Readers Respond: Should performance-enhancing drugs keep them out of the All-Star Game?

Responses: 9

Alex Rodriguez admitted to steroid use earlier in his career. Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Should either of them be allowed to play in the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis?

Scott's take: A-Rod should, if he shows he belongs with solid play on the field. Manny? No way. He'll barely be back in time after his 50-game suspension, and fans would be crazy to vote him in. Plus, his infraction occurred this year.

What do you think?

Shoeless Joe

@pmpatrick6 Shoeless Joe didn't throw the 1919 World Series. He hit .375 with 12 hits during the series, and he claimed he was innocent until his death in 1951. Other members of the scandal later admitted he never attended any of the meetings for the fix.

—Guest Justin Baker

TKLOS@roadrunner.com

My reason for A-Rod and Manny shouldn't be in the All-Star ballot doesn't have anything to do with drugs. Although I am a die-hard Yankee I don't think A-Rod or Manny should be in the All Star game because they missed too many games, plus although A-Rod has hit several home runs (8, at this writing), his batting average leaves a lot to be desired. I am sure they will get the nod, because since it has been left up to the fans for the votes, it has become more of a popularity contest. I think it should be the players themselves electing who plays,or even makes the team. What better compliment can a player get than to be elected by their peers.

—Guest Terry

A debate!

Irishbeerman, good point! There's a whole debate about this issue here: http://thesportsdebates.wordpress.com One of the writers really points out the Ibanez issue in depth.

—pscrblazer

They weren't gambling - they should play

I am sick of people comparing what Pete Rose has done to what the likes of A-Rod or ManRam have done. Pete Rose used baseball for the larger game of gambling, not to get an edge to succeed in the game of baseball. Trying to get an edge in the baseball game with performance-enhancing substances is in an effort to succeed inside of the game, not using the get for an outside purpose, gambling. Does this mean the Perry brothers and their spitters, the corked bats, even weight training are and were ways to gain an advantage within the game, to be better able to succeed within the game. Shoeless Joe, and idiot Pete, were using the game to get an advantage outside of the game. The larger game was the fixing of the bet, for the success of the bet, and the bet and the game of baseball are not synonomous. Much of what Mark McGwire took while with the Oakland A's and the Cardinals was not illegal when he took them, and even if they were, it still does not equal what idiot Pete did.

—pmpatrick6

fan

Absolutely they should be banned. Their stats are artificially achieved with the power of drugs.

—Guest Dale

haroldth1@att.net

Neither should be in the all-star game or in a major league uniform. The fact that this is even being debated is sad. I so much wish to return to 1959, when the White Sox were able to "steal" the pennant without the home run. Steroids don't help steal bases - perhaps that needs to be checked with Barry Bonds (steroid poster boy). He will never match his father (especially in class).

—Guest Harold

Drugs

Yes. I think any player caught or admitting to drug use should have their names stricken from the all-star ballot and the hall of fame admission. Atheletes that need drugs to excel should be banned from the field and the honor roll.

—windsockca

vote

You vote for the All Star Game. Let the fans decide. I will not vote for them but I could vote for someone who wasn't caught without realizing it. Let's see how the fans feel about it.

—Guest ljkember

All-Star Game

A bigger question is should the fans be allowed to vote for who plays in the game. As long as there is something to play for (home field advantage in the series), the fans should not get a vote. Look at Ibanez!!!! Jack

—Irishbeermen