((HT: Sportsnet))
For whatever reason... common sense not ever being one of them...
Alex Rodriguez has given up his lawsuit against Major League Baseball, the Commissioner, and the MLBPA...
He now accepts the 2014 suspension for the regular season and playoffs...
Everyone is thinking this was a good idea...
“We believe that Mr. Rodriguez’s actions show his desire to return the focus to the play of our great game on the field and to all of the positive attributes and actions of his fellow major league players,” the office of the MLB said in a tightly worded release. “We share that desire.”
Pretty much the same from the union that Rodriguez wanted no part of- except for defensing him at every turn:
“Alex Rodriguez has done the right thing by withdrawing his lawsuit,” the union said in an equally-quick statement. “His decision to move forward is in everyone’s best interest.”
Here's Bobcat saying one theory on using A-Rod's salary in 2014...
A-Rod will get close to US$3-million of his salary...
Showing posts with label performance enhancing drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label performance enhancing drugs. Show all posts
Friday, February 7, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
A-Rod And The Suing Game
((HT: ESPN))
So, now we know the next step...
It's not about the "I did" or "I didn't," it's now about the semantics of the argument, the support, and the investigation.
The Alex Rodriguez camp, led by lawyer Joe Tacopina, is now suing MLB and the MLBPA for a lack of support and suing on the grounds that arbitrator Fredric Horowitz was biased in his ruling. They're also suing on the grounds that a suspension given without cause...
The A-Rod camp is also looking to have ruling vacated and claims that Horowitz ignored the baseball drug agreement and went straight to the 211-game suspension instead of the "standard" 50-game suspension for a first offense...
Roger Cossack discusses...
And here's the thoughts in New York City...
((HT: WABC-TV))
So, now we know the next step...
It's not about the "I did" or "I didn't," it's now about the semantics of the argument, the support, and the investigation.
The Alex Rodriguez camp, led by lawyer Joe Tacopina, is now suing MLB and the MLBPA for a lack of support and suing on the grounds that arbitrator Fredric Horowitz was biased in his ruling. They're also suing on the grounds that a suspension given without cause...
The A-Rod camp is also looking to have ruling vacated and claims that Horowitz ignored the baseball drug agreement and went straight to the 211-game suspension instead of the "standard" 50-game suspension for a first offense...
Roger Cossack discusses...
And here's the thoughts in New York City...
((HT: WABC-TV))
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Tony Bosch Vs. Scott Pelley On 60 Minutes
((HT: CBS News/"60 Minutes"))
One day after the arbitor, Fredric Horowitz, upheld the 211-game suspension (although, technically it was trimmed to 162 games plus any 2014 postseason) Major League Baseball handed down against Alex Rodriguez, the center of the allegations held by MLB through Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch made his peace on CBS...
Here's the piece from Scott Pelley
One day after the arbitor, Fredric Horowitz, upheld the 211-game suspension (although, technically it was trimmed to 162 games plus any 2014 postseason) Major League Baseball handed down against Alex Rodriguez, the center of the allegations held by MLB through Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch made his peace on CBS...
Here's the piece from Scott Pelley
Saturday, January 11, 2014
DEVELOPING: A-Rod Suspended For All Of 2014
So, after all the arguing, posturing, and threatening in the remainder of the 2013 Major League Baseball season has trimmed Alex Rodriguez's suspension from 211 games down to the 162 of the regular season...
Not a surprise...
And also not a surprise that A-Rod says he's still going to fight the arbitor's ruling...
Here's some of the statement from his camp:
"The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one," Rodriguez said in the statement. "This is one man's decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable.
"This injustice is MLB's first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy, and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players, or any variety of objective review."
He can still attend spring training since it has nothing to do with the regular season itself...
Andrew Marchand discusses...
((HT: ESPN))
Rodriguez also maintains he'll take his battle to federal court since he maintains that he has never taken performance enhancing drugs...
This is the HQ holding its breath on that one...
Not a surprise...
And also not a surprise that A-Rod says he's still going to fight the arbitor's ruling...
Here's some of the statement from his camp:
"The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one," Rodriguez said in the statement. "This is one man's decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable.
"This injustice is MLB's first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy, and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players, or any variety of objective review."
He can still attend spring training since it has nothing to do with the regular season itself...
Andrew Marchand discusses...
((HT: ESPN))
Rodriguez also maintains he'll take his battle to federal court since he maintains that he has never taken performance enhancing drugs...
This is the HQ holding its breath on that one...
Thursday, January 9, 2014
ClubberSpeak: I Don't Care If Baseball Players Cheat
((HT: jimlangblog))
Nothing touches off a heated debate like voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Today the Baseball Writers Association of America voted in Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas as the newest members of the baseball Hall of Fame.
No sane person would ever argue the merits of the three newest inductees. All three, especially Maddux, boast a resume that is beyond reproach.
That leads us to the two biggest omissions; Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Both players possess some of the greatest career numbers in the history of the game. And both players are doomed to never be voted into the Hall of Fame.
Clemens was far and away the most dominant pitcher of my generation. Clemens won 354 games, had a staggering 4,672 strikeouts and won seven Cy Young awards.
