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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > February > 11 > Entry
Rose gives his take on A-Rod
Pete Rose, his hair retreating and his waistline expanding, still knows how to hold a crowd in the palm of a fist that stroked 4,256 major-league hits.
And without being asked.
Rose, knowing his audience, launched into his feelings about the Alex Rodriguez situation Wednesday night at a VIP gathering at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Rose, the man banished from baseball for betting on the game, speaks this morning at the Community Leadership Breakfast to benefit the Miami Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America at the Mandalay Banquet Center.
In the middle of Rose’s off-the-cuff remarks, his cell phone rang and Rose playfully said, “Wait, that might be baseball commissioner Bud Selig. Let me check it.”
It wasn’t and he said, “Damn, I missed (re-instatement) again.”
Of A-Rod, Rose said, “I would have got 5,000 hits if I took steroids.”
Then talking seriously, he added, “Being my good and close friend, I was disappointed about A-Rod’s admission that he took steroids.
“I really thoughgt A-Rod and Junior (Ken Griffey Jr.) were the two of the greatest players out there today who were clean - that’s what I was led to believe.”
And Rose, who went on national TV to admit he bet on baseball after denying it for 15 years, was disappointed in some of the things A-Rod said during his confession on ESPN.
“I don’t quit understand how his name surfaced out of the 104 names (players who tested positively in 2003) and I don’t think that was fair,” Rose added.
“I guess we all want and need to know who they other 103 - and I guarantee you my name won’t be on that list.
Rose said some of A-Rod’s answers to questions put to him by ESPN’s Peter Gammons perplexed him.
“There was 700 tested and only 104 were found positive,” said Rose. “A-Rod said that was the culture back then and I don’t believe that.
“I understand him saying he had pressure on him after signing a $252 million contract (with Texas) to do well.
“Pressure? A lot of us are understanding in these times that pressure is signing a $250 contract, not $250 million.
“Hey, when you sign a $252 million contract, there are not a certain amount of home runs or a certain amount of games you have to win a certain amount of games,” Rose said.
“If he had pressure on him, I’d love to have that kind of pressure on me,” he said. “In the three years in question (2001-03), he averaged 52 home runs. The other 10 years he averaged 39.
Rose said he would vote for A-Rod for the Hall of Fame and likes his chances better than guys like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens because A-Rod has nine years remaining on his contract and has to wait five years after he retires to be on the ballot, “And in those 14 years guys writing now won’t be around.”
Of A-Rod’s contract, Rose laughed and said, “When I signed, I could cash my check at the nearest drug store.”
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Comments
By You are a low-life scumbag
February 13, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this
And, we should put Howie in some HOF for his x-rated female-attack; and his spelling abilities.By a fan
February 13, 2009 7:48 PM | Link to this
Donb … and if your idea of logic is what you wrote (Name ONE game where the outcome was arguably affected by Pete Rose betting on it. Name the game, the date, and the circumstances. If you can not pinpoint one, then you do not have a case), then you need to enter rehab and then get thee to a logic class because what you wrote is so incredibly stupid that it is hard to imagine. You know Donny, betting on baseball while managing or playing and one will be suspended for life. One doesn’t have to provide data to support a game was affected, the act of betting on a game while one can affect the outcome is the act that causes one to get suspended for life. So the fact that Rose bet on baseball IS THE CASE and MLB ALREADY MADE IT. You sound like a moron.By a fan
February 13, 2009 6:51 PM | Link to this
DonB - We wanted you to go away, not write more stupidity … you are really, really dumb. Thanks for the great post though, nice to know Religion has kept you … uh … balanced.By donb51
February 13, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
Wow, JB and “a fan”, you guys are so awesome. I bet you are so good at what you do that you can retire with all the money you make from your intelligence. You can not even understand a certain parallel argument without having to bring separation of church and state into the argument. I bet you can’t even see the irony of Tim Geithner being the Treasury secretary despite his tax cheating, or Bill Clinton being the Chief Law enforcement officer after lying under oath. Yet, BASEBALL is such a great religion that poor old Pete Rose can’t be inducted into the hall of fame because he did crap after he performed on the field. And you call me a dolt? You guys are just devoid of logic. Why don’t you go away? You have no tenure here, or authority for that matter. I laugh at your stupidity.By Chuck
February 13, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this
Larry - are you still making the dumb argument that steroids don’t make you hit better by stating that body builders and wrestlers can’t hit a baseball. They couldn’t do it before steroids either. That argument is so bad it is laughable. Steve thinks you have you head in the sand, I think you have your head somewhere else.By Will
February 13, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this
Speed will make you “hustle”By Gary Maloy Jr.
