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The Mitchell Report - An Unenforceable, Misguided 500 page paperweight

25
Vote

by FatMan

That's right, the Mitchell report is bunk. But it names names. People will like that. But let's summarize what it accomplishes:

1) Names a few dozen players and fingers them as cheaters with evidence. The court of public opinion will now make these folks the face of cheating in MLB

2) Focuses on a small segment of teams touched by the limited number of snitches, trainers, associates who talked.

3) Provides a Mitchell Defense for a vast majority of players. When an Ivan Rodriguez is questioned about steroid use, he can now say, "I'm clean. Mitchell didn't name me." We may know that's crap, but think of all the idiots out there who aren't so astute. they'll lap it up like ice cream on a Summer day.

4) Gives Bud Selig a tidy little package of people to blame things on.

Let's face it - Mitchell compiled a 500 page dossier of illicit steroid use in baseball. But because it has no enforceable actions, nor does it lay out specific follow-up, nor does it implicate even a surface of the players who are dirty, one has to wonder - why name names at all?? A buffoon like Selig will crucify the cheats - a move I don't disagree with - they cheated let them suffer the consequences, but countless others will avoid suspicion until the next guy comes around with snitches from other teams and is ready to compile a similar report.

I don't see that guy coming around anytime soon.

Thanks for an irresponsible, slanted and unenforceable stack of wasted lumber, Mr. Mitchell....


Enable Comment Auto-Refresher
Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
719 days ago
Score 4+-
You already read a 500 page document? Shit, my copy is still being printed....
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 2+-
It's only 409 pages double spaced and it's very sparse - about a third of the pics are checks and Fed Ex slips... I've written more dense articles here on Armchair.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
It is pretty thin when you factor in they located ONE distributor. I do think that it pins some blame on Selig. It doesn't give Selig a free pass.
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JamelAll-American
719 days ago
Score 6+-
this will make zero change in the league- useless- as useless as barronandroc
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Hmmmm, if baseball is declared a "hobby" instead of a "sport", would it be permissible to juice away?
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score -4+-
Here's the problem. Mitchell will say, "Hey, I just compile evidence. I don't recommend the prosecution of these guys. I just wat to show baseball has issues at all layers."

And Bud will say, "Let's go after the cheats. Play Ball!" and turn a blind eye.

