O.K. - WHO'S NEXT???

My wife asked me what I think is the best question not asked since the A-Rod revelations hit the fan. If the remaining names on the list of 104 finds its way out to the public, what name would have to be on it to either shock the sensibilities of the fans or drag the games reputation down any further then it is now?

The obvious first response to me would be Derek Jeter. Other than Cal Ripken (who had retired by 2003), I'm not sure if anyone else in this era has a more squeaky clean image and the superstar stats.

My Top Ten List went like this:
1. Derek Jeter
2. Greg Maddux
3. Curt Schilling
4. Frank Thomas
5. Jeff Kent
6. Albert Pujols
7. Manny Ramirez
8. David Ortiz
9. Jim Thome
10. Ichiro Suzuki

Did I leave anyone out? Rememeber, Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Dale Murphy, Rickey Henderson and others who would make fine additions to the list, were not around in 2003.

Some have had "whispers" attached to their name, some are part of the "finger-wagging", Rafael Palmeiro wing and would set the crusader movement back a bit.

But all would be surprising and earth-shaking names.

The list almost has to come out at this point because it has been compromised enough as it is. Too many eyeballs have seen it that it is no longer "confidential".

The drip-drip water torture like release of names attached to the list will plague the game for a decade if it does not come out. The collateral damage to other "innocent" players may be the greater good to be protected over the "confidentiality" of the agreement. That horse has long since left the barn.

It just seems like every time we think that the final shoe has dropped and the fans can't get slapped in the face any worse, another shot comes from out of nowhere.

This could get very interesting.