So what’s next? And what are the consequences? Can someone just destroy the damned list already?

I have to think we’re past the point where the list can just be destroyed.

For one, it’s no longer an anonymous test. It’s a list, with names associated to test results. Once the anonymity was compromised, that was it.

Two, I’m not sure if there’s a way to figure out every person who read the list. That’s important, because it only takes one anonymous but in-the-know jerk with prior access to a copy machine and a contact at TMZ to make the entire list public.

Three, the players should at least have their presence on the list clarified so that they may defend themselves against blackmailers/TMZ/Plaschke blowhards. The Union failed the players here, and that’s the least they can do to make it up to them.

But hey, maybe everyone’s working off that goofy false list that came out a few months back. Then everything I said is moot.

Capper: to save me the typing time:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/shysterball/article/why-the-rest-of-the-names-cannot-be-released2/

Whoever has been leaking the list has already knowingly and repeatedly been committing a Federal crime, so I doubt they can be convinced to just turn over the only copy they’ve got and be done with it.

What will stop the leaking, however, is consistent, proven willingness of the justice system to actually pursue this issue and prosecute the offender to the full extent of the law (i.e., pound-you-in-the-*** prison). In that light, this was a good step.

Capper: you might consider reading rather than talking for a change. The link is where the whole discussion was hashed and rehashed.

The FACT is that leaking or in ANY WAY revealing “the list” is a CRIME. You may think that your concept of “cheating” is bad enough to justify a Federal offense, but it doesn’t.

Capper, there has been a TON of intelligent discussion around here about the reasons why that list cannot be released to the public.  While it may be easier to just “rip the band-aid off” rather than go through this slow leaking of the names on the list it just simply isn’t legal.  Read the link that Craig provided.

One more question: If the feds appeal, they’d have to take it to the Supreme Court next, correct? What are the odds the Supreme Court would hear it? (I guess that’s two more questions, sorry. And I apologize for my ignorance.)

Capper- Just because they broke the law doesn’t mean the law should be broken again.  Two wrongs don’t make a right.

At present, releasing the List would be a crime as it is sealed by the courts pending review. I get that.

The thing is, the players whose privacy was violated by the List (which, again, is no longer an anonymous test) should at least be given the opportunity to clarify their status so that they can defend themselves. As long as the List exists and people with low moral standards have knowledge of it, those players’ collective privacy remains in peril.

When this is all said and done, the Union (which has knowledge of the List and initially failed to prevent the List’s creation from the anonymous test) should at least let the players on it know where they stand.

I felt terrible for David Ortiz a few weeks ago when he held that press conference at Yankee Stadium saying, “I don’t even know what’s going on.” He’s right to not muck up the court proceedings, but his integrity is questioned and he cannot fight back without knowing how he’s represented on the List. He should be given the right to know where the Union has forced him to stand.

They being the players that took illegal drugs. 

Another thing is that it’s possible not all of the positive test were for illegal drugs.  Some of the positives could be from legal supplements that were banned by MLB.