Swengali: Cheaters (Orioles) Never Win

| Print Post This | Like (0) | Comments (0)

Sports columnist Matt Swenson calls 'em as he sees 'em.

IS THERE ANYONE on the Orioles who didn't do steroids?

Obviously, the answer is yes. But the long list of Birds mentioned in the Mitchell report, the result of an investigation into drug use in Major League Baseball by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, amounted to a virtual who's who of Baltimore players over the past 10 years — with the notable exception of Cal Ripken.

On baseball's most infamous list: Miguel Tejada (pictured at right), Brian Roberts, Jerry Hairston, Kevin Brown, Gregg Zaun, David Segui, Jay Gibbons, Gary Matthews Jr., and Jason Grimsley.

The above group does not include Rafael Palmeiro — who served a MLB-mandated suspension in 2005 for using steroids and whose addition to the black list was obvious — and Brady Anderson, whose 50-home-run season still ranks as the most suspicious during the steroids era.

Having so many players under scrutiny is an embarrassment for O's fans. But perhaps even worse is the fact that despite all this drug use, the team hasn't had a winning record in the past decade. Only the Orioles could fail so spectacularly at cheating.

At least the old adage "cheaters never win" still holds some truth.

Closer to home, the Nationals haven't been around long enough to play a big role in the report. Nonetheless, the newest Nat, catcher Paul Lo Duca, is right in the middle of the 409-page analysis.

If Bud Selig hands out suspensions galore in the wake of this news, I guess Jesus Flores is going to be the starting backstop when the new stadium opens.

It could be worse for the Nats, though. They could be the O's.

Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images