The Rose Question

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20 years ago today, Pete Rose was banned from baseball for life for gambling when he was the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Much debate has gone on recently about whether Rose sould be reinstated. I, myself, believe he should, but I am not so one-sided that I can't see the other side of the argument.

Mike Schmidt mentioned this recently and it is a valid point. Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and others have used performance-enhancing drugs and have admitted it. Rose gambled on his team to win. While wrong, I don't believe he deserves a lifetime sentence when Manny Ramirez had to sit out 50 games for doing something much worse.

If Pete Rose is banned, so should the 'roid users.

Steroid users pollute the game like carbon dioxide pollutes the atmosphere. They compromise the game more than gambling on your team does. Let's not forget that Rose didn't throw any games. The gambling didn't have an effect on the game because he was trying to win any way.

Now Pete Rose goes around autographing balls for money all year. While Alex Rodriguez is out making $33 million a year. It is not right. Using steroids has much more of an unfair impact on the game. If Pete Rose is banned, so should the 'roid users.

Here is where I am somewhat conflicted. If Eric Bruntlett got thrown out of the game for gambling, no one would be talking about trying to get him back in the game. Rose is being considered because he is the Hit King. Any regular player would not be given the same treatment.

Whether Rose is reinstated or not, I don't know. He should be reinstated and I'm not just saying that because he is a former Phillie. I believe he has suffered longer than players doing worse things in the game today.

Selig Considering Reinstating Rose

        MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is considering reinstating Pete Rose back into Major League Baseball according to the New York Daily News.  Pete Rose has the most hits (4256) in his career than anybody.  He played 19 years with the Reds, 5 with the Phillies, and 1 with the Expos.  

        Selig should pull a Roger Goodell and conditionally reinstate Rose (as Goodell did Michael Vick earlier today).  Selig should let Rose be nominated for the Hall of Fame.  Rose, however, shouldn't be allowed to earn a paycheck from a MLB team.  Rose should be allowed to attend games.

        Pete Rose was banned from baseball 20 years ago for betting on the game while he was a manager.  This makes me think: Should players who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs be banned from baseball?  Players who test positive twice or more should be banned from the game.

        In baseball's current system, a player who tests positive once will be suspended for 5o games.  A second positive test will result in a 100 game suspension.  A third positive test results in a lifetime ban from the game. 

        The MLB should have only two penalties.  In my system, a player who tests positive once should get a 100 game suspension.  Another positive test for that player should result in a lifetime ban.  You should get a second chance but not a third.

        So that means is Manny Ramirez or J. C. Romero test positive again, I believe they should be banned from the game for life.  If my plan was put in place at the beginning of testing, only Neifi Perez would have received a lifetime ban for his two positive tests in 2007.