After Bud Selig decreed any player named in the Mitchell Report wasn't going to be sent to the corner for their (alleged) transgressions, it should only follow suit that members of management named in the report weren't going to get a slap on the wrist either.Our assumptions have been confirmed.
As part of Selig's announcement April 11 that players wouldn't be disciplined, management and the players' association agreed that players will join Major League Baseball in "efforts designed to educate youth and their parents regarding the dangers of performance-enhancing substances." The union also agreed to contribute $200,000 to "an anti-drug, charitable, educational or research organization."
"I don't use the word amnesty. I don't think there is amnesty because I think that whatever they're doing, they're doing something as a result of what they did. And the club officials and the clubs will be treated in exactly the same manner," Selig said. "That would be unfair if they weren't."
Asked as a follow-up whether that meant management officials wouldn't be suspended of fined, Selig responded: "They're going to be treated the same way."
To be honest, I sort of agree with Selig here. The names are out; the players and management named within have already received a considerable amount of scorn. That's probably punishment enough. Sure, suspensions could be levied, but how would that all work fairly? Because individuals were named for different degrees of involvement, things could get a bit messy on how it would all shake down. Better to look to the future on this than the past.
In any event, I look forward to MLB educating our youth about steroids, don't you?
