I am going to post this so I can refer to it in the future...
Another player who played from 1988-2003 has tested positive for steroids. Really, this is no surprise. It has happened before and will surely happen again. When I am 75 years old, people will be coming forward with proof that Player X took steroids back in the 1990's. I haven't been surprised for awhile and will never be surprised in the future. I won't be surprised if it turns out that Calvin Edwin Ripken, Jr. himself used steroids to some extent.
It matters not. The Steroids Era is easily placed into context and nobody should be excluded from the Hall of Fame simply because they are linked to steroid use. The problem was so widespread, we have to assume a great majority of the players from the 1990's were using. No one can be assumed to be "clean".
The best post I've seen lately about steroids is here:
http://www.bugsandcranks.com/the-clubhouse/steve-hulkower/how-are-so-many-people-upset-about-something-they-dont-even-understand/
OK, resume party...
The big benefit to the fifteen year HOF eligibility is that emotion over things like the steroid era can fade. Lots of guys who would normally be first year HOF locks may have to wait, but the long period of eligibility ensures that there will be plenty of time to get this all in perspective.
ReplyDeleteTrue. And these things work themselves out. You compare players against their peers.
ReplyDeleteRemember when 500 HR was an automatic ticket to the Hall? That standard has already changed. There will be players from this era to hit 500 HR but may not get into the HoF...