Fansided

Opening Day 2015: Top 5 storylines for 2015 MLB season

By FanSided Staff

Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of Wrigley Field during batting practice prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of Wrigley Field during batting practice prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 29, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) singles to center field during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) singles to center field during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Alex Rodriguez Returns, But Will It Matter?

A-Rod is back. And there is nothing Yankees fans can do about it. While the 39 year old has hit 654 home runs and his .299 over 19 seasons, his production has been dwindling. Do you really blame him though? The man has had two major surgeries recently and hasn’t touched a PED since 2012 (for the sake of his future Hall of Fame induction I hope to God this is the last time he is caught juicing). He hasn’t played in a major league regular season game since 2013. His batting average over the last four years hasn’t hit .280 and the last time he hit over 20 home runs it was 2011. Not to mention that the veteran has been completely disappearing in the playoffs since the Yankees were an actual World Series contender. So why is this story one of the most compelling in major league baseball?

Well it’s not because the Rodriguez is going to do anything helpful for the Yankees this year. The guy isn’t on steroids anymore. He is also 39 years old. I know age is just a number, but for a professional athlete who has relied upon performance enhancing drugs to get the edge on the competition this number isn’t his best friend. Most likely, A-Rod will hit sub .250 and won’t hit more than 10 homeruns before manager Joe Girardi yanks him out of the lineup.

This story is one of the best in baseball this year because of its relevance in the history of major league baseball. A-Rod has basically taken over as the poster child for steroid use in the MLB since Barry Bonds retired. Rodriguez’ performance this year will have huge implications on the debate over whether or not PED users deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. If A-Rod truly is steroid free and he has a decent season, the probability of him making it into the Hall is good. But if he underperforms and struggles as a clean-hitter, it only helps sustain the argument that steroid users are only Hall of Famers because of their steroid use.

I am neither supporting nor condemning the judgment passed on A-Rod and whether or not he deserves or should be allowed to enter the Hall of Fame post retirement. But I do know that this year, his return to baseball with have major implications on future Hall of Fame ballots. There is no doubt the imprint A-Rod has had on baseball over the last two decades. This year may just conclude the A-Rod era. And whether he ends it on a sour or sweet note is completely up to him.

Next: The age of Rob Manfred

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