ATF Morning Commute: Olney on Voting PED Users in Hall of Fame

Sep 18, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers batting coach Mark McGwire (12) claps during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Buster Olney took to Twitter this morning to defend his votes of known PED users for the HOF.

First, read the tweets:

Next, here’s Olney’s list of who he voted for:

"But because of the Rule of 10, I had to leave seven of those players off my ballot — Kent, McGwire, Mussina, Raines, Schilling, Sosa and Trammell, and ended up checking boxes next to the following 10 names — Bagwell, Biggio, Bonds, Clemens, Glavine, Maddux, Morris, Palmeiro, Piazza, Thomas."

And here is his reason, summed up rather briefly:

"Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and others have gotten the most scrutiny, but in my opinion, most of the elite players were using something. Whether we like it or not, this is what the sport became because of inaction from the top to the bottom. During the 1990s, every team had the option of requesting a steroid test for a player, for cause. The number of times this happened: zero. None. Nada."

And really, it’s about reflecting history in a time when only God knows how many players were using PEDs. Players who are all still in good standing with MLB.

"If MLB and the Hall of Fame have determined those players are in good standing — unlike Rose — is it really the writers place to throw up a road block in front of them?I think my vote should reflect history, and whether we like it or not, the history — effectively approved and stamped for authenticity by MLB, and presented by the Hall — is that Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, Sosa, McGwire, etc. were the very best players at a time when the sport was saturated with PED use."

If you are an ESPN Insider, head over and check out the article: Why I vote for PED users for the HOF

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In other news this morning, Jeff Francoeur – Sabean’s short-lived mid-season project last year – has signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians with a Spring Training invite, per MLB Trade Rumors.

Buster Posey‘s Alma Mater, Florida State University, won the BSC last night against Auburn. It could make for some interesting banter in the clubhouse between him and newly acquired pitcher, Tim Hudson. Hudson attended Auburn University.