TRADE RUMORS

So the Newest Member of B-Ball in Season has contacts.

Joe Holts pulled a Buster Onley and got the Inside scoop. Using "A Reliable source" who unlike most times, actually is a reliable source, to get the scoop on trade talk involving the Toronto Blue Jays.

Roy Halliday Talks with Philadelphia have died down, as they have really not been on the good side of Toronto GM J.P. Richardi. Boston and LA are now the front runners.

Scott Rolen is being talked about in a deal involving Edwin Encarnacion. Of course, the Reds have no money, so they aren't going to do anything.

Thats all we got.

Suit out.

The Case for A-Rod

Let me paint a picture for you. You, are a major league baseball player. One of the best. The ICON of NEW YORK. You where the pinstripes, full of history, tradition, and anything else that makes up baseball. Many people say you are the one who will over take Barry Bonds, and make the home run record matter again, something without an asterisk. 

And then, something from your past strikes back.. Something that you thought was long gone, a mistake that you would never have to answer to. Something that you knew was wrong, and quit because of it. Because of your stardom, a reporter has decided to make it her goal to pull up enough dirt on you to make a book out of it and make a good amount of money in the process. She discovers that mistake you had made 6 years ago. In 2003, you tested positive for Steroids. In 2003, Steroids were illegal, but there was no punishment. It was about as harmless as not wearing a seat belt. Yes it was illegal, but no one really cared, or did anything about it.

And of course the media erupted. How could he do this?! He is a horrible person. There is no way he's getting into the hall of fame now! He's worthless now, just drop him and be done with him! And just in case things aren't bad enough for you, you have a growth in your hip, and will need surgery to take it out and repair any damage done. Looks like you're going to miss at least the first two months of the season. 

When you finally come back, you struggle. You can't find your swing. After all, you are coming off of hip surgery. And everyone is accusing you of being off of steroids now, and since you are.. You're no good anymore. You're nothing.Alex Rodriguez, YOU ARE WASHED UP.  Things couldn't be worse.

Now, Let me paint a similar, yet very different picture. You, are a Major League Baseball player. One of the Best. The ICON of LOS ANGELES. You wear Dodger Blue, a color that more than anything... Has more history in a city it is no longer in. Many people call you the greatest hitter of our generation. But, You are pretty lazy when it comes to fielding. And you DID practically quit on your team last year in order to be traded to Los Angeles. But aside from that, everyone LOVES you. There is no equivalent to you on the west coast. You have a fun loving personality, and a smile that people can't help but smile back at.

And then, some wacky Ex-MLB player comes out and says he doesn't now for sure, but he has a hunch that you are using Performance enhancing drugs. And of course, you ARE you. No one's going to believe that are they? Of course you answer the questions in a fitting way, parallel to the persona you have given off. You say, "I don't even know the guy" and people burst out laughing. You have the Media in your hands.

A couple months pass, and some news breaks out. The MLB has handed down a 50 game suspension on you. Why? Performance enhancing drugs. well, kind of. you test positive for a women's fertility drug. but why would you take a women's drug? to mask the PED's you had taken. Hmm... Well this sucks.

And of course the Media Erupts....Right? Wow, i never would have thought he would do that, it's too bad.... He took women's drugs? ha-ha, thats just Him being Him..... Well, he probably will enjoy the vacation , 50 games he doesn't have to play.

When you finally make you're return, fan's flock to see you at the ballpark. They come in droves, wearing wigs that resemble you're trademark dreadlocks. People chant when you come to bat, Network TV stations switch there local coverage to view your at bats around the globe. you are back. Well, forget that you went 1 for 6 in your first two games back and sat out the third because you were tired playing two games in a row. (After all, baseball is a physically demanding sport) You are back now, and the world loves it.Manny Ramirez, YOU ARE FINALLY BACK. Things couldn't be better.

Just let that sink in for a minute.

Now tell me what is so similar about the stories. The charges against the players? Perhaps. But you have to remember, one was done 6 years ago, when you could get in more trouble for chewing bubble gum at a ballpark. And the other happened just a few months ago, while baseball is in the middle of purging its sport from steroids and all other Performance Enhancing Drugs.

Now tell me what is so different about the stories. The Verdict? So as we discussed in the last paragraph, the charges are a little different from each other. One got off free, penalty wise at least. But he was also the one that tested positive when there was NO PENALTY for doing steroids. The other one, got a 50 game suspension. The standard penalty at that time. No more, no less.

Now tell me what else is different about the stories. The Outcome? Absolutely. One was welcomed back as a hero, the other, shunned, and disgraced, as if he had owed us better. We the fans, the media, deserved better from him.

Now as we look at the Outcomes, and what player they were assigned to, the logic in this argument begins to fall apart. Logic would tell you the one who used the PED's when they were pretty much legal, who fought through all the adversity, would be welcomed back as the hero he was, standing up, admitting he was wrong in doing it, owning up to everything. He would surely get the heroes welcome, right? WRONG. Not in this world. Not in the world that is Major League Baseball. The one who Receives the Heroes welcome is the one who, as a slap in the face to baseball as a whole, continued to use, and even tried to mask the drugs with MORE drugs, even as baseball was trying to cleanse itself from this horrible reputation. He receives the Heroes welcome. And the one who owned up, admitted, and had the past use, not the use when it was strictly prohibited? He gets the Shaft from the fans, the media, and the baseball world as a whole. 

Now let me say, I do not believe either of them deserved a heroes welcome. Neither of them deserved to be welcomed back with open arms. It's just not the way the world should run. I'm just pointing out that if one had to get the raw deal, why that one? And if one had to get the heroes welcome, why that one?

Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Ramirez both command respect. My question is, are we as a following of sports fans, sure which one deserves more?

Todd Merrill

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