Lets not forget that Pete Rose is in the position he’s in because of no one but Pete Rose. He broke the cardinal rule of baseball, .. lied about it for 25 years and even when he “fessed up” about it he did it in a self serving way.

Comparing his situation with Bonds is a specious argument, one has absolutely nothing to do with the other. And, it completely ignores the fact that Bonds NEVER admitted that he took PEDs or failed a drug test.

I hope Rose gets in the HoF, .. especially before he dies, I grew up a big Pete Rose fan. But, Rose is responsible for his current predicament and is not worthy of sympathy.

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the nation’s game that day:
The fans tuned to the news, to hear what Mitchell had to say.
Four-hundred and nine pages, sitting heavily upon his shelf,
No longer was Selig’s only fear Donald Fehr himself.

A vocal few long ago warned of such despair. The rest
ignored the growing pecs adorning many a player’s chest,
They thought, if only Selig could be in charge of this -
We’d put up even money now, that he surely wouldn’t miss.

But McGwire bested Maris, as did Bonds to Hammerin’ Hank,
The former using andro, the latter resembling a tank,
And within the many stadiums the record crowds sat,
Now there seemed but little chance of Selig risking that.

And all held tight to secrets, to the wonderment of all,
And some, the much deceived, told stories of juicing the ball,
But when the truth was revealed, and all saw what had occurred,
There was Balco, Games of Shadows, and Canseco being heard.

Then from the throats of Congress there rose a lusty yell,
It rumbled through the Bronx, it rattled in Pac Bell,
They said clean up your game or we will do it for you,
And Selig, mighty Selig, quickly decided what to do.

There was ease in Selig’s manner as he stepped into his place,
There was pride in Selig’s manner, very stern was Selig’s face.
And when, responding to reporters, he announced who he had hired,
No stranger doubted that Mitchell would dig until he had tired.

Over seven hundred interviews as he dug up years of dirt,
Twenty million dollars spent, sleeves rolled up on his shirt.
Then while the rumors bubbled like liquid from a syringe,
Bud Selig realized – on Mitchell’s report, his legacy may hinge.

And then the rumor-filled news came hurtling through the air,
And Selig sat a-listening with a nervous posture there.
They said that all-star players would be listed in this report,
“I’m clean”, “I’m shocked”, “No comment” so many would retort.

From the pages, black and white, there were listed eighty-eight,
Both hitters and some hurlers who had tried to improve their fate.
“This is a call to action,” Selig said as a matter of fact,
No wavering to his voice, he added, “And I will act!”

To describe Selig’s work, much too little, much too late,
Ignoring what was right, for more revenue from the gate.
And now the Commish holds the ball, and what will he decide?
Asterisks? Suspensions? Blame others to save pride?

Oh, somewhere in this baseball land there’s a place for the best,
Where heroes are enshrined and separated from the rest.
But Bud’s conflicted tenure leaves him where within this game?
Row 1, Seat 1, Section HGH – in baseball’s Hall of Shame.

The Cards still refer to Rose’s record, they just omit his name.

And lets have a callout to the Mets farmhand Ed Hearn, who was to be immortalized in a Novel called “Ed!” It was to feature a chapter on each of his 12 hits

Good stuff!

The Biancalana countdown was awesome!

To sum up–betting on baseball hurt MLB financially, PEDs (perhaps perversely) helped MLB financially. Ipso facto, Mr Selig’s reply to you is that betting on baseball is the far worse evil.