For Once, MLBPA Hurts Its Players

As our Chris Jacobs rightly told us yesterday, Alex Rodriguez' positive test for PED's in the 2003 survey testing was supposed to be secret-conducted only for the sake of 'information.' The Major League Baseball Players' Association, the strongest supposed 'union' this side of the Teamsters, allowed its arrogance to get in the way of common sense. While A-Rod is to blame for his own actions, if I'm a team union rep, Don Fehr and Gene Orza would be looking for jobs post haste.

Remember, steroids didn't become a no no until 1991. It then took the MLBPA 12 years to agree to the 2003 cursory testing. The plan: If more than 5% of the players tested positive, then full blown testing would begin. 104 did. The Union was given the opportunity to take full possession of the tests results. They didn't, because Fehr and Co. wanted to argue about the percentages of positive tests. THAT's how rigid this 'union' of millionaires was to being tested. But pride led to a fall in this case. By delaying the decision to accept that more than 5% of the players were dirty, the MLBPA never destroyed the results. When the Feds investigating the 'Balco 10' needed some evidence, guess what? They asked that they be given access to the 2003 survey tests. Result? Yesrs later, somebody linked A-Rod's name, knowing that journalists like Selena Roberts would be waiting.

So:

1. The MLBPA has no control here. The Feds can release/leak the remaining 103 names at their whim.

2. Legal problems could abound. The union sure ain't happy A-Rod, A- Fraud, Adulte-Rod's( or whatever you wanna call him) name was released. It would be a PR nightmare, but Rodriguez or other names made public could decide to say, "Hey, our legal rights were violated."

It's GREAT to see the Union get some of their own medicine. I'm a strong supporter of unions, but the pendulum has swung too far. The fact that the current commissioner is a puppet for the owners doesn't help. All of MLB needs new leadership, from the commish to the union reps-needs to change ASAP-especially if its ever proven that Orza tipped players off about drug tests.

Final Note: Happy Birthday to Aliya in Seaford. Ali, YOU ARE the world's best 7 year old! :)