Meanwhile Bonds all but obliterated the MLB record book. Bonds ended his career with 762 home-runs (1st all-time), 2,538 walks (1st all-time), a career OPS of 1.051 and seven MVP awards.
Now do I think both of them used performance enhancing drugs during their playing career? You bet your frozen polar vortex butt I do.
Do I care that they used PED’s during their career? Not at all.
Major League Baseball players are not role models. They are grown men willing to do whatever it takes to keep making money and help their team win.
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/cheaters/ballplayers.html
Back in the day pitchers used spit balls to gain an advantage. Then players took amphetamines to get up for games. Then they corked their bat to hit more home-runs. You name the method of cheating and I guarantee you somebody in baseball has thought of it in order to gain a competitive edge.
When I was in high school I watched “The Natural” and imagined all my baseball heroes were men like Roy Hobbs. Then reality quickly set in as I realized that baseball players live by the age old credo, “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying”.
To make a long story short, if I had a vote for the Hall of Fame I would vote for Clemens and Bonds. So many players were taking some sort of PED during that era that it is next to impossible to sort out the clean players from the dirty players.
Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands and beat up a man with no hands and he was still voted into the Hall of Fame.
I don’t need a baseball writer to tell me about morality. I just want them to vote for the finest players on the ballot and make sure the Hall of Fame is filled with the best of the best.
Why is it alright for pitchers to scuff the ball, doctor the ball and throw spitballs?
Is that not cheating?
According to the rules of baseball it is:
8.02
The pitcher shall not –
(a) (1) Bring his pitching hand in contact with his mouth or lips while in the 18 foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber. EXCEPTION: Provided it is agreed to by both managers, the umpire prior to the start of a game played in cold weather, may permit the pitcher to blow on his hand.
PENALTY: For violation of this part of this rule the umpires shall immediately call a ball. However, if the pitch is made and a batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a hit batsman or otherwise, and no other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed without reference to the violation. Repeated offenders shall be subject to a fine by the league president.
(2) expectorate on the ball, either hand or his glove;
(3) rub the ball on his glove, person or clothing;
(4) apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball;
(5) deface the ball in any manner
Despite all of this pitchers did it often and still do it to this day.
Prior to 2003 players were not tested for PED’s. Not that doesn’t make it right. But by taking them they were not violating any MLB rules at the time.
A few things emerged from the steroid era. First off the numbers posted by players, especially hitters, were greatly inflated. Secondly the television ratings and attendance were greatly inflated. The boost in TV ratings results in a massive financial windfall for Bud Selig and MLB.
Not only is MLB raking in the money, but individual teams have signed enormous regional television contracts that will ensure their financial stability for years to come.
Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds played a big role in reviving baseball after their labour shut-down in 1994. If baseball writers want to punish Clemens and Bonds for taking PED’s (allegedly) then that is their right.
I just hope the writers understand that fans don’t care if a player cheats. In they end they all cheat in some way, shape or form. Fans only care if their team wins or loses.
The writers can choose to do what they want when it comes to Clemens and Bonds. The fact remains they put up numbers that may never be matched, let alone broken. Those numbers will live on for all to see for years to come; whether or not they ever get voted into the Hall.
Nothing touches off a heated debate like voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Today the Baseball Writers Association of America voted in Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas as the newest members of the baseball Hall of Fame.
No sane person would ever argue the merits of the three newest inductees. All three, especially Maddux, boast a resume that is beyond reproach.
That leads us to the two biggest omissions; Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Both players possess some of the greatest career numbers in the history of the game. And both players are doomed to never be voted into the Hall of Fame.
Clemens was far and away the most dominant pitcher of my generation. Clemens won 354 games, had a staggering 4,672 strikeouts and won seven Cy Young awards.
Meanwhile Bonds all but obliterated the MLB record book. Bonds ended his career with 762 home-runs (1st all-time), 2,538 walks (1st all-time), a career OPS of 1.051 and seven MVP awards.
Now do I think both of them used performance enhancing drugs during their playing career? You bet your frozen polar vortex butt I do.
Do I care that they used PED’s during their career? Not at all.
Major League Baseball players are not role models. They are grown men willing to do whatever it takes to keep making money and help their team win.
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/cheaters/ballplayers.html
Back in the day pitchers used spit balls to gain an advantage. Then players took amphetamines to get up for games. Then they corked their bat to hit more home-runs. You name the method of cheating and I guarantee you somebody in baseball has thought of it in order to gain a competitive edge.
When I was in high school I watched “The Natural” and imagined all my baseball heroes were men like Roy Hobbs. Then reality quickly set in as I realized that baseball players live by the age old credo, “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying”.
To make a long story short, if I had a vote for the Hall of Fame I would vote for Clemens and Bonds. So many players were taking some sort of PED during that era that it is next to impossible to sort out the clean players from the dirty players.
Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands and beat up a man with no hands and he was still voted into the Hall of Fame.
I don’t need a baseball writer to tell me about morality. I just want them to vote for the finest players on the ballot and make sure the Hall of Fame is filled with the best of the best.
Why is it alright for pitchers to scuff the ball, doctor the ball and throw spitballs?
Is that not cheating?