February 13, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with JB about Howie Feltersnatch. We’re all jonesing terribly, all itching for spring training to start. The guy behind the “Howie” is helping us through a tough period with his humor. Thanks man. I hope you have the wherewithall to protect that nick legally - if not, everybody will be using it before too long ;-)By Gary Maloy Jr.
February 13, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this
LOL reconstitution… I meant restitution.By Howie Feltersnatch
February 13, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this
Thanks JB just tryin to represent!By Gary Maloy Jr.
February 13, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this
To Mike, Feb 12, 1226pm: Yes, users can become steril, damage to internal organs is documented, and the roids make users more aggressive (Clemons bat-toss, maybe?). But not all users were hitters. Many (most? - we’ll never know) were pitchers. And I’ve read some say that they took the roids to shorten the reconstitution time from one pitching outing to the next. Starting pitchers could throw more innings, relievers could give it all they had day-after-day. I’d love to see the names of the 104 guilty, and I’d love to compare their stats with the innocent. But unfortunately, stats don’t always tell the truth. For example, Griffey and A-Roid: First, the guilty: 156 HOMERUNS over 485 GAMES 156 in the seasons 2001-2003 (Alex was 26-27-28 years old during these seasons.) At the same age (plus one year; Griffey played in only 72 games the year he was 26), Junior hit 161 HOMERUNS over 458 GAMES. In another words, more home runs in fewer games. It is universally accepted that Junior is/was clean. Do the stats lie? An anomoly? Or is it simply that Griffey is the better player - even better than a juiced A-Roid? I choose to think so. But, I’d still like to explore the other 103 guilty and compare their numbers were comparable players who didn’t use the steroids.By Mike-Cinci
February 13, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
I agree with the comment that none of us are perfect and we all do some things that may not be right. That said none of us should be excused from suffering the consequences of bad behavior. Pete Rose knew what he was doing. He knew it was wrong. He accepted the ban from baseball for his actions. The evidence in the Dowd report was over whelming. He regularly associated with questionable characters some of whom had connections to organized crime figures. He did not pay his gambling debts. He did not pay his taxes. Pete denied everything for 15 years until he needed money and wrote a book to admit some of his misdeeds. There is nothing wrong with writng the book. We live in a wonderful country where people are permitted to make an honest living. Pete has accepted the consequences of his action like a man. He is a joy to listen to when he talks about baeball. He remembers everything. He made many gambling mistakes as a manager, some it possibly as a player/manager, and he is suffering the consequences.By JB
February 13, 2009 12:13 AM | Link to this
Painful hemorrhoid is a pain in the butt. And donb51 with that stupid jezus comment puts him in a class with franklin preacher. All a bunch of dolts. So is boxter usually. Now Howie Feltersnatch is awesome…best blog name ever!By Tom
February 12, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this
I don’t have a problem with A-Rod or anyone else being suspended for breaking the rules at the time of the testing but, I’d have to assume that he has passed more recent tests. Sounds like he deserves MLB to look the other way because of the rules in place in 2003. I’m not aware of any game or stat changed as a result of positive tests and I don’t see how the sport can go in that direction now, even though a former member of Bud’s team would benefit if we pretended games since Aaron retired don’t count. I’m disappointed in A-Rod and dislike the Yankees if you want but, a possible suspension for something that wasn’t in the contract subject to penalty at the time would unfairly impact the innocent player and innocent team ( rules in place then and team that wasn’t involved when this took place ).By ryan kahn..madison, IN
February 12, 2009 10:52 PM | Link to this
painfultruth..just so you know, like boxter…your an idiot….By a fan
February 12, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this
Donb51 - thanks for the useful post - a classic example of stupidity gone wild. Please go away.By donb51
February 12, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this
The real Painful Truth is that EVERYBODY (‘cepting Jesus) does stuff they know is wrong but they do it anyway - E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y - no exceptions ‘cepting the one I mentioned. It’s called L-I-F-E. Love it, live it, get over it - especially the gambling part. Name ONE game where the outcome was arguably affected by Pete Rose betting on it. Name the game, the date, and the circumstances. If you can not pinpoint one, then you do not have a case.By painfultruth
February 12, 2009 8:23 PM | Link to this
