WILLIAMSPORT -- The world of Major League Baseball is getting tense with the looming suspensions for more than a half-dozen players including New York Yankees third basemen Alex Rodriguez, the highest paid player in the game at more than $28 million this season alone.
A-Rod is accused of using performance enhancing drugs, and it was just two weeks ago that he was here in our area playing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Thursday night, the RailRiders were on the road but fans of the Williamsport Crosscutters had a lot to say about drugs in baseball and A-Rod in particular.
It was just two weeks ago that fans flocked to PNC Field in Moosic as New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez played with his team's top minor league affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
A-Rod has been playing in the minor leagues for the past month, rehabbing an injury as he works his way back to the Yankees.
Now it`s unclear if he`ll return and it`s not due to that injury, it will be due to performance enhancing drugs.
“I think he should be suspended, they know it`s illegal, they`re going to get caught, and I just don`t understand why they continue to do it,” said Mike Hersh of Williamsport.
At the Williamsport Crosscutters game at Historic Bowman Field, baseball fans said if A-Rod did take performance enhancing drugs or PEDs then he needs to pay the price.
A-Rod could be hit with a lengthy suspension even lifetime ban from baseball because authorities alleged he also tampered with the investigation.
“I wouldn`t be against a lifetime ban if they talked about that, he broke the rules and I`m a Yankee fan and it`s embarrassing to have him as a member of the Yankees,” said Mike Drebs, who came in from Tioga County.
“Absolutely, absolutely, you don`t want to see them not play because they are so good and they`re icons, but you don`t want to see them cheat either,” said Patty Loner from Wiliamsport.
“I think if he agrees and fesses to what he did then maybe the 200 hundred games,” said William Keyte from Montoursville. “If he doesn`t he should get a lifetime ban.”
A-Rod`s name was reportedly found with other major league ball players on documents connected to Biogensis, a clinic in Florida that was allegedly giving out PED’s.
The league has already given former MVP Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers a 65 game suspension for using drugs.
“How can you have record books that are fair and a level playing field if some guys are breaking the rules,” said Drebs.
Under league rules a first time punishment for using performance enhancing drugs is a 50 game suspension.
However, A-Rod is expected to get much more than that.