Convenient that Brewers and Red Sox are few and far in-between among those named.
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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 2+-
Fernando Vina? Ron Villone? Gary Bennett? Josias Manzanillo? Four former Brewers right there, not including one that was in the Brewers minor league system when he was receiving shipments.
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Bobbyjim45Draft Pick
719 days ago
Score 1+-
Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens... high profile ex-Sox. I think every team had there fair share (and then some in Baltimore's case).
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RomiezzoLegend
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Let's not forget the late great Eric Gagne... who just happens to be a former Red Sox player who JUST signed with the Brewers. There's 2 in 1.
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Phoenix SuperfanVarsity
719 days ago
Score 0+-
The most annoying part is the way that ESPN is acting like this is some ground breaking shit or something. I bet Selig is paying them off.
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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 1+-
I'll give you unenforceable, but misguided? I don't think there's any question there was a clear necessity for something like this to happen. Reporting on hearsay happens everyday. The fact that ESPN is criticizing its hearsay is clearly an act of hypocrisy when they, just last week, ran a live blog reporting every single trade rumor some "reliable" source had spilled. Kirk Radomski, having been indicted on charges of steroid distribution, is a pretty reliable source when it comes to finding out to whom he distributed said drugs in comparison to the sources the network used to obtain trade rumors.
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 0+-
But even in Mitchell's own words, this isn't supposed to be about prosecuting those who purchased steroids - it is only to show it is widespread across all layers. You can do that without naming specific players, especially when the report was undertaken knowing that it would not be a comprehensive look at every team or offender.
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Anonymous Fanatic #1
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Sure hearsay happens everyday. But it usually isn't delivered by a respected former US Senator (and prosecutor) in a heavily televised news conference. Tends to give it more weight with the public (justified or not) than some idle speculation by Bob Klapisch or Tim Kurkjian.
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Anonymous Fanatic #1
719 days ago
Score 0+-
And to add it differs on two levels, reporting on trade speculation (what someone might do : not really frowned upon, essentially working for a new employer) isn't quite the same as publicly accusing someone of a using steroids/HGH (saying someone *did* something without the evidence a court of law may require : an act that many might frown on, a person broke the law and used drugs ).
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 0+-
The only necessity for this report to happen is so baseball can protect the anti-trust exemption - a major key to their financial well being. If they serially ignore the issue of steroids, then Congress and the Department of Justice could step in. Knowing that, I don't see how naming names is in any way, shape or form necessary, other than to show credence.
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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 1+-
Do you think there was any way to write the report and prove there was widespread use without naming examples of said widespread use. I mean, at least one player from every team was linked to just one supplier. I'd say that demonstrates it pretty effectively.
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
How is it George Mitchell's responsibility to engage in any form of reinforcement? The assignment was investigate steroid/PED abuse in baseball. Everyone knows who/how this appointment was initiated. Why the outrage now? What were YOU expecting - George Mitchell to knock down doors a la Vic Mackey and shoot all culprits in the skull?
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 1+-
I am not outraged. I feel that by naming names, Mitchell has compromised the careers of the caught, while providing an "out" for those not named. They can simply claim that they weren't named so they are clean, and a whole lot of people in this country will believe that. Mitchell made a situation worse for those who cheated and were caught BY THESE SPECIFIC INTERVIEWEES, and made things a whole lot better for those ot named because you can bet Bud will focus on the named and not the unnamed.
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
719 days ago
Score 1+-
Careers of cheating ball players? My heart bleeds. A few got nailed now. Just watch as others get ratted out later.
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 1+-
Life isn't fair and cheaters that are caught have no defense. However when MLB will make these guys out to be Public enemy #1 and will go to great lengths to discredit them, all the while much larger cheaters are still running rampant, it will be then that this pointless exercise will become nothing more than a glofied witch hunt. Selig said ten minutes ago that the players may be disciplined on a case-by-case basis, a point that Mitchell vehementky did not want to have happen.
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Make no mistake, I'm by all means not defending Bud Selig. I just refuse to shed any tears over any player named in this report.
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JamelAll-American
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Woooooooooowwwwwwwww wait here a second-- so I admit to shooting up smack awhile ago and you guys were all over me but in this case the players who took 'roids are being treated unfairly and we should sympathize for them?????????
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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
I don't think anyone is saying that.
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DRE-LOAAA-er
719 days ago
Score 1+-
I'm sorry, but Bud Selig is a total and complete hypocrite. He KNEW all along about the ever-growing frequency of players taking steroids and instead of blowing the whistle, he KNOWINGLY let this problem continue to perpetuate until it completely got out of conrtol. Now he gets allowed to sit back and punish the players like HE'S the fricking VICTIM in all this? PLEASE!!! If these players are going to be punished, let them be punished by another commissioner. Bud Selig should resign if he has a shred of dignity left.
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ApriscoWaterboy
719 days ago
Score -4+-
What a joke. This was totally done to placate congress a tarnish Roger Clemens for all of Boston (and about 18 other Yankees). They should not have put the names in the report if it was not going to affect all teams somewhat equally.
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Kwitt11Varsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 1+-
This doesn't affect any teams at all. Nobody's getting suspended as a result of this, and all this happened relatively long in the past (3-4 years at least). This doesn't make the Yankees any better or worse next year.
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KelsdadAll-Star
719 days ago
Score 1+-
The people Mitchell interviewed were employees of the teams...Yankees strength coach, Mets clubhouse attendant, Red Sox clubhouse attendant..thus more names. If Mitchell had interviewed the Mariners clubby then more players with Mariners ties would be on the list. No indication of favoritism at all in the report.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 1+-
The Red Sox orchestrated this whole thing. We wanted to get rid of guys like Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffield, Roger Clemens, Mike Stanton, Chuck Knoblauch, and Jason Grimsley. Because these are the core guys for the Yankees.

