Feb 28 2009
Alex Rodriguez Meeting with MLB Investigators, New Poll Says He Should be Out of Hall of Fame
Alex Rodriguez will face MLB investigators for his admission of using performance enhancing drug from 2001 to 2003. MLB VP of labor relations Rob Manfred said that the meeting will shed light on the issue. According to Manfred, “Being an investigative interview, the employee is required to answer questions subject to the ruling in the Ferguson Jenkins case in relationship to self-incrimination.” He disputed some reports that Rodriguez would just be able to brush off the majority of the questions during the meeting.
The people who will be present in the investigation includes Dan Mullin, the MLB VP for investigations, Rob Manfred, VP for labor relations, and general counsel Michael Weiner from the MLB Players Association. It is still unclear whether Rodriguez will be permitted to bring his own legal counsel during the meeting.
The questions of MLB investigators will surely focus on A-Rod’s detailed aspects of his steroid use from 2001-03. Involvement of Rodriguez’ cousin, Yuri Sucart, is also one of the issues that will be discussed. In previous interviews, A-Rod mentioned an unnamed cousin who acted as both his supplier and injector of a drug known as “Boli”. It was later revealed that it was Sucart.
Rodriguez was already ordered to keep his cousin away from all ballparks and team-related locations such as hotels by the Yankees officials.
The relationship of A-Rod to his tainted trainer Angel Presinal will be part of the discussion. During the 2007 season, Presinal worked with Rodriguez. Presinal is a popular trainer in the Dominican Republic who has worked with the country’s World Baseball Classic team in both 2006 and ‘09. It is also expected that the investigators will also ask A-Rod about other players who also used steroids or any performance enhancing drugs.
Meanwhile, the CBS News/NY Times Survey on A-Rod’s use of steroids returns an unfavorable results. Baseball fans believed that he should not be considered in the Hall Of Fame. His admission was viewed negatively by more than 4 in 10 baseball fans. Almost 50 percent of the respondents said that A-Rod should be kept out of the Hall of Fame.
One good finding of this poll was the belief of many fans that steroid use is not yet widespread in baseball. Only 15% says that players used banned performance enhancing substances while the majority still believes that there are only a few players who used banned drugs.
Another finding of the survey is the concern of the fans on the use of steroid in baseball. The survey revealed that 60% says they care a lot about steroid use. This figure is higher than the survey conducted last year. Although they are now more tolerant as compared to the time of Barry Bonds 2 years ago. This can be noted in this weeks game of Alex Rodriguez where thousands of fans cheers for him.
The total number of respondents for this survey totaled to 1,112 adults nationwide. They were asked thru phones-landline and mobile. It conforms with the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public polls.”We all know he can play baseball,” Jackson said. “What we saw today was that he has the ability to concentrate,” said Reggi Jackson, one of the vocal supporters of A-Rod.
