Those are good points with the medical technology especially the one about bionic or prosthetic limbs.  I always come back to this however.  But using medical technology under the care of a medical doctor (Tommy John surgery or the example of robotic limbs) is for the most part safe and accepted by society and our government.  Progress is progress, legitimate technology and fitness techniques are a different matter.  Back in the 50’s and 60’s it was said that lifting weights was detrimental to playing baseball.  Obviously – through time and fitness management that has been proven wrong., but as John Sterling would say: “That’s progress.”

Steroids are illegal and dangerous.  Everyone is  aware of the high profile deaths of athletes who were known steroid users.

If someone wants to enlighten me about anphetamines, I’m willing to listen, but I’m not sure if taking anphetamines is more dangerous than drinking 12 cups of coffee (something players used to do as well) or drinking several cans of Red Bull.  Yes, procuring anphetamines through pretense in a prescription is wrong, but I equate to the more potentially dangerous cocaine use of the 1980’s when Tim Raines testified that he would slide into second base and vials of cocaine would be falling out of his uniform.  Coffee, anphetamines, cocaine were all ways of “getting up” for a game when long road trips would take their toll.  Besides, I’m not sure if taking cocaine or anphetamines actually enhances performance.  Everyone acknowledges the unmistakable difference in Barry Bonds when he first came up and later on in his career.

Simply put, to me, steroids combine both illegality and artificial enhancement of performance.  Cocaine or anphetamines do not have both attributes.  While cocaine is illegal and anphetamines are potentially illegal – I do not perceive that they enhance performance.  I do concede that both are dangerous.  Cocaine in all respects, anphetamines if taken inconsistent with a doctor’s instructions.

Steroids are dangerous and enhance performance.  I’m convinced of that.  The Major Leagues needs blood testing to detect HGH.  If players find bad doctors to get around the testing, then they are taking the risk of being caught later when MLB can develop testing to catch up.  The “bad” doctors certainly take the risk as evidenced by the fact that the government is going after them without mercy.

There is also an element of fairness to this.  How is any of this fair to Griffey?  I’ve never heard Griffey being connected to steroids even a rumor.  He’s not in the Mitchell Report, he was not “outed” by any of the trainers.  Nothing.  It’s Griffey’s misfortune that he’s lumped in with Bonds and A-Rod even though he hit 600 HRs cleanly?

That’s at least how I distinguish it all.  Although I concede there’s nothing we should do about the record books.  Which is why I’m so adamant about the HOF.  This is where a statement can be made.  This is where “punishment” if you will can take place.