The 10 Pitchers Most Likely To Plunk A-Rod in 2009

Analyst Written on May 21, 2009

Slide 1 of 12

NEW YORK - MAY 17: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees warms up prior to playing the Minnesota Twins on May 17, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 3-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

MLB’s last decade taught us guys will do anything, no matter how unhealthy or illegal, to get an edge on the opposition.

Call it the Performance Enhancing Drug (PED)-era: we’ve got greenies (speed), multiple types of steroids, HGH, biting into the adrenal gland of a rare marsupial (okay, I made that up), and almost anything and everything imaginable in pursuit of supreme performance.

The philosophical debate rages about the ethicality of PEDs, but nothing obliterates the line between right and wrong quite like the allegations that Alex Rodriguez tipped opposing hitters to what pitch was forthcoming in hopes that the favor would be returned.

Oh the pressure to be the best.

This is the guy who claimed no 'roids to that lady on CBS then changed his tune for that guy on the “big sports network”, and now the Selena Roberts book alleges a much longer steroid timeline dating back to high school.

Very few players could possibly hold his PED past—if it is in the past—against him, but the alleged pitch-tipping means A-Rod will face several former teammates who must be wondering if their career ERAs shouldn’t be a tad lower.

These former teammates would most certainly hold it against him if they believe the opposing batter knew the pitch they threw via A-Rod.

Makes you wonder when this alleged practice of pitch-tipping began.

High school?

Was his cousin somehow involved?

And if/when he does get thrown at, will Yankee pitchers retaliate on his behalf? Or do nothing, knowing he may have tipped off the opposition when they've been on the mound?

When all is said and done, this guy may be blamed for swine flu, global warming, solar dimming, the economic crisis, the Detroit Lions, the end of oil, or any other imaginable doomsday scenario, but, for now, I give you the 10 Pitchers Most Likely to Plunk A-Rod in 2009.

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written on May 21, 2009 Opinion

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Bleacher Report: Houston Edition

The 10 Pitchers Most Likely To Plunk A-Rod in 2009

Patrick Mauro

The 10 Pitchers Most Likely To Plunk A-Rod in 2009

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