Boxter is correct. Ryan Khan needs to go back to grade school and learn math instead of nose-picking!By painfultruth
February 12, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this
Pot calling the kettle black. Pete knew gambling was wrong, but he did it anyway. Dumb jocks, all of them.By donb51
February 12, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this
For Mike: You said: “I’d think that steroids would make it difficult to hit the various pitches because hand-eye coordination and muscle mass doesn’t allow for much error.” Steroids enhances muscle mass and prevents the normal deterioration that detracts from a players consistency in maintaining that muscle-eye-brain coordination. If your muscles don’t break down then a player can maintain his optimum output for greater than normal periods of human endurance. Pete Rose had it right, had he been taken steroids, he would have had 5000 hits over his long career.By Big Daddy
February 12, 2009 5:39 PM | Link to this
Lyle Alzado died from a brain tumor HE said was a result from using steriods. Doctors have never linked the two together. His physican said it is not true. It is the biggest misued example when talking about steriod use.By Mike
February 12, 2009 5:33 PM | Link to this
I think the writers don’t always know what makes a player worthy of the Hall of Fame. I wouldn’t have a problem with Andre Dawson or Dale Murphy in the HOF. People drop dead from too much weight, too much work and, too much running. How long ago did Lyle Alzado die and why doesn’t everyone with prolonged use suffer the same fate? I don’t have a problem if you want to test everyone before every game but, if they are smarter than you/MLB, then baseball has to be content that they’ll get them next time. Frankly, if you had blood samples, I wouldn’t care if you tested back to the 18oo’s but, you still might know what effect it really had on a freak of nature that can do what very few others have done.I’d think that steroids would make it difficult to hit the various pitches because hand-eye coordination and muscle mass doesn’t allow for much error.By Big Daddy
February 12, 2009 5:12 PM | Link to this
Hey Pete, how many less hits would you have had if you didn’t cork your bat? What a clown this guy is. It’s not like steriods were invented in the 1990’s. It wouldn’t shock me one bit if that clown took steriods. Go dress up like the San Diego Chicken during a WWE match, clown. Whatever you do, shut your piehole.By ryan kahn..madison, IN
February 12, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this
Boxter….just to let you know…your an idiot.By Boxter
February 12, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this
To all the people that think 104 players is a small amount. Teams are made up of 25 players. That is equal to 4 COMPLETE teams would have been on roids. Folks, 104 out of 700 (15%) is a big number.By Mike
February 12, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
Bottom line, he got caught. He made a choice and the choice was to enhance his performance. He was aware of competion, he wanted an edge, he got it. His crutch was it was the “culture ” back then. So,much for his intergrity. “A-Fraud” fits him perfectly along with all the other idiots who chose to taint the great game for personal gain. Sad.By Boxter
February 12, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this
Pete would have used roids if he could have gotten them. This guy would do anything if he thought it would have gotten him another single. And yes he would have lied about it for 15 years. Rose was a great player but a very poor excuse as a person.By Steve
February 12, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
Mike who said “aren’t things supposed to fall off and people drop dead if you believe everything about steroids?” The answer is yes as we saw with Lyle Alzado if you remember him. At the end of the day though, my interest isn’t with their health, but how they have cheated the clean players. Look at the players who can’t seem to get into the HOF but had outstanding careers. Let me give you one example. Andre Dawson. I believe a big reason he hasn’t gotten in is because his numbers no longer look that stellar due to the steroid era of today. Dale Murphy is another guy. If Dawson took steroids, his body may have stayed healthier where he would have produced more. Now look at Barry Bonds. If you remember Bonds in the late 80s and early 90s, he was a good player, but not Superman. Don’t tell me that is numbers haven’t been inflated dramatically by steroids. There is your proof. As a former baseball coach, I know there are a lot of players who if they would have had that steroid edge they might have ran a little faster or thrown a little harder to where they would have gotten an opportunity over others. They were cheated because they played the game clean.By greg
February 12, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this
Pete Rose as an authority on which cheater should be HOF eligible? This man is a joke. Articles like this just give him another reason to think anyone cares about his opinion. Hey Pete, here’s a tip, BET that we don’t.By greg
