Baseball commissioner Bud Selig says he is serious about stopping steroid use by major league players with a comprehensive testing and sentencing plan.

“I’ve been saying for many months: I instituted a very, very tough program in the minor leagues on steroids in 2001. We need to have that program at the major league level,” he said. “We’re going to leave no stone unturned until we have that policy in place by spring training 2005.”

This makes perfect sense — in fact, it’s so absurdly obvious that such a program is needed in baseball that it’s a shame we have to bring it up here.

Unfortunately for Selig, he will, of course, face stubborn opposition from the players’ association on any attempt to restrict players’ freedom. The best way for him to combat that is to bring to weight of public opinion — or better yet, public outrage — with him to the negotiating table.

We fear it’s highly unlikely he’ll get it.

Consider: The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that both Jason and Jeremy Giambi admitted in grand jury testimony that they have used illegal drugs. Which of the following do fans probably consider the greatest transgression?

A. Jason, a former MVP and a prodigious slugger, using illegal substances to attempt to supplement his performances even more,

B. Jason lying about his steroid use — either when he told reporters in February he’d never used them or when he apparently told a grand jury he had, or

C. Jeremy failing to slide during Game 3 of the 2001 American League Division Series against the Yankees so that an out-of-position Derek Jeter could throw him out and spark New York’s comeback from a two-game-to-none hole.

Baseball fans tend to remember only baseball. What do you suppose Giants fans find least appealing about Barry Bonds?

A. That, according to the Chronicle, documents presented to a grand jury apparently showed a long history of drug use by the single-season home run record holder,

B. That he, in testimony reported by the Chronicle, said he didn’t trust his team or its doctors or baseball to give him good or honest advice about drug use, or

C. That his career postseason batting average is .245 and his four home runs weren’t enough to get San Francisco past Anaheim in 2002.

Or to put it another way … what’s most likely to trip the trigger of Cubs fans?

A. Sammy Sosa’s corked bat,

B. Life-threatening collapses of Wrigley Field concrete, or

C. Steve Bartman.

Good luck getting baseball fans behind you, commissioner. You’re gonna need it.