'Those guys were taking my job,' former minor leaguer says

Three up, three-down; two-on, two-out; a ball and a strike. Baseball is an orderly game. A game of predictable counts, familiar rhythms and voluminous rules.

For many fans, proof that some major leaguers got an illegal edge shattered that equilibrium. For others, the Mitchell report restored balance to the game.

"I was hoping this day would come, actually," said Todd Genke, a former minor-league ball player and the baseball coach at St. Charles North High School.

"Somebody cheats, and they get ahead of you, and you hope, well, someday they get what's coming to them."

Genke spent 10 years as a professional baseball player with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Colorado Rockies and, finally, the Schaumburg Flyers.

He retired from baseball in 2003 and was hired the following year at St. Charles North.

During his career in baseball, Genke says he watched slap hitters become sluggers and precision pitchers become hurlers -- seemingly overnight.

Everyone knew how they did it.

"It really bothered me," Genke said. "I witnessed it in the locker room. I would see guys leave for the summer and come back with 30 pounds of extra muscle. Those guys were taking my job, and it was frustrating. It was very evident then, and I'm glad the truth is coming out."

A pitcher, Genke said he was determined to "get by on my God-given ability."

Most people he played with did.

"It was just a select few who decided to cheat and really changed the game," Genke said.

Genke views the 409-page Mitchell report as a teaching tool.

"As a high school coach, my job is to educate kids," he said. "To put a positive spin on it, this shows it's not worth cheating."

As school let out Thursday, students flocked to the weight room, where Genke monitors off-season conditioning.

"A lot of kids came up to me right away and they were saying, 'Coach, I heard so-and-so was named on the Mitchell report, I heard Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were named.' It was definitely a big conversation piece."

The report gave him another opening to preach that hard work beats a quick shot in the arm (or elsewhere).

"We talk so much about doing it all on character and merit and putting in the time in the weight room," Genke said. "I feel like my job is to make sure none of this other stuff enters into their heads."

Genke said the report didn't -- couldn't -- diminish his passion for the game.

"I played it growing up; I got a Division I scholarship; I played 10 years of pro ball," Genke said. "I drive my wife crazy. If I'm not playing or coaching, I like to watch the game. I love baseball."