Mistakes, Missteps, and Continued Incompetance: An Evaluation of the First Half of the MLB 2009 Season
There is a problem with this sport.
As the half-way mark in the 2009 Major League Baseball season is here. As expected by many sports writers, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Angles, Dodgers, and even Texas are holding steady as first place teams. Three of the teams mentioned here have the highest payrolls in the game; with the exception of the Phillies and the Cardinals, and Tigers, none of the middle-market teams are making much of an impact. It has to be noted that the middle market teams mentioned are leading the three least competitive and underachieving divisions in their respective leagues. So much for competitive parody in baseball—sorry Bud but yet again you failed.
For all the talk regarding records, Baseball’s steroid policy has become a joke. Manny Ramirez, one of the greatest right-handed hitters the Game has ever seen, was suspended for having a record of purchasing a feminine fertility drug…it wasn’t even in his system when he was tested. Rather, MLB suspended Ramirez after unjustifiably obtaining his medical files. There have been numerous other suspensions, many of them being relievers, but no one is really paying attention. The only evidence one needs is to watch Manny’s return to Dodger Stadium July 16th.
The simple fact is that fans don’t go out to sporting events to feel down; they will overlook player faults because they want to be entertained and suspend their realities for a few hours. One would hope that players would be honorable and respect the traditions of the game…less we forget that many of our best players were drunks (Babe Ruth) or cheaters and liars (Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds). It is up to individuals to save this game, not the MLB brass.
Oh, and one can’t forget Baseball’s newest launch pad, aka Yankee Stadium. With $1.5 billion put into it, it’s hard to believe that the architects failed to envision a simple wind tunnel going out to left center field…Alex Rodriguez’s power lane as one might expect. So yet again the Yankees are undermining all that is genuine and respectable in the game today. This is no surprise.
Unfortunately nothing written here is a surprise. At best these examples illustrate a fundamental problem with this sport that no suspensions or fines can fix.
Recommendations:
1) Bud Selig needs to step down as Commissioner
2) A salary cap must be put into place for all teams
3) Baseball’s steroid policy must become fairer and less partial…a good start would be to stop the banning of amphetamines, something that no other sport considers a steroid. And for God’s sake, stop making the highest profile players targets for investigation!
