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USA TV Talk Sports with Justin Mazzarese
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5/22/05
Justin Mazzarese
Palmeiro Really, Really Messed Up
Raffi, Raffi, Raffi You really did it this time.
Your fall from grace that you have just experienced can only be described in two words- Your Fault!!
In your world that does not seem to be the case. In your world it is former American League MVP Miguel Tejada and more importantly, your teammate. After all he was the one that gave you a vitamin called B-12 that may or may not have been the reason that you tested positive for steroids. The problem with this argument is that Tejada has admitted that he took the vitamin and has not tested positive for anything. This means that Palmeiro must have taken something else to test positive, maybe something was injected into him? I don�t know, I�m just throwing that one out there.
The thing that sucks is that Palmeiro has had such a stellar career; he had one of the smoothest swings from the left side. It was so effortless and more importantly, consistent. From 1995, the year after the strike, to 2003, Palmeiro hit at least 35 home runs and drove in at least 100 RBI�s. He was also a good defender and a 3-time Gold Glove winner from 1997-1999. This guy was a great player and a great guy too. In 2003 he was a nominee for the Branch Rickey Award, given annually to players and mangers who �contribute unselfishly� to their community.
With his career numbers (3020 hits, 569 home runs, 1835 RBI�s) he is in some pretty good company and was almost a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame. Maybe not on the first ballot, but I�m sure he would have gotten in somewhere down the line. He is one of four players to get 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. The other you may have heard of: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Eddie Murray (Murray also accomplished the feat in an Orioles uniform.)
The stat that jumped out was his RBI�s. If he would have reached 2000 RBI�s he would have joined the ranks of Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Cap Anson (who?) has the only people to do so. Also, if he accomplished that, he would have reached baseball�s most elite group which only contains one member right now, Hank Aaron. He would have been Aaron�s lackey in the 3,000 hit, 500 home run, 2000 RBI club.
That is what makes this a baseball tragedy is the fall from grace that only few have experienced (see Kobe Bryant). �Palmeiro may have stamped his ticket to Cooperstown,� Gary Washburn of MLB.com wrote after Palmeiro got his 3,000 hit. Much like everybody, else Washburn thought Palmeiro was innocent, especially after the testimony in front of Congress. The way he said �I have never taken steroids. Period,� was very convincing, especially when he pointed his finger.
But after all the finger pointing (mostly to Congress), booing from fans from not only away teams, but your hometown, have finally been put out of your misery. Much like a fly that has been swatted and just lies there, helpless and suffering, one just has to put it out of its misery because one fells so bad for it. Rafeal Palmeiro, you are the fly and the Baltimore Orioles just swatted you.
Copyright 2006 Justin Mazzarese. All Rights Reserved.
Reprint without permission is prohibited.
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