Its now four days after the report has come out, and all the talking heads have made their analysis about it. Most have focused their attention to the names that Mitchell reported, along with the canceled checks, orders for PED on team stationary and the like. I don't blame the media for zeroing in on the players, digging up names like Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens is huge, and casts a giant shadow over this generations perception of the game.
What ultimately will make this report a success or failure is MLB's willingness to implement the recommendations Mitchell made. The steps he laid down would give baseball a drug program that would rival the NFL and the Olympics, and would no longer be the joke of professional sports. But there remains a huge obstacle that would prevent baseball from making any progress, the Players Union. Donald Fehr has made it clear that baseball has a collective bargaining agreement in place until 2011, which both players and owners agreed upon, and he has no intention of violating or changing it. This reluctance to change will result in the continuing the current program, that allows players to be notified in advance, and give them ample opportunity to mask their results.
Personally, I think the Mitchell Report will result in nothing. A lot of talk, with very little practical implications for the MLB. Until the government steps in directly, and forces changes in the the policy, players will continue to cheat, and not get caught.
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