Is anyone really surprised?

[madbaker]

So Jason Giambi admitted steroid and HGH use under oath.

Both Giambis, Gary Sheffield, Sammy Sosa, and - of course - the guy who introduced them all to his trainer, Barry Bonds. Not to mention all the others making up the 7% who failed the test last season.

"Oh, but steroids don’t make you able to hit the ball better."
Actually, one of the more recent ones improves your eyesight. But even ignoring that: your basic steroid or human growth hormone gives you more muscle. More power. Which turns a deep fly ball into a home run. I call that hitting the ball better, guys.

If Bud Selig actually wanted to do something before the sport is destroyed, he'd invoke the "best interests of baseball" clause. Institute a mandatory battery of tests in spring training, with multiple random tests throughout the entire year (not just the season). Mandatory supplemental tests for everyone voted to the All-Star Game.

First offense: banned for a full year (not a season) with no pay. Second offense: banned for life. If the owners fire him, go on the P.R. offense. "I'm trying to clean up the sport. What are you trying to hide?"

Unfortunately, the players' union has taken a head-in-the-sand stance against testing. And steroids shrink the body parts needed to stand up to them...

Edited to add: the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency calls baseball's testing policy "at best illusory and designed to be ineffective."