» A-Rod

Hello All,

I just got an interesting email and I was discussing it over dinner with a good Yankee fan friend of mine.

Jerry from NJ Asked Me: “What are your thoughts on the A-Rod getting into the Hall Of Fame Argument” and he went on to ask “Tell me why you feel he should get in and NOT Pete Rose” WOW….my first reaction was…I hadn’t thought of this in that way before. I assume someone must have brought this up at some point, but I haven’t yet heard it so I want to answer it here. I also encourage all authors here to chime in, this can lead to some incredible debate and conversation.

Steroids In Baseball

Betting On Baseball

So here’s my take on it. I am not going to even bring numbers into this debate. Both players’ numbers speak for themselves. What they do have in common is that the each dishonored the game of baseball in some way.

Let’s look at each hall of fame worthy players mistake.

Pete Rose: An absolutely incredible player, a true testament to intensity, focus, and poise. He is considered one of the best hitters in the history of the game, and is not being admitted into the hall of fame because he bet on the game. He wagered on the game he played which goes against the “rules” as they say…

A-Rod of course is considered one of the best players ever to grace a baseball field, hands down, no arguments about it. A-Rod is a true marvel and up until this year I truly felt he was the last hope to reclaim Aaron’s record in a legit manner. Boy was I wrong…as were many. He is guilty of using performance enhancing drugs for “3″ years of his career…sure…3 Years. Regardless, it happened and now its time to face the music.

So let’s compare these two. One of them cheated the game he played to make more money…but then again…so did A-Rod. That’s right…A-Rod also cheated this game for the sake of money. Juicing up those numbers led to an even bigger payday that he could have ever dreamed of.  A-Rod’s cheating also enhanced his stats, in a big way…whereas Pete Rose’s actions could have in no way caused inflated numbers.

It is my opinion that it should be: Pete Rose In….A-Rod Never In. I am (was) a huge fan of A-Rod for years…but now I must admit I am a little deflated about the whole matter.

I know I can go on and on about this debate, but I want to leave the floor 100% open to all of you, our loyal visitors. I encourage everyone to chime in and let me know if you agree with me on this topic! Come on, let your voice be heard!

Its been a boring few days for Dodger fans, not much happening other than the Hudson signing, so I thought I would take this time to talk about a league-wide problem, the use of performance enhancing drugs.

I’m actually not going to get deep into the details of the steroid problem in baseball, as thats really been beaten to death.  I was doing some research online to acutally back an arguement I was making on Yahoo Answers, and I found one of the best articles I’d ever seen written about steroids and PEDs.  In this article (linked at the end) an amateur cyclist decides to find out for himself how much PEDs really improve performance in athletes.  This guy actually goes to a doctor who puts him on a regimin of PEDs and he outlines exactly how much they really helped him.  It’s a rather amazing article to read and really gives you insight as to what these drugs actually do.  For example, I’ve heard many a times that steroids can’t help you hit a baseball, they only help you hit a baseball farther, but I never knew before that HGH (one of the major drugs in the BALCO scandal) actually improves eyesight in many, which could actually help you hit a baseball.

This is a fairly long read, but I think its something that most people really should read, as it really does give insight as to how easy it is (or was, as this was from 2003) to legally get PEDs and how much they actually help.  Enjoy.

http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/200311/200311_drug_test_1.html

Lee has no sympathy for steroid users

On a day where Alex Rodriguez met 200 reporters to pour his heart out on his past steroid use, every spring camp had steroid clouds floating about. Unless a Cubs player is highlighted in steroid allegations, this is the only post that i will make on steroids. It is a problem in baseball, and I’m sure everyone accepts that, (well maybe everyone apart from Marvin Miller, who gave a unconvincing interview on steroids not being a problem during the Michael Kay show on 1050ESPN last week) however I’m a baseball fan, and i love the game, so i would much rather talk about the on field events rather than chime out yet another story on steroids, that people are getting very bored of hearing about.

Derek Lee, one of the most loved Cubs was asked for his opinions not only on A-Rod but on steroid users in general, and here is his reply:

“There should be zero tolerance,” Lee said. “We’ve had plenty of warnings. There’s no excuses. You get caught now, there should be no sympathy and you do your time.”

“I think a year is — if you got banned, I wouldn’t feel sorry for a guy,” he said. “Maybe if some guy got caught and truly didn’t know what he was taking, in that instance [it'd be different]. But if you’re taking steroids, there should be no sympathy.”

A scathing review by Derek Lee, who has admitted that he has been asked the point blank question of whether he took steroids, and even if he denies it, who is to believe him? Palmeiro denied it, Alex Rodriguez denied it. Every player in this era will be tarred with the same brush, if this was ‘the culture’ like Alex Rodriguez suggested in his interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, then who can we believe? that is the saddest part of this whole predicament, we simply don’t know who’s records are tainted and who’s are not.

