The Mitchell Report

Well, the Mitchell Report was released today. If you don’t already know what that is, I thank you for reading my blog before watching ESPN or reading any sports-related websites. The following sentence was written just for you: It is a report documenting the results of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s 20-month investigation into Major League Baseball’s performance enhancing drug usage.

I’m no Peter Gammons, and I obviously didn’t read the entire 409-page report, so I’ll keep this short.

MLB is understandably not concerned so much with morality, but as a fan of the Yankees (not necessarily Clemens) and the historically statistics-oriented game of baseball, it is an aspect that I have considered.

Ballplayers take these drugs to play at a higher level and often to help out their team. But as much as I appreciate Clemens, Pettitte, Knoblauch, and Justice’s desire to win a championship for my beloved Yankees, were they really oblivious to the fact that these substances were tarnishing baseball’s history? More than any other major sport, statistics are a vital part of baseball history. (Does any statistic in any sport get more attention than batting average? Has any single season record in any sport been held in such high prestige as Maris’ 61 in ‘61?)

The report states, “[David] Justice said that he had never been warned of the side effects or consequences of steroid use and had never been told that steroids were a banned substance.” Never been warned? Maybe. But come on, he knew it was wrong. They all knew it or they wouldn’t have kept it on the down-low for so long. Before that needle entered their butt cheek, did they stop to think about why what they were doing is frowned upon? Did they ever stop to think – Are these drugs ruining the game I love? Because the fans do.

Note: I am aware that the above picture features Clemens and Pettitte in Astros uniforms. I’m a little pissed at them right now. However, since nothing is too clear at the moment in this steroids/HGH era, I’ll leave it at that.

12/15/07 Addendum: I am pleased with Pettitte’s admission and apology. He has always seemed to be a humble and dignified man, and I believe him when he says, “I have the utmost respect for baseball and have always tried to live my life in a way that would be honorable.” I was hoping that his use of HGH was minimal and only for rehabilitation purposes. According to his statement, this seems to be the case. For more, see here.