The following press release is from Major League Baseball. Get out your SPF 15, everyone, it’s going to be a long season.

BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER JOHNNY BENCH NAMED SPOKESPERSON FOR 2012 PLAY SUN SMART PROGRAM TO PROMOTE SKIN CANCER AWARENESS
Reds Legend Recently Had Basal Cell Carcinomas Removed From Eyelids

Baseball Hall of Famer and Cincinnati Reds legend Johnny Bench has been named the official spokesperson for the 2012 Play Sun Smart program, a joint effort by Major League Baseball (MLB), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy). The goal of the Play Sun Smart program is to raise awareness of skin cancer and offer prevention and detection tips to the baseball community. As part of his duties, Bench will make an appearance at the MLB Fan Cave in New York on Saturday, June 2nd with kids from Harlem RBI, a program of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) initiative. He will also participate in a pre-game ceremony on Sunday, June 3rd at AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants.

Bench was recently diagnosed with and treated for basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, on both of his lower eyelids. With a unique skin cancer surgery called Mohs surgery, he has had a full recovery and is now committed to raising skin cancer awareness. While basal cell carcinoma is not considered life-threatening, it can be significantly disfiguring if left untreated. Other types of skin cancer can be life-threatening.

“When Major League Baseball approached me about spreading the word about the Play Sun Smart program, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in a program that enlightens so many people about skin cancer issues and prevention,” said Bench. “I recently learned the hard way from my own personal experience about the many ways you can prevent skin cancer, and I am eager to inform fans and players alike about how they can keep themselves and their loved ones safe. I thank Commissioner Selig, the Players Association and the American Academy of Dermatology for this terrific joint program that educates and raises awareness about skin cancer issues.”

This year, MLB players, coaches and staff from all 30 Clubs will serve as role models for their fans by participating in skin cancer screenings through the Play Sun Smart program and practicing sun-safe behaviors throughout the season. Since 1999, Academy dermatologists have conducted more than 29,000 skin cancer screenings through this program. Just like players and Club employees, fans are asked to practice safe sun behaviors and to find a free skin cancer screening in their area by visiting the Academy’s website at www.SpotSkinCancer.org.

“The Academy wants all baseball fans to know that they can easily reduce their risk of skin cancer while continuing to cheer on their favorite team at the ballpark,” said board-certified dermatologist Thomas E. Rohrer, MD, chairperson of the Academy’s Sports Committee. “There are three simple steps you can take: seek shade, cover up, and wear sunscreen.”

As in Bench’s case, early detection of skin cancer is essential. Fans can spot skin cancer early by regularly looking over their entire bodies, including the back, scalp, soles, between the toes and on the palms. If there are any changes in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole, if a new mole develops or any other unusual changes in the skin occur, fans are encouraged to make an appointment to see their dermatologist immediately. For more information about sun safety and the Play Sun Smart program, please visit MLBCommunity.org.

The Play Sun Smart awareness program is one of several cancer-related initiatives supported by Major League Baseball. Other initiatives include Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), whose mission is to support groundbreaking scientific research aimed at getting new cancer treatments to patients quickly; the Mother’s Day Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer initiative, which is a joint partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, to help increase awareness of breast cancer and raise money towards the search for a cure; and the Prostate Cancer Foundation Home Run Challenge which helps increase awareness of prostate cancer and raise money for the search for a cure as part of the Major League Baseball Father’s Day celebration. To learn more about Major League Baseball’s charitable initiatives please visit MLBCommunity.org or follow on twitter @MLBCommunity.

About: American Academy of Dermatology

The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 17,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin. For more information, contact the Academy at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or www.SpotSkinCancer.org. Follow the Academy on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology) or Twitter (@AADskin).

This issue of Sports Illustrated has a story titled “Ten Years Later: A Look into the Lives of Players Affected by Baseball’s Steroid Era.” I found the preview quite compelling, so I thought I’d post it here for your reading enjoyment.