According to the rules of baseball it is:
8.02
The pitcher shall not –
(a) (1) Bring his pitching hand in contact with his mouth or lips while in the 18 foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber. EXCEPTION: Provided it is agreed to by both managers, the umpire prior to the start of a game played in cold weather, may permit the pitcher to blow on his hand.
PENALTY: For violation of this part of this rule the umpires shall immediately call a ball. However, if the pitch is made and a batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a hit batsman or otherwise, and no other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed without reference to the violation. Repeated offenders shall be subject to a fine by the league president.
(2) expectorate on the ball, either hand or his glove;
(3) rub the ball on his glove, person or clothing;
(4) apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball;
(5) deface the ball in any manner
Despite all of this pitchers did it often and still do it to this day.
Prior to 2003 players were not tested for PED’s. Not that doesn’t make it right. But by taking them they were not violating any MLB rules at the time.
A few things emerged from the steroid era. First off the numbers posted by players, especially hitters, were greatly inflated. Secondly the television ratings and attendance were greatly inflated. The boost in TV ratings results in a massive financial windfall for Bud Selig and MLB.
Not only is MLB raking in the money, but individual teams have signed enormous regional television contracts that will ensure their financial stability for years to come.
Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds played a big role in reviving baseball after their labour shut-down in 1994. If baseball writers want to punish Clemens and Bonds for taking PED’s (allegedly) then that is their right.
I just hope the writers understand that fans don’t care if a player cheats. In they end they all cheat in some way, shape or form. Fans only care if their team wins or loses.
The writers can choose to do what they want when it comes to Clemens and Bonds. The fact remains they put up numbers that may never be matched, let alone broken. Those numbers will live on for all to see for years to come; whether or not they ever get voted into the Hall.
Friday, October 4, 2013
A-Rod Suing MLB... Really...
This...
Well, the HQ doesn't know what the hell is going on...
But Alex Rodriguez is now suing Major League Baseball...just mere days after there were protesters supporting him in his quest telling folks he done got screwed and just...wants...to...play...the...sport...he...loves...
*sniff*
A-Rod claims MLB bought the cooperation of the chief witness against him- Anthony Bosch, the head of the Biogenesis clinic. The lawsuit claims that Bosch has been paid $5 million by MLB, according to the New York Times. Rodriguez's lawyers also claim that MLB promised to provide security for Bosch, cover his legal bills and keep him from being involved in any civil case that may evolve from the head-butting that MLB and Rodriguez are doing in arbitration right now.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig was also named a defendant in the suit, but the New York Yankees were not.
Steve Eder's article in the New York Times has all the details...
From Eder:
Rodriguez’s lawyers claim an investigator paid $150,000 in cash for records related to Rodriguez, which were apparently stolen. A portion of the cash “was handed off in a bag at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area restaurant,” the lawsuit says.
Well, there you go...
The lawsuit is separate from any other legal action the parties are going through right now...
Here's the paperwork, if you're looking for a good laugh...
And here's A-Rod discussing his 200-plus game suspension and wanting to return last baseball season...
((HT: YES Network))
Well, the HQ doesn't know what the hell is going on...
But Alex Rodriguez is now suing Major League Baseball...just mere days after there were protesters supporting him in his quest telling folks he done got screwed and just...wants...to...play...the...sport...he...loves...
*sniff*
A-Rod claims MLB bought the cooperation of the chief witness against him- Anthony Bosch, the head of the Biogenesis clinic. The lawsuit claims that Bosch has been paid $5 million by MLB, according to the New York Times. Rodriguez's lawyers also claim that MLB promised to provide security for Bosch, cover his legal bills and keep him from being involved in any civil case that may evolve from the head-butting that MLB and Rodriguez are doing in arbitration right now.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig was also named a defendant in the suit, but the New York Yankees were not.
Steve Eder's article in the New York Times has all the details...
From Eder:
Rodriguez’s lawyers claim an investigator paid $150,000 in cash for records related to Rodriguez, which were apparently stolen. A portion of the cash “was handed off in a bag at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area restaurant,” the lawsuit says.
Well, there you go...
The lawsuit is separate from any other legal action the parties are going through right now...
Here's the paperwork, if you're looking for a good laugh...
And here's A-Rod discussing his 200-plus game suspension and wanting to return last baseball season...
((HT: YES Network))
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Ryan Dempster, New Red Sox Folk Hero...Until That "Home Run"Thing...
((HT: MLB on ESPN/youtube))
With the chants of "Go Home, Cheater!" ringing through the Fens, Ryan Dempster decided to make his point on the whole Alex Rodriguez saga...
By doing the following in A-Rod's first at bat this evening against the Red Sox...
Joe Girardi's rant-a-palooza didn't help as he got tossed...
Tony Pena took over in the dugout... at least through what the HQ could see on the telly...
The HQ also anticipates another late-inning round of retribution by the Yanks toward any Red Sox batter in the box...
So, then what does A-Rod do...???
Take Dempster deep later in the game...
More when we know more...
With the chants of "Go Home, Cheater!" ringing through the Fens, Ryan Dempster decided to make his point on the whole Alex Rodriguez saga...