Wait, what? These guys aren't even on the team? Oh. If this were done "for Boston" wouldn't A-Rod get implicated? Or Wang? Or Rivera?

I think it's funny that an impartial former Senator conducts a massive study into steroids in baseball, and this guy thinks it was all to tarnish poor Roger Clemens.
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Taytay 24All-American
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Kelsdad, an article I saw said that GMs, coaches, clubhouse attendants or other representatives from each team were interviewed.
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Kwitt11Varsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 1+-
Yeah, but that doesn't mean they all said something worth printing...
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Taytay 24All-American
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Kelsdad has implied that if more team reps were interviewed, then more teams would have numerous players named. I'm simply pointing out that each team did have at least one person interviewed. If there aren't many Mariners mentioned (or any other team with only one or two players named), it isn't because the M's weren't interviewed.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Without names, the study isn't believable. Anyone can throw out figures like "5% of baseball is definately juicing." But when you say "5% is juicing, here is a long list of examples, and here's the proof that they're juicing" that's much more convincing.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
5% are juicing with the help of one guy in New York. What about all the other distributors?
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KelsdadAll-Star
719 days ago
Score 0+-
How many players have played ML since 1988 or 1989? And there's 60-80 on the list? and 90% of that total are bums?

And that's everyone who took them?

Right.
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DRE-LOAAA-er
719 days ago
Score 0+-
These people must seriously think we're on speed sometimes.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 2+-
Hey Fatman, Paperweights aren't usually made of paper.
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ApriscoWaterboy
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Didn't David Ortiz admit he possibly took something illegal while growing up in the dr? Yet, George Mitchell didn't investigate and do a whole log of David Ortiz' workout history for the past 5 years.....interesting
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
It's a Boston led conspiracy, from the same people who brought you the Patriot conspiracy.
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 1+-
LOL. Excellent point.
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Newgroom422Waterboy
719 days ago
Score 2+-
where is brian giles? Bret Boone? there are some obvious names missing from his investigation. These were only the people he can catch. There are probably hundreds more.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 1+-
I don't think the investigation was intended to expose EVERYONE who took steroids. Some people either covered their tracks well, or weren't ratted out. And then there's the Red Sox, who are protected by a vast conspiracy.
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JuTMSY4Legend
719 days ago
Score 0+-
at least you admit it ; - )
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JuTMSY4Legend
719 days ago
Score 1+-
on that note I find it utterly ludicrous that Dykstra i named

not because i don't think he took steroids (or whatever), but because they make it seem like he was the only one...half that facking roster was and I'm fairly confident...

