Well... Schilling does have the right to speak his mind just like you have the right to speak yours. Read the full article at his site - it is well-written and thoughtful. A hell of alot better than this rant and certainly more sensible.

If this wasn't Clemens under the gun but, let's say Griffey or Rodriguez... I wonder if you would be writing an apologists article like this.

"So stop with the holier than thou act, 'kay buddy?"

Hmmmm...I think YOU could benefit from your own advice.

Schilling speaks his mind. You don't have to like it.

Now, I'm unconvinced, by the evidence yet presented, that Clemens is guilty. The purpose of pitchers using steroids would not be gaining a competitive advantage by artificially bulking up - that would tend to interfere with their mechanics, far more important to a pitcher than brute strength. Pitchers would use steroids to speed recovery from injuries, speeding comebacks from injured reserve and prolonging their careers. Still cheating, unless they used prescribed drugs for their approved purposes under a doctor's care, though, and still worthy of banning.

If Clemens and the other pitchers being named are, in fact, guilty based upon more than uncorroborated testimony from an accomplice with a plea bargain deal, they deserve the same exile from baseball as the power hitters.

While Curt's at it, maybe he should demand Pete Rose return all 3 of his batting titles, plus his World Series rings, too. After all, Rose was officially kicked out of baseball and, finally, admitted to gambling on games (only Rose and God knows how many and for how long).

Clemens' guilt hasn't been proven, Curt. You have no right to making any such demands.

The purpose of pitchers using steroids would not be gaining a competitive advantage by artificially bulking up - that would tend to interfere with their mechanics, far more important to a pitcher than brute strength.

Ever note a pitcher's arm size, Jim? It's disproportionate to his non-throwing arm, sometimes grossly so. Building muscle mass wouldn't necessarily affect mechanics adversely; steroids could aid in the ability to snap off curveballs, sliders, etc. better. Of course, the technique and mechanics already have to be in place to do that. If you have lousy/poor/mediocre mechanics roids might not help you at all on breaking pitches, and maybe not even on fastballs. A pitcher might be able to deliver the ball faster, but still be mechanically off. And steroids aren't going to do squawdoosh to correct that.

Pitchers, in my opinion, are the ones who could benefit most directly and obviously from steroid use as they deliver direct muscle-powered energy to the ball, putting more speed on it.

The direct benefit to hitters isn't so obvious as I've talked about on numerous occasions.