(NEW YORK – May 30, 2012) – Ten years ago, Sports Illustrated’s exclusive in-depth look at the use of performance-enhancing drugs in major league baseball (MLB) led to a senate investigation. Former National League MVP and admitting steroid user Ken Caminiti told SI that he had used performance-enhancing drugs and believed that about as many major league players were using steroids as were playing the game clean. Senator Byron Dorgan opened the senate subcommittee hearing by citing the SI story as a call to action, a reason to decide whether any “legislative action is necessary.”

As MLB continues to expand its drug testing since the hearing, the focus has been on the tainted records and court cases that resulted from the Steroid Era. But the cover story for the June 4, 2012, issue of Sports Illustrated looks inside the lives of ordinary players whose careers were defined by the choice they made, to cheat or not to cheat.

Senior writer Tom Verducci, who wrote the cover story in 2002, examines the playing careers of four right handed pitchers who were members of the Minnesota Twins organization in mid-to-late 1990s. They had similar skills and backgrounds. None were drafted by the Twins higher than the fourth round of the MLB amateur draft. One of the four, however, took steroids, and he was the only one who ever reached the major leagues. His name was Dan Naulty and his decision to cheat the game, his teammates and himself affected all their lives (page 38).

Naulty was 6’6’’ and 180 pounds as a senior at Cal State Fullerton, had a fastball that sat around 85mph and was drafted in the 14th round. After using steroids and other performance-enhancement drugs, he began throwing his fastball at up to 95mph and at one point weighed 248 pounds. He spent three seasons with the Twins, pitching in 97 games before being traded to the New York Yankees in 1999, where he won a World Series.

On the outside, he looked like many other major leaguers, but inside he was an emotional wreck from the steroids, the guilt of cheating and a drinking problem. Naulty hit rock bottom just after the World Series. After a night of celebrating with some teammates, Naulty asked his driver as they crossed the George Washington Bridge, “Tell me. Tell me if this is all there is to life. Because if this is all there is, just stop this car right now and I’ll jump…. I had no hope. I had sold myself that bill of goods so long that I believed it. But I realized at that moment I had totally destroyed my life. And I had destroyed countless other people’s lives. I was ready to die.”

Brett Roberts was the highest drafted of the four pitchers, and in 1996, the Twins invited he and Naulty to big league camp where Naulty beat him out for a roster spot. Roberts said, “It’s hard enough trying to make it in this profession. You want to make it on your own abilities and work ethic, and all of a sudden, when you think it’s an even playing field, you’ve got somebody cheating. I was very upset, knowing my chance to get to the big leagues was cut short. I was jealous, hurt, frustrated, angry .?.?. all that stuff. I guess I should have been suspicious. How can a guy go from 85 miles an hour to 95 in three or four years? As I look back on it, it’s so clear and obvious that I can’t believe I was that naive and incredibly stupid. All the signs were there.”

Available on newstands now, or check out the electronic version. There’s apparently a podcast with Tom Verducci and Richard Deitsch if you get the version on your tablet computer.

Boxscore

The game was looking really good until it suddenly wasn’t yesterday, when the Reds lost 1-2 to the Pirates.

Johnny Cueto started for the Reds. In 7 innings of work he allowed 2 run (earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks. Not the best he’s ever been, but hardly a losing effort. Sean Marshall got the first out in the eighth and Logan Ondursek got the other two. Pitching the ninth wasn’t necessary.

The Reds scored their run early, which is why the game felt pretty good for a while there. Zack Cozart started off the game with a hit and was eventually knocked in by Brandon Phillips. But once A.J. Burnett got going, there was no getting to him. Only Chris Heisey and Joey Votto added hits to Cozart’s first one.

Speaking of Votto, he got a day off yesterday (except for that one pinch-hit) and his absence was definitely felt on the field. May the light day yesterday and the off day today prepare him for another two months’ worth of straight starts.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 28-22. The team is off today as it travels to Houston. Tomorrow they take on the Astros at 8:05 p.m. Mike Leake (1-5, 5.47 ERA) takes on J.A. Happ (4-4, 4.37 ERA)