A Sad Time for Baseball

Senator George Mitchell was commissioned by the Major League Baseball Organization to conduct an independent investigation of the use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances in major league baseball. In his report, he listed the names of 86 players with varied levels of suspicion on their use of steroids or HGH (Human Growth Hormones). Including on that list were Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Gary Sheffield, Rafael Palmeiro, Benito Santiago, Dave Justice, and Dodger favorites Paul LoDuca and Eric Gagne. Every baseball team had a player on the list. The entire 400 page report can be downloaded here.

The Witch Hunt is on. The only person relatively happy with yesterday's Mitchell Report announcement is Barry Bonds. Now he isn't the only one in the spotlight. Sen. Mitchell stated that the findings of the report are not directed toward applying disciplinary action toward the players named, but to display the widespread nature of the use of performance enhancing substances. He places the blame on everyone...the MLB Commission, the owners, the managers, and the players. The key is to put a stop to it all.

Every accomplishment in major league baseball from 1988 to 2007 will be either officially noted or mentally noted in the minds of fans as being part of the Steroid Era. How does this affect your opinion of baseball? Do you think these players should be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Maybe we should just legalize steroid use, and anyone who wants to use them will be eligible for the Steroid Baseball Hall of Fame.