A-Roids?

The ongoing steroid investigation led by Senator George Mitchell has had mixed results thus far. Many names have been outed recently for human growth hormone including Rick Ankiel, Mike Cameron, and Paul Byrd and many more names are expected to be known in the coming weeks. On the other hand, even though these names are known, not much has been done about it. There is still no test for HGH, no suspensions have been handed down to those players who have been named, and the supposed “big list” of players that are to be named in this investigation keeps having its date of exposure pushed back. Now its been made known that a list of eleven free agents has been floating around, all of which are have been named in Senator George Mitchell’s report for using performance enhancing drugs. One of them is Jose Guillen, and another is likely Mike Cameron, so that leaves nine more to speculate. I am not going to slander any athletes by accusing them of something I have little proof of at this point (except Barry Bonds, I mean come on) but if there is one athlete who I have little reservations of accusing him then it is Alex Rodriguez. Call me bitter about his departure from the Yankees, but Rodriguez is without a doubt the most intriguing possibility to be named among the eleven. It is not completely without evidence either. A-Rod has been one of the most prolific home run hitters in the game for the past decade or so, and not to mention the rumors about Jose Canseco supposedly having “stuff” on A-Rod that he would reveal in his next book. Canseco may just be trying to sell his book, but so far he has been right about his accusations. However, A-Rod may be a big guy but he has never had the giant increase in muscle or head size that would lead you to believe that he started taking steroids. A-Rod’s work ethic has been well documented as well, so it could be seen as an explanation for his physique. On the other hand, A-Rod impeccable health records could be contributed to the accelerated healing abilities caused by the use of human growth hormone. Many of the other offenders did not fit the profile of a steroid abuser either (Rick Ankiel is probably 150 lbs on a good day). If A-Rod were to be named as one of the eleven, it would be a huge blow to Major League Baseball as they were counting on him to one day validate the all time home run record again, but he may be no more authentic then Bonds. Senator Mitchell has claimed that this list as well of the rest of the names will be revealed by the end of the year, so until then we can only speculate on Rodriguez and the way he has achieved his milestones.