Baseball fans describe Bartolo Colon as charismatic, big boned and funny to watch.
Colon played for the New York Mets from 2014 to 2016. In his three years with the team, he posted a 44-34 record with an earned run average of 3.90. Most Mets fans watched him just for his at-bats or for his incredible defensive plays, all the while earning himself the nickname “Big Sexy.”
In 2012 he served a 50-game suspension with the Oakland A’s by testing positive for PEDs. However, nobody seems to hold that against him (or have forgotten). Despite his suspension, Colon still remains employed at the age of 45 and fans adore him.
Robinson Cano recently tested positive for a substance called diuretic furosemide which violates MLB’s drug prevention and treatment program. Cano stated he used it to treat a medical condition, high blood pressure. Furosemide is also used as a masking agent to hide banned substances like steroids or stimulants. (FYI: Steroids can cause high blood pressure)
Players that have taken steroids jeopardize their Hall of Fame credibility. Many say Cano was on the path to induction, but by taking steroids he should no longer be considered. Players like Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire and Roger Clemens are struggling to get votes to get into Cooperstown even though they dominated in the 1990s and resurrected Major League Baseball.
This brings me to this question: How do you feel about people shaming Cano for taking a banned drug to possibly mask a steroid, but then enjoying the performance of Colon who did take steroids? MLB broke the news on Cano and shamed him yet they market Colon for being “fat and old.”
Yes this question might be a little vague or too broad but I still asked baseball fans their opinion on the subject:
Lot’s of players, such as Bartolo, Jhonny Peralta, Nelson Cruz, Alex Rodriguez, and even more have been somewhat “forgiven”. Every single player will be shamed when it first comes out. It’s about how they respond to being caught, and what they do with their career after the suspension. Bartolo, Peralta, and Cruz pretty much accepted and apologized for it, moved on, and were still successful as clean players following their original suspensions. Even when you look back on some of the older players that did steroids; Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and Andy Pettite… Pettite was really the only one of those players who came out and fully said “I made a mistake and I’m sorry” (not a direct quote, but along those lines).”
“It’s because regular people can relate to Colon. He looks like he should be in a beer league but he’s out there with a sub-3 era.”
“Colon being praised post-PED use and Cano being shamed is unfair. People have to make up their minds; don’t love a guy just because he’s fat and way past his prime and then shame someone who is in their prime. In the end both are PED users, both legacies are tainted.”
“I don’t praise Colon as a baseball player as much, I just enjoy him as entertainment. He has HOF numbers but I don’t think he deserves to get in. 242 wins, 3366.1 innings, 2486 Ks, AL Cy Young… He has the resume, but that big asterisk sticks out too prominently for him. He and all the other steroid users cheated, simple as that.”
@MFerner_: “I think people automatically hate people for using steroids but it’s different with Colon because he’s clearly fat and out of shape and funny looking. I also feel like people tend to hate on a player as soon as the news comes out.”
“Cano shouldn’t be shamed for it. Bartolo is a special case but it’s forgotten. I’m not that serious on people doing steroids.”
“I think it’s hypocritical. If you have a problem with Cano, you should have an issue with Bartolo.”
“Time heals all wounds. Most probably don’t even remember that Bart got popped for steroids.”
So, baseball fans, what are your thoughts about this topic? Is it fair how the media treats certain players after using steroids? Or do we forget or try to avoid players past history using banned substances. Sure Big Sexy is fun to watch because he’s fat and old but do you think it is hypocritical that MLB promotes a former PED user? Thank you all for reading and I would love to hear all fans’ opinions on this topic. Comment below or tweet me @ThatMetsChick!
