Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. That is very disappointing for sure, but I for one need more information. 5% of players were using performance enhancing drugs at that time. Why is he the only one being called out? Did he continue this after 2003? I mean has he been using steroids all along?
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Alex play baseball in person, but he is an amazing player. He has stood out from his peers at every level he’s ever played at. Physically he’s gotten bigger, but his numbers have been pretty consistent all along. Matter of fact after his rough 2006, he dropped some weight and bulk before his MVP 2007 season. Is it possible to get leaner and trimmer on the roids?
I have followed his plight for years now, and I will be very bummed if I find out he has been using all along. However if it comes out that this was a short term thing, I could very easily get past it. Alex has always been a guy who’s searching for something. I’m not sure if it’s acceptance, adoration or just a place that he belongs. I think he’d try a lot of things to find that something.
So let’s hope he just made a bad choice in 03-04. You know what sucks? Josh Hamilton can make several bad choices, but since it didn’t effect the integrity of the game, he was able to come back and be viewed as a hero. For some reason Alex has never been viewed as human, even though he proven to us many times that he is just that.
There is something that really upsets me about all this though. Why now? Americans need to question the media more and this is definitely one of those times. Why is this story coming out now? Why is Alex the only one being thrown to the wolves? Also did the union break the agreement to keep these records anonymous, or did somebody get too much access during the feds investigation?
I guess what bites the most is just when we are all getting excited about baseball, this is what we’ll have to hear about for a long time. The steroids era happened. Will we ever be able to move on from it? Will I be able to cheer for Mr. Rodriguez when he hits his 800th homerun? (as long as it’s not against the Rays of course)
Rays fans should be happy since their spring training should be pretty quiet and might actually focus on baseball. The whole media circus will be in Tampa. Speaking of Yankees fans…there is one that I’m pretty sure has never touched the roids. Jane Heller is a fellow blogger who’s book Confessions of a She-Fan has just hit the shelves. The girls at We’ve got Heart have an excellent interview with her as part of their Women in Baseball series. If you have extra time the whole series is definitely worth a look.