Steroids issue overshadowing start of spring training

Spring training has finally started, but instead of the usual questions being asked, such as "who's coming in out of shape?" and "when will Pedro arrive?" people are asking "who's on the juice?" The steroid talk is all over the place this spring, so much so that people might think they're watching President Bush's State of the Union speech instead of baseball.

The investigation of Barry Bonds' trainer is what started the steroid talk all over again. Current players are starting to become more frank about the issue. Just listen to this gem from former San Francisco Giants reliever Turk Wendell:

"I mean, what, because he's Barry Bonds, no one's going to say [he's on steroids]?... I mean, obviously he did it. [His trainer] admitted to giving steroids to baseball players. He just doesn't want to say his name. You don't have to. It's clear just seeing his body."

Those 73 home-runs are starting to look a lot less impressive, especially given the fact that the San Francisco Chronicle reported recently that steroids had been given (though there was no proof they were ingested) to Bonds and the New York Yankees' Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi. Not that this is all really surprising, it's just sad that it has had to come to this.

The steroid testing system currently in place is an absolute joke. The first time players get caught they have to go to counseling. It's not until the fifth time using steroids that a player will be suspended for a year if caught.

It's about time the Players Association stepped to the plate (pardon the pun) and took responsibility for the situation. A union is supposed to care for the health of its employees. Not only that, the system in place now just punishes the players who are honest. Instead of advocating a new testing program, the union is hiding behind right-to-privacy arguments. They should be more worried about the privacy of players under the current system because accusations are flying everywhere.

Until changes occur, instead of examining things like whether Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer will be the next Johnny Bench, we'll be talking about the size of Barry Bonds' head, and that's a shame.

Meanwhile, this is the first Inside the MLB to appear since the monumental Alex Rodriguez trade, which demands some attention. Of course it was a big trade -- anytime one of the top players in the game gets traded to New York it's huge. But let's not anoint the Yankees quite yet.

Before the trade was made, the balance of power in the AL East was nearly split between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and whichever team stayed healthy over the course of the season was probably going to win. After the trade, one would have to give a very slight edge to the Yankees, but it's still going to come down to whichever team stays healthy.

ARod is a phenomenal player, but his value is lessened somewhat by his move from shortstop to third base. (As an aside, wasn't Jeter supposed to be the ultimate team player? If he is, then why wouldn't he give up his position to Rodriguez, who is a vastly superior shortstop?). In addition, let's not forget the Yankees are giving up a solid hitter in Alfonso Soriano.

ESPN's Rob Neyer looked at the home and road numbers from Soriano and Rodriguez and they show some surprising results. Rodriguez clearly benefited from playing in Arlington, Texas, a notorious hitter's park. Rodriguez had a 1.082 OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) at home and a .939 OPS on the road. Soriano, on the other hand, played in a fairly neutral park, and he posted a .771 OPS at home and a .889 OPS on the road. That's not to say the Yankees didn't make a great trade, but there's no reason for Red Sox fans to jump off a bridge.

So let's just all sit back, appreciate the start of spring, and enjoy seeing what it's like to have Greg Maddux pitch for the Chicago Cubs, what happens when Pedro goes against the Yankees, and everything else that's wonderful about baseball.

P.S. doesn't Brett Boone just have to be on 'roids?