PEDs and Punishment

Yesterday, the anticipation in baseball finally came to an end. Alex Rodriquez, along with 12 other players were suspended for using performance enhancing drugs, or PEDs. What makes this so different from other suspensions was the number of punishments handed down at the same time and the big fish that are involved.

Previously, people like Manny Ramirez decided to retire rather than face the consequence of their actions. Also, most of the other active players, generally, were not big names or star players for their teams.

A couple of weeks ago, Brewers left fielder, Ryan Braun, was suspended for the remainder of this season. In 2011, a drug test revealed that he had also used PEDs but due to a technicality, he was not suspended and was allowed to accept his MVP award. This time, he failed.

The other 12 players suspended now are suspended for 50 games, which will mean that should their teams make the playoffs, they will be eligible to play.

A-Rod, however, is suspended for the remainder of this season and all of next year, for a total of 211 games. He can continue to play while he appeals the ruling. When he returns, he will be 40 years old.

The blame for all this, however, must be shared. Presently, only the players suffer the consequence for violating baseball's drug policy. But owners, GMs and others looked the other way after the strike in 1994, in order to get cheeks back into the seats. From 1995 to 2003, the commissioner's office and the owners turned a blind eye to the bevy of home runs players were hitting. Even players not known to have the power were reaching career numbers.

So once again, baseball suffers a black eye due to the greed of the owners and indifference by the players. And next year, every team will receive $50 million as their share of the new TV contract.

Perhaps, the teams should be forced to forfeit some of this money and have the proceeds used to help the players they destroyed as part of the assistance needed to rid baseball of this problem. Owners should be liable for condoning this behavior by the players for the owners' benefit.

It certainly would be a first step to cure the problem forever.