Derek Lee is not the first person to come out and ask for harsher punishments, David Ortiz said that the punishment should be harder, Ozzie Guillen, the man who always has something to say also commented on it. I heard a fan call into ESPN yesterday, and her simple statement was, shut these players up!, i could not disagree more with this comment, if there are going to be changes to the punishment for steroid users, the players union is going to have to accept them, what better way to encourage this to happen than speak out agains’t the users. This ‘fan’ was telling players to be quiet, I would like them to be louder and more vocal on the issue.

With the Barry Bonds trial just around the corner, I’m afraid the steroid stories in the national and international media have only just begun.

Still, the Alex Rodriguez storm that has captured the baseball world had only confused the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

In Cliff Lee’s perspective, past is past, and the game should move on. Everybody should move on.

“It’s 2009, and they’re talking about things that happened in ‘01 through ‘03,” Lee said. “MLB has taken care of the steroid issue. We’re being tested.”
To put all things together, it was still Rodriguez’s failed test in 2003 that gained attention and national headlines throughout the globe; gaining infamous attention from normal baseball fans to the President of the United States.

Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt on the other hand, was so disappointed to learn the steroid use of A-Rob and has said that the slugger’s number should be erased.

Lee, in his own terms, said he doesn’t feel cheated. All he could afford was to shrug when asked about the issue.
“I personally don’t see it as bad as it’s made out to be,” said Lee, who has served up two of Rodriguez’s 553 home runs. “I like the fact that [Rodriguez] came out and apologized and was open about what he really did. I can respect that.

“I just have a problem with how they’re going so far in the past and bringing up old things. If you’re doing it now, you’re going to get caught. There’s no way around it. I have a problem with how people think it’s still an issue when it’s not anymore. It’s time to move on and just let the past be the past. It’s over with, as far as I’m concerned.”

Wow, what a coincidence…yet another person is pissed off at A-Roid…oh wait I meant A-Rod I swear.

Oswalt feels cheated, hey Oswalt, guess what? So do we! We as fans feel cheated just like you. Seriously we do. We paid to see the games too, we take the time to watch all of this, get over it pal. Sorry it may have cost you another 5 mill on your last contract that A-Rod got those “Timely” hits off of you.

I agree with Oswalt in some respects, but when you bring money into it, and loss thereof it turns into something totally different.

If Roy Oswalt had his choice, any player who was proven or admitted to, using performance-enhancing drugs, the Astros ace player said on Tuesday that the suspected players’ number would be erased from baseball history.

That is if his will is to be followed. Alex Rodriguez will be a part of that list, who on Monday admitted that he used the drugs after failing a drug test last 2003. Considered by many as the best player who ever played today, Rodriguez has 553 home runs, 1,606 RBIs. But Oswalt says Rodriguez is simply one those whose numbers should be stricken from the record.

“A-Rod’s numbers shouldn’t count for anything,” Oswalt said in a phone interview with MLB.com. “I feel like he cheated me out of the game.”
Oswalt said that he feels the same way to all players who have tested positive over the years. Although giving his teammate Roger Clemens the benefit of the doubt, and calling the allegations against him “suspicion”. But if proven guilty, Clemens’ number, along with all of his awards should be erased, said Oswalt.
He also said that he is bothered by those players who had tested positive in his era which spread to those players who are “clean”. Oswald entered the big league in 2001, winning 19 games in 2002 and 20 in both 04 and 05. He said everything without the help of PEDs, and that he despises cheaters.
“It does bother me,” Oswalt said. “Especially for the guys that went out there and did it on talent. We’re always going to have a cloud on us, and that’s not fair at all.

“The ones that have come out and admitted it, and are proven guilty, [their numbers] should not count. I’ve been cheated out of the game,” Oswalt continued. “This is my ninth year, and I’ve done nothing to enhance my performance, other than work my butt off to get guys out. These guys [who took PEDs] have all the talent in the world. All-Star talent. And they put times two on it.

“I’m going out there with the ability God gave me. They have that ability, too, and they’re putting something on top of it.”

Rodriguez admitted in an interview last Monday that he took performance enhancing drugs during this three year stay with the Rangers. That statement made Oswald even more furious since the Astros played against him a number of times when Rodriguez was taking the drugs during Interleague Play.
Rodriguez was 3-for-5 vs. Oswalt as a member of the Rangers, with two doubles, one home run, three RBIs and two walks. As a Yankee, Rodriguez was hitless in two at-bats versus Oswalt.