By doing the following in A-Rod's first at bat this evening against the Red Sox...
Joe Girardi's rant-a-palooza didn't help as he got tossed...
Tony Pena took over in the dugout... at least through what the HQ could see on the telly...
The HQ also anticipates another late-inning round of retribution by the Yanks toward any Red Sox batter in the box...
So, then what does A-Rod do...???
Take Dempster deep later in the game...
More when we know more...
Friday, August 16, 2013
DEVELOPING: A-Rod Gone And Done It Now...Allegedly...
((HT: 60 Minutes))
According to CBS Sports, their newsy friends over at "60 Minutes" have learned that Rodriguez's inner circle obtained and, subsequently, leaked Biogenesis documents implicating both Ryan Braun and Francisco Cervelli and their alleged use of PED's.
The prevailing thought being: Well, if I'm going down, I'm taking y'all with me...
And nothing like calling out one of your own teammates in the deal...
From CBS News:
The handwritten documents of Anthony Bosch, the key witness in Major League Baseball's PED investigation, revealed comprehensive doping regimens that Bosch had engineered for a host of professional athletes. His cooperation with MLB has resulted in the suspension of Rodriguez and 13 other major league players.
Braun and Cervelli's names were redacted in the Miami New Times documents. Members of Rodriguez's camp at the time obtained unredacted versions and leaked them to Yahoo! Sports, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The unredacted documents also implicated Baltimore Oriole Danny Valencia, who MLB later investigated and cleared.
In a statement to "60 Minutes," Rodriguez lawyer David Cornwell said, "The allegations are untrue and are another attempt to harm Alex -- this time by driving a wedge between Alex and other players in the game. While Alex focuses on baseball and repeatedly states that he is going to respect the appeal process, the drumbeat of false allegations continues."
To go back a step, the Miami New Times published their knowledge of Bosch's documents back in January, but names were redacted.
Then, CBS reports, that A-Rod's camp sprung into action...
Rodriguez is currently appealing a 211-game suspension that would carry his inactivity through next season. If Major League Baseball can prove that Rodriguez (or his representatives) pulled this stunt, he's in even more serious trouble than before when it comes to proving his innocence in the Biogenesis scandal.
More when we know more...
According to CBS Sports, their newsy friends over at "60 Minutes" have learned that Rodriguez's inner circle obtained and, subsequently, leaked Biogenesis documents implicating both Ryan Braun and Francisco Cervelli and their alleged use of PED's.
The prevailing thought being: Well, if I'm going down, I'm taking y'all with me...
And nothing like calling out one of your own teammates in the deal...
From CBS News:
The handwritten documents of Anthony Bosch, the key witness in Major League Baseball's PED investigation, revealed comprehensive doping regimens that Bosch had engineered for a host of professional athletes. His cooperation with MLB has resulted in the suspension of Rodriguez and 13 other major league players.
Braun and Cervelli's names were redacted in the Miami New Times documents. Members of Rodriguez's camp at the time obtained unredacted versions and leaked them to Yahoo! Sports, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The unredacted documents also implicated Baltimore Oriole Danny Valencia, who MLB later investigated and cleared.
In a statement to "60 Minutes," Rodriguez lawyer David Cornwell said, "The allegations are untrue and are another attempt to harm Alex -- this time by driving a wedge between Alex and other players in the game. While Alex focuses on baseball and repeatedly states that he is going to respect the appeal process, the drumbeat of false allegations continues."
To go back a step, the Miami New Times published their knowledge of Bosch's documents back in January, but names were redacted.
Then, CBS reports, that A-Rod's camp sprung into action...
Rodriguez is currently appealing a 211-game suspension that would carry his inactivity through next season. If Major League Baseball can prove that Rodriguez (or his representatives) pulled this stunt, he's in even more serious trouble than before when it comes to proving his innocence in the Biogenesis scandal.
More when we know more...
Monday, July 22, 2013
Braun Gone: MLB Suspends Slugger For Rest Of Season
Apparently, now no longer using the "guy tampered with my sample" defense, Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun has now admitted what most of us thought all along... that he violated the MLB Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program
"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in a statement released by Major League Baseball. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country.
"Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."
In October of 2011, a sample tested for a higher than normal acceptable level of testosterone. He won his appeal in February of 2012 by challenging the chain of contact for the sample.
He has, since, been linked to the Biogenesis investigation and Tony Bosch- appearing on ledgers as "money owed" to Bosch. Braun's legal team said that, when asked about it, Bosch was used as a consultant during his initial appeal with MLB. When questioned in late June about Biogenesis and any possible link he had to them, reports surfaced that he refused to cooperate.
MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred released this statement: "We commend Ryan Braun for taking responsibility for his past actions. We all agree that it is in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major League Baseball, both on and off the field."
Here's analysis from ESPN
"I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step," said MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner. "It vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work both on and off the field."
"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in a statement released by Major League Baseball. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country.
"Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."
In October of 2011, a sample tested for a higher than normal acceptable level of testosterone. He won his appeal in February of 2012 by challenging the chain of contact for the sample.
