Performance-enhancing drug scandals plague the MLB

If you have read my column on a regular basis, you know that I truly love the game of baseball. Lately, the game has taken some hits (no pun intended), particularly in the major league. It seems like I can’t turn on SportsCenter or listen to sports talk radio without hearing about repeated blown calls by umpires. That always leads to debates over how instant replay is used and whether it be expanded. I’ve also heard and read a lot about the possibility of implementing the designated hitter in both leagues. Even throughout the NBA playoffs, baseball still has been at the forefront of the sports news.

Then, just last week, baseball engulfed the world of sports news as the major story broke about a number of MLB stars allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs received from a Miami-based clinic called Biogenesis of America. The story itself isn’t a new one, per se. MLB has known about this clinic and its operator, Tony Bosch, for a long time now. In fact, MLB has a lawsuit pending against Bosch.

The reason why this story, which was rst reported by ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” has become so big, so fast is because supposedly Bosch has agreed to provide testimony, which is expected to implicate a number of big-time stars – most notably New York Yankees third-baseman Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewers slugger and former MVP Ryan Braun. According to the OTL report, as many as 20 to 30 other players could be implicated if Bosch does testify. Also, the players could be looking at 100- game suspensions.

I don’t think anyone who follows baseball is surprised by Rodriguez’s alleged involvement. He’s already admitted he used PEDs previously. The $29 million-a-year star, who is a Miami native, has been battling injuries the last couple of seasons. A three-time MVP, Rodriguez is also chasing the 3,000-hit milestone, needing 99 more to reach it. A-Rod wants to leave a legacy as being one of the greatest of all time. That’s not going to happen. He’ll always be remembered for his outrageous contracts and use of PEDs.

The Braun situation is a very interesting one. If Bosch does implicate the Milwaukee slugger and MLB decides to suspend him for 100 games, will MLB Commissioner Bud Selig also strip Braun of his MVP award from 2011?

Remember, this isn’t the rst time Braun has been suspected of taking PEDs. After winning the MVP award, he tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. A charge he adamantly denied, appealed and had his suspension overturned. Coincidently, Bosch was a paid “consultant” by the Braun defense team during that case.

In my opinion, if Selig truly wants to clean up the game and send a message that PEDs will not be tolerated in MLB, I believe he should suspend the players for an entire season. Baseball has done a good job with its testing program ever since the Mitchell Report came out a few years ago.

Since that time, MLB has the toughest drug-testing program of the major sports.

Earlier this year, local product Colby Copeland had to sit out 50 games for testing positive for PEDs.

I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t play one on TV, but I’d also like to see the players’ entire contracts voided thereby allowing the teams to rid themselves of the nancial burden as well as the cheaters. I know this is likely wishful thinking on my part. I had hoped the “steroid era” in baseball was over. However, the MLB Players Association is one of the strongest unions in the country and will vehemently ght for these players.

As far as my opinion on instant replay in baseball, I agree with Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona. I heard Francona tell ESPN’s “Mike & Mike In the Morning” that he would be in favor of having a fth umpire up in the press box who could immediately review calls. If a call was disputed, the crew chief could ask the booth ump for review and within a short period of time have the answer and resume play. This would certainly be faster, more ef cient and effective than the present replay situation. Selig said earlier this season that MLB would look at expanding replay usage in baseball.

Now for the DH! I’m a baseball purist, and love the National League style of play where the same nine players who play in the eld are the same nine in the batting order. I just think there is more strategy and managerial skill needed on the NL side. I like the double switch and making a manager think about having to pinch-hit for his starter after ve or six innings. I like the fact that the pitcher has to bat and possibly face some retribution for throwing at an opposing player.

I like to see a pitcher “help his cause” with a two-out base hit.

That being said, the DH is never going away. The MLBPA will never, ever allow Selig or any future commissioner to do away with a position that allows a player to prolong his career. Besides, now that the two leagues are evenly split with 15 teams in each, every night there’s an interleague game played. So, I would expect MLB to seriously consider implementing the designated hitter in the NL sometime in the near future. Say it ain’t so, Joe?

Charlie Cavell may be reached at ccavell12@hotmail.com.