Arlington, TX: Steroid Ground Zero

Last night as I was trying to digest the latest chapter in Major League Baseball's ongoing steroid saga-the news that Alex Rodriguez tested positive in 2003-it dawned on me that the national media is really missing a pretty interesting angle on this story. Namely, outside of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, does anyone see a pretty obvious link between most of these bigger name players surrounded by allegations of steroid use? No, well how about this, most of them seem to have played in Arlington, TX somewhere between the early '90s and 2004.

I mean think about it for a second. Jose Canseco was a Ranger and admitted steroid use, Rafael Palmeiro tested positive in Texas, Alex Rodriguez tested positive and admitted to use in Texas, Ivan Rodriguez has been dogged by steroid rumors, likewise for Juan Gonzalez and Kevin Brown. And don't forget Gregg Zaun, Ken Caminiti, Mike Stanton, and David Segui. Even back in 1990, there were hushed allegations that Ruben Sierra was on steroids after losing out on the AL MVP to Robin Yount. John Rocker, Ismael Valdez and Steve Woodard were all in Texas for the 2002 season, and all were mentioned in the Mitchell Report. The 2004 team included Chad Allen, Gary Matthews Jr., Jerry Hairston Jr. and Eric Gagne whom were all also included in the Mitchell Report, with Hairston actually testing positive and evidence existing that Matthews illegally purchased Human Growth Hormone which he parlayed into a career season in 2006 (0.313 BA, 19 HR, 79 RBI) which he then parlayed into a $50m contract with Anaheim where he hasn't been heard from since.

Ever since I can remember the Rangers have had an (accurate) reputation as a team packed with great hitters that put up gaudy numbers but lacking pitching. From Pete Incaviglia and Ruben Sierra to Will Clark to Josh Hamilton, if there's one thing the Rangers have never lacked its good hitting, especially good power hitting. And since 1994, the opening of the Ballpark In Arlington, everyone has just chalked that up to a ballpark that acts as a launching pad, with strange wind currents and short fences that practically invites power numbers. Despite his relative lack of success elsewhere, Juan Gonzalez won two AL MVP awards and put up obscene numbers in Texas before fading into obscurity. Is it possible though that it's not the stadium, or atleast not entirely, but instead that the Texas Rangers have just been ground-zero of the MLB Steroid Scandal and we just didn't know it?

There seems to be an inordinate number of players either suspected with cause or testing positive that have doneso during a tenure with the Rangers and a corresponding increase in power numbers. Could it all just be a coincidence? Or could it be that the Rangers have been either embracing or turning a blind eye towards the steroid culture behind the scenes for much of the last 15 years? I have a feeling if the Government decides to run with this like they did the Barry Bonds allegations, they're going to turn up some pretty nasty stuff, and it won't be good for Rangers PR.