Alex Rodriguez was supposed to be the hero.

He was supposed to be the guy that was clean. He would launch home run after home run and take down the villain, Barry Bonds, by breaking his all-time home run record. And he would do it without any help.

Now, the best player in baseball is the most hated player in baseball. Fans used to hate A-Rod because he was paid an exorbitant amount of money ($27.5 million per year). Now they have a legitimate reason to dislike him. He cheated.

Rodriguez admitted in an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons that he took performance enhancing drugs from 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers.

His reasons for taking the substances were pressure from his new contract, the largest ever in MLB at that point ($252 million over 10 years), and his own stupidity and naivety. He claimed he didn't even know what substances he was taking, not very smart is he?

According to the initial report by Sports Illustrated, A-Rod took a type of anabolic steroid called Premabolin. It is more expensive than the steroids that are typically used. Premabolin is said to increase strength and lean muscle without making the user look too bulky.

The thing that angers me the most about this situation is that A-Rod didn't even need the steroids. He is the best player in baseball without them. They didn't even help him.

Rodriguez could have been the hero, but he threw it all away when he took steroids.

In his first two years in Texas, also his first two years using performance enhancing drugs, Rodriguez hit 52 and 57 home runs. These totals were the highest he had achieved in his career at that point, but that could be attributed to Texas' hitter friendly ballpark. Rangers Ballpark consistently ranks near the top in park factor, meaning it favors hitters more than other parks.

In 2002, A-Rod hit 34 homers at Rangers Ballpark, and 23 homers on the road. He had 360 plate appearances at home and 365 on the road.

Rodriguez has even proven that he can put up those kinds of power numbers when clean. In 2007, in the midst of MLB's steroid scandal, A-Rod hit 54 homers with the Yankees.

It could be argued that those performance enhanced Texas years weren't even A-Rod's best seasons. I would say 1998 in Seattle was his best year, when he hit .311 with 42 homers, 124 RBI, 123 runs, and 46 stolen bases.

You could also pick the previously mentioned 2007 season when Rodriguez drove in 156 runs to go along with his 54 bombs and 24 steals. Or how about 1996, his first full season in the majors when he won the batting title with a .358 average.

Rodriguez could have been the hero, but he threw it all away when he took steroids.

And what did he get from it? A few extra home runs, if anything. A-Rod doesn't need steroids, he's an MVP and a Gold Glover without them.

What can Rodriguez do to fix his mistake?

Well, admitting his guilt is a good start. Admitting his own stupidity helps, tooThe only way A-Rod can fully make up for it and get his fans back is to give up all the gaudy numbers he produced while he was juiced, whether the 'roids helped him or not.

However, the only way A-rod can fully make up for it and get his fans back is to give up all the gaudy numbers he produced while he was juiced, whether the 'roids helped him or not. A-Rod needs to call a press conference and say he wants his Texas years completely wiped out of the record books. Give back the 156 home runs. Give back the 2003 American League MVP award (Carlos Delgado came in 2nd in MVP voting that year, by the way).

Wiping out the stats from those three years would put A-Rod out of reach of Bonds' tainted record, but at least it would give him a shot at getting into the Hall of Fame and regaining some respect.

Here's what Rodriguez's career numbers would look like with the years 2001-2003 removed:

.306 BA, 1,835 hits, 1,223 runs, 397 HRs, 1,211 RBI, 239 SBs

At 33 years of age and healthy, Rodriguez still has some good years left. He could still reach 500 homers (again). He could still reach 1,500 runs and 1,500 RBI.

He could still make the Hall of Fame, if he erases those three years from the books.

What do you think of A-Rod's steroid use? Is he the best player in baseball? Did steroids even help him? How can he regain fans and respect? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.