Bud Selig, in response to the new book on steroid use and Barry Bonds has commissioned former Sen. George Mitchell to conduct an inclusive inquiry into the history of steroid use in major league baseball. It is all fine and good, but there is one question that comes to my mind... Why bother? We all know who has used steroids, what it has done for and to the game, and what is the point now? To punish current players? I doubt it. I am fairly certain Bud Selig will not have the 'huevos' to suspend or expell Barry Bonds from baseball, being the drawing card that he is. And after all, it is the commissioner and the owners who endorsed the home run. Not sure if anyone remembers the MLB

The fashionable pick in the AL East is the almight Yankees. Unless they do something to supplement the top of their pitching order, they have troubles. Mussina is gettting old, and is not the pitcher he once was, and Randy Johnson is a year older. Wang and Chacon must really kick in and exceed expectations or there is little chance they will win the division. But who will, or can? If Schilling wins 15 games, they will contend if not actually win. Everyone pencils in Kevin Youkalis in at 1b with a question mark, but they are conveniently forgetting the fact they have JT Snow, who I expect will get minimum 400 at bats this year and contribute greatly with his glove (saving a run every game he plays with his defensive prowess) and turning into a Boggs type left handed hitter, bouncing ball off the monster. Manny and David Oritz will hit and the replacement for Johnny Damon, Coco Crisp from the Indians will more than adequately fill Damon's shoes. The Blue Jays and their star off season acquisition, AJ Burnett, will not thrive with Burnett on the disabled list to open the season, a harbinger of things to come for this troubled pitcher and a franchise that has languished since the early 90s when they dominated. Forget Baltimore and Tampa Bay, not even worth mentioning. Tejada should have bailed out when he had the media promoting his discontent.

In the West, if the Big Hurt is NOT hurt, and can hit, the A's will win. They have pitching, a better team and with one more year of experience under the belts of their young players, they will prevail. Kendall will rebound after a disappointing inaugural season in Oakland, and Milton Bradley, out of the limelight of a big market media push, will quietly contribute to a winning season which should give them the AL west pennant. The Angels are good, and if the A's falter, there is no doubt they will win it. Seattle and Texas are non factors.

Can the Mets overtake the Braves? Not if Pedro is injured or fragile. He has to be a horse, and carry the pitching staff. Otherwise, give it to the Braves again. Their young players are just that... young, but they can play and have proven it. It wll be interesting to see how they do without Leo Mazzone rocking in the dugout with that critical eye on his pitchers, but the talent is there, and they will probably repeat. The Phillies got weaker, not better and the Nationals have a ways to go, even with old school manager Frank Robinson at the helm. Too bad his players cannot play as he once did nor do they understand the game like him either. But few modern players do these days, so they are not unique in that respect.