Shaun, people have been ganged up on and subject to the rumour mill and “presumed guilty” and maliciously smeared for long, long before these “troubled times.” Actually, it was, in many respects, much worse in the past than now. The public has always been a pack of dogs and times have always been “troubled.”

I’m not saying Palmeiro shouldn’t be responsible for what he puts in his body, particularly given his testimony to Congress – I’m just saying that he could have been responsible, and still been screwed over . . .

Moral issues aside, the supplements industry is almost 100% unregulated. Supplement manufacturers don’t have to do anything they don’t want to do, more or less, and often change comes only when a tragedy strikes (remember Steve Belcher and ephedra?).

The arbitrator was apparently impressed with Palmeiro’s testimony – but said that he still didn’t meet “the high burden of proof” placed on a player in his situation, and thus under the terms of the program, the arbitrator HAD to suspend him. Am I the only one who thinks “sympathetic judge who’s hands were tied by the rules” when I hear that?

And as for Palmeiro hiding behind the confidentiality portions of the testing program – he might have no choice! The penalties for violating confidentiality may be so severe that it isn’t worth him doing so, even to protect or save his own skin.

There aren’t enough facts available here to completely judge the situation. I’m inclined to give Palmeiro the benefit of the doubt – because that’s how we do things in the USA. The entire foundation of our system of justice is “innocent until proven guilty” and when we toss that out the window, we’ve lost something that’s vital to our character and integrity. Unfortunately, we seem to toss it aside all too often in these troubled times.

You’re joking, right? ESPN and other news agencies win either way–reporting the HRs and then wagging their fingers at the steroid users. And frankly, if MLB did collapse because of disillusioned fans, ESPN would go on covering the myriad of other sports that would take its place. A little perspective, please…

“Also, it is clear that these media personalities think that baseball fans are fools in general, but they are about to find out that those days are gone. No one is wearing those rose colored glasses any more.”

I agree. I think that there’s a lot of money wrapped up in the coverage, promotion, and operation of the sport. It’s a very scary thing for any sponsor, broadcaster, or owner to think of 1994 and the damage that came from the last work stoppage. That’s not even considering the “small” people that get hurt most in the mix….vendors, ticket window people, local bars, etc…..

ESPN and others like them must be in a total panic. I guarantee they’ve called a series of emergency meetings in the wake of the Palmeiro revelations, and the topic of spin is high on their list of priorities. If fans become disillusioned and other players get busted, the whole thing could start to collapse on itself.

I think it’s like a stock market panic. The president and his chief financial advisors get together spin the story and alleviate the swelling panic in the streets. ESPN is trying to quiet the storm, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens to other players in the near future.

Baseball gets more teeth to toughen their steroid policy now, and the union may just have to give in for the sake of their own survival. You’ll see the pace quicken on a tougher policy, but I’m guessing that real strict testing will start in earnest after this year. The rest of this year is a grace period for people like Palmeiro to get off the juice, and then next year it’s curtains.

rsmith51, I think that baseball is just one of those fraternities where the members cover up for each other as a rule. Although Todd Zeile was interviewed saying that he found Palmeiro’s story difficult to buy. Also, it is clear that these media personalities think that baseball fans are fools in general, but they are about to find out that those days are gone. No one is wearing those rose colored glasses any more.

The reluctance to see a storied career sullied? The sense that he’s been one of the good guys in the sport? The weird review process he was exceptionally allowed? His straightforward denial?

uburoisc, remind me to stay on your good side.

Before I tell you his response, I cannot emphasize the moral rectitude of this individual. I mean, I know I’m his friend and, admittedly, I’m biased, but this is just a terrific individual here. Anyway, as you might have already guessed, he didn’t hesitate. He said, “If I’d been close – even a stone’s throw away – I’d have juiced like hell.”

My point? I suppose I have little sympathy for fading superstars bent on padding their already gaudy stats for a trip to Cooperstown and assuring an indelible legacy. But I wonder how many borderline major leagers out there over the years have tried desperately for that edge. And I wonder if many of us would do the same.

He is HUGE. I was in Vegas on business a few years back and saw him at a craps table. He stood head and shoulders above the other men at his private table and he was as wide as Randy Johnson is tall.

It’s no wonder that he played TE at Auburn. Between Thomas, Bo Jackson, and Charles Barkley Auburn has produced some big boys.

Tony Gwynn is busy trying to defend Palmeiro. Who do these people think they are kidding?

I hope that none of these guys is guilty. I hope that someday proof is revealed unquestionably clearing the big names of any wrongdoing, but at this point you have to be skeptical first and optimistic second. Big money, big stardom, big risks……

I have no sympathy for Palmeiro, if in fact he used ‘roids…..or anything else for that matter. The winds have been blowing on this stuff for 2-3 years and any smart player (or agent) would work as hard as possible to get off the stuff and rehab ASAP.

I wrote yesterday that I thought Giambi got off the juice a couple of years ago and slowly worked his way back….remember how thin he was during 2004 Spring Training? He saw it coming and did something about it (presumably). Now he’s gone through his trouble and seems to be back to his old self.

Look at the older players that have been swallowed up by injuries lately. Many of them are guys who were steroid rumors of recent years. Nomar, Bonds, Schilling, Frank Thomas, Mark McGwire…..all slow to come back from injuries. McGwire and Canseco both had back problems that came from the deterioration of the muscle supporting their weight, etc….And, look at Sosa’s precipitous decline with the Orioles.

I won’t make the complete leap to say that these players are steroid users, because none of them has actually been caught. No baseball McCarthyism here. What I will say is that these players should heed the warning that Giambi apparently heard. They should do whatever they can to leave doping in the past (if they have been guilty to begin with) and note the example of Palmeiro. Fans will not forgive him the way they forgive Giambi to the degree they have forgiven him.

The media will not forgive him when his name comes up for the Hall. Many of them already had a question mark next to his name.

It’s going to get ugly if other players don’t do their rehab and go cold turkey. We’ll see the game’s popularity decline and the heros of the 90′s resurgence will ultimately be remembered as snake oil salesmen.

Canseco’s book is suddenly very credible as far as kissing and telling.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…

I like reliable fielding stats and I’ve heard that Prospectus metrics aren’t that great. Is that true?