Ever since names and accusations have peppered newspapers and television stations, Major League Baseball has been under the largest of microscopes. As a result, power hitters and strike-out kings are falling to the wayside as more drug testing and player suspensions begin to result from decades of player abuse. Is this the end of the MLB as we know it... and if so, is that such a bad thing?

Consider this: not too long ago baseball was in jeopardy of becoming an afterthought in the eyes of Americans. The sport was making zero dollars, the NFL was (and continues) to kill the ratings, and experts were beginning to wonder how much longer the MLB could survive as "America's Past-time". That is, until Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire saved the game with their power and homerun chases.

Sure, we now know that they were on the juice (at least allegedly), but nobody can say that it wasn't the saving grace of that sport. Barry Bonds breaking Hammering Hank's all-time record was just as big a deal, albiet in the midst of scandal and further accusations. Regardless, all of this meant increased ratings and a rejuvination of baseball in the social spotlight.

However, now we see the effects of steroid withdrawl taking its toll on players from all teams. Manny tested positive and was suspended. David Ortiz, although not under accusation but certainly under suspicion, can't hit the ball out of the infield (and, let's face it... he's also Dominican). A-Rod can't go anywhere without being boo'd for admitting his mistake. Barry Bonds can't find a job. Certainly negative press for the MLB, but press nonetheless.

So what does this mean? In my opinion, the "power hitter" and "power pitcher" from this point forward will be that of a purest. In other words, records will finally mean something again. Superstars will be few and far between, and will probably come from the farm system as opposed to overseas. Cheaters will be contained, and fathers can finally take their kids to a game and safely say (eventually) that the players on his favorite team are worth looking up to. Sure, there will always be a place for steroids in the history of the game, but there will also be a place for gambling (Pete Rose), murder (Ty Cobb), and even throwing a World Series (The Black Sox).

I just wish they would release the list of all the players who tested positive for banned substances in 2003, rather than leaking them 1 by 1. I have heard that 35-40% of the players listed, are pitchers. Clemens is probably 1 of them. I also suspect catcher Pudge Rodriguez is on the list. Brian Giles, another I might expect to see. But if they are going to leak guys like A-Rod and Sosa, they might as well get all the names out there.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I agree with your post 100% Ugueth. What makes baseball great is the diversity of the different era's and the importance of stats. I believe that the steroid era (1989-2009?ish) should be recognized in Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame should promote education and knowledge about this time period.


Every era has some extenuating circumstance that one could reasonably argue inflated or deflated the stats, from rule changes(lowering the pitching mound), the Negro Leagues, dead ball era and now the steroid era. Put all deserving in Cooperstown, put up a plaque outside the wing explaining the various conditions of the time and celebrate it for being an important part of America's Pasttime.

MLB can not and/or does not test for a lot of PEDS. Given how PEDS have proven to be wildly effective, I'm sure there are still plenty of guys still using them.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I agree that Steroids are the best thing to happen to baseball. I bet Maggs is on the list from 03 too.

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I agree with everything you said with the exception of this:



what does this mean? I never wanted to be Frank Thomas, I just wanted to be able to hit like him. Never wanted to be Greg Maddux, just wanted to be able to pitch like him. Granted, not great examples because they are likely clean.
But, why couldn't a kid want to pitch like Pettite or Clemens (my pitcher's glove from high school is a Clemens Wilson A2150) and hit like Bonds or Sosa or A-Rod?

I don't recall "looking up" to Frank Thomas...though, he was pretty tall when I met him in 1992 and he was/is my favorite player.

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@audioidkid

some fools want their kids to to emulate players who succeed through hard work and determination. silly I know, but some people believe in that kind of BS.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

DAD: Son, if you work hard and are determined, maybe you could be a major leaguer someday...
Kid: Really? Do you really think so?
DAD: Yes, I do. But, you have to work hard and be determined. So, after you clean up your toys, we're going to the gym and whip medicine balls at each other for 3 hours, then an hour of cardio, then we'll lift for 2 hours or so. 4,000 calorie diet, no more candy or gum..
Kid: But, Dad...I'm only 8!
DAD: Well, then I guess you'll just have to take steroids.

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@audioidkid

I like to like the good players. Somebody bought my son a Urlacher jersey for his birthday and everytime he wears it I get the I just bit into a lemon face. I loved him his first 2 years but he turned into a dick. I get what Ugie is saying but just because they don't do steroids anymore doesn't make them good people.

the facade of athletes being good people is just as laughable as people falling in love with movie characters. about 90% or more are fratboy douchebags who you fall in love with because of what they do for your team.

Did Ugie write this??



I read an article a long time ago by Rob Neyer (though I'm not sure) that showed attendance actually decreased in '98 and '99. Those two roided up buffoons didn't save shit.

Are you serious? Had it not been for those two boneheads, that attendance would have been closer to zero than it ever was in the history of the game.

Yes I'm serious. It's like when a company said they 'lost money' because they didn't make as much as the previous year. I'll try finding the article again but Neyer pointed out that attendence went up 4% in '95, 4.2% in '96, 4.5% in '97 and only 4% in '98 (not the actual numbers but you get the idea). Those two buffoons actually stunted the growth of attendance.

I think that's a stretch to say that those assclowns and a lower growth percentage actually had a causal relationship just because they happened concurrently.

It is therefore difficult to say that the two of them helped attendance rates - but it is theoretically possible that the number would have been lower without the who's-going-to-fuck-baseball-history-first race.

Probably did more for the tv and radio end of things than for the parks themselves.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George