Honor code: "not ... tolerate those who do (lie, cheat, steal)".

See my previous post.

For those concerned about "clean" players, consider that they benefited from the improved performance of teammates who used steroids, etc.  Why shouldn't players turn in teammates who violated the honor code?  That's how an honor code works.

Most organizations have a code of conduct.  If a member steals, that person would be fired.  If another knew about the stealing and did not report it, that person would also be fired.

It wouldn't hurt the Major Baseball League (MBL) to introduce an honor code or at least a code of conduct if it does not already have one.

How does it work with the umpires?  If one umpire suspects another umpire of violating the code of conduct, is that umpire required to report it?  If not, why not?

As far as the Hall of Fame mess, it's not too late to impose an honor code, all of it, including the not tolerating part.  Retroactively.  Maybe the writers stumbled into that with the two Houston players, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.  Bagwell was on the ballot before this vote and he's suspected of using steroids without any direct evidence.  Maybe that's unfair.  But to the extent that it is fair, isn't it just as fair to hold teammate Biggio responsible for not reporting Bagwell?  Maybe Biggio did not know.  Maybe.  As far as I know no one has asked him.  I don't think any of the voters have considered this.

This is a basic issue that voters need to address, especially those voters who express concern about "clean" players who lost jobs and money because other players cheated and benefited.  But teammates of cheaters did benefit, at least those who played different positions and did not directly lose playing time.  Should the cheaters return playoff money earned?  If so, what about their teammates?

And cheating is more than using steroids.  Cheating includes:
- faking being hit by a pitch
- faking catching a fly ball
- faking tagging a runner
- pitcher intentionally hitting a batter with a pitch
- messing with the bat or ball.

With an honor code teammates must report all violations.  Otherwise, what's all the fuss?

It's a tangled web.  I've said all along that it's the lying that bothers me.