There is a major debate raging through Major League Baseball currently, and it has nothing to do with interleague play, arguing balls and strikes, instant replay to check the validity of home runs, the wanton destruction of Gatorade dispensers, blown saves, walk off hits, or even milestones.

Sure, Randy Johnson is going for his 300th career win later this week against the Nationals.  Jamie Moyer won his 250th career game last night, also against the Nats, becoming the oldest pitcher to win that number (46 years, 195 days.)  It's not even about Zack Greinke and his breakout first two months, or David Ortiz's prolonged slump.  It's about a story that has plagued baseball for the past few seasons, and became a black eye for the sport in a large way starting in spring training.

We're of course, talking about the use of performance enhancing substances, as alleged and then admitted to by Alex Rodriguez, and then the suspension of Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez last month.  Now, it comes down to a simple question:  with Ramirez fifth in the National League voting for outfielders, should he get the fan vote and be selected to start, should he play in the All Star Game in St. Louis next month?

Joe Torre doesn't think so.  Bud Selig has been his usual waffling self, throwing out a lot of words, but no real substance to speak of.  There are numerous fans out there that are trying to conjure up support for the suspended slugger to get him in the mix.  However, one of the biggest Dodger proponents, and one of my personal favorites when it comes to actresses, beautiful women, and well rounded individuals, Alyssa MIlano, had this to say regarding Ramirez playing in the Midsummer Classic, courtesy of her Twitter (Alyssa_Milano in case you want to follow her):

For all that have asked: I do not think #Manny should be allowed to play in the #mlb ASG. It's the wrong message to send to our youth.

Now, Ramirez has fallen some 135,000 votes behind the Cubs Alfonso Soriano for the third and final starting slot in the outfield for the July 14th contest at Busch Stadium here in St. Louis.  The thing of it is, should Ramirez somehow get in by idiots stuffing ballot boxes (for my opinion on that sort of thing, read here, here and here), Selig's hands are tied.  Why, you ask?  The drug policy of major league baseball specifically mandates that "the commissioner's office shall not exclude a player from eligibility for election or selection because he is suspended."

So, a player could be suspended for juicing, get ballot stuffing campaigns put up, get tabbed as a starter in the All Star Game, and the sport would have zero recourse to do anything about it.  How fantastic is that?  Imagine if a guy was suspended in the NFL for steroid use in week 17 of the regular season, but his team makes it to the Super Bowl.  Do you expect Roger Goodell to lift the suspension and have that player serve the suspension in the first game of the following season? 

This is much like the incident in the Stanley Cup Finals last night.  Evgeni Malkin took an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of the game, which carries an automatic game misconduct and a one game suspension.  However, the league suddenly reviewed the incident, removed the instigator, and thus the mandatory suspension involved.  Why?  Because it's the Stanley Cup Finals and ratings would be impacted, not to mention the best players wouldn't be on the ice.  I wouldn't expect any flagrant fouls or enough technicals to warrant Dwight Howard being suspended in the NBA Finals either.  Officials tend to choke on their whistles when it comes to big names.

Let's keep it clean, and keep it simple.  Ramirez, while he's a great player, a) is tainted by this scandal, b) will have played only 27 games when his suspension is up, and c) has not put up the numbers required to be an All Star.  He should come out, publicly, and make it clear that he has no intention of being a part of the festivities, selected or not.  Perhaps that will sway the legions of sheep out there who insist on voting for a player that has no right to be a part of something that showcases the best players of the current season.  Let Ramirez spend the All Star Break drinking beer, playing darts, doing volunteer work, or learning to play piano, but don't put him in the Midsummer Classic.

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the matter, and we'll see what the consensus is.