I'd say yes but I'm not a fan. Ask the guy at the game eating the genetically modified hotdog, drinking genetically modified bear. He's probably on Prozac and will probably pop a Viagra on the way home to see the missus.

Originally Posted by Big_Bear_Scot

Just read the news report on Mitchell Report on Drug use in Baseball. It is even making the news over here in the UK where Baseball is very much a minority sport behind Football(Soccer), Rugby, Cricket etc

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7143219.stm

How could this situation occur? in Football for example the Players are tested at random and if they are caught they can be banned for up to 2 years(or even life).

Does this report tarnish the reputation of Baseball in the US?

I think it tarnishes the reputation of Baseball forever. Whether one is a fan or not, the knowledge that steroid use is rampant in any sport should be expected to tarnish that sport.

I haven't really cared much for baseball since the babies went on strike and skipped a World Series some years ago. It is not my favorite sport. I cannot justify paying men millions of dollars to play a game. Even though I know it's just supply and demand that keeps jacking up their salaries, I think it is outrageous that they are so highly paid.

The drug thing put a cork in the bottle for me. My respect for baseball in general has weakened to near nothing.

Barry Bonds should not have Hank Aaron's record. All those druggies should have their records stripped from them.

Screw Baseball!!

Originally Posted by Big_Bear_Scot

Just read the news report on Mitchell Report on Drug use in Baseball. It is even making the news over here in the UK where Baseball is very much a minority sport behind Football(Soccer), Rugby, Cricket etc

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7143219.stm

How could this situation occur? in Football for example the Players are tested at random and if they are caught they can be banned for up to 2 years(or even life).

Does this report tarnish the reputation of Baseball in the US?

It may or may not tarnish the reputation, but no one will care. Tongues will cluck. Some will be upset or even outraged.

This is will not alter fans attendance or TV watching one bit. A few early polls have already said that.

This situation occurs because this is a huge business not a game. They are already thinking of making no retroactive punishments for those caught. The punishments will be decided on a "case by case basis" with apparently some subjectivity involved. Banning Roger Clemens for 2 years? Not on your life. I suspect there will be a few perfunctory slaps on the wrist. It remains to be seen whether this will substantially alter business as usual in MLB.

the strike was more annoying then this.

This investigation was a waste of money.

Why can't the players be strung out on anything they so desire? It's obvious the fans love it. Attendance during the "Steroids Era" is at an all-time high. Let MLB become like pro wrestling. Get the stinkin' congressional investigations out of there. Let the fans see real life Incredible Hulks plod up to the plate to smash 450 foot homers off 100 MPH fast ball pitchers.

More juice!!

Originally Posted by jim's trucking

I think it tarnishes the reputation of Baseball forever. Whether one is a fan or not, the knowledge that steroid use is rampant in any sport should be expected to tarnish that sport.

I haven't really cared much for baseball since the babies went on strike and skipped a World Series some years ago. It is not my favorite sport. I cannot justify paying men millions of dollars to play a game. Even though I know it's just supply and demand that keeps jacking up their salaries, I think it is outrageous that they are so highly paid.

Baseball is -- or maybe was -- my favorite sport, yet I agree with jt here. Even when I loved baseball, I couldn't believe people were getting paid such ridiculously large sums of money to play with a ball. There are countless people doing work infinitely more important that these people (regardless of how talented, hard-working, juiced, or any combination of these they are) who will never see the amount of money that some of these guys get for standing around in the outfield for an inning.

I hate pulling the "back in the old days" trick -- especially because I'm not old enough to have been around in the old days, but I used to be such a huge fan that I knew all of the history -- but... back in the old days, baseball wasn't such a cat-and-mouse game. Nowadays, teams have specialty pinch hitters, specialty left-handed relief pitchers, etc. Hell, they've even got specialty pinch runners. It's not even uncommon that a pitcher will come in, throw one pitch, and then hit the showers.

Baseball used to be exactly what the old rule book said: "a game between two teams of nine [players]." Now for just one side in any given game, there are twenty players, a manager, thirty-eight coaches, and seventeen syringes all playing a part.

