A-Rod Tested Positive For Steroids

In 2003, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids.

Wow. This is kind of surprising. Well, believers of Jose Canseco should not be surprised.

This certainly changes things. I remember when Barry Bonds passed Aaron, people were talking about how much of a shot A-Rod had at passing Bonds. I, for one, was rooting for A-Rod to pass him, because I thought A-Rod was clean. Now, I don't really know what to think. It definitely is surprising because he doesn't look as though he took steroids. He also has denied using steroids in the past. To put him in the same category as Bonds is hard for me to do, only because I was hoping so much that A-Rod, this supposedly "clean" guy, could put some integrity behind the game, and the records. Now, it's just tainted.

Now, some of you may be wondering why I am so against steroid use. Let me set one thing straight: I am not taking away from the natural talent and hard work the players put in. It is difficult to hit a 95 mph fastball, or adjust your swing to hit a mid-80s breaking ball. However, taking steroids takes away from all the players that are clean and the hard work they put in. They have to work twice as hard to stay in shape and stay healthy. The best example of this is Ken Griffey Junior. He missed about 280 games between 2001 and 2006 due to injuries; injuries that could have healed faster had he been taking steroids. Using his career rate of 15.25 at-bats per homerun, and about 4 at bats a game, that gives him an extra 73 home runs or so, putting his total at 684. At only 39, he certainly would have a chance to pass Aaron. Perhaps if he had taken steroids, he would have a chance to pass Aaron.

The question now is where do we go from here. The player that was the hope of forgetting Bonds is now tainted. Are there any clean players there? Sure there are. Chances are that they aren't putting up 50+ Home Runs a year, but still put in a solid effort. I know where I am going from here though. I am still rooting for someone to pass Hank Aaron. I am still rooting for someone to beat Roger Maris' single season home run record of 61. Ryan Howard came close a few years ago; perhaps he can pass it this year.

RedSox fans must feel especially happy today, as they received even more fodder with which to taunt A-Rod. I can see the "Jeter injects A-Rod" signs now. It will also be interesting to see if he gets booed at Yankee Stadium. They booed him for going through a slump in the past; so booing him for this steroids cloud is not out of the question.

This amorphous steroids cloud taints anyone who is in it; just look at Mark McGwire. Mark McGwire has 500+ home runs, which is normally a punched ticket to the Hall of Fame, with 15 of the 24 members in the Hall, 5 active, and 3 not yet elligible to to in. Mark McGwire is the one remaining of that list. Whether or not this is indicative of how players such as Bonds, Sosa, and now A-Rod will be judged remains to be seen. Rafael "I never took steroids, period" Palmeiro is a member of the 500 HR club and 3000 Hit club; his Hall ticket is looking to be punched in 2010. If anything, he will prove the true litmus test for those caught in the steroids era.