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If there's anyone who knows about being punished for cheating, it's certainly Alex Rodriguez.
Kim Klement/USA TODAY Images While serving as an analyst for ESPN calling a Yankees vs. Red Sox spring training game Tuesday, Rodriguez went off on the Houston Astros for their sign-stealing scandal.
"I served the longest suspension in MLB history. It cost me well over $35M. And you know what? I deserved that."@AROD says the Astros deserve whatever comes their way after the lack of remorse they've shown. pic.twitter.com/AnezyIyhHa
— ESPN (@espn) March 3, 2020"You cheat, you win a championship, there is no suspension, and then there's no remorse," A-Rod said. "The last one is probably the worst one. From a guy who has made as many mistakes as anybody on the biggest stage -- I served the longest suspension in MLB history, it cost me well over $35 million -- and you know what? I deserved that. I came back. I owned it after acting like a buffoon for a long time. I had my apologies, and then I went dark. I wanted my next move to be contrite and change my narrative. You have to be accountable. ... I felt the hatred from the people, and I earned it."
None of the players from the 2017 Astros have been punished by Major League Baseball. Instead, Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for one year and then lost their jobs. Mets manager Carlos Beltran and Red Sox manager Alex Cora -- a player and bench coach with the Astros, respectively -- were also fired.
Looking at just the numbers, Rodriguez is one of the most-accomplished players in baseball history. A-Rod is a 14-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and 10-time Silver Slugger. Putting into account the performance-enhancing drugs is what makes his chances of being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame unlikely.
For many baseball fans, it's refreshing to see Rodriguez, who for several years vehemently denied any wrongdoing, look back at his mistakes and admit he was wrong. As he said during this clip on ESPN, the baseball world just wants to see the Astros to show real remorse and apologize for what they did. The jury is still out on whether or not that will ever actually happen.