major league baseball  Can you say it again?  I didn't hear you.

Is there finally going to be more stringent drug testing in major league baseball?  The answer is maybe soon. Negotiators are close to an agreement, which would require more frequent drug testing and give more power to the program administrator for the testing.

Orioles Jay Gibbons and Kansas City's Jose Guillen both outfielders were suspended for 15 days each by baseball commissioner, Bud Selig on December 6 and the suspensions were to begin this Sunday. These guys have lucked out.  The suspensions have been postponed for 10 days giving lawyers for players and owners more time to reach an agreement. If an agreement is not made, the suspension of the two baseball players will begin April 9.

This would be the third time baseball players and owners would be strengthening drug rules since the initial agreement in 2002. Changes to this agreement were made again in January 2005 when sanctions for first offenders began, and again in November 2005 when the penalty increased from 10 days to 50 games.

Senate majority leader George Mitchell came out with his report concerning drugs and baseball on December 13. Mitchell recommended  that commissioner Selig not punish players implicated by this investigation except when their conduct is so serious that sanctions would be necessary to maintain baseball's integrity.

I bet the player's are really concerned! Right!  It sounds too wishy washy.