What punishment should Bonds get?

[acsguitar]

How about a deal? All of Barry's accomplishments will be left standing and unchallenged. In return, Barry retires from the game and never takes another at bat.

He keeps the records he has but doesn't get to break any more. That keeps MLB from having to re-examine the past and dig up old dirt while at the same time ensuring that the game isn't compromised again.

I think his records are more important to him then anything else...so lets get rid of the records.

[Tavish]

Where's the option for nothing? Fix the drug testing policy.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Where's the option for nothing? Fix the drug testing policy.

[Bukoski77]

Where's the option for nothing? Fix the drug testing policy.

I agree 100%. I think if they want to get away with it now, they should have to go through the pain of pumping clean urine into their systems with a catheder, like NFL players do.

Baseball made the mess their in now. Let them lie in their bed.

[ajgnydc722]

Where's the option for nothing? Fix the drug testing policy.

I agree 100%. I think if they want to get away with it now, they should have to go through the pain of pumping clean urine into their systems with a catheder, like NFL players do.

Baseball made the mess their in now. Let them lie in their bed.

I'd agree with you if history wasn't at stake. Knowing now that Bonds cheated, I can't sit back and let them have every record in the book. If Bonds was like Giambi, I'd agree because he's not threatening major historic records.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Where's the option for nothing? Fix the drug testing policy.

I agree 100%. I think if they want to get away with it now, they should have to go through the pain of pumping clean urine into their systems with a catheder, like NFL players do.

Baseball made the mess their in now. Let them lie in their bed.

I'd agree with you if history wasn't at stake. Knowing now that Bonds cheated, I can't sit back and let them have every record in the book. If Bonds was like Giambi, I'd agree because he's not threatening major historic records.

I see what you're saying, but IMO you can't have a double standard like that. Either you let them all stand or none of them.

[giants8307]

Let the stats stand, and don't suspend him. Under baseball rules, everyone in baseball could have used steroids in 2001 if they had chosen to. They didn't(wisely). I'm more angry at baseball for not having stricter drug policies than bonds or giambi.

[Tavish]

I'd agree with you if history wasn't at stake. Knowing now that Bonds cheated, I can't sit back and let them have every record in the book. If Bonds was like Giambi, I'd agree because he's not threatening major historic records.

Baseball's record books are filled with cheaters though. And those are only the ones we know about. If Bonds had played in the 1930's things like this would have simply been swept under the table by the media as they did their best to protect the heroic image of the players and the wholesome appearance of the game.

[LCBOY]

The game of Baseball will survive this. Remember Baseball has survived the following:

1) World War I
3) The "Black" Sox scandal
2) The Great Depression (the game was almost shut down)
3) World War II
4) The 1980s drug use (remember Vida Blue, Keith Hernandez, Steve Howe, etc)

The steriod issue is no different. Baseball can redeem itself if it adopts the most stringent drug policy in pro sports. Whether it actually will do this I don't know.

[LBJackal]

Hey guys, should they throw the book at 'em or what?

During the HR binge, 1998-2001, there were no specific baseball rules banning the use of steriods. So should he be punished for NOT breaking any rules? His legacy has already been tainted. He will not join the pantheon of legends (Ruth, Wagner, Mays, Mantle, Aaron, etc.)

This is what I've been saying.... he didn't break any rules. I don't think steroids were banned until 2003 or 2004. The evidence they have is for 2002 or before then, isn't it?

So a punishment for Bonds, I say nothing because he didn't berak any rules that I know of. But what should the suspension be for steroid use? An automatic 1 year ban IMO. No appeals, no 30 game suspension, just flat out 1 year. Second offense - lifetime ban. This isn't retroactive, so just because guys like Sheff and Bonds have admitted to using roids in 2002 doesn't make them guilty of anything except lying.