Kuzul

After hearing that Tampa Bay Rays slugger Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs for the second time in three years, I started to wonder…

“Should we let steroid users into the Hall of Fame?”

I think the answer is, yes, we should.  Now before I get bashed and people tell me I am not a real fan of the game, hear me out on why I think it is time to accept this “cheating.”  For the longest time I was against this but recent events have changed my opinion.

Since the adoption of the drug policy, we have seen some big name players connected with performance enhancing drugs.  Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire just to name a few.

While there are many more who have been linked to steroids, just the names listed above would make one hell of an All-Star team.  Of those that I just named, at least eight were a lock to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

After seeing all of these names, I think we should let these players into the Hall of Fame, and here are the reasons why:

Everyone is doing it…

While I know I am generalizing when I say “everyone” you have to realize that there are more players using PED’s than you would have originally thought.  I know there have been players that have stayed away from any accusations such as Derek Jeter, Jim Thome, Chipper Jones and Ken Griffey Jr., but it does not mean they have not done them.

Now don’t get me wrong, I would be crushed if I ever found out Jeter or Griffey used steroids, but just because we don’t think they haven’t, doesn’t mean they have.  There have been 25 different players suspended since the drug policy was introduced, now we can’t really believe that they are the only ones who have used PED’s, can we?

Bud Selig knew what was going on…

Bud Selig is as hypocritical as it gets.  After the strike-shortened season in 1994, the MLB had lost a lot of fans and they were in need of something that would help drive ticket sales.  Alas, the Summer of ’98, when McGwire and Sosa both chased Roger Maris’ single-season home run record of 61.  Both players ended up breaking the record, McGwire finished the season with 70 home runs, and Sosa finished with 66.  Then in 2001, Bonds once again broke the record by hitting 73.

As dumb as Selig may look, he is a smart business man.  He knew that fans loved to see home runs, so why take that luxury away from the people who were paying your salary?  He allowed players to do whatever it took to bring in money for both the league and themselves.  After doing some research, I found that these steroids stay in your system anywhere from four days to 18 months.  So even if a player had stopped before the testing started, it is possible he could have tested positive.

So I ask you, can a player be punished for doing something that he was allowed to do?

Some PED’s are actually being used to heal injuries…

Andy Pettitte made this claim when he was caught using HGH.  He claimed that he used the HGH to heal an existing injury so he could get back on the field faster.  Someone like Pettitte has always been viewed as a professional and a great teammate.  However, he seems to get a “free pass” on his usage because he owned up to it and because it was to heal an injury.

I am a huge fan of Pettitte but how come other players can’t be using the PED’s for the same reason?  Many people are going to say, “none of the players being accused had serious injuries.”  Then I point out, maybe it is because of the drugs that they did not have the injuries.

Someone is considered a “team player” if they take a discount to play for a team or if they constantly play hurt because it will help the team, so why isn’t someone a team player if they want to stay healthy and on the field and help them win?

We cannot leave these players out of the Hall of Fame…

Is it really the Hall of Fame if some of the greatest hitters to ever live are not inducted? 

For example, Bonds was a Hall of Famer before he started taking steroids, he had already collected three NL MVP Awards, countless All-Star games, and was one of the best players of the ’90s.  He finished his career with seven NL MVP Awards, 762 home runs—which is the all time record—14 All-Star games, eight Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Sluggers and two batting titles.

Can we really leave the all-time home run leader out of the Hall of Fame?

The same goes for Rodriguez.  In 2009, he admitted to using PED’s while he was with the Texas Rangers.  A-Rod was supposed to be the one who broke record and would go down as the greatest player to ever live.  While his legacy is definitely tarnished, should a player who has three MVP Awards, over 600 home runs, 13 All-Star games, two Gold Gloves, 10 Silver Sluggers and a World Series Championship, be kept out of the Hall of Fame for using steroids for three years?

And before anyone says “you can’t prove that he used them for only three years.” I point out that he has not failed a test since the drug policy has been adopted.

Five years ago, Clemens was arguably the greatest pitcher to ever live and now he is fighting just to stay out of jail.  While again, I am not condoning the use of PED’s, I think players are being unfairly judged.  Clemens was pitching to guys who were using PED’s, so where is the advantage?  He won 354 games to go along with seven Cy Young Awards, can you really say no to him?

While maybe this is just my personal opinion, I feel like we just have to accept what the players are doing.  We do not have to approve of it however, I do not feel like we can keep these players out of the Hall of Fame because then we do not have the “best of the best.”

The Hall of Fame is made to enshrine the best players the game has ever seen.  If someone is to say that these players are not some of the best that the game has ever seen, then they are not the real fan.

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When the Yankees found out they would be playing the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series, everyone in baseball figured Cliff Lee would be auditioning for his new team. 

