Should Major League Baseball Suspend Alex Rodriguez?

If what I think should happen happens, A-Rod might become one of the most disgraced players to have played the game. You’re in this profession to play baseball, not use drugs Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Alex Rodriguez is finding himself in some hot water since he is suspected of being involved in the Biogenesis scandal down in Miami, Florida. If The New York Yankee is guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs  I think the league should bring the hammer down on him. If everything I think happens does take place, it will shake up not only A-Rod and the Yankees, but the whole league itself. If people think Ryan Braun got a decent suspension, I think this sluggers should be at least three times what Braun’s was.

The first question that needs to be answered here is what should the suspension look like if he is found guilty of everything he is being accused of. I think that the league needs to use this case to make a statement that steroids should not and will not be tolerated. Because of this, I think the third baseman should be suspended through at least the end of the 2014 season, and that’s if they decide against giving him the “death penalty” which would ban him for life. Personally, I don’t think it would be a bad idea if they did remove him from the league like they did with Pete Rose. There’s no need to be doing the things that he is being accused of, and  if you’re a Major League Ballplayer and you want to cheat the game, there’s the door.

No matter what suspension if any that Rodriguez gets, he will be majorly affected by this entire situation. First of all, his name has been dragged through the dirt. The power hitter has been linked to steroids before, and that definitely won’t help his case as it makes him look even more guilty. A-Rod should be very worried right now as its not just a few bucks that he could lose here with a small suspension, he could lose his whole career. If he thought injuries were tough to get through, he’s in for a real treat if he wants to attempt to clear his name here. The way I see it, if he wants to have hope of coming back to the game any time soon, I think he needs to just admit what he has done and take his suspension. People always say that honesty is the best policy and it may be able to reduce the suspension he would get if he agrees not to appeal.

Another thing to be taken into consideration is how this whole scandal will affect the New York Yankees as a team. This could be both good and bad for the Yankees if they do lose the slugger to a suspension. On the negative side, they will lose a major bat in their line-up. Over his career, A-Rod has 647 round-trippers and 1,217 RBI’s which are amazing statistics. Over those years, Alex is hitting .300 and has more than 2900 hits. That kind of production will be hard to replace. However it is not all bad for the Yankees if he does end up out for an extended period of time. First of all, Rodriguez is currently signed on a very large and expensive contract. If he was to be suspended, New York would be relieved of some if not all of that money depending on the length of his absence.

Honestly, there is no doubt in my mind that Rodriguez is guilty of all of the accusations against him. I think he was involved in biogenesis and has taken steroids before. Ultimately, my opinion won’t effect what happens to the third baseman, because that is for the MLB to decide. When Major League Baseball Baseball makes there decision, A-Rod should just admit guilt and take his punishment. Will he? We’ll find out. Hopefully sooner rather than later. This decision by the MLB is going to be a big one. It will not only pertain to Rodriguez, but it will effect the Yankees, and the league as a whole.