He has, since, been linked to the Biogenesis investigation and Tony Bosch- appearing on ledgers as "money owed" to Bosch. Braun's legal team said that, when asked about it, Bosch was used as a consultant during his initial appeal with MLB. When questioned in late June about Biogenesis and any possible link he had to them, reports surfaced that he refused to cooperate.
MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred released this statement: "We commend Ryan Braun for taking responsibility for his past actions. We all agree that it is in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major League Baseball, both on and off the field."
Here's analysis from ESPN
"I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step," said MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner. "It vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work both on and off the field."
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Ryan Braun Doesn't Answer Questions
((HT: ESPN))
A new "Outside The Lines" report from ESPN details the lack of cooperation during the interviewing process that the Brewers' Ryan Braun and that Major League Baseball may be handing down as many as 20 suspensions in and around the All-Star Break.
Names like Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera may be linked and could cause serious damage to a bunch of fantasy teams across the world.
Braun is also set to return to action after his bruised thumb is no longer hampering his swing. A-Rod is in minor league rehab currently trying to find his swing.
Jim Basquil catches up with a bearded TJ Quinn
A new "Outside The Lines" report from ESPN details the lack of cooperation during the interviewing process that the Brewers' Ryan Braun and that Major League Baseball may be handing down as many as 20 suspensions in and around the All-Star Break.
Names like Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera may be linked and could cause serious damage to a bunch of fantasy teams across the world.
Braun is also set to return to action after his bruised thumb is no longer hampering his swing. A-Rod is in minor league rehab currently trying to find his swing.
Jim Basquil catches up with a bearded TJ Quinn
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
DEVELOPING: MLB May Suspend A-Rod, Braun- As Many As 20 Players For Biogenesis Relationships
((HT: Outside The Lines/ESPN))
This could be big...
The whole Biogenesis/Tony Bosch saga may come down to how much Bosch cooperates with Major League Baseball. And, according to Pedro Gomez, Mike Fish, and TJ Quinn, there could be a 100-game suspension in it for Alex Rodriguez and the other twenty players.
The connection to Bosch is one strike, and any contradictions about PED's the athletes under investigation would be a double-dip. Bosch is expected to name names within a week, and the suspensions could come shortly thereafter.
In exchange...
From ESPN:
Major League Baseball will drop the lawsuit it filed against Bosch in March; indemnify him for any liability arising from his cooperation; provide personal security for him and even put in a good word with any law enforcement agency that may bring charges against him. Sources said negotiations over the agreement, which lasted several weeks, stalled over the last point, as Bosch wanted the strongest assurances he could get that MLB would help mitigate any prosecution.
The list of possible players, from paperwork that "Outside The Lines" has could reach any combination of:
A-Rod, Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Yasmani Grandal, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta, Cesar Puello, Fernando Martinez, Everth Cabrera, Fautini de los Santos, Jordan Norberto, and others who are identified by code names. All are currently on major-league rosters but Puello, a top outfield prospect for the New York Mets- playing in Class AA Binghamton.
Here's the first time that Pedro Gomez caught up with Bosch back in April...
MLB athletes have an appeals process with the MLBPA, evidenced by Braun's foray into the process when he went with the "FedEx guy and the tester poisoned my sample" defense. Puello does not since he's in the minors.
Here's the original piece from Fish and Quinn
This could be big...
The whole Biogenesis/Tony Bosch saga may come down to how much Bosch cooperates with Major League Baseball. And, according to Pedro Gomez, Mike Fish, and TJ Quinn, there could be a 100-game suspension in it for Alex Rodriguez and the other twenty players.
The connection to Bosch is one strike, and any contradictions about PED's the athletes under investigation would be a double-dip. Bosch is expected to name names within a week, and the suspensions could come shortly thereafter.
In exchange...
From ESPN:
Major League Baseball will drop the lawsuit it filed against Bosch in March; indemnify him for any liability arising from his cooperation; provide personal security for him and even put in a good word with any law enforcement agency that may bring charges against him. Sources said negotiations over the agreement, which lasted several weeks, stalled over the last point, as Bosch wanted the strongest assurances he could get that MLB would help mitigate any prosecution.
The list of possible players, from paperwork that "Outside The Lines" has could reach any combination of:
A-Rod, Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Yasmani Grandal, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta, Cesar Puello, Fernando Martinez, Everth Cabrera, Fautini de los Santos, Jordan Norberto, and others who are identified by code names. All are currently on major-league rosters but Puello, a top outfield prospect for the New York Mets- playing in Class AA Binghamton.
Here's the first time that Pedro Gomez caught up with Bosch back in April...
MLB athletes have an appeals process with the MLBPA, evidenced by Braun's foray into the process when he went with the "FedEx guy and the tester poisoned my sample" defense. Puello does not since he's in the minors.
Here's the original piece from Fish and Quinn
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
So... Did A-Rod Or Didn't A-Rod Take Recent PED's...???
((HT: Miami New Times/Elfrink))
According to Tim Elfrink's Miami New Times article, a three-month investigation into the Biogenesis clinic near the University of Miami campus has yielded some big names in its net- including Alex Rodriguez who has stated publicly that he's been off the PED train for almost ten years...
Remember the Peter Gammons interview...???
