn’t produce in the tiebreaker game against the Twins, Tigers fans will have a difficult time forgiving the team’s superstar slugger.

Miguel Cabrera was drunk and fighting his wife (Image: Zuma Press)

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Said Ortiz: “I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter — legal supplements, legal vitamins over the counter — but I never buy steroids or use steroids.”

In addition to Ortiz, that 2003 steroids list reported included Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa and Manny Ramirez. Ortiz was apologetic about his inclusion on the list.

Said Ortiz: “I want to apologize to fans for the distraction, my teammates, our manager. This past week has been a nightmare to me.”

This season, even before this news, there had been whispers about Ortiz past steroids use explaining why he has struggled so much this season. On the year, Ortiz is hitting just .219 with 15 homers and 61 RBIs. The 33-year-old’s bad season just got worse.

“I never thought that buying supplements and vitamins,” said Ortiz, “it was going to hurt anybody’s feelings.”

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Although the newspaper didn’t have information regarding what substance Ortiz tested positive for back in 2003, this is definitely bad news for Ortiz and the legacy of the Red Sox. Arguably the two best hitters on the 2004 and 2007 World Series champions have been tied to steroids — Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

When asked about the reported positive steroids test, Ortiz said that he had no comment. His exact quote was: “I’m not talking about that anymore.”

Chances are Ortiz will have to address these rumors. He may opt to deny the positive steroids test. He may opt to go the Alex Rodriguez route and admit to using performance-enhancing substances. But he’ll likely have to say something.

Although he has heated up lately, David Ortiz is struggling through one of the worst years of his career. The 33-year-old is hitting .228 with 14 homers, 58 RBIs and 39 runs.

David Ortiz - Positive Steroids Test (Image: Zuma Press)

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Jeff Borris, Bond’s agent, even pointed out the San Francisco Giants as a possible destination for Bonds.

Said Borris to the San Francisco Chronicle: “I know the Giants are dying for power, and they’re in it. They wouldn’t have to look beyond their backyard.”

The chances of the Giants signing Bonds is about the same as the chances that David Eckstein finishes the season with 74 home runs.

Even Bonds’ agent agrees that Bonds signing with the Giants — or anyone else — is unlikely.

“I talk to teams all the time,” said Borris, “but nobody has brought up his name.”

Eventually, Bonds will get too old to even claim he wants to return to baseball. But for the next few years, at least, expect Bonds to openly claim to want to return to the game.

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Prior to being suspended due to testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, Ramirez was off to a fast start. In 27 games, Ramirez had six homers, 20 RBIs, 22 runs, nine doubles, a batting average of .348 and an on-base percentage of .492.

The 37-year-old outfielder will return to the team with the best record in all of baseball. At 50-29, the Dodgers already have a 7.5 game lead over the second place San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

Expect Ramirez to go right back into the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup. While they are good without him, Ramirez turns Los Angeles into a legit World Series championship contender.

And even though his first game back is technically a road game, expect many Dodgers fan to take the trip south to San Diego.

Manny Ramirez Returns to Action (Image: Zuma Press)

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Ponson, who pitched for the Netherlands in the 2009 WBC, says that he was prescribed Phentermine to lose weight. Major League Baseball won’t suspend him.

On the season, Ponson has pitched like he needs performance enhancer. The 32-year-old from Aruba is 1-5 with a 7.27 ERA. Last year, while splitting time between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees, Ponson was 8-5 with a 5.04 ERA.

Ponson isn’t the first big league player to have busted at the WBC. Recently, Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto tested positive for marijuana. Soto played in the WBC for Puerto Rico. Since the positive drug test, Soto has apologized. Like Ponson, Soto won’t be suspended by the MLB.

Sidney Ponson - WBC Netherlands (Image: Zuma Press)

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It’s already been a very tumultuous year for Rodriguez. Earlier in the year, he admitted to past steroid use. Rodriguez also underwent offseason hip surgery that forced him to miss the beginning of the 2009 baseball campaign.

So far this season, A-Rod isn’t hitting as well as usual. His batting average sits at .212 and he has nine homers, 26 RBIs and 18 runs. The 33-year-old hasn’t hit under .285 since 1995.

The Yankees insist that Rodriguez is simply tired and that this isn’t related to his offseason hip surgery. Whatever the case, his recent numbers have been extremely sub par. In June, he’s hitting just .145 — and he doesn’t have a hit in his last 15 at-bats.

Alex Rodriguez isn't happy about the benching (Image: Zuma Press)

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Raul Ibanez denies all steroids allegations (Image: Zuma Press)

One glance at his stats and there’s no wonder why the 37-year-old Ibanez is generating talk about his great season. He’s hitting .327 with 20 homers, 55 RBIs, 47 runs and 15 doubles. His OBP is .384 and his OPS is 1.066.

According to the blog post, these numbers may point to something shady:

Maybe the 37-year old Ibanez trained differently this offseason with the pressure of joining the Phillies’ great lineup and is in the best shape he’s ever been in.

And maybe that training included…

Well, you know where that one was going, but I’d prefer to leave it as unstated speculation.

Ibanez had a very strong reaction to that notion when he spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Said Ibanez: “You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool — anything you can test.”

And if he tested positive?

“I’ll give you back every dime I’ve ever made,” answered Ibanez.

Ibanez also had some strong words aimed at bloggers in general.

“Make them accountable,” Ibanez told the Inquirer. “There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother’s basement. It demeans everything you’ve done with one stroke of the pen.”

Personally, I’m not typing this in my mother’s basement, I don’t use a pen to type and I also don’t think Ibanez is on steroids. I think he’s a late bloomer who is feasting due to the fact that he has tons of protection around him in the middle of Philadelphia’s lineup. Plus, he won’t be able to keep up this pace.

As for the blogger, I don’t blame him for the speculation. Baseball has made their PED bed and now they have to lie in it.

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Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers (Image: Newscom)

Ramirez’s manager Joe Torre said that Ramirez was uneasy prior to the meeting.

Said Torrie: “We spent some time together before we went into the meeting room and he was a little anxious. That’s the human side of this thing. He basically went around, shook everybody’s hand. I think guys were happy to see him. I think there was a little uneasiness on both sides.”

Most teammates who spoke to the media following the event said that they accepted Ramirez’s apology. Prior to his suspension, Ramirez was hitting .348 with six homers and 20 RBI.

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