Hall of Fame slugger and Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson believes steroids have created a "cloud over baseball" and that new penalties against steroid use aren't strong enough.
In his most extensive comments to date on the topic, baseball's No. 5 all-time home run hitter said yesterday many fans are willing to ignore steroid use because they enjoy the "home runs, the RBIs, the big explosion offensively" of the last few years.
"But I'll tell you one thing," Robinson said. "The players that play this game do care, and the players that have played this game care.
"It's a cloud over baseball right now about steroids," Robinson said at the Nationals' spring training camp in Viera, Fla. "My take on that is that it doesn't belong in the game."
Under new standards announced in January, players who test positive for steroids for the first time will be suspended for 10 days. It will require four positive tests to get a one-year ban. A fifth positive is subject to discipline decided by the commissioner.
"I just think the penalties are not strong enough," Robinson said. "First offense, 10 days? Five times? You'd have to be awful stupid."
For decades, Robinson's 586 home runs ranked fourth all-time – behind Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays – before he was passed by Barry Bonds. Robinson didn't link the home run record directly to steroids, but he openly wondered whether the recent power explosion will dwarf his accomplishments.
"Probably before I take my last breath, I'm going to be about 99th on the list," Robinson said. "And I'm afraid people are going to say 'Frank Who?' It's going to be such huge numbers up there at the top, they're going to say, 'You must have been a singles hitter that hit a few home runs.' That's the thing that's going to happen to this game."
Around the horn
WHITE SOX: Slugger Frank Thomas hasn't recovered from an ankle injury that required surgery and will miss Monday's reporting deadline.
REDS: Agreed to a $3.55 million, one-year contract with right-hander Ramon Ortiz, avoiding arbitration.
CUBS: Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will have a base salary of $8.25 million this year, up from the $8 million deal he agreed to in December. As part of the new contract, he will be able to earn $2.75 million in performance bonuses instead of $3 million.
DODGERS: Former manager Tom Lasorda has been appointed special adviser to owner Frank McCourt.
NATIONALS: The club re-signed outfielder Terrmel Sledge to a one-year contract.
DIAMONDBACKS: Acquired left-hander Brad Murray from the White Sox to complete last season's Roberto Alomar trade.
