MLB.com Propaganda

Almost two months and no posts. There's been a lot to comment about, Obama, recession, "stimulus" plans, etc. We've been dropping the ball. Unfortunately, this post isn't nearly that deep.

Anyway, I came across this article on mlb.com. It seems in this market, everyone is watching their ass. At least this writer knows where his check comes from. If this doesn't read like a press release from Major League Baseball, I don't know what does.

"Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig expressed sadness and anger while repudiating Rodriguez's past choices and once again detailed the significant steps MLB has taken to eradicate the problem. "

Had anyone ever heard the word 'repudiating' until John McCain started running for president? However, to explain this detail, notice the author does not use quotes, merely paragraphs of facts.

"The statement outlined several steps MLB has taken to fight drug use. Under Selig's watch, the use of performance-enhancing substances has decreased from more than 9 percent to lower than 1 percent; he successfully negotiated getting a testing program added to the Basic Agreement in 2002, and with the mandatory random testing penalties that began in 2004, MLB now has "the toughest program in professional sports with the stiffest penalties.""

The only quotes I see are on the last line. Not a big deal, I suppose, but I hadn't heard these statistics anywhere else. The latest numbers are public record. It would be possible to determine the number of players suspended for PEDs since 2005. But how would someone without access know that 9 percent used when Selig started in ... well I don't know when. 1992 or 1998.

"MLB's testing program, which is conducted at the WADA-certified laboratory in Montreal, is unannounced, random and year-round and uses the most modern technology. In addition to two mandatory tests during the season, every player is subject to additional year-round, random testing. There is no limit to how many times a player can be tested. And in 2006, MLB expanded the program and began to randomly test for amphetamines, thus attacking a problem that had existed in baseball for decades. "

Again, no quotes in the article. Just propaganda. Read the rest, it is truly ridiculous. The comments by Selig are again ambiguous and toothless.

Selig is 74. He graduated from college more than 40 years before ameeks did. If anyone knows how Selig made enough money to become the largest public stockholder of the Milwaukee Braves, I'd like to know. Also, what happened to public stockholders... maybe another blog topic?!?