Mitchell Report Strikes Out

The release of the Mitchell Report early last month, stirred great controversies in the baseball world. The report, introduced by former Senator George J. Mitchell, was drafted in response to the recent with steroid use in Major League Baseball. According to Mitchell, this report consisted of an “investigation into the illegal use of steroid and other performance enhancing substances by players in major league baseball.” 

The report was confirmed a success by the Senate and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, because it points out major flaws in the way that the MLB has been dealing with steroid use, and how there have been improvements shown by the statistical drop in use of detectable steroids through mandatory drug testing. What is controversial about the report is Mitchell’s listing of the players that he suspected to have been trying to gain a competitive advantage through illegal use of steroidal substances.

Mitchell’s purpose for the report was to show the MLB that they must improve their ability to further investigate allegations. He showed the importance of improving procedures meant to keep performance-enhancing drugs “out of the clubhouse,” and expressed that education for players and trainers of the health risks of using these supplements could help with the problem as well.

The report also mentions the fact that just because the use of detectable steroids has gone down, does not mean that players have stopped using performance-enhancing drugs—they have just found different ways. Human growth hormone (HGH), which helps with recovery of injuries and fatigue, has been a popular drug and is not detectable through urine testing. “Anti-aging” centers have been known to give these, and other aids, out to players using prescriptions from physicians they have never met.  Also, many players moved from oil-based steroids to water-based steroids because they travel faster though the body’s system.

Obviously, this is a serious problem. Not only does steroid use hurt the integrity of the game, but it also hurts the honest players that lose their spots to the guys who are willing to jeopardize their health to gain an unfair advantage. There are serious health risks involved, and effects can be even more harmful in young athletes who are greatly influenced by professionals. At the most basic level, the drugs these players are using without a prescription are illegal.

Many of the conclusions that Senator Mitchell came to in this report will be of great use to the MLB in bringing an end to the “Steroids Era,” but the report does contain some parts that were unnecessary. Mitchell said that it would be a “deliberate and unbiased examination of the facts that will comport with the American values of fairness.” By revealing the names of over eighty baseball players without substantial evidence and without the due process of law, Senator Mitchell shows that he has a sick conception of the “American values of fairness.”

Senator Mitchell built up quite a list of allegations made about different players from books like Jose Conseco’s and news articles. He also based many of his allegations off of the words of former New York Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski and former New York Yankees trainer Brian McNamee, both of whom have federal plea bargins, and their collection of receipts, notes, checks, and statements by different players. Before the publication of the report, he gave the players a chance to come meet with him so he could explain the allegations and give them a chance to respond. No current player responded to his invitation because the Players’ Association advised against it, and they did not trust the validity of the report.

Those that did not meet with Mitchell made the wrong choice, and over eighty of them were listed along with all of the allegations made about them. Among the players listed there were All-Stars like Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield. Giambi is the only one amongst the three that has admitted to steroid use. Since the report was released, however, players such Andy Pettitte and Brian Roberts have admitted to the use of HGH. There is no substantial evidence in the case of Bonds or Sheffield that either of them was on steroids or was knowledgeable of it. The accusation of Roger Clemens was included as well, and that has created great controversy. Roger Clemens stood out as the greatest pitcher of the era, but now he is the biggest name coming out of the Mitchell Report. Brian McNamee listed him as a steroids user, and now Clemens is filing a defamation suit against the former Yankees trainer, and guilty or not guilty, he will have to deal with this blow to his reputation for the rest of his life.

Steroid use is a big issue that the MLB and other professional sports franchises need to tackle, but the way that Senator Mitchell went about it was not right. Much of the information in the report is valid, and many of the allegations may prove to be true, but those innocent players that walk away from this will hear “boos” from the crowd every time they step up to the plate for the rest of their careers.