Agreed.  I think everyone knows how I feel about this.  I still like Alex.  I’m glad he owned up to his mistake.  But let’s be clear about something: Everyone needs to stop referring to the Hall of Fame as an entitlement.  It’s not.  Just because you play great doesn’t mean you should be in the Hall of Fame.  It’s an honor, a privilege, it is a prize that someone else bestows upon you. 

All of the new 600 HR club guys are linked to steroids except for Griffey. 

Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Griffey.

Bonds, Sosa, A-Rod linked to steroids.  Bonds in “Game of Shadows”, Sosa in the Mitchell Report, and A-Rod by his own admission.

You can include McGwire too.  But his admission-non admission.  I can’t remember if he’s in the Mitchell Report. 

I can’t make a distinction between how many HRs were hit legitimately so for those who say that Bonds should be in the HOF because he was great anyway, I don’t know.  I don’t know if you can say that.  I can’t apportion how many home runs were hit under the influence and not.  Sorry. 

I also don’t know about anphetamines.  I know guys took them for energy to “get up” for a game.  I didn’t watch the game when they were prevalent.  I know they are not as dangerous as steroids.  But again, I can’t comment, I can comment on steroids.  I don’t know if anphetamines alters someone’s chemistry the way steroids does.  I’m not even sure who took them.  These players, I am reasonably sure took steroids – give me a guy.  Manny?  He was suspended.  Thome?  I don’t know.  I’ve never heard him connected to steroids like Griffey. 

So… I give an emphatic “no” to all of those guys – A-Rod included.  I thought it was nice that he hit it.  It is an accomplishment, but to put it on the same level as Aaron is just wrong on many levels.  I can’t do that.  It’s different I’m sorry.  They can put him in the Hall of Fame – I’m sure lots of guys subscribe to the “he’s great anyway” put him in.  I look at it differently.  It’s not the same.  

And for those who think like me – we know who the guys are.