Steroids have done little to tarnish Series outcomes, By: Rick Hummel

04/16/2006, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Baseball fans, more than those of the other major sports, are consumed by the past and the various records that have been set.

There's 755 (homers) for Henry Aaron. And 73 (homers in one season) for Barry Bonds. And 56 (consecutive-game hitting streak) for Joe DiMaggio. Every fan worth his sauerkraut knows them.

But who can tell you how many yards Emmitt Smith, the National Football League's leading rusher, gained for his career (18,355)? Or how many points Wilt Chamberlain scored when he averaged more than 50 a game one year (4,029). Or how many goals Wayne Gretzky had (894)?

All this is a prelude to the raging argument as to how to view records that have been established during the steroids era, which Commissioner Bud Selig seems convinced has ended. Should there be asterisks? Should the records be expunged? Should nothing be done?

While that debate takes place, though, consider that the accomplishments of any of the stars publicly or more privately associated with the steroids era almost never has led to the ultimate baseball goal, a world championship.

Let's say the steroids era started 15 years ago. Since then, Bonds has made it to only one World Series, which the San Franciso Giants lost to Anaheim in 2002. Jason Giambi has been in one World Series, which the New York Yankees lost to Florida in 2003.

Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa never made it to a World Series and Mark McGwire wasn't on a World Series winner other than in 1989 in Oakland when no one suspected him of anything.

Whistle-blower Jose Canseco was in only one World Series in this 15-year span and that was as a backup who had one at-bat in the Yankees' World Series triumph in 2000. Only Gary Sheffield, among the prominent names, helped lead a team to a World Series title in this span, when Florida won in 1997.

The point of this is that some individual records have been flawed forever in the minds of fans and media. But the steroids era has had little impact on who the best team was every year.

NEWS ITEM: The New York Mets started 7-1 and took a four-game lead in the NL Eastern Division, their largest since they last won the division in 1988. They trailed in only two innings during that time and they are already getting a little full of themselves.

Third baseman David Wright said, "We have a certain swagger to us. We just have an attitude about it right now that we don't think we're going to lose. Last year, we had teams on the ropes and let them back in the ballgame. This year, we smell blood, we go for the kill."

HUMMEL'S TAKE: The Mets' first eight games were with the worst teams in the league, Washington and Florida. Let's wait a bit before declaring Atlanta's 14-year divisional reign over, although the talent level in the East seems to have dropped dramatically and the Mets actually could run off to a bigger lead.

NEWS ITEM: Before the weekend, the perennial champion Braves had the National League's worst earned-run average (6.64) - ahead of only Kansas City in all of major-league baseball. Their starters had an 8.59 ERA. What is to be made of the absence of pitching coach Leo Mazzone?

HUMMEL'S TAKE: There probably is some significance, but the Baltimore Orioles, Mazzone's new team, hardly are thriving with an ERA of 5.05. This has more to do with a dropoff in talent. Lefthander Mike Hampton is out for the year and lefthander Horacio Ramirez is on the disabled list. John Smoltz will be 39 next month, Tim Hudson has been horrible and the Braves' bullpen was awful last year, too - with Mazzone.

NEWS ITEM: Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton, given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Pirates' home opener, marked the occasion by criticizing the Pittsburgh front office for not spending more money. Keaton wasn't the only one frustrated in the house that day. The Pirates lost for the seventh time in eight games as they try to correct a downward spiral of 13 straight losing seasons.

Manager Jim Tracy said, "You can appreciate some of the frustration. It's been well-documented. Thirteen years in a row. But what I would ask is that I don't render this situation at 1-7 done. Don't prejudge it too quickly."

HUMMEL'S TAKE: Keaton's Batman would be happy the Pirates upgraded their offense by acquiring veterans Sean Casey, Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa, thus placing the burden squarely on their young starting staff. So far, lefthanders Oliver Perez, Zach Duke and Paul Maholm haven't responded.

Yes, it is early. But the Pirates are headed for 14 in a row.

NEWS ITEM: With six Cardinals Hall of Famers already on hand and Albert Pujols a potential seventh at Busch Stadium on Monday, the loudest cheers may have gone to Willie McGee, who took part in the first-pitch ceremonies. McGee, a popular outfielder who had two tours with the Cardinals, won two batting titles and one Most Valuable Player Award but doesn't have his number retired.

HUMMEL's TAKE: Since most of the retired numbers belong to Cardinals Hall of Famers, it is easy to say McGee's shouldn't be. McGee didn't have quite the careers of the Hall of Famers but a precedent was set by honoring Ken Boyer, a great third baseman and team captain, but not a Hall of Famer, who died of cancer relatively early in life.

Besides, nobody wants to wear No. 51 anyway, except maybe Randy Johnson, Bernie Willliams and Ichiro. Retire 51 in honor of McGee.