Why Manny should not apologize to his teammates...

So imagine we are in a world where Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, Eric Gagne, Jason Giambi, Pudge Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Barry Bonds are all playing on the same team. It’s the year 2005. And, José Canseco has just tested positive for steroids and will be immediately suspended for 50 games. The baseball community is in an uproar. Fans are sad. Baseball historians don’t know what to do. Current Hall of Famers are ticked off. ESPN goes all out. Pedro Gomez is following Canseco everywhere…I mean everywhere. The super blogs Deadspin and the Big Lead have 24 hour coverage of the issue. Talk radio is full swing. The likes of Skip Bayless, Woody Paige, Tony Kornheiser, Dan Patrick, Bill Plaschke, Jay Marriotti, and Bob Ryan are furious. Oprah even touches on the subject. Everybody wants one thing. Everyone wants an apology. Everyone demands an apology. The outrage and furor stemming from this steroid revelation undoubtedly reaches a Gladwell-like tipping point and Canseco succumbs. He decides to apologize to everyone including obvious fans, media members, and baseball, but also his teammates. He is apologizing to his teammates for being selfish and putting himself before the team and ultimately hurting their season. Fair enough right? Wrong! Here’s why…



Theoretically and in a vacuum, indeed, it is the correct thing to do. After all, conveying sorrow and remorse for your hurtful actions and detailing how much that you wish you didn’t cause them this pain is a nice thing to do, and undoubtedly is a step in the right direction. However, we live in the real world and cannot overlook the facts. Canseco is on a team with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, Eric Gagne, Jason Giambi, Pudge Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Barry Bonds. These are fellow juicers. These are fellow cheaters. These are people whom also took PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs).These are the people that Canseco is apologizing to. Canseco is saying Barry, Mark, Sammy, Roger, and all of you guys, I am so sorry for taking steroids. I am sorry for hurting the team. Mind you, Canseco is fully aware that many of these teammates are taking currently taking PEDs, have taken PEDs, and/or are suspected of taking PEDs.

The aforementioned story is a parallel to Manny Ramirez. In fact, this is exactly what Manny is facing/faced. Actually, it is probably worse. Manny is by far and away the best player on the team and it’s not even close. Because he is so talented and far and away one of the best right handed hitters to play in the majors which his popularity is colossal and powerful, in addition to that he is the leader of the team, and he KNOWS that he is NOT the only person on the team taking PEDs he just got caught. He is looking in teammates eyes and saying I am sorry…

Kinda strange right? It’s absurdly ridiculous particularly when it is more and more apparent that no one in baseball is safe or clean and that everyone is guilty until proven innocent.

Now, that is why Manny should not have apologized and should not apologize to his teammates.

Sporty nation, this is my minority report. Stay sporty!