A-Roid? Or A-Star?

Larry Rooney

Alex Rodriguez, one of the most infamous names in baseball, is in the midst of one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history. While the numbers aren’t actually that remarkable, you must consider the man’s age, the fact that he has just sat out an entire season, and the adverse effects of coming off steroids. A-Rod will probably go down in baseball history as the most hated player to ever play the game
, but what distinguishes him from all of the other steroid junkies who lied initially and continued to lie? Or what about the steroid users who cost some doctors and baseball officials their jobs, are they to be hated as much as A-Rod?

Take Ryan Braun for instance, he tested positive for steroids. Rather than taking the heat and infamy like a grown up, he lied and said the tests must have been tampered with costing the handler his job. Braun failed this drug test in 2011, but then continued to be an all star in the 2012 season. So, why was Alex Rodriguez snubbed of an All- Star appearance this season, even after serving a season long ban and accepting all of the MLB’s demands? This can only lead one to believe that the MLB is not finished with Rodriguez.

It’s reasonable to understand that Rodriguez would not be voted by the fans to start, especially not when Nelson Cruz is having such an incredible season. What I don’t understand, however, is why manager Ned Yost wouldn’t choose A-Rrod as a reserve player or include him as a nominee in the Final Vote player? While he surely would not have been voted in withas the Final Vote player, the man deserves some recognition for the season he has put together.

Ned Yost was asked about why Alex Rodriguez was left off the roster and the Final Vote Ballot and had this to say:

“We talked about A-Rod a lot. You look back at this five-man vote and we have three infielders, two outfielders, and we felt that it was important that we don't — we have Brock Holt that can play anywhere in the infield, but any other position we have a starter and a backup. In the outfield we have three starters and three backups. So I just felt very strongly that if we could get another infielder or another outfielder out of that five-man vote it would help us. That's what went in that decision.”

Roster depth? No way, A-Rod was left off the team because baseball has not accepted the fact that he’s back, playing well, and done everything he can to repair his relationship with the MLB, its executives, its players, and its fans. Baseball still wants to punish Rodriguez even after the 162 game suspension, even after all the humiliation he has already had to face

Don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say. Much of Alex Rodriguez’s humiliation and torture was self-inflicted, but anything after his 162 game suspension is adding salt to the wound. A-Rod has matured as a player and as a person and has graciously accepted the punishments he has received in order to get back on the field. Sure he tried to fight his suspension, but every player would in hopes of diminishing the number of games.

Even after his suspension, Major League Baseball has been all over the A-Rod situation. Just a week ago, the MLB and MLBPA announced that the New York Yankees would not have to pay Rodriguez’s home run milestone bonuses but rather give the money to charity. Rodriguez accepted the ruling without issue and has continued to play ball for the team.

Rodriguez will continue to be hounded by the MLB, but he seems poised to just accept their almost harassing efforts. But, their latest action to hold him out of the All Star Game is unacceptable. Alex Rodriguez deserves to be heading over to Cincinnati for this year’s ASG. Rodriguez has posted a very respectable .276 batting average while slugging 16 home runs and driving in 47 runs.

A-Rod’s numbers are much better than ASG reserves Brock Holt and Mike Moustakas and comparable to Jose Bautista. While lower in most categories, Rodriguez only falls .001 short of Bautista in OPS.

Player	BA	HR	RBIs	Runs	OBP
Alex Rodriguez	.276	16	47	45	.382
Jose Bautista	.239	17	59	54	.385
Mike Moustakas	.297	7	31	39	.353
Brock Holt	.292	2	22	30	.377

While it is fair to say Bautista may be more deserving of the honor, you will have a hard time arguing either Holt or Moustakas deserves an All-Star nod more than Alex Rodriguez.

There’s no mistaking it. The MLB isn’t ready to forgive A-Rod for what he has done, but the man has served his time and moved on. He should not be held back and denied honors and awards because the organization hasn’t gotten over their grudge.

All Alex Rodriguez can do now is continue to play to the best of his ability and help the New York Yankees win games. He has set himself up to become one of the greatest comeback stories in all of baseball due to his performance and his transformation as a person.

It’s time to #ForgiveARod