Comments on: Deconstructing Pete

By: Bryan in Moore, OK

Bryan in Moore, OK — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:05:06 +0000

F*** Pete Rose. I’m sick of his self-serving crap. He’s an idiot and should be kept out of the HOF for life. If he gets in after he’s dead, that sends a message that gambling is bad, but eventually that will be glossed over as forgiven once you’ve kicked it. If Shoeless Joe STILL isn’t in the HOF after this many years, why should Pete Rose get in now or any time after he’s dead? Shoeless Joe should get in before Pete does. Just my humble opinion.

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:36:12 +0000

What is the current MLB policy for betting on baseball?
For example what would Manny’s punishment have been if he had been found guilty of betting on baseball rather than taking a banned substance? Would he be facing a lengthier/shorter suspension or would he be kicked out the game? Find the answers to that question and you’ll find your answer to will Pete Rose go to the HoF

By: Bob Tholkes

Bob Tholkes — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:50:33 +0000

Pete Rose would have to be elected by the usual electors. It’s questionable that he would get the votes.

By: Royalfan

Royalfan — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:08:07 +0000

Pete loses me completely with the notion that steroid use is worse than betting on the game. Nuff said….

By: KHAZAD

KHAZAD — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:41:51 +0000

You hit it on the head. You must look at anything Pete says or answers through his eyes all the while asking the question “How does this affect Pete Rose?” Because he is and always has been that self centered.
Hey, I’ve always felt he should be in the hall, but not be allowed to go there to bask in the induction-no ceremony, just a plaque unveiling-without him there.
I don’t think it is easy for him to see a world now where it seems as though all anyone has to do when they screw up is either deny it(If there is no proof) or offer an insincere token apology (once they are really caught) and all is eventually forgiven- almost no matter what. You just have it plastered on Sportscenter complete with what if questions and innuendo until something else happens and they move on(You know, like Brett Favre goes to the store)
I think he looks at that and says “I denied, I apologized, WTF?”

By: Kyle Richardson

Kyle Richardson — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:19:49 +0000

Amen to Brent (#7) and Richard (#12)…

Betting on your team (when you are the manager) opens up the possibility of playing for the one win, when a season is determined by who does the best in 162 games…

THAT goes to the integrity of the game more than steroids…

Players have always been determined to find ways to get an edge–some call it cheating… To me, in baseball, gaining an edge is a part of the game, whether it’s stealing a sign, throwing a spitter, etc… In the 1800s players used to cut bags because the one umpire was looking somewhere else–it was a part of the game…

Gambling on your own team opens up the potential of screwing up a season (w/ an arm injury, in particular) in the attempt to gain one win…

You can’t justify it at all, even as Pete works to every day…

By: Nomad

Nomad — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:48:48 +0000

the sad thing about Manny and others like him is that juicing might not even help pro ball players play any better

By: Dark Side of the Mood

Dark Side of the Mood — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:07:46 +0000

I despised Pete Rose when he was an active player and NOTHING I’ve read in the ensuing years has changed my opinion of him. To the contrary, reading about what a jerk he was only solidified my stance toward him. I wouldn’t mind seeing him elected to the HOF posthumously but NEVER while he’s still kicking. I don’t think he should get that satisfaction.

By: Graphite

Graphite — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:04:45 +0000

Whoa! Gambling on baseball is wrong? Colour me sinful, then. I used to have a system going on the unders and overs, taking an average of each team’s scoring over the previous 12 games (dropping the best and worst scores) and factoring in the starting pitchers’ ERAs. Pretty crude but reasonably effective. I eventually gave it up because it was too time-consuming. That 162-game season is a killer.

For those interested, latest odds on the Royals-Orioles game, as quoted on the New Zealand Totalisator Agency Board (a government-owned entity) â€“

1 $1.70 Kansas City (G Meche)
2 $2.10 Baltimore (J Guthrie)

Total combined runs â€“

1 $1.90 8 runs & under
2 $1.85 9 runs & over

By: Justyo

Justyo — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:53:59 +0000

Joe – Sincere thanks for this post. It is why I am a devoted reader. I could gush here but just… Thanks. Absolutely nailed it. CAN NOT WAIT for 9/9/09.

And Pete does tell good stories.

One perspective I’ve rarely heard discussed is the fact that the HOF is largely irrelevant to Pete Rose. IMO it is one of the true ironies of this entire story. I know it means a lot to Pete personally to be recognized and honored by his peers but…

In the macro – If it indeed is a hall that houses “Fame” Pete Rose does not need to be there. I dare say Pete Rose is far more “famous” than 95% of anyone in there and will be whether this building and whomever it is that decides that these busts and plaques and objects go there, want him to be or not. And he will be for a very long time. No baseball fan and hardly a casual one will “forget” Pete Rose and what he did on the field.

I say Pete should just relax (impossible?) and listen to his own logic… “He hit the HR’s.” Well, Pete you got the hits and whether any of US likes it or not, the record is yours.