State of the Game: We've Been Cheating Ourselves

As more than a casual baseball fan, I feel that the recent A-Fraud accusations are leaving a bad taste that go back even further than 2003. Allow me to play devils advocate here and say that there is no drug that you can take that will allow you to hit the ball, or really even hit the ball further. Nothing can replace pure athletic talent, hand-eye coordination and good old fashioned hard work. As it has been stated by every reporter, baseball is all about stats and numbers. Maybe we are buying way too much into that. Baseball is a beautiful sport all into itself and maybe we are tainting the game by letting the numbers get into the way. I love the numbers as much as the next guy, but maybe, just maybe I am letting them cloud my vision a bit. If a guy bats a buck-and-a-half and goes to the World Series and wins, he won the World Series. If a guy hits 73 home runs and doesn't even make the playoffs, does he really win anything?
Let's face it, the numbers have been tainted by more than just steroids. The stolen base doesn't hold the same value as it did in the late 70's early 80's. That doesn't mean I value Lou Brock or Ricky Henderson any less. Hank Aaron's homerun record will always be special because he was doing something more important than breaking records, he was breaking barriers. To be honest, the 56 game hitting streak by Joe D. and Ripkens 2632 game streak are the only current stats that I can truly appreciate, and it's because they were streaks (not a common stat). The game has changed and I am fine with that, the game is not the same as it was even from when I was a kid and I can accept that. Players will always be looking for an edge and I can understand that. The only way for baseball and it's fans to truly win is to acknowledge the game for the beauty that it is and not for the stats that people put up. Stop comparing the modern games stats with the stats of the last era and you will truly appreciate what the game brings.

Update: A-Rod has admitted the steroid use over a three year period. Based on his apology it will probably end the conversation in a couple of weeks like it did for Giambi and Pettitte. I bet that Clemens wished he would have gone a different route at this point. In 2003, 104 players tested positive during baseball's survey testing, which wasn't subject to discipline. That averages out to over 3 people per team. To say that the games stats had been compromised would be an understatement. More importantly, just think of the players who would not have even made the big leagues without that little edge.
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