In an interview today with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Alex Rodriguez admitted his steroid use, saying he used steroids during three different seasons from 2001-2003, all his years with the Texas Rangers.

He said he felt tremendous pressure to perform, but has been clean since that 2003 season.

Admitting his use is the best thing that Alex could have done, relieving him of the constant media crush that would have followed if he went the Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens route of denial.

Arod’s quote: “When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure, felt all the weight of the world on top of me to perform and perform at a high level every day. It was a different culture. I was young, I was stupid and I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time and I did take a banned substance. For that, I’m very sorry and deeply regretful, although it was the culture back then in major league baseball overall, it was very … I just feel that … I’m just sorry. I’m sorry for that time, I’m sorry to the fans, I’m sorry to the fans in Texas. It wasn’t until then that I thought about substance of any kind, and since then I’ve proved to myself and to anyone that I don’t need any of that.”

He also said he didn’t know what he was taking, which I find surprising.

Rodriguez owned up to his transgressions, and it is up to the public to judge him on the records he obtains and future consideration for the Hall of Fame. Theoretically, if you wipe out his three seasons in Texas (something that will never happen), he likely would not break the all time HR record, but his overall numbers, dominating presence and two “legitimate” MVP’s** would still warrant enshrinement in Cooperstown.

** I feel bad for Jorge Posada, who finished third in the 2003 MVP vote, the MVP win Alex received when he used steroids. Although Carlos Delgado was runner up to Alex, I feel if Alex didn’t put up those type of numbers, Posada would have received more of Alex’s 1st place votes than Delgado and would have won the MVP that season.

As a catcher, Posada played the tougher position that Delgado, and the Yankees also won the division that year, whereas Delgado’s Toronto Blue Jays finished third. Posada and Delgado each received 5 first place votes in 2003, while a total of 10 American League players received first place votes that year.

What is good about his admission is that Alex not only admitted his use in 2003, when the drug test was performed, but the two prior years also. He basically threw away his entire career with the Texas Rangers.

Yankee fans shouldn’t have been concerned with Alex’s on field production in the future. If Alex has been clean since 2003, and there is no reason to doubt this since drug testing has been in effect since 2004, he has put up great numbers in New York since his arrival, and will continue to do so during the remainder of his contract. And he produced those great numbers while the pressure of New York and the celebrity media constantly bore down in him.

The pressure for 2009 for Alex is lessened, similar to how he lessened the pressure before the 2007 season by admitting his relationship with Derek Jeter wasn’t what it once was. With that burden off his chest back then, Alex went on to another MVP season, his best season as a Yankee.

With Mark Teixeira protecting him in the lineup and now with the steroid admittance, look for Alex to prove to all of baseball that he is the best player in the game.

At least this side of Albert Pujols.