Congress’ Big Stick

Federal marshals tagging baseball players with subpoenas wasn’t what we expected when big league baseball promised to return to Washington after a 33-year absence. Nor was the prospect of sluggers invoking the 5th Amendment as interrogators demand that they testify about steroid use.

Baseball has only itself to blame for its ugly predicament. Fans should be speculating on whether Barry Bonds can catch Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, but because Major League Baseball long resisted calls to retool its toothless drug policy, fans instead are stuck watching ESPN reports that look like they belong on Court TV.

Congressional hearings might help drive awareness about a public health menace that continues to put the lives of young athletes at risk. But it’s naive to think legislators can right matters simply by holding hearings. Congress would have to go into extra innings to investigate all of the sporting world’s darker recesses, like steroid abuse in college athletics and the Olympics or the concoctions that trainers give racehorses to enhance their performance.

MLB maintains that hearings aren’t necessary because it finally drafted a tough new substance abuse rule. But the rule is still vague on off-season testing and doesn’t even test for amphetamines. Rather than subpoenaing players now, Congress should reserve the threat, awaiting evidence of whether baseball is utterly serious about the new anti-drug regime. If the plan falls short, Congress should use all of its power -- including the threat of eliminating baseball’s federal antitrust exemption -- to ensure that the sport properly polices its ranks.