Steroids

Should Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) be banned from playing Major League Baseball? Definitely not; he is the greatest hitter of his era (1994-2010). During the first 17 years of his career Alex has won 7 league Most Valuable Player awards and has appeared in 13 All-Star games. Statistically A-Rod has played in 2290 games accumulating 2660 hits, 608 homeruns, and 1817 runs-batted in while maintaining a .308 batting average (2). When statistically compared to one of the Top 10 hitters of all time, Mickey Mantle (1), A-Rod solidifies his ranking among the “greats”. In 1 more year and 111 more games, Mickey Mantle amassed 2415 hits, 536 homeruns and 1509 runs-batted in while batting .298. (2) Statistically there is no arguing that not only should Alex Rodriguez not be banned from MLB, but should be a definite first ballot Hall of Famer. Unfortunately more is considered than play on the field and statistics when voting player in to the Hall of Fame and cementing a players legacy in the sports history.

A-Rod has faced allegations of using performance enhancing drugs since infamous steroid user Jose Canseco mentioned his suspicions “Rodriguez's steroid use goes back to his teens, when he was a high school standout in Miami. I worked out with him when he was 18. He could lift almost as much as I could." (4) A-Rod has consistently denied the use of performance enhancing drugs, but none more memorable than his denial in a December 2007 interview with 60 Minutes. A-Rod was forced to confess his use from 2001-2003 two days after Sports Illustrated reported he tested positive for steroids (Primobolan and testosterone) in 2003, being one of 104 players who tested positive during baseball's survey testing, which wasn't subject to discipline.(3) This discovery and admission has many baseball fans and “experts” not respecting Alex Rodriguez’s baseball statistical accomplishments and records. They believe that by A-Rod’s use of performance enhancing drugs, he has cheated the game and...