February 12, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
Pete Rose as an authority on which cheater should be HOF eligible? This man is a joke. Articles like this just give him another reason to think anyone cares about his opinion. Hey Pete, here’s a tip, BET that we don’t.By Tom
February 12, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this
Baseball players do a lot of things because they think it will make them play better. Some of these doctors and trainers are employees of MLB teams and if they said something was a vitamin, then some players would take it without question. If A-Rod was allowed to play because MLB didn’t have any reason not to let him then it’s hard to say the $100 I spent on my ticket that night was a “just kidding” with player A counting but not player B. Rules may be skirted but, who’s to say they weren’t followed. If someone hit a 425 foot homer, how far would it have gone without the “help”? Perhaps, still far enough for a homer? What about the ones that took it when it wasn’t banned or tested for? Do they get a pass because of time? The whole thing may stink but, if you are eligible to play by rules of the contract then who’s fault is it?By Cait
February 12, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this
Good post Mike in Monterey. It’s funny Pete is upset someone like A-Rod is putting the game’s integrity at risk. Hello, Earth to Pete, so did you. I do agree with Pete in one respect - weren’t these tests supposed to be confidential back in ‘03? I have no sympathy for A-Rod, but it’s not fair for his promised privacy to be exposed. But despite the unfairness of it to A-Rod, I hope MLB does not reveal the others who were positive. I hope “confidential” still has some meaning. Don’t screw everyone else because A-Rod’s info got leaked.By Michael in Monterey, CA
February 12, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
Look, if steroids didn’t help or give one an advantage players wouldn’t use them. Selig is a hypocrit. He’s ignored the roid problem for so long his only option is to continue to ignore it and hope it goes away. (He’s doing a good job of it by the way). Gambling and drugs are both illegal and if you break either rule you jeapordize the integrity of the game-right comissioner? Are there different levels of integrity? You seem to think so. Rose gets a lifetime ban for betting through bookmakers and hanging around undesirables but drug users get chance after chance to continue their careers. Drug degenerates associate with undesirables too (the sellers), cheat themselves, the fans, and past and potential future record holders. Which hurts the game more? If you had to choose I’m sure you’d choose the former but I say the latter is worse. Rose cheated himself-roid users cheat everybody. And what about the kids? Aren’t they more likely to roid up if he thinks it will help get to the big leagues? A kid sees Rodriguez, Clemons, Sosa, Bonds and the rest and thinks hey, if it helped them it can help me too. Make no mistake- some kids will use because their heros use. I don’t think many ran to their local bookmakers to lay a sawbuck on the hometown team because Pete Rose did. Someone tell me where I’m wrong.By m
February 12, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this
I would love to see Pete get into the hall for his playing days. Should he banned from gambling as a manager? I think so. What about a rod. he should be thrown out for lying. His numbers are like the others using roids. However he is abig name and baseball needs players like him to sell tickets. Same thing with Michael Phelps. If a player wants to do drugs or roids fine. Pay the price by not being part of the sport.By michael
February 12, 2009 1:48 PM | Link to this
just reading about Strawberry’s new book…nothing we adults didn’t know, but it seems that Baseball has become a circus. The worst part is that it’s right in the face of our kids now. We didn’t hear all of this nonse about our “heroes” when we where kids.By Kay
February 12, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this
A-Rod and his ilk—plus the greedy owners, who want taxpayers to fund their new stadiums to replace stadiums often only 30 years old—are why I have given up on Major League Baseball. I will not pay to enrich any of these people or to see them play.By Tom
February 12, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this
Hal, I wish I had Bud Selig’s email. Seems that he wants to play God. When did steroids start, when were they tested for? What were the penalties? Were pep pills ever banned? Did Bud’s former employee ever take them? Is that why he wants Aaron at the top? He can make a fraud of baseball by going back to the 1800’s or he can correct the wrongs of the past and move on. I won’t pay for something that he makes a mockery of by pointing at a select few. Frankly, I don’t care what these guys take as long as they abide by the rules and accepting they’ll try to gain a competitive edge with a new generation of drugs.By Mike
February 12, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this
