I read today that the players are showing some flexibility in their demands by agreeing to mandatory drug testing starting next year?? It seems like they are basically admitting that enough people are using for it to be significant. I don't understand how they can make these demands, now it might mean no world series? I don't think I'll be watching anymore this year.

[quote]Originally posted by DC_guy:
...I don't understand how they can make these demands, now it might mean no world series?

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Which demands? Are they supposed to sit back and allow the owners to implement a one-sided set of rules in November, out of trust in management's loving hearts and marketing savvy, both so spectacularly displayed over the last century?

I mean, I can understand being more rigid about salaries and the luxury tax to the teams, but the drug testing should be an open and shut case. In my government job, I have to disclose all my finances, take a drug test, and polygraphs. I have nothing to hide, so I don't mind doing it.

While my allegiance generally lies with the players on issues related to salaries, and paying them what the market will bear, I think their proposal on steroids and performance-enhancing drugs falls way short of the mark. The player proposal seems to call for two years of testing simply for purposes of gathering data. It does not acknowledge that testing must be random and unannounced to circumvent cheating, and it calls for an "acceptable" level of drug use of 5%, which would call for now further action. There also is no provision for disciplinary action in the the player proposal. I think some more give by the players is needed on this particular issue.