A-Rod, A-Roid, A-Fraud — call him whatever you will, but you can't say this type of thing is out of left field anymore.

A surprise? Yes. A shock? No.

With his physique, I never thought Alex Rodriguez would get involved with steroids. He doesn't fit that profile that makes it so obvious with big and powerful players like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

There will be other players, much slighter in size, who have used steroids, including some pitchers, but they haven't been splashed all over the front pages like the aforementioned players. It's just I've gotten to a point I'm immune to whom is capable of using steroids and other illegal substances.

Those who make the drugs — and you can go back to the early-to-late 1990s with the creatine craze — remember McGwire's locker? — are trying to stay ahead of the game.

Then came HGH, the "cream," the "clear" and now Primobalan, a product that gives you added strength without a lot of the muscle mass and fewer side effects, which is what A-Rod tested positive for.

Better living through chemistry, unless you get caught.

You can't even tell anymore, since there's a drug that doesn't make one's head disproportionate to his body. We now must cast our eyes upon the slightly built players who have not gotten bigger, as well as the aging players who are producing at an amazing level.

A-Rod was tough to figure out because he put up great numbers from the beginning, not just the 2001-03 seasons with the Texas Rangers, which is when he is alleged to have taken the steroids.

In his first five full seasons with the Seattle Mariners from 1996-2000, A-Rod averaged about 37 home runs, 115 RBI and 122 runs scored. In his three years with the Rangers, he tallied 55 HR, 136 RBI, 127 R. In the past four with the New York Yankees, Rodriguez has put up 43 HR, 128 RBI, 123 R.

You could associate A-Rod's increased numbers with the Rangers to his improvement as a player or the Rangers' big hitting lineup. But many of those Rangers have been linked to steroid use.

The drug testing of 2003 was meant to be confidential and to provide some insight into the percentage of players who were taking steroids. That A-Rod's name leaked is an embarrassment to baseball. When you offer confidentiality, then you are linked with a yet-unnamed 103 other players, that's not a healthy way to keep the trust of players and fans.

If A-Rod is hit with a suspension and/or a fine, baseball would appear to be hypocritical. But A-Rod's reputation takes the bigger hit.

The bottom line is no one is off limits to this problem. Don't be surprised if a pitcher up for a cup of coffee is named or another slugger is fingered.

As fans, we should be long past angry or upset. This is the face of the game now. Expect players to try to beat the system and expect baseball to deal with it as it comes.

Forget the asterisks, Hall of Fame denials and removal of awards and records. The late 20th and early 21st centuries will be labeled the Steroids Era and our stars are not as bright as they appear.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.