Would it be too much to ask Griffey, Jr. to allow his results to be publicized? If he’s clean like he claims (and I believe he is, out of pure hope and trust) then he would probably vault to the top as one of our most respected players.. something we fans could really use right now.By Mike
February 12, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this
Steve, aren’t things supposed to fall off and people drop dead if you believe everything about steroids? Apparently, 15% tested positive in 2003. How many didn’t get caught ( false reading, no testing or lucky timing )? So, everyone on ‘roids hit for what average? Everyone hit how many homers? Had to be roughly the same if it had the same effect. Now, for the pitchers…By Steve
February 12, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this
Larry- If you don’t believe that steroids gives one an advantage, you have your head in the sand. Common sense should tell you this. Otherwise, why do players lift weights? My point is that you just have to look at how many hit balls that normally would have been short flies to the second baseman, or long flies to the warning track are now turning into hits because of the additional distance the ball travels due to the extra steroid strength. I have only talked about hitting. They make you faster, and obviously they give you the ability to throw harder. They also add danger to the game. Remember Clemens throwing the broken bat at Piazza? Now we understand why?By Larry
February 12, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this
Where’s the proof that steroids help you hit better? Can wrestlers, body builders, and NFL lineman hit or pitch 100 mile an hour fastballs? Can they hit homeruns on a consistant basis. McGwire didn’t make a secret of taking andro, he thought it helped him from breaking down and it wasn’t banned at the time. Pete’s pep pills were meant to keep those guys going as the season dragged on ( it didn’t help him hit, so what? ). The greatest moment in baseball was Kirk Gibson’s World Series homer. The medication allowed him to stand up, didn’t help the hit but, can you say the injection didn’t make it possible. The best year in the history of baseball was the McGwire-Sosa home run chase. Okay, shame on them…shame on baseball…shame on us. I’d like to see 100 homers in a year, follow the rules and let the fun begin.By Old Man
February 12, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this
So Pete’s sure his name won’t be on a list of 104 steroid users in MLB in 2003? Duh! He might bemoan the use of steroids now, but you can bet he’s kicking himself he didn’t use them in his era. The guy is as believable as ever.By Steve
February 12, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this
To Howie: As a fan, I understand your point, but as a professional wannabe I disagree. Although A-Rod would have made to the big leagues regardless, there are countless players on steroids that are very marginal. How many other marginal players that chose not to use steroids never got the opportunity to compete for that roster spot because they were beat out by the steroid induced cheater? I would like to see these folks sued for damages by those who just missed making it.By michael
February 12, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this
Gary- I did look it up, you are correct on someone’s account. Regardless, I know speed won’t make you a hit better. Doesn’t make it right but its not steroids. The HOF is based solely on stats….we all know what steroids will do for your stats.By Boxter
February 12, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Rose, ARod, McGuire, Bonds They are all the same…..LIARS. They should never ever be in the HOF.By michael
February 12, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this
Gary- where can I find that confession? I would like to see for myself. Regardless, it doesn’t make you hit better and that is what Pete did…Hit. I know people who did speed in my organized playing days, and didn’t make them play better.By Howie Feltersnatch
February 12, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
I don’t care let any player who wants to risk there health have at it. Imagine it 50 homer seasons would be normal 1000 lifetime “chicks dig the longball”. Please don’t preach to me about the sanctity of the game because that is a bunch of BS.Spitballs, corked bats, grooming the mound, cutting the grass at different heights, ballparks with different diminsions,”legal supplements”,the list of “competitive advantages” is endless.I will continue to go root for the Reds even if there starting lineup is full of mongaloids with shrunken testicles. I love baseball, going to the ballpark with my buddies and whatever these guys put in there bodies is of no concern to me!Put Pete in the HOF along with McGuire and on the plauqe along with there accomplishments it should also list there mistakes. Parents should be the ones instilling in there children what a real hero is. It should not be juiced ballplayers anymore than it should be drug addled rock stars or mysoginist rappers.By Gary Maloy Jr.
