ESPN Search

Buster Olney examines some of baseball's biggest issues, including Mike Trout's contract dispute and Bud Selig calling for tougher steroid penalties.

Blog | Conversation | March 03, 2013

Buster Olney says that while he thinks players with a PED past should be in the Hall of Fame, that information should be included on their plaques. He even writes sample plaques for Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire.

Blog | Conversation | January 09, 2013

Jeff Bagwell and Mike Piazza probably won't make the Hall of Fame this year, but they will. And when they do, it will be impossible to keep anyone suspected of PED use out, writes Buster Olney.

Blog | Conversation | January 08, 2013

The difference between Pete Rose and the alleged steroid users when it comes to the Hall of Fame is simple: Rose has been formally expelled by MLB and thus has never been on the ballot, writes Buster Olney.

Blog | Conversation | December 30, 2012

Buster takes a shot at predicting the key storylines of the 2013 season. Will the Dodgers win big? Will the Jays remain favorites? What will the Hall of Fame vote look like?

Blog | Conversation | December 25, 2012

In ESPN The Magazine, Buster Olney argues that it's pointless, and rather silly, to ban all PED users from the baseball Hall of Fame.

Story | Conversation | December 14, 2012

Buster Olney explains why baseball writers should view the Hall of Fame as a museum meant to document history, with all that entails, and elect players suspected of PED use if they are worthy.

Blog | Conversation | November 25, 2012

Roger Clemens was found not guilty of perjury, which doesn't mean he did not take performance-enhancing drugs. But as Buster Olney writes, the Clemens verdict further questions the purpose, credibility and execution of the Mitchell report.

Blog | Conversation | June 19, 2012

If you looked only at Ryan Braun's numbers, there's no question he should be in the NL MVP discussion. Of course, given his positive steroid test, it's not nearly that easy. Buster Olney writes that Braun is creating an interesting dilemma for voters.

Blog | Conversation | June 17, 2012

Buster Olney writes that when Ryan Braun won the appeal of his positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, it highlighted a much different opinion among players than it would have 10 or 20 years ago. Today, players want cheaters caught.

Blog | Conversation | March 01, 2012

Buster Olney writes that Jeff Bagwell is seemingly close to the Hall of Fame -- earning 56 percent of the votes this year -- but yet so far because of the ramifications of his era and PED suspicions that some writers can't seem to overlook.

Blog | Conversation | January 10, 2012

Every year, the Hall of Fame ballot comes with a short summary of the accomplishments of all of the eligible players, arranged alphabetically -- this year, from Jeff Bagwell to Eric Young. This year, the information regarding the 27 players filled fi...

Blog | December 20, 2011

Buster Olney writes that with players from the steroid era now becoming eligible for the Hall of Fame, voters will have to decide how to cast their ballots when suspicion and unanswered questions remain.

Blog | Conversation | December 20, 2011

Steroids and greenies and pitchers throwing harder than ever. If you discuss offensive drops in MLB, all are mentioned. But what about the rise of the cutter? Buster Olney explores.

Blog | Conversation | May 09, 2011

"Character" and "sportsmanship" matter in Hall of Fame voting -- except when they don't. Cheating, betting and doping did not disqualify past players from the Hall, so why are Pete Rose and players from the steroids era held to a different standard?

Blog | Conversation | September 12, 2010

For Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens is a longtime friend, teammate -- and, quite honestly, idol. And while Pettitte will take some solace in knowing all he must do in coming months is answer honestly, he's still likely to be put in an uneasy position here.

Blog | Conversation | August 20, 2010