((HT: ESPN/youtube))
Anthony Bosch ran Biogenesis and has somewhat disappeared when a list of names that's fairly well known in baseball circled as part of an alleged client list given to the New Times- Melky Cabrera, Oakland A's hurler Bartolo Colón, Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez and Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz.
From Elfrink:
The notebooks and client lists aren't the only evidence linking Rodriguez to Bosch. Former employees say Bosch would openly brag about selling drugs to Rodriguez.
"He was always talking about A-Rod," says one former employee who asked not to be named. "We never saw any athletes in the office, so we didn't know if he was just talking bullshit or not. But he would brag about how tight they were."
The two connections to all of the athletes and Biogenesis seem to be that they all had a hook with the UM program and they possibly caught once before by Major League Baseball on an investigation of some degree.
But whether or not Biogenesis has actually helped Rodriguez is another matter as his body seems to be breaking down more consistently these days. The HQ rubs its chin and wonders aloud why that is...
He has not played a full season with the Yankees since 2007 and had his second lowest batting average in his career last season. He played in only 122 games before going on the DL. He also hasn't hit more than 30 HR in a season since 2008.
The Yankees owe Rodriguez $114 million over the five years left on his current contract. When it expires, Rodriguez will be 41-years-old. He will, at that point, be one very expensive designated hitter...
According to Tim Elfrink's Miami New Times article, a three-month investigation into the Biogenesis clinic near the University of Miami campus has yielded some big names in its net- including Alex Rodriguez who has stated publicly that he's been off the PED train for almost ten years...
Remember the Peter Gammons interview...???
((HT: ESPN/youtube))
Anthony Bosch ran Biogenesis and has somewhat disappeared when a list of names that's fairly well known in baseball circled as part of an alleged client list given to the New Times- Melky Cabrera, Oakland A's hurler Bartolo Colón, Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez and Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz.
From Elfrink:
The notebooks and client lists aren't the only evidence linking Rodriguez to Bosch. Former employees say Bosch would openly brag about selling drugs to Rodriguez.
"He was always talking about A-Rod," says one former employee who asked not to be named. "We never saw any athletes in the office, so we didn't know if he was just talking bullshit or not. But he would brag about how tight they were."
The two connections to all of the athletes and Biogenesis seem to be that they all had a hook with the UM program and they possibly caught once before by Major League Baseball on an investigation of some degree.
But whether or not Biogenesis has actually helped Rodriguez is another matter as his body seems to be breaking down more consistently these days. The HQ rubs its chin and wonders aloud why that is...
He has not played a full season with the Yankees since 2007 and had his second lowest batting average in his career last season. He played in only 122 games before going on the DL. He also hasn't hit more than 30 HR in a season since 2008.
The Yankees owe Rodriguez $114 million over the five years left on his current contract. When it expires, Rodriguez will be 41-years-old. He will, at that point, be one very expensive designated hitter...
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Lance Admits Some Stuff, People Still Pissed
((HT: OWN/youtube))
Shocking no one, Lance Armstrong's attempts at saving his own hide started on tape-delay Thursday evening with his interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Armstrong admitted he wasn't afraid of being caught. He claimed it wasn't "that sophisticated" a doping operation- not as bad as the East Germans of the 1970s in the five-ringed circus and their competitions.
Armstrong admitted to EPO "cocktails" and that while he was a part of the doping culture, he made no effort to stop the culture. He admitted that the seven Tours de France that he won were on doping episodes, but the 2009 and 2010 tours were non-doping tours.
Betsy Andreu, wife of former teammate and Armstrong friend Frankie Andreu, immediately went on the attack against the interview and what wasn't said as much as what was said. She appeared on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" and went after the entire interview and its content.
"It's hard to know what to believe now," Andreu said as part of the discussion group on set with Cooper.
More when we know more... and when CNN turns the Andreu segments- which are must-watch TV...
Here's Betsy Andreu...
((HT: CNN))
Shocking no one, Lance Armstrong's attempts at saving his own hide started on tape-delay Thursday evening with his interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Armstrong admitted he wasn't afraid of being caught. He claimed it wasn't "that sophisticated" a doping operation- not as bad as the East Germans of the 1970s in the five-ringed circus and their competitions.
Armstrong admitted to EPO "cocktails" and that while he was a part of the doping culture, he made no effort to stop the culture. He admitted that the seven Tours de France that he won were on doping episodes, but the 2009 and 2010 tours were non-doping tours.
Betsy Andreu, wife of former teammate and Armstrong friend Frankie Andreu, immediately went on the attack against the interview and what wasn't said as much as what was said. She appeared on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" and went after the entire interview and its content.
"It's hard to know what to believe now," Andreu said as part of the discussion group on set with Cooper.
More when we know more... and when CNN turns the Andreu segments- which are must-watch TV...
Here's Betsy Andreu...
((HT: CNN))
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Reinvention Of Lance Begins
((HT: KXAN-TV Austin))
He sat down with Oprah for 2-and-a-half hours for an interview where he got emotional and, apparently, didn't go into any great detail...
But the larger impact of his Livestrong Foundation and legacy needed to be saved immediately if not sooner. All the good that idea had created was on the verge of getting flushed down the toilet forever if a tremendous amount of damage control didn't start right effing now...