February 12, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
To Micheal: Pete has admitted popping ‘greenies’ during his playing career. I believe these were amphetimines. Pete wasn’t perfect. Far from it. He was - and is - human.By michael
February 12, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
In every thing I have ever read about Pete Rose, he is completely anti-drug and alcohol. He was naturally driven….obsessed with Baseball.By Tom
February 12, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
Although Barry Bonds is the best player of my lifetime, I fully expect that A-Rod will pass him by at some point. 104 tested positive so, it isn’t exactly a small percent of players. Of the first one hundred that tested positive, it was split down the middle between pitchers and hitters. Keep them out if you like ( HOF has no credibility without Pete and I don’t care who’s in or out ) but, don’t vote ANYONE in until 25 years after retirement so any possible test can be redone to make sure they were clean, too.By Roscoe
February 12, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this
Let see “Rose” gets banned for life for betting on baseball. Afraud Roidriquez and numerous others have been cheating for years and not only are they not banned, but some of them will probably still make the Hall of Fame. This is why I don’t follow baseball anymore. I can’t stand the hypocricy of it and to say the Commissioner and others didn’t know about it???? I say B.S………..By Will
February 12, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
Didn’t Rose admit to taking amphetamines while playing? He’s got no room to talk.By rj
February 12, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this
Don’t really care about major league “professionals” anymore. They have ruined a game. Don’t get me started on “beat” writers (wannabe Pulitzers)…..I’ll support high school kids that play the game for the love of the game and competition with their peers.By LWT
February 12, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this
A-Rod should resign as he is a embarrasment to proffessional baseball.By Pete
February 12, 2009 7:27 AM | Link to this
Ryan… hope you get your wish because I’d love to see the Reds get back to the playoffs. Don’t see it happening, though. Gotta disagree w/ ya about their pitching staff — at best they’re in the bottom half of the Nat’l League & majors. Hope I’m wrong when I say (AGAIN) the Reds won’t finish .500 or better (AGAIN) in 2009. As for A-Rod, et al…. I’ve no compassion, sympathy, empathy, blah, blah, blah for any pro athlete in any sport anymore when it comes to ‘roids, cheating, or whatever else they do. They make way too much money for what they do & when they boldly lie about what they do behinds the scenes, it’s total BS. Pete, while my all-time favorite player, is no better for what he did by betting on the game. To say all of it is sad is a gross understatement.By B-dub
February 12, 2009 6:43 AM | Link to this
At the end of the day, the average fan does not care nor did baseball. Baseball needed excitement for the post-1994 strike era. The fans were drawn back to the game for the home run chase of McGwire and Sosa. Sure the purist loves a pitching dual and a 1-0 game. However, long balls and high scores sells more tickets. Lastly, this is not just a baseball-thing. Every athlete pushes the limit to perform at a higher level. The “stimulus” simply changes from era to era: alcohol, coke, speed, PED…By photoman
February 12, 2009 6:35 AM | Link to this
Rose is just as bad as A-Rod and all; they broke a well known well published law.By Ryan Kahn.-Madison, IN
February 11, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this
A-Fraud is a candy a*s and i loved it when Varitek snatched him up at home plate back in the day. The dude really does make me hate the Yankees even more now that he plays there. I’m not sure why but I always had this feeling about him that didn’t settle right with me. It seems he takes the game for granted or something? He thinks he’s bigger than the game and I got new for ya A-fraud…your not. No one is..not Bonds McGwire or any other of the cheaters. Hal..please try and help make sense of why they let these cheaters play and continue to be in baseball but they wont let Rose back on the bench? Why is that. If Pete doesn’t get a hitting coach job or a radio job then they need to banish steroid users from the game also. Somebody got all those hits…the clean way..not by cheating. Hell, most of those guys back then didn’t even lift weights? Go Reds…we’re going to the playoffs this year with the best pitching staff in baseball…yeah i said it…write it down. I owe you a hot dog Mr. McCoy…dont forget!By RonnieO
February 11, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this
None of them are getting in, coach.By coach 24
February 11, 2009 9:28 PM | Link to this
sosa, arod bonds all in the hall before pete… thats a sure bet and we wonder why baseball is not americas game any more go reds and take the bengals with youBy coach 24
February 11, 2009 9:28 PM | Link to this
sosa, arod bonds all in the hall before pete… thats a sure bet and we wonder why baseball is not americas game any more go reds and take the bengals with you