There's no such thing as a free lunch.

It's true in all things, but I'm often reminded of it recently. In accordance with the ILBIW principle, recent baseball discussions have thrust me into the no-man's land of being an "expert" without a real expertise.

As the steroid situation gets uglier and as those under suspicion are watched with the eagle eye of the media, I get phone calls and emails asking me about it. These come not only from readers, but from media. "Is X on steroids?" they'll ask. "Is this injury steroid-related?" others will query. I much prefer the latter since I personally have no clue if any player not named Sledge or Turnbow used steroids or any other ergogenic (and can we please stop using "steroids" as the catch-all term? I'm pushing "ergogenic.")

As with the Rose story - which never seems to end - this story will also never have a proper denouement. It could follow the pattern of the Pittsburgh drug trials - a couple convictions, some suspensions, and then it fades from the public consciousness - or it could follow the Rose pattern, calling into question records and Hall-worthiness.

There's simply no good solution. There's not going to be a WADA-style testing program. There's never going to be a drug-free sport. I'll just sit here in the middle, watching the story play itself out it fits and starts and frenzies, reminding myself that if this is the price I pay for getting to do what I love, it's not that bad a toll.