Baltimore Orioles: Rafael Palmeiro seems serious about a comeback

About one month ago, retired Baltimore Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro told Ken Rosenthal that he was considering a comeback.

Palmeiro is 53 years old, which is why it seems so odd to hear that the former Baltimore Orioles All-Star is really serious.

Apparently, he is serious, because he said so.

The flu is serious, too

The original report about Palmeiro was printed in The Athletic and shared via a Tweet from Rosenthal.

In the last month, Palmeiro has been quiet. But, on Friday, he shared a video of batting practice on Twitter.

He’s got that same easy swing that he had when he was in the game. But, remember, he’s hitting off of a machine, where it is much easier to put the ball in play. The big question is whether or not he can do this with Chris Sale‘s slider or Justin Verlander‘s curveball coming at him. Odds are, the answer is a resounding no.

Just stop already

Palmeiro has 53-year-old eyes and a body of the same age. Even if he were to put a real pitch into play, he would have to get to first base. Could you imagine him outrunning any of the elite MLB players making a play to first? Consider the speed of Manny Machado making a play from third. Palmeiro would not have a chance.

Most believe that Palmeiro is giving this career reboot a shot so he can reset his chances to get into the Hall of Fame. The last time he played was 2005 and he left the game after a positive test for PEDs. He was playing with the Orioles at that time.

His numbers from his younger days

At the height of his career in 1998 and 1999, his only back-to-back All-Star seasons, he hit .309/.399/.596 with 90 home runs and 13 stolen bases. In those two years, he played with the Texas Rangers and then the Orioles. He earned Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in those two seasons, too. Those years were in the middle of the Steroid Era. His career numbers were .288/.371/.515 in 20 years of play. He retired at age 40.

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Palmeiro should stop with this nonsense. This game belongs to the current generation who is playing this game with their own athleticism. Palmeiro’s desire for a comeback is a slap in the face to men like Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Chris Davis, and Adam Jones, who are doing their job without the help of PEDs.

PEDs and the HOF

With the Steroid Era players still on the Hall of Fame ballots, Palmeiro is still reminded that he was not voted in, just like Mark McGwire. But, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens on are still on it. It’s got to bother him that some rumored PED users like Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez made it. But, no matter what Palmeiro does, he will always be associated with his failed PED test. Voters will not enshrine him, even if he plays at age 53+. Chris Bodig covered the problems that Hall of Fame voters have with the PED question in this article at Cooperstown Cred.

Next: Pitching minicamp is coming

If Palmeiro actually signs with a team, any appearances he makes would be a freak show as people would pay to see the old guy play. That’s not what baseball is about, and it shouldn’t be.