Alex Rodriguez is Backing MLB and the Yankees into a Corner

"I never bet on baseball.
- Pete Rose

That statement is one that we will be hearing a lot of in the next few weeks, only from a different source.

Major League Baseball is investigating Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez and his ties to illegal, underground high-stakes poker games. Rodriguez has publicly denied having played in the games, run by accused Ponzi schemer Brad Ruderman, but reports of his presence at the games have been rampant enough to make Major League Baseball concerned. In fact, Bud Selig's office has warned Rodriguez about participating in such games before as they may involve connection to illegal gambling in relation to baseball.

And when there is gambling and baseball mentioned together anywhere, the conversation automatically turns to Pete Rose.

Rose, of course, is banned for life from the game of baseball, which also preempt his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, for betting on baseball games. He denied the facts for 15 years, hoping for reinstatement, but finally admitted to it during the spring of 2007 just before the release of a tell-all book.

That said Rodriguez is now faced with a similar scruple. His Hall of Fame chances already greatly diminished by his admitted steroid use, A-Rod now must decide what information he gives Major League Baseball during their investigation. Of course, if he's innocent, he has nothing to hide. If MLB suspects that he's had ties to other forms of illegal gambling, then he faces a lifetime suspension from the game. For someone who sits just 137 home runs shy of the all-time record, which could be pretty severe.

Of course if I'm Pete Rose, or the family of Shoeless Joe Jackson for that matter, I'm watching this shake out with my own special interest.

You see, Bud Selig also has an interesting rope to toe the line on as well. If he attempts to suspend Rodriguez, he would need to push that through arbitration with the player's union, which won't be an easy task. It would require a certain burden of proof that the commissioner's office may not be able to present, let alone make stick. Any such investigation would likely take a year or two.

However, if he chooses to simply fine or not punish Rodriguez at all, then he opens the gates for arguments of double standards. There is no doubt that Rose would seek immediate reinstatement should Selig show Rodriguez any sort of leniency. And that doesn't even speak to the thousands of bloggers and pundits who have been clambering for Rose's reinstatement for years. Would Selig want to even open up that can of worms?

Finally you have the Yankee equation. Let's face facts; this is a ball club that doesn't need Rodriguez and is arguable better without him. They've looked down the path of voiding his contract when he admitted to steroid usage, so is it completely out of the question that Brian Cashman and the brothers Steinbrenner would want to rid themselves of this walking distraction? From steroids, to affairs on road trips, to bush-league play on the field, and finally a gambling investigation, this is one headache that the Yankees may ultimately decide to take care of.

Unfortunately, just two Excedrin won't make it go away.

Sources:

• - MLB Investigating Yankees Star For Illegal Gambling, foxsports.com
• - Alex Rodriguez Could Face Suspension, nj.com