Pictures are proof, and so are numbers both before he ballooned up and after the leagues started testing. You’re not convinced by that, and that’s your right, but quite frankly my point is that what Cubs fans think, and even what reality is, DOESN’T MATTER. If he was clean, it will be a great injustice if he doesn’t get in. But widespread perception among the public (and I’m assuming, the people with a vote) is that he was using PEDs. It’s my belief that the voters won’t put anyone they believe used in the hall, or at least they won’t put anyone even loosely associated with the ridiculous home run totals in the 90’s and early 00’s in the hall. That’s what I think. If I’m wrong, good for Sammy.

Do I think he used? Of coures I do (so do you, if you’re honest enough to admit it). But that hardly makes him extraordinary given the era in which he played when MLB and the union was all but telling players it was ok, even beneficial to the game, to use PEDs. But to suggest it’s not going to effect his chances for the hall when it’s clearly the only thing keeping McGuire out when McGuire was superior to Sosa by virtually every measure is just ridiculous.

Maybe, over time, when folks settle down on this issue, the doors will open and McGuire, Bonds and Sosa will end up in the hall. But I just don’t believe Sosa’s got much of a chance of getting in while McGuire and Bonds are blackballed. That opinion, and my belief that Sosa used steroids, are just my opinions based on the evidence I obtained with my own eyes and the numbers he put up, and timing in which he put up those numbers. If that’s not enough for you, that’s your business, because like I said, what I think and what you think just doesn’t matter. If Zogby ran poll right now on whether Sosa used, I bet the totals would be 70/30 saying yes. Among HOF members and writers, the percentage is likely to be a lot higher. The only question is, whether that matters to them. Base don their behavior so far, it appears to matter to them, and that means Sosa isn’t getting in until there is a cultural change in the voters, and McGuire and Bonds get in before him.

I’m for honesty, I guess, and that means for the most part that if a player has the numbers he should get in and their bust or placque or whatever should indicate the things they did that might diminish those numbers. Whether it’s gambling, spit balls, steroids, amphetamines, or whatever.

I do happen to think that it’s steroids are different that spit balls, because the substances used were illegal, and if you commit a crime to help put up HOF numbers, that seems to me to be a fairly legitimate reason to keep a guy out of the hall. But yeah, some of the amphetamines and other substances used in the 70’s and 80’s before steroids were as commonly available were likely illegal as well. Should those guys get pulled if the voters won’t put known steroid users in who would otherwise qualify? That makes me uncomfortable, which may be hypocritical.

I’m not sure that I think they shouldn’t get in, I was just trying to say I don’t think they will. At least not for a while. And I do think that includes Sosa.