Why Torre And Jeter Are Part Of The Steroids Problem

So Torre was cornered by the media and refused to comment on Roger Clemens, saying in effect "You're not going to get me in that jackpot." As my friend who first saw the quote said, "What else could he say?" Uh, actually, a lot.

Torre and Jeter and all the presumably clean players are the biggest part of the problem right now, as I see it. Cheats like Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens and Gary Sheffield know that their teammates will "man up" and get their back and defend them to the hilt, no matter how overwhelming the evidence against them may be. Heck, even Barry Bonds is welcome at ballclubs by the players. So why should the third of pro players who cheat worry about getting caught? They know their teammates want them to cheat, just don't care or maybe care a little but will darn well not ever get caught saying anything bad about them.

Why couldn't Torre say, "Hey, I worked with Roger Clemens. I like him and I respect him and want to take him at his word. I would be very disappointed if he was cheating. I think cheating is wrong and I don't want any player on any team I'm managing to think otherwise. If you want to stop cheating, I'll help you. If your'e caught, I want you gone. I don't think players should break the law and risk their health just to win a ballgame. Cheating definitely taints the championships we won with the Yankees and the sooner players realize they're cheating themselves and stop once and for all, the better we'll be."

Torre is a million miles away from saying that and so is Jeter. As long as they provide cover for the cheats, the game will never clean up.