On Pete Rose's Return
Baseball Prospectus is reporting that Pete Rose has reached a deal that would let him back into baseball. It would allow him to be employed by a team beginning in 2004 in some sort of front office role, and he'd be permitted to manage a team by 2005. He would also be allowed on the Hall of Fame ballot in his final year of eligibility.
In a long list of travesties perpetuated on Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bud Selig, this is, without question, the worst. Pete Rose earned his lifetime ban from baseball fair and square, and it is embarassing that he is suddenly being let off the hook. I have read the Dowd Report, and there is plenty of damning evidence in there to absolutely justify his permanent expulsion of Rose from anything having to do with MLB. Pete Rose knew this; that's why he signed the agreement that he did.
Pete Rose is a cancer that was excised from baseball 14 years ago, then lay dormant, biding his time. Today, Bud Selig has opened the door to allow Rose back into the game, and baesball is infinitely worse off for it.
August 12, 2003 - 09:34 AM