I have been running around all afternoon and didn’t listen to much of the Mitchell Report coverage. Well, other than watching Donald Fehr bury his head in the sand and scoff at the report.
Anyhow, I finally had a chance to peruse the Mitchell Report (you can view all 400+ pages here) and it was interesting to see the names that popped up in the report.
Of course, everyone is talking about Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Eric Gagne, Andy Pettite and the other “all-stars” that showed up on the list.
But, it is the “no-names” that capture my attention and are the ones that I really expected to see more of. Guys like Kent Mercker, Mike Stanton, Adam Piatt and Adam Riggs. Those players that are middle of the road and really needed to have some type of advantage to make or stay in “the Show”.
What have we learned from the Mitchell Report?
A couple of things …
- Those that have the most to lose will take the most chances
- The difference between the elite and the best is a very fine line
Can we condem baseball players for doing this? I don’t know. Part of me wants to see them strung up, but the other side can see how it would be easy to get caught up in the moment.
Take Steubenville, Ohio, native Adam Riggs, right, as an example. This kid was always known as a scrappy ballplayer, one of those “tough as nails” types that could hit for power and steal some bases in the minors. He stalled out as a 4A player and never made it to the next level. He was able to play 61 major leagues but didn’t produce enough — .216-3-10 — to even get part-time status as a utility player.
Now take into consideration that he earned the major league base salary — roughly $200,000 — for those four years. That is roughly $175,000 more than he would have earned at AAA (the average is about $3,000 – $5,000 per month for a player of Riggs’ experience) it is easier to understand the “need” these players have.
But, does that make it right?
In theory, of course not. In practice, now that makes it a much tougher question. Of course, I want to answer that I would have been happy to “walk away” with my pride in tact. That sounds great and all the sports reporters will have you believe that this is what they’d have done. But come on, I’ve seen guys thrown under the bus for a COMPLIMENT what along $150,000 in cash.
Human nature is to “one-up” your competition — and you are going to do everything within your power to make this happen. If an environment is one that the rules become “guidelines” as opposed to the law, then you are creating an opportunity for the “hens to rule the roost”.
Hmm … does this sound like another industry right now?
The real estate and mortgage industry is the right answer. There was a lot of money to be made and during that period a lot of people — the government included — looked the other way and ignored the signs of the slowing market.
So what has all this taught us?
Take care of yourself, because when the going gets tough — others will start looking for scapegoats.
Very well said! Every one is looking for a scapegoat right now. Staying clean and honest are the rules for not becoming one.
Yeah it’s easy to see how they could get caught up, but it’s also easy to see the arrogance of someone like Clemens who always has a holier than thou attitude about things…this report shows no one was above scrutiny, not even the mighty Clemens. I was disappointed about Mike Stanton; but way beyond disappointed about Keith Hernandez yrs ago so…… the truth is, when lots of money and fame is at stake people will do things that make no sense to those of us with no money and fame
I’m sorry, I comment after 1am and I said Keith Hernandez when I meant Rafael Palmero. Rafie was one of my fav players. Keith too but he’s been gone a long time LOL Good night!
IndyAgent – Great way to put it. Challenge your morals once and you can pay for it.
Carole – I was an admirer of Clemens — I hated him, but had to respect him for going something like 1000-0 against the Indians. But the day he signed with the Yankees I lost all respect for him. Money is one thing — but this was more — it was a slap in the face to all of the Boston nation an the integrity of the game. Just like what is happening now with his attorney crying foul.
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