Curtis A. Reporting. . .
This morning, while sipping on a vanilla bean Frappacino at the local Dayton Starbucks, I found myself engaged in a very interesting article written by Hal McCoy. McCoy, a sports writer for the Dayton Daily News, is a well known reputable writer. In his column today he stated that he would never ever vote Rafael Palmeiro into the baseball hall of fame. It was the breath of fresh air I had been waiting for.
This is a topic that vitamin C and Z seem to agree on. Regardless, of whether baseball did or didn't do anything about steriods in the 90s, it doesn't give Palmeiro or morons like him a free pass. He still cheated. He cheated game, just like shoeless, just like Rose. Yet, since we can't quantifiably determine who didn't and did take steriods, many journalists seem content to blame Major League Baseball and not the players themselves. Too many articles have been written saying that this guy deserves to get into the hall. Too many articles have been written saying the fans don't care.
This is all, for lack of a better term, bullshit. For kids growing up playing in the backyard, there was no such thing as an umpire. Balls and strikes were called by the those playing. A ball over the plate between the knees and chest was a strike, one that wasn't was a ball. Kids play fair because they have to, its the only way to keep everyone around. The only thing that baseball has is its integrity. Kids know this. Why don't the adults? The real fans who love this game are heartbroken and saddened. Baseball needs to worry more about them, and not be content that the rich business men in the club seats don't care if ball players are juicing. The people that keep baseball alive are the real fans. They are the ones who teach their children to play, put them in little league, encourage them to run hard to first, and give it their all until the last out. They are the ones who pack up the family van and drive to cooperstown to see not only their childrens heros, but their own.
We all grow up loving the game for the truth that it holds; hard work, teamwork, sacrifice. It is a game where the guy without the most talent, can still be the best player on the field. The best players play smart and play hard. It takes teamwork to turn two and throw a runner out at the plate. A bunt down the third base line is the ultimate sacrifice for the good of the team.
This is why we love baseball. We don't give a shit about the 475 ft. blasts. We'd rather see a pitchers duel. We'd rather see a crisp double play. A run that is earned with a hit, a steal and a sacrifice are the fundamentals that we crave to see at the game.
That is what baseball is about. It certainly isn't about cheating. Voting this guy in to the hall of fame is telling children everywhere to do whatever it takes. In the end, it won't matter if you use drugs to improve your performance, you can still get into the hall. If baseball, and its players really want to help the sport, ban Palmeiro, not for ten days, not for a year, but for life. Men like him don't belong in the game. Until the risk is greater for players to take steriods than to not take them, baseball will continue to slide into a dark abyss, losing the fans who truly love what baseball is all about.