So he's really going to do it?

The Bug is going to suspend Jason Giambi for his lack of cooperation with the steroids investigation?

How does he accomplish anything by doing this, and is it even the right thing to do?

I'm no fan of Jason Giambi; I tired of all the drama long ago...but I'm with him here.

Let's review the situation.

Giambi take steroids, which are illegal, but not against baseball rules at the time. In my mind, if he gets busted, baseball has the right to suspend him, fine him, whatever. The Yankees might even have an out to void his contract.

But he was never arrested, charged, etc. He testified to a grand jury, and, from all indications, was one of the few, if not the only, one that even told the grand jury the truth.

He makes some rather bizarre statements recently about his 'taking some stuff' that 'all of baseball should be apologizing for', and now Selig is preparing to suspend him.

For obtusely admitting that he did something that wasn't against baseball rules at the time. A criminal offense, yes, but one with which Giambi hasn't even been charged.

And you're going to suspend him?

What's the justification? Because he won't cooperate with the Mitchell (and I use this term loosely) Investigation? So I guess Bud's next move will be to suspend everyone in baseball, because as far as I know, no one has cooperated with the Mitchell probe.

I can understand Selig's frustration, though part of it is probably the result of his own inaction long ago when the owners decided to go for the ostrich approach in dealing with performance-enhancing drugs. Despite anyone's desire that this not be the case, drugs are here. They are as much a part of our sporting landscape as they are of our daily lives, and controversial in both arenas. We can wish to turn back the clock to the halcyon 'golden days', but that's not going to happen; wishing won't make it so.

If I were Commissioner of a Perfect Baseball Universe, there would be a 154-game season. No interleague play. Elijah Dukes would be neutered. There would be a hard salary cap. There would be no major league baseball in Florida or Washington. Peter Angelos would give up the Orioles. 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy' and 'Sweet Caroline' would be retired as seventh-inning stretch songs. Barry Bonds would retire today; so would Craig Biggio. Players who are arrested in the off-season would be suspended and required to sell concessions in the stands for the upcoming season.

But I don't get to make the rules because I want things to be a certain way. Neither should Selig.

Jason Giambi has done some stupid things, and said some even stupider things. But you can't suspend someone for that (unless you're Steve Lyons; then you can be fired.) It's difficult to figure if Selig wants Giambi to talk, or if wants to shut him up. Whichever it is, suspending him isn't the right move.

Bud Selig is the only person that can make Jason Giambi a sympathetic figure to anyone not enamored with pinstripes.

Don't do it, Bud. Just Say No.