Breaking Down The A-Rod Steroid Situation

I sat in my recliner eating oatmeal and drinking a latte while watching Alex Rodriguez's press conference this morning, and I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why is he doing this? Why does he have to apologize to anybody?".

Lo and behold, I answered my own question, "Because, the Yankees organization failed to handle A-Rod's situation with extra care."

Shortly after Alex's interview with Peter Gammons, the Yankees made the following statement:

"We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance-enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the commissioner to continually improve the testing process."

"We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was. Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex—like all of us—is a human being not immune to fault."

"We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never more true than in times of adversity. Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance-enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season."

Of course, the Yankees had to address their position on the use of banned drugs in baseball. It's like a verbal tick that everyone seems to have nowadays.

However, at the time, I commended the Yankees for coming forward and supporting their best player. I felt their kind words for Alex seemed genuine and a slap in the face to everyone who doubted his worth as the game's highest-paid player,

Yes, I'm talking to you, Joe Torre.

I was surprised that none of the Steinbrenners weighed in on A-Rod. You would think we would have a quote from Hank by now. At least something like, "A-Rod, on steroids? Hah! What a bunch of bullshit."

No, instead GM Brian Cashman has been happy to dish out the oral diarrhea. Here are some Cashman-isms before his mouth had a chance to take Kaopectate:

"I like more when he carries it that he was stupid. Rather than young and naive, it was stupid. It was a bad decision that may cost him on so many levels."

This is where I start to have BIG PROBLEMS with this cat. Is he insinuating the termination of A-Rod's mega-million dollar contract? No, no, no...that's just the diarrhea talking.

He is, however, hinting that A-Rod is stupid. That's pretty ironic coming from a guy who concocted Carl Pavano's multi-year deal and traded for Nick Swisher's .219 batting average when, already, there was a logjam of outfielders on the Yankees.

For a general manager as incompetent as Cashman, he sure knows how to work his crystal ball. Apparently, he has made A-Rod's future in baseball as absolute as his own hairline.

So now, Alex's decision might not only cost him his status with the Yankees, but his future in baseball has a question mark next to it as well.

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