NYCurve Yankees Blog

So tomorrow is the big day. Former Senator George Mitchell is ready to release his masterpiece, a report on a 20 month investigation on steroid use in the MLB. It has been hyped up and everyone is eager to see what it says. It claims to have evidence on several big name major leaguers who have used these drugs. It is a drama lover’s dream come true, an instigator’s heaven, and a cheater’s nightmare. But, is this all good for the sport?

No.

It is as simple as that. You tell me, what is there about this whole mess that is good for Major League Baseball? Will it increase the popularity of baseball? No. Will it give it a better image? Certainly not. Will it increase revenues? No. Now, a few questions of a different sort: Will it destroy careers? Yes. Will it give baseball a bad image? Yes. Will it cause suspicion of more players, so more lives can be disturbed? Yes. Any arguments here? Because I really don’t see how anyone can say this is a good thing for the sport.

Sure steroid use may give players an unfair advantage over others and we should investigate, but we don’t have to make it a witch hunt. We don’t have to promise big names just to get attention; in fact if no big names every used steroids that would be better. The Mitchell Report shouldn’t be a ploy to get attention, it should be the just the opposite. We should reveal those you cheated, punish them, and move on.

Sadly with all the hype it doesn’t look like it will go this way. If we do want it to go smoothly and quickly, some of us have to change ourselves. One thing we must learn to do is realize that no matter what we do someone will always cheat, especially with all the money and fame involved with playing pro ball; it is just a sad part of reality. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for punishing cheaters, but their has to be a better way than this. Give a lifetime ban for steroid use even one time, enforce regular drug tests (and spend money to find tests for those untestable drugs, instead of spending git on 20 month long witch hunts), just do something which doesn’t have people accusing every other guy and their dogs of using steroids.

Or if you find that an overwhelming majority of players are using these supplements, then just turn the shoulder and look the other way. I know its not good, but if there really is a cohort of players using steroids then it may be for the best. I mean that would be better than having every player publicly demeaned until there was no one left. It’s not like baseball would be able to restart with all clean players or something because that would mean a decrease in pitching speeds and how far/fast balls get hit, which means lower ticket sales; no team is going to agree to that.

Well one mistake has already been made and that was the hiring of George Mitchell. Next time please choose a guy that is unbiased and gets evidence before he makes accusations. In other words, do not choose George Mitchell. The man who is a director on the board of the Red Sox, has more than a biased view. He has a thirst for any leads, even if it means hearing lies. Several trainers and coaches have reported being pressured by Mitchell and his fellow Sherlocks for information even if they didn’t have any. When they said that they weren’t sure about anyone using steroids they were asked who they thought was using steroids. Mitchell’s crew tried them to say names of people who’s bodies have changed a lot recently. They do know that people can change their body type with using steroids, right?

Hopefully what we get tomorrow won’t have any of the what ifs in it, but only hard, cold evidence. The best outcome would be to get enough information with evidence, so that this can be dealt with and become nothing more than the past. A lot of the trainers ended up not guessing no matter how much they were pressured because they knew damn well that they could be fired on the beat if they started a rumor of that intensity. Hopefully tomorrow’s report is nothing but facts. This is the optimistic view; will it come true? I guess we’ll find out at 2 tomorrow.

There have been rumors about the Phillies being interested in Mike Mussina. A trade is certainly a possibility since the Yankees have six possible starters at the moment (Petite, Moose, Wang, Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba). Whether a trade is a good thing is a different story; our rotation isn’t exactly the most proven. Also, as always the possibility of injuries exists, so maybe have six possible starters is a good thing. I believe that if Moose does stay he should be moved to the bullpen and then he can be moved up to starter if someone gets injured or is just horrible. It is obvious that he is aging and I think that with less innings (more rest) he will still be able to be successful. I would actually prefer Mussina to stay a Yankee unless we get some proven pitchers in return.

Ok, its not an ordinary can of bug spray, but no matter how much you try you can’t convince me that a can of Off! is worth over $600. Remember the swarms of bugs on Joba Chamberlain’s neck during game two of the ALDS? Well, that can was sold in an auction for $673! The can of spray was one of several playoff items auctioned on mlb.com. The buyer is kept anonymous, but he/she sure must be loaded (or they must love bug spray a lot).

Today the Yankees and reliever LaTroy Hawkins reached a preliminary agreement of $3.75 million for one year. The Yankees had said that they were looking at him a few days ago. The contract is subject to a physicial, but once he passes it it should be finalized. I think this was a good move because Hawkins certainly has the potential to do well, but if he doesn’t we can dump him next season. So no Kyle Farnsworth repeat here. With Chamberlain moving to a starter, signing Hawkins was a good move, which gives us a little more depth in relief.