Bud Selig May Suspend A-Rod

With the Red Sox reporting to camp Thursday, we've officially reached the time when the baseball offseason comes to an end, and we can finally start getting ourselves ready for another season. Of course, for Alex Rodriguez, he's probably not looking forward to this spring at all. He knows that over the next few weeks he's probably going to spend more time this spring answering questions about his steroid use than fielding ground balls.

He's also probably wondering what kind of punishment he may receive from baseball for his steroids admission, if any. Will he be suspended for a period of time? Well, according to commissioner Bud Selig, there's a chance. Apparently Selig is pondering what he wants to do with Rodriguez.

In an interview with USA Today, Selig was asked if he would consider suspending the three-time American League MVP after Rodriguez told ESPN on Monday that he had juiced from 2001 through 2003 when he played for the Rangers.

"It was against the law, so I would have to think about that," Selig told the paper. "It's very hard. I've got to think about all that kind of stuff."

Hey, Bud? It shouldn't be very hard to decide at all. Exactly what laws did Rodriguez break? As far as I can remember, Rodriguez admitted to taking steroids from 2001 to 2003. Baseball didn't even start testing for steroids until the "anonymous" tests that the players took that resulted in his positive, and there were no rules in place regarding suspensions until 2004.

I'm pretty sure you can't punish somebody for doing something that wasn't illegal at the time, so I hope that makes your decision a little easier.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-12-2009 @ 12:02PM

chaspeace said...

When he says "illegal" I believe he's referring to US law, not MLB rules.

I don't think suspension for something done in 2001-2003 is the answer. 104 players tested positive. If A Rod is suspended, those players should be as well, but how could they be? They were guaranteed anonymity by MLB when they took the tests. A Rod has done nothing more - as far as MLB knows - than he did then, expect admit to use publicly. Punishing him now would only deter others from admitting to using.

I'm no A Rod or Yankees fan (Red Sox here). But fair is fair. Selig is a disgrace, imho. He should resign as he's in way over his head.

2-12-2009 @ 1:08PM

Bob said...

Why is it the fact that steroids are a banned substance in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA always brushed under the rug like it's an insignificant little detail, or in Mr. Fornelli's case, flat out missed? Even the ones that aren't illegal are still controlled, and you must have a legal prescription to possess or use them. Why is it in the hands of a SPORTS commissioner in the first place, and not in the hands of a POLICE commissioner? I'm not singling out A-Rod for punishment, and I don't thnk the league should, either; I'm just wondering why an athlete using cocaine, on the same list as being a controlled substance, will get arrested, but a steroids user is left up to the sports world to punish.

2-12-2009 @ 2:08PM

KGold40341 said...

I'm a Red Sox fan who has no love for the Skankees and A-Fraud in particular but I don't see how Selig can suspend him when he came clean (got outed) and not do anything about the anonymous 103? Selig should be suspended for letting the situation get out of control in the first place,as from "deregulation". As long as McGuire, Sosa, Bonds, et al. were putting up big #'s and growing the 'bottom line' he looked the other way. Now there are so many legal and ethical ramifications he has totally lost control of the situation! Selig should suspend himself!!

2-12-2009 @ 2:12PM

mikerat42 said...

Selig is a HOOPLE of the first order...
Between Selig and the Union, it's a wonder that MLB survives @ all....

2-12-2009 @ 2:53PM

melcher438 said...

Hey Bud, just suspend yourself. You've been turning a blind eye to ALL the scandals in Baseball AND getting paid an obscene amount of money to do that. Go back to sleep you old goat!!