“The few times we played them, when he got hits, it could have cost me a game,” Oswalt said. “It could have cost me money in my contract. He cheated me out of the game and I take it personally, because I’ve never done [PEDs], haven’t done it, and they’re cheating me out of the game.”

Here we go again…A-Roid is stirring up trouble and controversy in the Yanks clubhouse. This really makes me wonder how the new guys are handling this situation… Sabathia, Texeira…Should they be worried too? I suppose time will tell.

After hearing Alex’s Rodriguez’s explanation after testing positive of using performance enhancing drugs, the Yankees are all but eager to help A-Rod move forward.

The Yankees broke media silence on A-Rod’s predicament just hours after the latter talked in an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons.
The statement reads: “We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the Commissioner to continually improve the testing process,”

“We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs.  We take him at his word that he was.  Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex — like all of us — is a human being not immune to fault.

“We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never truer than in times of adversity.  Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions.  We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season.”

Rodriguez stated that he had been in constant communication with Yankees officials and also with teammate Andy Pettitte, who also confessed of using human growth hormone almost one year ago.

Before Rodriguez’s interview was televised, shortstop Derek Jeter and catcher Jorge Posada told reporters from the club’s Himes Avenue Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. Both said that they support Alex.

“Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever,” Posada said. “I’m going to support him any way I can.”
Jeter uttered his concern that the results of the 2003 testing, which was supposed to be unspecified, gauged to see if a test was to be repeated the following year.

“They said when the Mitchell Report came out, ‘This is the end of it, everyone will move on,’” Jeter said. “Now we have this. What if something else happens? … The thing about the list that you’re supposedly concerned with is the fact that it was supposed to be anonymous.”
Both Jeter and Posada were asked if they were bothered that they might be included on the similar testing as Rodriguez’s, both Yankee player said they weren’t. “Why would I worry about me being on the list?” Jeter said. “I think that I’ve done things right,” said Posada, “and I don’t think I put anything on my body that could be positive on one of those tests.”

This season will surely be the time for A-Rod to face. In his interview still with Gammons, he spoke of the Yankees’ chances this 2009 season and is excited to play with new teammates CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. A-Rod also was relieved since he spoke about the three stained seasons with the Rangers.

“The most important thing for me in my career is to be honest and forthright, to go into my ‘09 season as part of the greatest organization in the world, as one of the guys to go out and try to reach our goal,” Rodriguez said. “And when you have that monkey on your back, it’s really hard to be the person that you know you can be. It’s hard to fulfill your potential that way.”

Issues concerning Alex Rodriguez would always be on a constant shadow for the league, whether it may be good, bad, or otherwise.

“The Yankee Years”, a 447 page book by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci should’ve sparked the not so entertaining days of Spring Training even if the CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira controversies weren’t interesting enough.

All of a sudden, no one is that interested in what was noted in the book: people in the clubhouse calling him “A-Fraud,” rumors of him opposing with Derek Jeter and the ever so popular peanut butter and jelly sandwich agenda

With Sports Illustrated’s shocking story last Saturday that ARod had tested positive for two anabolic steroids during his AL MVP season last 2003, current terms such as testosterone and Primobolan, is twisting the tale to another direction.

Although there were no penalties for testing positive during the 2003 survey, it is safe to say that Rodriguez is in no danger of a suspension that would deteriorate his 2009 season.

Rodriguez’s wealth is on the safe side as well: Sources told Sports Illustrated that the 10 year, $275 million contract is still on the go, since there is no word about the steroids news that would put Rodriguez on the line.

Is it safe to say that A-Rod is the complete package: All his potential as well as the shadows of controversies all molded into one person?

“No,” A-Rod said then. Sunbathing topless in Central Park, and scoring Madonna’s cell number can be one way to put it.

Torre praised Rodriguez for his work ethic, but at the same time commented on the latter for gaining too much attention in the clubhouse.

He also made it a point to note Rodriguez’s measures, although it is not always true. One thing is on the honest point though; A-Rod was indeed a steroid user.

A number of writers have already promised in print that they will not vote for Rodriguez as a Hall of Famer, according to a Sports Illustrated article. But with his contract not expiring until the end of 2017, decisions could very well be changed overnight, considering Rodriguez’s name should appear on the 2002 ballots.

With 553 home runs under his belt, Rodriguez only needs 210 more to surpass the record held by Barry Bonds, a likely feat that would soon be accomplished in the near future.

Instilled with his provocative actions is the media, wherein flocks of reporters, writers and not to mention critics going where the Yankees go, those responses is short lived since Alex Rodriguez is rumored to be in the Bahamas.

It was on a lone summer that Any Pettitte stole the limelight away from A-Rod. Before his teammates and the media, Pettitte apologized for his actions, which he described to be “stupid and desperate”.