Read the debate intro and Bleacher Fan’s argument to keep the list from the public.
Allow me to take a trip down memory lane.
December 12, 2007.
It’s the day before Major League Baseball is set to release the Mitchell Report. Loyal Homer is debating with friends on some names that may, or may not, be in the report. It leads to quite an interesting discussion.
Fast forward to one day later. The report is released by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell. I remember discussing the names on this list with those same friends. Some were not surprising at all. Some were surprising. And, we were quite surprised that some names were not on the list.
It was all speculation.
Now, rotoinfo.com has their hands on the supposed list of 103 players who testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs in random screenings in 2003. This has been a highly secretive list up to this point, with the occasional name being leaked out. It has led to much speculation by the media and by the public.
I have had numerous conversations about who I think is, or is not, on that list. They are quite similar to the conversations I had prior to the releasing of the Mitchell Report.
There’s one way to end all of this speculation and avoid the court of public opinion convicting innocent ballplayers – just release the darn list.
In fact, the Chicago baseball managers Ozzie Guillen and Lou Piniella even agree with me.
One by one, these names are going to somehow be leaked. Bud Selig’s wish to have the steroid era put in the past is never going to happen as it stands now, because every time it seems like the story has gotten old, another name leaks out. This could go on for years! Did someone say closure? HA! That isn’t going to happen with a constant leaking of names! Not to mention having websites like rotoinfo.com release their lists where accuracy is only “90% certain.” Whether or not they are completely accurate isn’t the point. It just continues to put a really dark black eye on baseball.
Why not just bite the bullet and release the list? Yes, I’m aware these tests were confidential back in 2003 and “cannot be released” per the most recent collective bargaining agreement. But, let me ask the players this:
“Guys, if your name is on this list, it’s getting out. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But, it’s coming. Why not go ahead and have it released so you can share in the spotlight with 102 of your buddies? Wouldn’t you rather have MLB release the list than a fantasy sports website?”
Yes, the game would suffer in the short term, but it would benefit in the long run. It is best to go ahead and deal with the consequences from the public now, instead of having this issue linger over the rest of some of these players careers.
To the fans… you know you are curious to see this list! Don’t lie! You want to be able to tell your buddies that you knew that _______ was on the list!!!
End the speculation! Release the list! The truth shall set you free… well, sort of!
I’m not sure that everyone, that is on the list, knows they are on the list. The publication of this list means nothing, because who knows what was being taken in the years prior.
I don’t have any evidence or proof one way or another that the players are informed they tested positive. I can find out. But, my hunch is that they were told… in a loud voice.
Hank Aaron agrees with me!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4377766