In light of the recent Manny Ramirez suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, the question pops up, are there any good guys left in baseball?  If I would have been writing this article when the A-Rod story first broke in February, Manny Ramirez would have been on the list of good guys.  Below is what I believe in my heart is a list of five guys that I do not think will ever be accused of using steroids or banned substances.  Keep in mind, the five men I have picked should all go to The Hall of Fame someday as well.

Randy Johnson

Randy Johnson has been in the league since 1989.  He pitched for a team that doesn’t exist anymore called The Montreal Expos.  He is definitely in the twilight of his career but still has a little gas in the tank.  The Big Unit will never be remembered for his good looks or quotes, but I feel he has achieved everything he has cleanly and without medical boosts.

Albert Pujols

Of all the players I am naming on a “good guy” list, Pujols is probably the best natural athlete.  He is a monster statistically and has his power stroke in midseason form already.  Pujols just seems instinctive about the game and he plays with a passion that makes fans of other teams envious.

Trevor Hoffman

Lately, Trevor Hoffman has spent time on the DL.  He is nearing the end of his storied career and I wouldn’t be suprised if he retired by the end of this season.  His body is starting to give a bit, a perfect time to start using some miracle medicine to make his pitching good for a couple of extra seasons.  However, Hoffman is one of those moral guys who won’t give in to the temptations.

Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay is one of those pitchers I could watch every time he throws.  His location is usually near perfect, his velocity varies as he wants, and he mixes his pitches to hitters throughout a lineup.  There isn’t much predictable about Roy Halladay.  He is another seemingly terrific pitcher headed to Cooperstown.  I do not think Halladay ever has, or ever will dabble in the gook.

Carlos Beltran

One of lifes great mysteries to me is how this guy got out of Kansas City.  He produced great numbers as a Royal and put bodies in seats.  In hindsight, The Royals have to be sick for ever letting him get away.  Beltran will continue on the statistical pace he is on for at least the next five seasons.  He will have Hall of Fame numbers by the time he is finished, and I really don’t think he is juicing in any way.

So there you have it.  My list of five good guys still left in baseball.  There are many, many more but the biggest stars are the ones getting popped lately.  Maybe they should switch to decaf and watch what is in the cream they put in their coffee a bit closer.  Pretty soon MLB will have a list of substances longer than the faces of current Yankee fans.

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