'Roid rage

Sports | Accused players cry foul as Jose Canseco takes a swing at baseball | John Dawson

Instead of pitchers and catchers, the opening of baseball's spring training seemed preoccupied by syringes and steroids. One day after stores began selling former American League MVP Jose Canseco's book of doping allegations, the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds opened their training camps. In his first press conference, Yankees manager Joe Torre faced a torrent of questions about the proliferation of performance-enhancing drugs in America's pastime, with the subject taking the first half-hour of the 45-minute session: "It doesn't go away, unfortunately."

In light of the quick sales of Mr. Canseco's new book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big, which vaulted to Amazon.com's top-five list in its first week, steroids and baseball may be synonymous for some time. His charges may be scurrilous, but the public's willingness to consider the steroid accusations highlight baseball's credibility problem. So tarnished has baseball's image become, a number of fans seem willing to believe allegations from an implausible source like Mr. Canseco.