Is A-Rod Even a Hall of Famer Anymore?
Every baseball fan knows that Alex Rodirguez admitted to using PED’s from 2001-2003, but of any player that had a chance for redemption it was A-Rod. He was the MVP. He was the youngest player to reach 500 home runs. He was the player who many would define as the “perfect” player. Rodriguez was going to be the one that would make a run at 700 home runs and even go for the all-time home run record. Would breaking that record be enough for him to un-tarnish his name? That’s what the fans wondered. They will wonder no more.
Rodriguez among with many other big name players, including Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, and Gio Gonzalez, were all linked to Miami doctor Anthony Bosch. Bosch’s records were released by the Miami New Times on Tuesday showing that Bosch had provided players with PED’s including HGH. With this news, it’s hard to believe in the adage of “innocent until proven guilty”, not in the age of Lance Armstrong denying use for years and finally coming clean. It’s especially damning to Rodriguez who may have continued using or at least bought PED’s since his admission in 2009.
With this news, it’s clear to me that Alex Rodriguez will never be a Hall of Famer. He can finish his career with 700+ home runs, win two more World Series rings, even take home another MVP, but he won’t be enshrined in Cooperstown. We have a Hall of Fame player that was busted for PED’s in his career in Rafael Palmeiro that is barely hanging on to the ballot. Sluggers like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa with A-Rodesque power numbers that can’t even sniff the 75% needed to get enshrinement. Even if Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens break down the suspected steroid user wall and get plaques in Cooperstown, it’s not going to be enough for Rodriguez.
When it comes to PED’s and Cooperstown it’s not three strikes and you’re out. For Alex Rodriguez, two strikes is more than enough. The real problem lies in the $325 million that A-Rod has already made in career, with another $104 million on the way.
-Bryan Mapes (@IAmMapes)
Three Up, Three Down 