The problem really is that it has become a business. Today's "baseball" couldn't be any less about the game of baseball. And because the fans don't care, nobody will be doing anything to change it.

Originally Posted by thelmoose

Banning Roger Clemens for 2 years? Not on your life.

Of course not. Remember when he threw a broken bat at Piazza? That should have been an immediate ejection, long suspension, and a gigantic fine. Instead, the umps did nothing, MLB set down a small fine considering (1) Clemens' pay and (2) it qualifies as attempted assault even after his pathetic excuse: "I thought it was the ball." (Because in baseball, the runner is out when you peg the guy with the ball, right?)
Must've been 'roid rage.

Ironically, steroids are promoting interest in baseball rather than hurting it.

If Bonds took steroids, he should be stripped of his home run title.
If he still wants a title in some field, he can have the title
of man who has the most home runs who took steroids. It would
be better to include him and others in a group all to themselves.
They have more in common with thieves than they do real ballplayers.
Baseball used to be a great sport. I loved the big red machine and
the pirates of Willie Stargell, but baseball is only about the money now.
Remember, I said if he took steroids. I haven't been following it lately,
but it is easy to see why he wouldn't admit it if he did. I think alot of
people feel like me...michael777

Originally Posted by michael777

If Bonds took steroids, he should be stripped of his home run title.
If he still wants a title in some field, he can have the title
of man who has the most home runs who took steroids. It would
be better to include him and others in a group all to themselves.
They have more in common with thieves than they do real ballplayers.
Baseball used to be a great sport. I loved the big red machine and
the pirates of Willie Stargell, but baseball is only about the money now.
Remember, I said if he took steroids. I haven't been following it lately,
but it is easy to see why he wouldn't admit it if he did. I think a lot of
people feel like me...michael777

Please let's remember that we are only talking about SOME drugs.

Let's see someond come out in favor of eliminating the biggest drug of all from the game - alcohol.

Without it, players like Ruth and Mantle are footnotes.

Oh, we can't do that, alcohol is the drug of choice which comes with society's approval.

Can anyone here spell DOUBLE STANDARD?

Originally Posted by chester

Please let's remember that we are only talking about SOME drugs.

Let's see someond come out in favor of eliminating the biggest drug of all from the game - alcohol.

Without it, players like Ruth and Mantle are footnotes.

Oh, we can't do that, alcohol is the drug of choice which comes with society's approval.

Can anyone here spell DOUBLE STANDARD?

Unlike steroids, alcohol could hardly be considered a performance enhancing drug. When it comes to baseball, steroids are typically used by the players, alcohol is used in the stands by the fans. I don't think I can recall any news about players getting soused before the big game to enhance their performance...can you?

Do you support prohibition of alcohol Chester?

Originally Posted by snakespit

I don't think I can recall any news about players getting soused before the big game to enhance their performance...can you?

I'm not actually trying to argue against your point here, but it reminded me of this:

There is the revelation in David Wells' autobiography that he pitched his perfect game while "half-drunk." Wells has since changed his story, saying he: "went out the night before. I took some aspirin and had a headache the next day." I'm guessing he had a king-sized hangover, the effects of which I am told leave the victim feeling half-drunk.

And back in 1970, Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter while high on LSD.

link

Originally Posted by snakespit

I don't think I can recall any news about players getting soused before the big game to enhance their performance...can you?

Ask Ryne Duren about that. As to others, who knows?

Lots of users of all types of drugs do not use them "before the big game", McGuire may be the exception.

Do you support the prohibition of drugs OTHER THAN alcohol?

If so, please explain your double standard.

Originally Posted by chester

Ask Ryne Duren about that. As to others, who knows?

Lots of users of all types of drugs do not use them "before the big game", McGuire may be the exception.

Do you support the prohibition of drugs OTHER THAN alcohol?

If so, please explain your double standard.

In regard to sport is not double standards to ban some drugs over others. Sport is a competition that involves skill and hard work, the effect of performance enhancing drugs hampers that fair competition.

In regards to the wider issue of drugs in society, I agree it is strange that alcohol and tobacco is legal while other drugs are illegal. If it was up to me all drugs would be legal, it is up to the individual if they want to use them or not.