I forget where schilling was ; - )
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IbeargRed-Shirting
719 days ago
Score 1+-
i'm not saying this is the case, but... it wouldn't take a vast conspiracy to cover the red sox tracks, just one guy, ya know the one leading the investigation... who works for the sox. Did he conduct it impartially? probably, but it would be very easy to claim there was a conflict of interest assuming he will be back with the red sox in the future.
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ApriscoWaterboy
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Soon to be a celtics conspiracy as well, who are you guys paying off up there? In all seriousness though, if the list wasn't going to be comprehsive then what's the point, to tarnish the reputation of some players but not others? That seem's unfair, god, I cannot believe I'm somehow supporting Clemens here...I never liked him.
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KelsdadAll-Star
719 days ago
Score 1+-
Not only did Dykstra take steriods, he admitted it.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
How is it unfair for a cheater to be exposed? Not everyone who commits a felony is caught and proven guilty, but those who are wind up in jail.
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TrizzAll-American
719 days ago
Score 0+-
Orioles To Astros: To Takebacks lol
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Desert WahooJV Squad
719 days ago
Score 0+-
I've thought about this report for most of the day, and in my opinion this was a sham. Without the power to subpoena the players to make them talk and the union completely against this probe how could Sen. Mitchell really get a good bead on what is going on. Seriously most of the report was put together due to the FBI busting Grimsley and that Radmonovich(sp)guy. Another big part of the report was used to reprint the book "Game of Shadows". I'm not really feeling this is going to change the game in any drastic way.
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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
By itself, the Mitchell Report won't change a thing. But it could be part of the process of cleaning up the game, or at least appearing to clean up the game. Time will tell.
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FrugolfVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 0+-
The only ones that can claim they are clean by not being in the report are Yankees.With 20 Yankees past & present in the report he obviously would have got them if they were using.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 1+-
No one can claim anything. Hell, even some of the guys ON the list can still be completely innocent. Hearsay is NOT a conviction and lack of hearsay is not a free pass.
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FatManVarsity Captain
719 days ago
Score 0+-
From my understanding, the report wasn't meant to uncover all cheats, just show that baseball is permeated by illegal steroid use at all levels, from trainers to players to coaching to management, whether people are directly taking the substances or allowing it to happen. That being the case, the only reason to name names is to lend credence to the report. However, a man like Mitchell had to realize that publishing something like this with specific names would be the focal point for the public to latch onto - we don't grab on the subtleties. Thus, the named players become the ones who will be known for being behind the downfall. That's simply unfair - not to those players, but to the long-term aspects.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
719 days ago
Score 0+-
They are all patsies for 1) the guys who paid cash, 2) the rest of the league and 3) and most laughably - for Bud Selig to make a "call to action".
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ASwaffAll-American
719 days ago
Score 0+-
I think the worst part of this is, ONLY the names will be reported, and the nature of the allegations and the nature of the alleged use will not be reported. At least not widely. Yesterday, I heard people say over and over that Pettitte was named. Only today did I read, in the last two paragraphs of a story that was mostly about Clemens' defense, that Pettitte supposedly only took steroids once when he was rehabbing his elbow because he wanted to get back quickly and help his team. Illegal or not, against the rules or not, the crucial fact that he only took it once to rehab (NOT to improve performance) will not get reported. And that's the problem with naming names.
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ASwaffAll-American
719 days ago
Score 0+-
I also have to say, I find it very curious that a guy who works for the Boston Red Sox conducted an investigation that names no current Red Sox but is hefty on naming Yankees. Very curious. Also very curious that they only found evidence of Clemens doing steroids after he left Boston.
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JamelAll-American
719 days ago
Score -1+-
Dude man- there is no conspiracy- chill out-- this was done because it had to be done-- it was done to supposedly keep the "fans" happy- the public- that is why it was released-- he also had to name names so people wouldn't say there was a "cover-up by MLB"-- lastly- in a week we will forget all about this useless report and life will go on by all

Chill....

And FACK Clemens-
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ASwaffAll-American
718 days ago
Score 1+-
I don't buy that. I don't think people would have claimed a cover-up of MLB anyway. They didn't HAVE to name names, the same way that the NBA and the NFL didn't name names when they did their investigations into allegations of rampant drug use (steroids in football and cocaine in basketball). They didn't have to name names, and although I'm not claiming they did JUST to make headlines, it was irresponsible of them not to take into account the fact that media outlets would pick up on names only and not report the details. Also that it's not easy to clear your name when it's your word against another person, and people are already predisposed to distrust players who DON'T have the weight of the Mitchell Report behind them. Naming names wasn't malicious, but I believe it was irresponsible.
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FatManVarsity Captain
718 days ago
Score 0+-
ASwaff - I agree completely. It is above anything else - irresponsible. And it also gives an incompetent Commissioner an out by serving him up a tidy package of players upon whom to blame for the entire thing.

If all mitchell wanted to prove was that baseball has rampant steroid use and complicit knowledge of PED's, all he needed to do was use generalizations on who players were. "Perennial All-star", "Scrub journeyman",etc.

Now, players are outed, and those not named are oddly protected, because it will still be some time before new drug testing protocols are implemented and there sure isn't going to be another Mitchell Report coming anytime soon.
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