The New York Times' media critic says A-Rod got off easy.

AP

Peter Gammons of ESPN made national headlines yesterday for his exclusive interview with Alex Rodriguez, during which New York's high-priced third baseman admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 through 2003.

But New York Times media critic Richard Sandomir thinks Gammons came up short in the interview, neglecting to ask some of the most important questions about A-Rod's history and experience with steroids.

A candid Rodriguez gave Gammons plenty -- the admission to using steroids and the often-repeated self-flagellation that he was stupid and naïve. But Gammons, ESPN's Hall of Fame baseball writer, did not ask a crucial question: "Alex, how often did you take Primobolan or any other banned substances?"

It is a rare journalist who walks away from a big interview satisfied that every possible question had been asked in such a set period of time. But this was a big omission.

The answer would have given viewers a greater sense of how much Rodriguez felt he needed to experiment in that "loosey-goosey" era of drug use he described, a period that included his three years as a Texas Ranger. What was the frequency, Alex?

...

Gammons's politeness seemed to have prevented him from being overly skeptical or a bit rude to Rodriguez, who invited him to Miami. Maybe he wanted to give Rodriguez lots of rope to perform self-therapy. But even in confessing, Rodriguez was evasive. How often do you interject or correct?

But Gammons needed to ask, "How could you not know what you were putting in your body?" Or, "Why can't you recall who first gave you an illegal substance?"

Were you satisfied with Gammons' interview of Rodriguez? Or do you think he could have been more comprehensive and pointed in his line of questioning? Give Gammons a letter grade for his interview along with your comments below.

A Polite Forum for a Careful Confession [The New York Times]
A-Rod admits to using performance-enhancing drugs [For The Record]