So while it’s quite understandable why the baseball betting public (or at least the people who buy newspapers and magazines) are fascinated by A-Rods behavior both on the baseball wagering diamond and off it this massive spotlight has no doubt been a distraction to the player.

Obviously the steroids helped his baseball betting production on the field and helped to make him the biggest star in the MLB wagering. But his days in New York have been more disappointment than success.

But according to sources close to him and sources with the Yankees that’s about to end this MLB wagering season. A-Rod is supposedly more focused than he’s ever been an unaffected by the media circus that follows him everywhere and that he helped to create.

That is not good news for opposing pitchers in the MLB odds competition. A-Rod was hobbled by injuries and personal problems last season but still managed to put up some terrific numbers in the baseball wagering action (30 HR, 100 RBIs) even if they were down from this career MLB betting averages.

So with a renewed focus, a new-found ease in life and at the plate, as well as short porch in the new Yankees stadium A-Rod looks poised to have a hugely productive year in the upcoming baseball betting season. He’ll sure be one the favorites in the MLB odds to win yet another AL MVP award and this team could also very easily repeat as the MLB betting champs.

But love him or hate him, there is no denying that A-Rod is not only one of the great players of today, but also one of the all time greats in the history of baseball betting. Say what you will about his personal life or his supposed ‘choke artist’ act in the post season, but his numbers in his MLB odds career are some of the best ever produced.

Take for example the fact that A-Rod has more 30-HR and 100 RBI seasons than any other player in baseball betting history with 13. Even the great Babe Ruth was only able to belt 30 dingers and drive in 100 runs in the same season just a dozen times in his storied MLB odds career.

And a quick look at his career averages leaves doubt his place in baseball history. He’s a career .305 hitter with 586 HRs, 1706 RBIs and 1683 Runs so far in his 13 seasons in MLB. By the time he retires he will be the all time HR record holder, he’ll have 3,000 hits and he will finish with career stats the likes of which have never been seen in baseball.

Sure, he cheated with steroids, but so did many other great players in this era. Short of excluding them all from the record books or MLB history, there is no fair to deny A-Rod his rightful place as one of the greatest hitters the sport has ever seen.