If you were a HOF voter...

[missionhockey21]

Would you vote Rafael Palmeiro into the HOF when his name comes up on the ballot in the future? 500+ homers, 3000+ hits, are they worth anything now?

Would that be enough time to forgive and forget or is that unforgivable?

(Public poll)

[McKain]

I predict I will be the only yes.

[Slyder]

Dont quit your day job. They havent even said what they caught in his system or how it got there. NFL has a great thing that there is a book with EVERYTHING thats banned is on the books and there is no ifs ands or buts.

Steroids might make you bigger but you still have to have ability to make contact with a ball and get 3000 hits.

[Fishercat]

I want to see how this plays out...but I say yes as of now.

[McKain]

You two just voted yes to prove me wrong.

[Hmark6]

Dont quit your day job. They havent even said what they caught in his system or how it got there. NFL has a great thing that there is a book with EVERYTHING thats banned is on the books and there is no ifs ands or buts.

Steroids might make you bigger but you still have to have ability to make contact with a ball and get 3000 hits.

First of all, Raffy said in the press confrence that it was "a steroid" that he was being suspended for. Second of all, if it was a banned substance, but not a steroid, does that make it okay? MLB has that same book as the NFL. Just because you don't have acess to it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Every player knows damn well what he can and can't put in his body. If he is unsure, he can call MLBPA or a League representative and ask if the product he is considering using is legal or not. These are adults and they need to take responsability for there actions. The "I-didn't-know-I-coulndn't-do-that" hook expires when you turn 3 years old.

I'm in the camp that believes: If you have to put any effort into convincing me that a guy should be a HOFer, then he's not a HOFer. It should be unanimous or damn close. It's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good. Raffy was a very good ball player, but I don't think he was ever the best play on his team, let alone the best 1Bman in MLB. That said, I was willing to make an exception for Raffy because his career achievements were so astonishing. (I say that like I actually have a vote! ) Raffy is a compiler, but compiler or not, 3000 hits is very rare and should be rewarded. Jose Canseco's book cast a shroud of doubt over Rafael's career that (considering the source) Raffy deserved the benefit of. This suspension only supports Canseco's claim, and since HOF voting take character and integrity into consideration, I would leave Raffy out of the Hall of Fame.

[Saber]

While all steroids are banned substances, not all banned substances are steroids.

[redsrbetter]

I said NO. Check Hmark's post and you'll see why.

[Hmark6]

While all steroids are banned substances, not all banned substances are steroids.

My point is: IT'S STILL A BANNED SUBSTANCE! That's almost like defending Pete Rose by saying, "Well, he never bet against his own team." He broke the rules, now face the music!

EDIT: You voted 'No', redsr...right?

[CincyRedsFan30]

No. If Pete Rose can't get in, Palmeiro shouldn't get in.

[A's Baby Girl]

I said NO. Check Hmark's post and you'll see why.

Ditto, ++rep for you Hmark

[HollywoodLeo]

since HOF voting take character and integrity into consideration, I would leave Raffy out of the Hall of Fame.

So I guess that leaves Bonds out of the HOF as well.

(wasn't Ty Cobb an @#$@#hole?)

[Slyder]

Should they take Gaylord Perry's bust out of the Hall? If you want to say integrity matters your going to have to clean house because a bunch of the guys in there have as many skeletons as Raffy does to clean out. In Gaylord's case, the spitter.

[HollywoodLeo]

No. If Pete Rose can't get in, Palmeiro shouldn't get in.

Pete Rose SHOULD be in.

[HuskerFan2002]

I don't know what's worse: gambling on baseball or steroid abuse? It's two completely different situations.