The attention given to Aaron Judge’s pursuit of a home run record is interesting…  Interesting because it’s the record for only half the league (American), and for a specific team(the Yankees).  So, why the attention?  Because the former players who have previously broken the record were from the other half of the league(National), who were all presumed to have taken steroids to fuel their hitting.  Whether or not you perceive this as a new record is all up to the individual perception of steroids usage in that time.  In other words… interesting.

To me, it’s not super surprising that Major League Baseball is trying to bring attention to this home run chase.  MLB has been dwindling in audience for a couple of decades and they’d like to find ways to draw more eyes.  But, in doing so, they’re also bringing attention to the fact that this isn’t a league record.  

This awkwardness is mostly their own fault as there weren’t any clearly defined rules against steroid use in those days.  Those record setters didn’t actually cheat in that sense.  The disappointment is more about the unfair advantage against all others who played the game.  Also, we’re pretty sure the league knew of the steroids usage but turned a blind eye because the home run race was drawing attention to the game.

In the end, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that we’re here.  This is the inclination of people to attempt to just move past mistakes, or even sin.  Here I speak of all of us, not just those leading the MLB.  We don’t really want to walk through the process of guilt, confession, and forgiveness; because its difficult.  It’s easier to just tell ourselves things like: “Lots of others were doing it.”  “I only did it once!”  “It was justified in other ways.”  And once we add the $ involved in major league sports, maybe none of us should be surprised.

How good are you at facing your mistakes and sin?  Do you have experience of walking the journey to forgiveness?  If so, what might you say to those who choose other pathways?