3 Alleged MLB Steroid Users Who Belong In The Hall Of Fame

Published

1 year ago

February 9, 2022

(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

So far, MLB has refused to welcome players linked with steroids to the Hall of Fame.

Eventually, that needs to change, because everybody, including executives, fans, media members, and former players, celebrated their achievements during the steroid era.

MLB decided to ignore the issue for a long time, and now, some of the best players ever haven’t been able to go to Cooperstown.

These three are prime examples.

3. Alex Rodriguez

Besides Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez may have the most extensive and impressive statistical profile of those not yet in Cooperstown.

However, he just got 34.3 percent of votes during this past Hall of Fame round.

Why?

Not only did he use steroids and deny it, but he later admitted it, clashed with his team over his role in the Biogenesis scandal, and missed the whole 2014 season because of a related suspension.

Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, and other players in the steroid era weren’t caught and suspended.

You could say, however, that A-Rod did his time and his penalty.

He still deserves a place among the greatest, because he was one of the best in the league even before steroids grew in popularity.

He played in Seattle, Texas, and New York, and was a star everywhere he went.

Overall, he hit .295/.380/.550 with 696 home runs, 2,021 runs scored, 2,086 RBI, 329 stolen bases, and 113.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

Additionally, he won multiple MVP awards (three) and was one of the best right-handed hitters of his generation.

Silver Sluggers, batting crowns, Gold Gloves, RBI leads, 14 All-Star games…it may take a while, but A-Rod belongs in the Hall of Fame.

2. Roger Clemens

Clemens, like Rodriguez, Bonds, and many other stars of the steroid era, was already a monster before steroid allegations started to appear.

He won a record seven Cy Young awards, at least one with each team he played with: the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees, and the Houston Astros.

Clemens also leads all pitchers in history with 133.7 Wins Above Replacement, or WAR.

He finished his career with a 3.12 ERA and more than 4,500 strikeouts.

He also won 354 games.

Oh, and he lifted a couple of World Series trophies with the Yankees.

He has a case to be considered the best pitcher in the history of the game, and even if he falls short, he is surely a top five arm.

He clearly belongs in Cooperstown.

Barry Bonds deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
So does Roger Clemens.
And Alex Rodriguez.
And David Ortiz.
If Bud Selig is in, then let everyone he enabled to use PED’s to get in as well.
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) January 25, 2022
Advertisement

1. Barry Bonds

Bonds is, quite likely, the best player ever to step on a baseball field.

Before any steroid allegations, he already had more than 300 home runs, almost 400 stolen bases, and multiple MVP awards.

He retired with seven MVPs, four more than his closest competitors.

Bonds broke two of the most celebrated records in MLB: most home runs in a career (762) and in a single season (73, in 2021).

He was known for his power-speed combo in his early days, but for his keen eye at the plate and prodigious power in his late years.

Baseball keeps punishing him for allegedly doing steroids at a time the league didn’t conduct consistent testing and virtually looked the other way for years.

Bonds was an incredible offensive force without substances.

He wasn’t the most pleasant teammate and there was a mutual hatred with the media, but talent is talent, and achievements are achievements.

And, as far as talent and achievements go, Bonds’ legacy is undeniable.

It’s 1 am. Barry Bonds is the best baseball player of our generation and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
— Jimmy Randazzo (@JimmyRandazzo) January 23, 2022

He certainly deserves to be enshrined eventually, and will have his next chance in December, when the Today’s Game committee meets and discusses his case.

The post 3 Alleged MLB Steroid Users Who Belong In The Hall Of Fame appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link

Related Topics:alleged belong Fame Hall MLB Steroid Users

Up Next

Liverpool vs. Leicester City prediction, odds, line: Expert reveals English Premier League picks for Feb. 10

Don't Miss

Agent’s Take: Super Bowl 2022 participants with expiring contracts who could cash in during free agency

Click to comment

Gordon sacrificing stardom during Nuggets' title hunt:'I care about the wins'

Published

1 hour ago

June 2, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

Aaron Gordon’s decision to focus on team success as opposed to individual stardom has helped Denver land on the cusp of its first NBA title.