And so it goes... the first steps are in Austin, Texas in front of Livestrong HQ
"I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly," Lance told the Associated Press over the weekend. Apparently, he got away with a jog and being a normal person until he got stalked by the media. Here's Lance saying that he never doped seven times in 75 seconds
He sat down with Oprah for 2-and-a-half hours for an interview where he got emotional and, apparently, didn't go into any great detail...
But the larger impact of his Livestrong Foundation and legacy needed to be saved immediately if not sooner. All the good that idea had created was on the verge of getting flushed down the toilet forever if a tremendous amount of damage control didn't start right effing now...
And so it goes... the first steps are in Austin, Texas in front of Livestrong HQ
"I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly," Lance told the Associated Press over the weekend. Apparently, he got away with a jog and being a normal person until he got stalked by the media. Here's Lance saying that he never doped seven times in 75 seconds
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Armstrong Gives Up USADA Challenge, TdF Wins To Be Stripped
((HT: KXAN-TV Austin))
And, in the process, USADA chief executive Travis Tygart is going to suspend Lance Armstrong for life from the sport of cycling and strip him of is seven Tours de France...
USADA claims they have the authority to take the Tour wins away from him, but Armstrong claims they can't...
Think what you want of the acts by both USADA and Armstrong, but none of this surprises the HQ at all...
And, in the process, USADA chief executive Travis Tygart is going to suspend Lance Armstrong for life from the sport of cycling and strip him of is seven Tours de France...
USADA claims they have the authority to take the Tour wins away from him, but Armstrong claims they can't...
Armstrong stripped of his 7 tour wins
Here's the statement released by Armstrong... “Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances. I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities. This October, my Foundation will celebrate 15 years of service to cancer survivors and the milestone of raising nearly $500 million. We have a lot of work to do and I'm looking forward to an end to this pointless distraction. I have a responsibility to all those who have stepped forward to devote their time and energy to the cancer cause. I will not stop fighting for that mission.”Think what you want of the acts by both USADA and Armstrong, but none of this surprises the HQ at all...
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Bay Area Blues: First Melky, Now Colon Busted For PED
((HT: KGO-TV))
First it was the Melky Cabrera saga over on the Bay... which is still ongoing... and now inland, it's Bartolo Colon and his suspension for 50 games for testing positive for testosterone levels above the norm.
"I apologize to the fans, to my teammates and to the Oakland A's," Colon said in a statement released by the MLBPA. "I accept responsibility for my actions and I will serve my suspension as required by the joint drug program."
Here's what the fans think...
The suspension is for the last 40 games of the regular season and the next 10 games- wherever they are (post-season or next season)...
Colon is out almost $470,000, but he would have earned another $250,000 if he started in his turn in the A's rotation Thursday.
First it was the Melky Cabrera saga over on the Bay... which is still ongoing... and now inland, it's Bartolo Colon and his suspension for 50 games for testing positive for testosterone levels above the norm.
"I apologize to the fans, to my teammates and to the Oakland A's," Colon said in a statement released by the MLBPA. "I accept responsibility for my actions and I will serve my suspension as required by the joint drug program."
Here's what the fans think...
The suspension is for the last 40 games of the regular season and the next 10 games- wherever they are (post-season or next season)...
Colon is out almost $470,000, but he would have earned another $250,000 if he started in his turn in the A's rotation Thursday.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Cabrera Tried Fake Website To Distract PED Investigation (Really...???)
Apparently, so...
In an investigation by the New York Daily News, it was discovered that disgraced San Francisco Giants OF Melky Cabrera tried to create an artificial website describing a fake product in line with his intake...
Didn't work...and now Jeff Novitzky is looking into everything and everyone in Cabrera's past...
From the article:
Cabrera associate Juan Nunez, described by the player’s agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, as a “paid consultant” of their firm but not an “employee,” is alleged to have paid $10,000 to acquire the phony website. The idea, apparently, was to lay a trail of digital breadcrumbs suggesting Cabrera had ordered a supplement that ended up causing the positive test, and to rely on a clause in the collectively bargained drug program that allows a player who has tested positive to attempt to prove he ingested a banned substance through no fault of his own.
“There was a product they said caused this positive,” one source familiar with the case said of Cabrera’s scheme. “Baseball figured out the ruse pretty quickly.”
Here's KGO-TV's coverage when Cabrera got busted...
Nunez is falling on the sword where the website is concerned and is saying that Cabrera's agents have nothing to do with anything...
But the HQ thinks that this is barely beginning...
In an investigation by the New York Daily News, it was discovered that disgraced San Francisco Giants OF Melky Cabrera tried to create an artificial website describing a fake product in line with his intake...
Didn't work...and now Jeff Novitzky is looking into everything and everyone in Cabrera's past...
From the article:
Cabrera associate Juan Nunez, described by the player’s agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, as a “paid consultant” of their firm but not an “employee,” is alleged to have paid $10,000 to acquire the phony website. The idea, apparently, was to lay a trail of digital breadcrumbs suggesting Cabrera had ordered a supplement that ended up causing the positive test, and to rely on a clause in the collectively bargained drug program that allows a player who has tested positive to attempt to prove he ingested a banned substance through no fault of his own.
