Ugh.  Ugh ugh ugh.  Eckstein?  Ugh.  Sad to say he might be an offensive upgrade over what we got (though a defensive downgrade) but the way they're talking about him as our de facto lead-off guy... ugh.  How bright my hopes were last year at this time, when we signed the Big Hurt and were courting Gil Meche.  Now I get fobbed off with Eckstein?

On the Mitchell report -- nice that Troy Glaus was talked about a while ago, so no one cares now, but having Gregg Zaun named was a bit of a blow.  He's always been one of the Jays' most likable guys, and was also starting a fledgling broadcasting career with Rogers Broadcasting (the Jays' owners) that this might damage.  Far as I can tell the evidence linking Zaun is more-than-typically tenuous, but even so.

Beyond that: I don't know.  I think every team in baseball would like to bury its head in the sand right about now.  Nice that that smug asshole Clemens got dinged in detail, but how about Pettite?

I enjoyed McGwire's exploits.  Really, I did.  Ruined, though because I found out he was cheating.

There's no hypocrisy in this.  If, after the fact, we had found out his bat was corked, it would be no different.  I understand that steroids weren't always a banned substance - but anyone who knowingly used a banned substance was cheating.

Anyone disagree with how Marion Jones was treated?  Anyone?  Enjoy her performances?  Stripped her of her medals and banned her.  Sounds like a modest, reasonable approach.

Who do you really think is the all time home run champ in your heart of hearts?   Who's the single season champ?  My answers are Aaron and Maris.

If the evidence plays out like we all expect, shouldn't Clemens be stripped of a few Cy's?  Schilling and others say so.  You won't find me disagreeing.

With Pettite coming a little bit clean, it confirms part of the story told by Macnamee (sp?), which adds credence to the case against Clemens.

I just don't get the idea that because there were many cheaters, that somehow this mitigates the crime.  I just don't get the idea that somehow the righteous indignation these players are receiving should be seen as "self-righteous".    Cheating is cheating.

But for some reason, criticizing the cheating doesn't sit well with a surprisingly large group of people.   People wrote about how going after Bonds was partly a matter of race!  This was so obviously not true, given how McGwire has been treated.  And even more obviously not true given how Clemens is being treated.

Really the only issue good for a discussion is the absence of Red Sox players.....

Now a question - I don't pretend to now what Human Growth Hormone is.  I don't know why it's a banned substance.  Apparently it can help you heal an injury faster.  That, on it's own seems a good thing.  Anyone care to shed some light?

After the Chris Benoit murder-suicide, I could never consider watching wrestiling again.  I don't know if it's steroids or someting else, but there's something explotive about an industry where most of the stars of 10 (even 5!) years ago are dead today.

There are legitimate and illegitimate uses for HGH as with anything else.  Part of the problem with HGH may be an "ick" factor. 

I think the issue with McGwire that some advance is that we "should" have known he was on something but chose instead to look the other way.  I don't think I buy into that.