Source link

Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Blue Jays' Alek Manoah: Panic or Patience? | Flippin' Bats

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

Ben Verlander says whether or not it’s time to panic or to be patient for the Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah.

Source link

Avon’s OT winner lifts Petes to win over Blazers, Memorial Cup semifinal berth

Published

3 hours ago

June 2, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — J.R. Avon scored the game-winning goal 10:54 into overtime and the Peterborough Petes beat the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 on Thursday, earning a semifinal berth at the Memorial Cup.

Connor Lockhart, Brennan Othmann, Samuel Mayer and Brian Zanetti had the others for Ontario Hockey League champion Peterborough. Michael Simpson made 43 saves.

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-402781” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6328638340112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6328638340112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6328638340112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”)

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”)

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-402781” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6328638340112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/6328638340112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/video/petes-simpson-makes-ridiculous-behind-the-back-glove-save-to-deny-blazers-hofer/”
});
});

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-763433” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”)

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-763433” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6328638340112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/6328638340112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/video/petes-simpson-makes-ridiculous-behind-the-back-glove-save-to-deny-blazers-hofer/”
});
});

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::before {
content: “”;
position: absolute;
top: 45%;
left: 50%;
transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
height: 0px;
border-top: 14px solid transparent;
border-left: 22px solid #fff;
border-bottom: 14px solid transparent;
margin-left: 3px;
}

Logan Stankoven, Olen Zellweger, Harrison Brunicke and Logan Bairos replied for host Kamloops. Dylan Ernst stopped 25 shots.

The Petes will next meet the Western Hockey League champion Seattle Thunderbirds in Friday’s semifinal for a chance to face the Quebec Remparts in the final on Sunday.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Remparts earned a berth into the final after opening the tournament with wins over Kamloops and Seattle.

Quebec later fell to Peterborough — which staved off elimination and forced Thursday’s tiebreaker with the victory — 4-2 on Tuesday in both teams’ final round-robin game.

Lockhart opened the scoring 7:52 into the first period. Chase Lefebvre sent the puck across the end boards to Jax Dubois, who found Lockhart with a slick pass into the slot and he beat Ernst five-hole.

Stankoven evened it up 11:20 into the frame, sending the Sandman Centre crowd into a frenzy. Connor Levis took a point shot and the rebound came out to the Blazers captain, who scored his second of the tournament.

Zellweger put Kamloops ahead 12:45 into the frame on the power play. The CHL Defenceman of the Year nominee saved the puck from getting out of the Petes’ zone, moved into the slot and wired one past Simpson for his first.

With 2:27 remaining in the first, Brunicke piled it on for the Blazers. Peterborough’s Konnor Smith attempted to clear it from the end boards but the puck ended up with Brunicke at the point, where he got around a defender and beat Simpson just over his right shoulder with little room to spare.

Bairos gave Kamloops a 4-1 edge 4:23 into the middle frame. He fired a point shot that ricocheted off Simpson’s blocker, then over him and in.

Just over three minutes later, the Petes began to swing the momentum back in their favour.

Othmann stripped Bairos of the puck as the Blazers defenceman tried to skate out of his own zone. Othmann then turned around and roofed it past Ernst as he fell to one knee.

Mayer made it a one-goal game on the power play with 2:23 left in the second. He took a pass from Lockhart and fired in a one-timer from the point.

Zanetti knotted the contest just over a minute later. He tipped in a pass from Tucker Robertson while streaking toward the net and beat Ernst five-hole.

Both sides struggled to capitalize on prime scoring opportunities leading to a scoreless third period and extra time to settle the winner.

Following a dazzling effort by Zellweger that just missed, Owen Beck took the puck up ice for Peterborough and dropped it off for Avon, who put it past Ernst to seal the win.

WE MEET AGAIN

Kamloops defeated Peterborough 10-2 when the two last met on Sunday. But with 7:05 remaining in that game, Othmann laid a hit on Blazers defenceman Kyle Masters, who fell awkwardly into the boards.

Masters had to be stretchered off the ice and was taken to Royal Inland Hospital. Head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said Monday that the blue liner was out for the tournament with a lower-body injury.