In all reality it's probably not good that Major League Baseball (MLB) players were taking performance enhancing drugs (and sometimes still do). It was clearly a form of cheating. On the other hand, it's likely that MLB itself knew or at least suspected that many of the players were on something due to the changes in appearance of the players, and the amount of home runs being hit in games. It was reported that Barry Bonds feet grew at least 2 sizes in the late 1990s, and that his hat size also went up. Only Human Growth Hormones are known to do these sorts of things. Bonds seemingly doubled in mass from 1995 to 2000. MLB knew there was something going on. Speculation was rampant by the time Bonds broke Hank Aarons home run record in 2007.
As a fan of Baseball, I was kind of let down. This appears to be something that was preventable. I wasn't particularly fond of any of the players or teams involved in the drug use (that I know of), but I can imagine if I was. I know if I idolized Barry Bonds or Jason Giambi growing up, that I would be disappointed in them now. Moreover, I would be disappointed in MLB. I am disappointed in MLB, because they've done absolutely nothing to defend these players or take any of the blame. They left the players with tarnished reputations while trying to "save baseball". These players didn't do the right thing, but they technically didn't cheat. There was a gray area for at least 15-20 years where anything went. Players pushed each other competitively in a MLB system that was relatively unchecked. MLB could step in and take more of the blame. I also feel that all the home run records that were set during the "steroid" era of baseball should stand, without asterisks. Everyone will always know the players probably took steroids, and it will be a black eye on the sport. The sport deserves a black eye for letting the players do what they did to themselves and the fans.
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