TheSportsReporterNY’s Blog

Alex Rodriguez is embroiled in the latest steroid scandal to rock MLB. Admits use during 2001-2003 seasons.

Let me start by saying this: Alex Rodriguez is guilty of testing positive for steroids in 2003- that I believe. I believe he knowingly took them in an attempt to get a competitive edge, and that it probably contributed to his incredible 2002 season (where he clubbed 57 HRs-his career best). I’d say based on the information we’ve received, that its safe to assume that A-Roid was juicing from 2001-2003, his entire career with the Rangers. While I don’t agree with his decision, I can understand why he chose to go in that route. (Before you jump all over me, yes I am a Yankee apologist, and YES I am backing A-Rod because he is a Yankee, but I have also made this argument for Bonds)

 If you look at the landscape of the MLB through the steroid era, it is quite obvious that juicing was rampant (the Mitchell report tells us that). This rampant steroid use did two things: #1-It forced the marginal players to juice because its the only way they could stay in the big leagues. #2- it caused the mega stars (who were truly great: Bonds, A-Rod) to juice because they were witnessing pedestrian ballplayers (McGwire, Sosa etc) achieve numbers that they were not worthy of, so naturally they wanted in on that action.

Also, A-Rod came into a team that seemed to be a haven for steroid users. When he joined Texas, he played with the likes of Canseco & Palmerio, as well as plenty of other juicers. He found himself right in the eye of the storm. If you couple that reality with the fact that he was under enormous pressure from signing his record 10-year $252 million contract (and years of watching inferior ballplayers steal his shine), you can easily understand why he turned to the juice. That is not a justification by any means, just an insight into his possible thought process.

I do not believe that this will prevent him from getting into the Hall of Fame, and I believe that it shouldn’t. First, I don’t think that he was juicing prior to 2001, nor do I believe that he has juiced after 2003. What evidence do I have to support my claim? I turn to the best evidence ever, the numbers.

Alex Rodriguez has always put up spectacular numbers, but there has only been one statistical jump in his career that would indicate performance enhancing, and oddly enough (although I guess it isn’t that odd lol) it coincides with his positive drug test. From 1996-2000 he was fairly consistent, averaging just under 37 homeruns per season (36.8 to be exact), with his high at 42 and his low at 23. That is phenomenal, particularly for a shortstop, but it’s not eye popping enough to raise serious suspicion of steroid use. The big jump came in 2001, his first year in Texas. From 2001-03, Rodriguez averaged 52 homeruns, a dramatic increase. This was originally attributed to Arlington being a HR friendly park (which it is, especially in the summer, the ball just flies out of that bandbox), although we know better now- he was juicing.

All of this takes us to 2003, when he tested positive for steroids in what was supposed to be anonymous tests. He was subsequently notified of his positive test, and informed that random testing would be implemented in 2004. That meant if he got caught again, he would be subject to public humiliation, as well as disciplinary action from MLB in the form of fines and suspensions.

It is my position that he immediately STOPPED juicing before the 2004 season (his first in NY). I am not making this case because I am a Yankee fan (though it is ultra-convenient) , the numbers actually back me up. In his first three seasons with the Yankees (presumably off the juice) A-Rod averaged 39 homeruns, a dramatic drop in power from the 52 he averaged in the previous 3-year span. In that time period, MLB had drastically improved its steroid testing, so much that it is now regarded as the toughest in American sports. He has been randomly tested since 2004 and has come up clean. He was also part of the 2006 World Baseball Classic, which held its participants to the international standard of drug testing, which is more invasive than MLB testing. He was clean throughout. Before his 2007 season (where he hit 54 homeruns) he reported to camp 10 pounds lighter, as he felt he put on too much weight in 2006 (which manifested itself in a poor defensive year from A-Rod when he committed a career high 24 errors).

I say all of that to say this. Alex Rodriguez is still one of the greatest ballplayers of any generation, and it is a shame that the culture of baseball was so polluted that it corrupted a guy who didn’t need to juice into using steroids. I am not defending his decision, but I refuse to get on the moral high horse and judge him. The athlete is always looking for an edge, and if they can get it and think they can get away with it, you better believe they’ll do it (Bob Gibson is on record saying that if steroids were available to him in his career he would’ve taken it without a doubt). This whole era is a black eye on baseball, but we shouldn’t be engaging in this witch hunt.

Rodriguez needs to admit to his use on day one (and use this blog as a guide to how he should go about it lol), answer any and all questions during an hour long press conference, and then get on with the business of putting together an MVP year. If he hits 50 HRs while leading the Yankees into October, all of this will be forgotten.