Posted on 08/24/2005 6:29:54 PM PDT by Pharmboy
Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson wants Rafael Palmeiro's hitting statistics wiped out because the Baltimore Orioles first baseman failed a drugs test.
"He was found to have used steroids and he served a 10-day suspension," Robinson told MLB.com.
Palmeiro was suspended on August 1 after a positive test for a steroid. He told a U.S. congressional committee in March that he had never used steroids.
Robinson, a former Baltimore player, manager and club official, also said baseball should not be required to research when a player started using steroids and then remove records for certain seasons.
"Where do you go back, stop and say, 'OK, when did he started using steroids?' To eliminate all that, and get the players' attention, you wipe the whole thing out," Robinson said.
"Why put the burden on baseball to try and figure out where to go, and maybe put an asterisk? Just wipe the whole thing out."
Palmeiro is one of four only major-league players to record 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. He has 3,020 career hits, 569 home runs and 1,834 runs batted in and a career batting average of
.289.
"I was surprised and taken aback that he was using steroids, because I never thought about him being a person that might be a steroids user," Robinson said. "I always admired him for the way he went about his work, the way he performed on the field and the way he conducted himself off the field."
Frank is no holds barred...
they woke him up from his dugout nap for this comment.
I agree with Frank, but it won't happen. It can't. the MLB never tested for the stuff.
Porbably what would happen if the MLB sacked up and decided to wipe his stats is that Palmeiro would sue and with the basic lack of evidence that this WASN'T Palmeiro's first time with the roids, the MLB would be ordered to reinstate his records....
You're prolly right, but this should send a shiver down the spines of the guys using androgens...(the terms "steroids" is really less accurate than androgens or male hormones).
it should yes....
but in the end, it won't happen....
If I recall, Robinson is somewhat of a wipe himself, isn't it? He may see Palmiero as a threat to his own O's stats.
Hits, 2943; BA, .294; HR, 586
Gotta love Frank, the last of the "old school" managers (well, maybe Pinella and Torre as well).
Could it be that Frank is getting revenge because the Orioles owner is not allowing Nationals games to be broadcast on TV. Just a thought.
I guess you have to look at it this way: a lot of hitters used steroids during the last 20-30 years. So did a lot of pitchers. Statistics compiled during that time frame thus are perfectly valid, because either the hitter or the pitcher was likely to have been using steroids at the time. There is no way MLB can pick out individual hitters and say "You were a villain!" when that same villain might have been struck out 200 extra times by steroid-fueled pitchers.
The playing field was level - everyone was allowed to do it. Now the playing field is level again, with no one allowed to do it. As a result, historical stats are still valid and aren't going to be changed.
well, you do make a good point, although I do not believe their use in baseball was a s widespread as you imply. Sosa, Bonds, McGuire, Palmiero: sorry, but I do not believe their HRs should be seen in the same light as Mantle, Mays, Ruth, Foxx, Williams, Robinson, Musial, etc, etc.
Hmmm, I did not know that...thanks for the info.
By the fans, they probably won't be. It's just that MLB can't officially do anything about it - they made the rules.
Yep--you're right. Unfortunately for baseball and many of the greats that hit naturally.
Yes, but by choosing to use steroids, a player knew that he would be putting his health in danger. That's why many players chose not to use steroids even though it was legal (by MLB's rules at that time) to do so. So realistically, it wasn't a level playing field.
There is virtually nothing that baseball itself can do. I think we can all come to that conclusion...but the Hall of Fame can do something and likely will. Mark McGuire will be the first to feel their vote. He won't be going into the Hall of Fame. As Sammy Sosa comes up...as Barry Bonds comes up....as Palmeiro comes up...each will find few votes for the Hall. None of these fine gentlemen will enter the Hall. They will join Pete Rose. Baseball can play whatever game it wants on their records...they will likely all stand. But Baseball cannot protect them or guarantee entry into the Hall. I think this will be the punishment that each deserves.
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