“There was a product they said caused this positive,” one source familiar with the case said of Cabrera’s scheme. “Baseball figured out the ruse pretty quickly.”
Here's KGO-TV's coverage when Cabrera got busted...
Nunez is falling on the sword where the website is concerned and is saying that Cabrera's agents have nothing to do with anything...
But the HQ thinks that this is barely beginning...
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
BREAKING: Allmendinger Suspended Indefinitely
From NASCAR their own selves...
AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 22 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.
On July 24, Allmendinger was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (NASCAR’s substance abuse policy) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book.
As outlined in the rule book, NASCAR next will provide Allmendinger a letter outlining a process for reinstatement. By agreeing to the letter, he will be allowed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program.
That could take up to five months...
Allmendinger had tested positive in his "A" sample for a stimulant and had agreed to have his "B" sample tested- bringing in an independent tester for NASCAR's own display as allowed by their rulebook.
The test, conducted at Aegis Laboratories in Nashville. Normal turnaround for a "B" sample is five days, but in the case of Jeremy Mayfield it was turned faster.
Sam Hornish, Junior has filled in for Allmendinger since the "A" sample was revealed to be positive the weekend of the race in Daytona.
Here's analysis from the Rowdy Racing guys when the first sample came down positive...
More when we know more...
The next move could come from Allmendinger's camp. If he comes out with the name of the stimulant, it could go a long way in determining what his actual punishment could be from NASCAR.
NASCAR defines a stimulant as an "amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine, and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds."
If he doesn't, the situation from Allmendinger could resemble more Mayfield than anything else...
AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 22 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.
On July 24, Allmendinger was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (NASCAR’s substance abuse policy) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book.
As outlined in the rule book, NASCAR next will provide Allmendinger a letter outlining a process for reinstatement. By agreeing to the letter, he will be allowed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program.
That could take up to five months...
Allmendinger had tested positive in his "A" sample for a stimulant and had agreed to have his "B" sample tested- bringing in an independent tester for NASCAR's own display as allowed by their rulebook.
The test, conducted at Aegis Laboratories in Nashville. Normal turnaround for a "B" sample is five days, but in the case of Jeremy Mayfield it was turned faster.
Sam Hornish, Junior has filled in for Allmendinger since the "A" sample was revealed to be positive the weekend of the race in Daytona.
Here's analysis from the Rowdy Racing guys when the first sample came down positive...
More when we know more...
The next move could come from Allmendinger's camp. If he comes out with the name of the stimulant, it could go a long way in determining what his actual punishment could be from NASCAR.
NASCAR defines a stimulant as an "amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine, and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds."
If he doesn't, the situation from Allmendinger could resemble more Mayfield than anything else...
Monday, June 25, 2012
MLB Outfielder Byrd suspended for P.E.D usage
 |
| Marlon Byrd |
Believe it or not, Marlon Byrd, up until recently an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox was the primary client of former BALCO czar Victor Conte.
For those wondering, Conte and BALCO were at the forefront of baseball's steroid investigations over the past several years.
Conte used Byrd as spokesperson for his new business...a spin-off of BALCO that allegedly sold supplements. And Byrd gleefully proclaimed that as a client, "He's been clean"
Guess what, Byrd's name turned up Monday afternoon as a positive tester for Performance Enhancing Drugs.
What's even better, the drug of choice: Tamoxifen, a drug used to treat Breast Cancer. The primary issue in play here.
Byrd doesn't have Breast Cancer at least not that we or anybody else has been made aware of. The Major League Baseball Players association says Byrd is taking the drug for "An Undisclosed Condition".
ESPN.com tells us more about this strange alliance RIGHT HERE
We aren't sure if this could be classified as a case of "The Blind Leading the Blind", "Just plain stupidity" or "Trying to pull one over"? Really, it's hard to come up with a good way to describe this.
Other than just plain funny.
So Byrd, who's had a modestly successful career in the Major Leagues, but hasn't done much of late. We're guessing that whatever WAS left of his career, is now probably gone.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Clemens Round Two: Jury Says Not Guilty
Former major league pitcher Roger Clemens was indicted in August of 2010 before his first trial ended in a mistrial last summer when the federal prosecutors attempted to disclose evidence that had already been ruled inadmissable...
The second time around as Clemens was accused of lying to Congress (six counts of perjury, making false statements, and obstructing Congress), the verdict came back "not guilty" on all counts...
CSN Bay Area's Ray Ratto put it well on his Twitter feed...
And that is why Rusty Hardin gets paid.
Here's the original testimony, in part from 2008...
((HT: CNN/youtube))
More when we know more...
1845 UPDATE: Here's team coverage from our friends at MyFoxDC
The second time around as Clemens was accused of lying to Congress (six counts of perjury, making false statements, and obstructing Congress), the verdict came back "not guilty" on all counts...
CSN Bay Area's Ray Ratto put it well on his Twitter feed...
And that is why Rusty Hardin gets paid.
Here's the original testimony, in part from 2008...
((HT: CNN/youtube))
More when we know more...
1845 UPDATE: Here's team coverage from our friends at MyFoxDC
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