In Defense Of Steroids: Manny Ramirez Edition

You can read my original post defending steroid usage in baseball here

Now if anyone had turned on their T.V. in the past few hours, I'm sure they are well aware that one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Manny Ramirez, has tested positive for steroids. Now I was all for giving players a free pass in the court of public opinion if you used steroids before 2003. I understand that EVERYBODY seemingly was doing it and if all these people around you are doing something, it's extremely hard for you to resist temptation. Again, I don't excuse their actions 100%, but I can see where their coming from. If parents don't tell their middle schooler or high schooler about the dangers of underage drinking and drug usage, then you shouldn't get mad when they get arrested one night with a DUI. Same thing here. These players weren't warned about the dangers of what they were doing and saw no negative consequences for their action until years later.

But those consequences did come. A handful of sluggers linked to steroids were summoned to Congress to testify. They vehemently denied all allegation. After that, the public never forgave those athletes for what they had done. This materialized in the fact that Mark McGuire has never come close to becoming a Hall of Famer. So after that, why do players still use steroids. Braves prospect Jordan Schaffer used steroids in the minor leagues last year, but he did it to earn a spot on a major league roster. But Manny Ramirez? The guy was great all throughout his career. Even if he did use steroids to put up all those good numbers, it's silly to continue usage.

Manny just signed a two year deal with the Dodgers. A big factor Manny signed in LA was because, really, no other team wanted him. Manny put up great numbers in the past two months of baseball to warrant big contracts from clubs. But no other teams would bite. So when Manny did sign a two year deal, and probably would have ended his career soon after that. So why still use steroids? Even if he sucks the next two years, it wouldn't matter but I can't imagine him going to another team anyway (at least not for the money he wanted) and he still would get his money no matter his performance. A-Rod can sort of cop out and use the expectation/ big contract card, but Manny can't (although granted he hasn't). Frankly, after the steroid policy is baseball was set in place, I can not excuse anyone, especially Manny's actions.

Now I still contend Manny should be in the Hall of Fame. Even if he used steroids his entire career in the MLB, he still had great plate recognition and a great swing. And although he might not have hit as many HRs as he did, he still would have had a shit ton under his belt. Not only that, but I'm sure the vast majority if pitchers were juicing too. If a juiced hitter hits a HR off of a juiced pitcher, isn't that still the same and if neither did steroids? Now I know I'm going to unfortunately have to hear a lot about this on ESPN over the next couples weeks (hell if ManRam's contract negotiations lasted months, I can't imagine where this is going...), but please ESPN, for the love of Jesus, stop promogulating steroid usage!!!