Graham Blog: Enough is Enough Already in the MLB
It will never go away. Until the MLB really DOES something about it. A little venting here on the case of steroids/PED's in baseball.
I know this would never pass with the Player's Association in a CBA agreement but if you want to completely get rid of steroids/PED's, the MLB and the MLBPA need to have a 'one and done' approach about it starting in the minor leagues.
You eventually send an overwhelmingly strong message to players and players-to-be that it truly is a zero tolerance policy. If there was a 'one and done' rule.....no LAW, the players would get the message. If you expect me to believe players 'didn't know?' Give me a break. They know exactly what they're taking, and how wrong it is. Nothing 'accidentally' gets into your system.
The last thing future players want to do is ruin their shot before even being able to pull the trigger. The future players want that multi-million dollar contract. If you put forth the toughest drug testing program, and back it up with a lifetime ban, it would erase 97% of players using steroids or PED's. It wouldn't be 100% because I'm a realist living in the real world, and know that there will always be some idiots out there that think they can beat the system.
Here is my message to players currently taking PED's and/or steroids: You will get caught. The biggest names in the game get caught, and you will too. It's not a matter of if, but when. Most of you will get caught before you reach the big show and you will be left to answer yourself this one question as you see all your hopes and dreams get flushed down the toilet: Was the juice worth the squeeze?
In my head if you use; you are a cheater, and should never be able to play the game again (except your local community slow pitch softball leagues). If you're not good enough naturally on the field then you're not good enough. I have realized that, and found I have professional-level talent in the broadcast booth (PED-free).
For the first time in history, the writers and fans have an easier time naming the names of who cheated, than names of who did not and are Hall of Fame bound. The writers who vote in the players to the Hall of Fame have already made it crystal clear that if your name is even MENTIONED in the steroid scandal you will not be voted in. So to the players in today’s game: It is your choice.
Now, there has been a rumor going around the the Yankees' second baseman Robinson Cano has failed a test and will be given a 50 game suspension. Ok, before you do go dismissing that, I want you to remember the name of Melky Cabrera who had a rumor out that everyone did dismiss months before it come true.
I want to see another Ruth, Mays, Ripken, Cobb, Robinson, Williams, Mantle and so on but I doubt that will ever happen. It is truly a shame.