Release It

Steroids is no doubt one of the biggest controversies to hit baseball anytime in it’s history. Nothing in recent memory has been as polarizing as the steroids controversy. While it looks like the MLB may be slowly emerging from this mess, there is one huge shoe still left to drop- The 104 names of the players who tested positive in 2004 hangs like a specter above baseball’s integrity and it’s hope to get past the steroid controversy. Until that is resolved, there will never be any closure to this issue, so they should release it.
Now this isn’t some scream for vengeance, nor is it some misplaced loyalty for the “purity” of baseball. The players implicated on the list should not be punished by their teams or the league, and they should not receive the scarlet letter of disgrace. It is instead a coming clean, a sort of truth and reconciliation commission.
It would cause an uproar from the players’ union, who would no doubt, perhaps rightly challenge it’s legality. The test was supposed to be confidebtial, and even though a few of the names leaked out, the fact remains. The fans would be angry, also. It is certain that there would be at least a few surprises on the list, outside of the usual suspects. The players on that list would need to either come up with explanations or take the less wise route of saying nothing. There would be upheaval.
If the players’ union was to give some ground on this, they would be seen as part of the solution instead of the problem. Donald Fehr’s departure leaves a huge opportunity for the player’s union to be seen truly as the advocates of the players instead of a screen to hide behind which does the players nor the union any good.
The players worried about fan vilification only have to go as far as Jason Giambi or Andy Pettite, two guys who made at best lukewarm admissions of guilt and were soon either forgiven or the indiscretions forgotten completely. Fighting back against the allegations has done serious damage to those who fight it or deny it. Roger Clemens’s reputation has taken a big hit. Mark Mc Gwire has gone from an Great American Icon to non-existent. If the names were released and the players sucked it up and took the heat for it, it would be much easier for everyone involved.
It makes perfect sense for everyone involved. It gives essentially a clean slate for the players, it gives the clubs and the leagues a starting point to work with, and most of all, it shows the fans that MLB and the Players Union is doing the right thing instead of simply covering it’s ass. Just release it, make contritions where necessary, and move on. That simple.