He took the mound in Game 3 in New York and dazzled everyone in attendance with his eight innings of one-hit ball and added in 13 strikeouts as well.  I would say that is a pretty solid audition, wouldn’t you?

While the Yankees were upset in the ALCS, they had high hopes for the offseason—they would sign Cliff Lee and turn their attention to Carl Crawford.

Here we are two months later and neither of those things have happened.  In fact, things could not have gone worse for the Yankees.

Carl Crawford signed a lucrative seven-year deal with the rival Boston Red Sox and we received word late Monday night that Cliff Lee decided to return to the Phillies.

Now what?

We all know the Yankees have money to spend, but right now they may have more than usual.  They set aside a large chunk of change to sign Lee and possibly Crawford but with both players going elsewhere the Yankees are going to have to do something, and fast.

The Yankees are left with several “Plan B” options, none of which they ever thought they we have to resort to however, that nightmare has become a reality.  Here are some possible options they could explore.

Erik Bedard, 2010 Team: Mariners

Bedard has been a guy who has always had a ton of potential but has not lived up to it because of injuries.  He missed all of 2010 with a shoulder injury which is cause for concern, but he is a “low-risk,high-reward” type of guy.  In 2007, he set the Orioles single-season K/9 record with 10.93. 

The Yankees should consider signing Bedard to an incentive-laden deal full of performance bonuses.

Carl Pavano, 2010 Team: Twins

Just kidding.

Brandon Webb, 2010 Team: Diamonbacks

Webb is a former Cy Young winner, has won at least 16 games three times, and like Bedard could be a steal for a team willing to give him a chance.  However, in Webb’s case, he has missed the last two seasons with a shoulder injury and his velocity has yet to get back where it was. 

However, he is a veteran guy who does not rely on his fastball as his “out” pitch and he induces a lot of ground balls which is just what Yankee Stadium needs.  Like Bedard, a contract would have to be incentive-laden and full of performances bonuses.  Webb could end up being one hell of a fifth starter.

Chris Young, 2010 Team: Padres

Young was a beast for the Padres in 2007, was solid in ’08, and was injured in ’09 and most of ’10.  However, in limited action in 2010, Young posted a 2-0 record with an ERA of .90.

Like Bedard and Webb, Young is only 31 years of age and could still have his best years ahead of him.  Young generally gets between 140-170 strikeouts and could be a nice compliment to Sabathia, Hughes and Burnett.

Andy Pettitte, 2010 Team: Yankees

Please God, don’t retire yet!  Pettitte has considered calling it a career however, with the season he was having before his injury I think he will return for one last run.  Pettitte was 11-3 with an ERA of 3.28 before he got injured.  The Yankees will really need to persuade him to hold off on retirement for one more year.

Brian Fuentes, Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier, 2010 Team: Twins

The Twins were given awful news when All-Star closer Joe Nathan injured his shoulder in Spring Training and was told he would miss the whole season.  However, Jon Rauch stepped in and was great and the Twins loaded up on bullpen help by acquiring Fuentes at the deadline and threw him into the mix with Crain and Guerrier. 

Fuentes has closer experience and is left-handed, while Crain and Guerrier have set-up man experience.  If the Yankees rotation is not very strong, they will need a solid bullpen to keep them in games.  I have more faith in Crain and Guerrier but the addition of any of these players will help solidify the pen.

I know Bedard, Webb, and Young all have injury histories but the Yankees do not have many options.  The Red Sox seem to be the team to beat in the AL now so the Yankees need to show they are willing to put up a fight.  Maybe none of these guys are the options that New York is looking for, perhaps they are looking to acquire a pitcher via a trade. 

The biggest name on the trading block has been Zack Greinke but could you imagine a guy who has anxiety issues pitching a Game 7 in New York?  Edwin Jackson‘s name has been involved in some talk but he is very inconsistent and the New York media would rip him up. 

The Rays are shopping Matt Garza but would not trade him to a division rival.  The Phillies are said to be shopping Joe Blanton and that would give the Yankees another innings-eater to join Sabathia.

Whatever the Yankees plan on doing, they need to do it fast.  They have yet to improve their team this offseason as they have just re-signed their own players.  They just signed Russell Martin but that does not help their pitching staff.  It may be tough to think about, but the Yankees window to win may be closing as they are getting older.

George Steinbrenner once said, “The Yankees don’t rebuild, they reload.”  Well unfortunately there may be only one shot left, so use it wisely.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox will have quite a few issues to address this off season.  While their offense has been a nice surprise this year, they still need to improve if they want to compete with the Yankees and Rays in the East. 

The strength of this team was supposed to be their pitching staff however, it has been very inconsistent.  This rotation was expected to be the best in baseball, but in reality, it has been average.  Not to mention the bullpen has been a complete disaster.

I will suggest a few moves that the Sox should and could make this off season.  Feel free to comment and give your suggestions.

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