Here’s how you solve a problem undermining an organization: When somebody is honest about it, and acknowledges he is part of the problem, you make sure he is rewarded for stepping forward so that everybody else feels comfortable doing the same.

Performance-enhancing substances remain a problem in baseball. Testing has curbed steroid use and in turn probably has led to the increased use of human growth hormone, a banned substance for which there is no test.

Jason Giambi, in an interview, let the world sneak a peak under the rug. He said the sport owes fans an apology for the steroid era and said he had a “personal history” with steroids. Two shocking statements there, huh? For doing so, he has been treated by Major League Baseball in a way that pretty much ensures nobody else will do anything but join nearly everyone else who makes a living in baseball in grabbing a broom, pulling back the rug and sweeping away.

Such hush tactics are designed at perpetuating the myth that steroid testing has cleaned up the game and restored the integrity of statistics. Some people are even dumb enough to buy that snake oil. It’s easier that way. Baseball’s so lovely, why look for the warts?

Such thinking continues the cheapening of the feats of yesterday’s heroes. At this rate, it won’t be long before the 586 home runs hit by baseball’s most underrated superstar of all-time, Frank Robinson, will erode into a yawn-inducing number. It already seems like an unimpressive figure.

Without feasible testing for HGH, there is no easy solution to preserving the greatness of a Willie Mays or a Frank Robinson. Yet, it’s not impossible.

Cheaters will continue to manipulate their bodies, so it’s time for the sports power brokers to turn their attention to manipulating the baseball. Deaden it. The scientists at Rawlings shouldn’t have any problem figuring out how to make the baseball fly shorter distances.

The Colorado Rockies successfully addressed their altitude problem by storing their baseballs in a humidor. They thought beyond the obvious, and it helped reduce the freaky nature of Coors Field.

Deadening the baseball would have the welcome side effect of livening pitchers’ arms. Expansion is always blamed on the shortage of pitching in baseball, and it undoubtedly is a factor. So is the cheating of the hitters. Yet, the pitching supply won’t seem so short once pitchers’ confidence levels are restored by a softer baseball.

It wouldn’t do Hank Aaron any good. It’s too late to save him from losing the record he earned with honest strength and quickness of the bat. Barry Bonds will pass him soon, no matter how many people protest the record.

A group in Chicago is among the most creative in decrying Bonds’ unfortunate assault on the record. They call themselves “Without the Juice” and sell products online at withoutthejuice.com. Baseball caps and T-shirts with the No. 755 and the slogan “Without the Juice” can be spotted at ballparks. Women protesting enhancements of any kind are buying tank tops to protest more than phony home runs.

It’s a nice idea, but unless the baseball is deadened, it won’t prevent the tainting of the records.