The Futility Infielder

As the baseball world prepares for the announcement of the Hall of Fame Class of 2004, one very high profile ex-player has begun laying the groundwork for his own election in 2005. Pete Rose has published a book in which he admits to gambling on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team in 1987 and 1988, actions he's vehemently denied since his lifetime ban from baseball 15 years ago. On Thursday evening, a prime-time interview with Rose will air on ABC.

It's not hard to view Rose's actions with skepticism. He wants commissioner Bud Selig to reinstate him, both so that he can be eligible for the Hall of Fame and so that he can work in baseball again. Time is running out on his window of opportunity to gain election to the Hall via the Baseball Writers of America ballot. And, last but not least, he never met a money-making opportunity he didn't like.

Recall that back in August, Baseball Prospectus writers Will Carroll and Derek Zumsteg broke a story that Major League Baseball would reinstate Rose, setting off a distasteful chain of events which led to them being bashed by MLB blowhards and so-called legitimate news outfits embarrassed at being scooped.

It's important to note that the two main points of BP's report -- Rose's reinstatement by Major League Baseball, and the lack of a need for him to admit wrongdoing for that to happen -- haven't proven to be true yet. On the contrary, Rose HAS admitted wrongdoing, MLB has yet to reinstate him, and if Bad Rug Bud and His Butt-Ugly Thugs perceive too strong a backlash over Rose's admission, such reinstatement may not take place.

What isn't clear yet is whether BP's scoop changed the story itself, the actions of the principals involved. Did Bud feel the backlash and require this admission? Did Pete decide that this was a golden opportunity to make a buck? Expect both camps to say whatever is politically expedient; I'm not sure we've ever heard the truth on the matter from either Bud or Pete, and I've got better things to do than wait for hell to freeze over.

I'm going to put aside my cynicism about Rose (who "in his interview with Primetime... says he bet without knowing how drastic the penalties would be," despite the warning posted in every major league baseball clubhouse) and the manufactured sincerity of this media event for the moment to call bullshit.... no, I mean, to call your attention to a unique angle from Alex Belth.

When we were down in New Orleans, Alex and I had an interesting discussion about the Rose situation and about the growing influence of nontraditional, Internet-based outlets for baseball coverage. Today he's got a stellar piece relating our outsider experience in New Orleans to the topsy-turvy world of the Rose scoop, including some choice quotes from Carroll about the obstacles of an outsider taking on an inside story. Meanwhile, Zumsteg has his own brief take on the latest news at his USS Mariner blog.

Are Carroll and Zumsteg vindicated yet? No, and they'll be the first to tell you that. But you can bet that they will come out smelling better than the (S)Hit King when this story's final chapter is written.