MLB Suspensions

[A Pac]

Nelson Cruz and Jhonny Peralta get 50 games and A-Rod is gone until 2015. Pretty much what everyone expected. It will be interesting to see if A-Rod will actually fight it.

Cruz, Peralta reportedly accept bans; A-Rod status unchanged | HardballTalk

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Braun only being suspended throughout the rest of this season is laughable.

ARod only getting 1 year is laughable.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Have a hard time believing Colon isn't still using. Obviously, he's always been good. But I think we learned from the steroid era...generally those who suddenly get much better at 35+ are using something.

 

[GreenSox04]

i hope arod fights it so he can play, hes already getting boo'd over in Trenton at the AA level.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Sadly, the league created this climate of PED abuse. And it will take the players stepping up demanding that the league fix the issue. The current climate is ripe for that as several players have spoken out against A Rod and the others. If the Commish has any balls left in his "legacy" he will demand that lifetime bans start being handed out moving forward.

 

[GreenSox04]

official, arod suspended through 2014, suspension starts Thursday.


what i hate, forget his current contract, the rangers STILL owe him 40 mill....smh.

 

[A Pac]

Sadly, the league created this climate of PED abuse. .

This is why I can't stand Bud Selig and think he ruined baseball. He let this go on in the late 90s and early 2000s because ratings and attendence were up. Now he wants to try to act like he didn't know. Bullcrap. He's a joke of a commissioner. When people say he's doing a great job of cleaning up baseball, it makes me sick. He did nothing for a decade to make a few bucks and now it's out of control. These recent players are just the ones who got caught. Who knows how many were juicing before this.

 

[T Town Tommy]

This is why I can't stand Bud Selig and think he ruined baseball. He let this go on in the late 90s and early 2000s because ratings and attendence were up. Now he wants to try to act like he didn't know. Bullcrap. He's a joke of a commissioner. When people say he's doing a great job of cleaning up baseball, it makes me sick. He did nothing for a decade to make a few bucks and now it's out of control. These recent players are just the ones who got caught. Who knows how many were juicing before this.

Couldn't agree more. He is a POS commish and this will forever tarnish his integrity for the game.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

This is why I can't stand Bud Selig and think he ruined baseball. He let this go on in the late 90s and early 2000s because ratings and attendence were up. Now he wants to try to act like he didn't know. Bullcrap. He's a joke of a commissioner. When people say he's doing a great job of cleaning up baseball, it makes me sick. He did nothing for a decade to make a few bucks and now it's out of control. These recent players are just the ones who got caught. Who knows how many were juicing before this.

I actually don't really blame Selig much. What was he going to do about it? Let's just say that the entire world wasn't complicit...media, fans, players, etc. It all had to be collectively bargained and the MLBPA wasn't going to do it. It would've ended in a strike and the game had just come off a terribly damaging strike.

IMO, Selig's hands were tied and he got bitten by the timing.

 

[ND NYC]

always wondered why they picked an owner of a franchise to be a commish in the first place...Seligs a pimp.

 

[NDWorld247]

I actually don't really blame Selig much. What was he going to do about it? Let's just say that the entire world wasn't complicit...media, fans, players, etc. It all had to be collectively bargained and the MLBPA wasn't going to do it. It would've ended in a strike and the game had just come off a terribly damaging strike.

IMO, Selig's hands were tied and he got bitten by the timing.

I agree with this. Selig is an incompetent buffoon, but the MLBPA is one of the most powerful unions in the world (i.e. not just sports) and would have never agreed to testing at any point in the 90's. They finally caved in the new century after Congressional pressure to clean up the sport, and even then the initial testing program they agreed to was a joke. They threatened to go on strike rather than do what was right for the sport.

The players (past and present) are to blame, period. They are adults and responsible for their own actions and their own powerful organization (MLBPA) protected them and let it happen for far too long.

 

[A Pac]

I actually don't really blame Selig much. What was he going to do about it? Let's just say that the entire world wasn't complicit...media, fans, players, etc. It all had to be collectively bargained and the MLBPA wasn't going to do it. It would've ended in a strike and the game had just come off a terribly damaging strike.

IMO, Selig's hands were tied and he got bitten by the timing.

I know that being the head person who wants to change something is hard but that's the commissioners job. Rodger Goodell has no problem being a jerk and in my opinion, is a very good commish. Selig could have at least tried to push for testing, even if it didn't go anywhere. Instead he let the game get ruined by roided out, meatheads. He's a joke and a coward. Now he wants to try to change what he could have 15 years ago.

 

[ohara831]

I am impressed with the MLB Union here tho. They are OK with these guys getting suspended without a positive test, and they are not appealing. And the tide seems to be turning in favor of the Union backing the clean players desire to have the game cleaned up. That is an important step in the right direction.
A-Rod is just a selfish lying ***** who will get what he deserves in the end. Fate and Karma can be a real *****.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I know that being the head person who wants to change something is hard but that's the commissioners job. Rodger Goodell has no problem being a jerk and in my opinion, is a very good commish. Selig could have at least tried to push for testing, even if it didn't go anywhere. Instead he let the game get ruined by roided out, meatheads. He's a joke and a coward. Now he wants to try to change what he could have 15 years ago.

The NFL players union is a joke compared to the MLBPA (see non-guaranteed contracts in a game that's much more dangerous). On balance, the NFL union has been much smarter with things like revenue sharing, which has allowed the league to explode. The MLBPA just didn't negotiate (it's changing with new leadership) and the commissioner had no chips to play. It wasn't until it was very very clear that Sosa, McGuire, Bonds, Clemens, and others had juiced that there was any momentum for testing...and even then the union fought.

Also, no one believed this stuff. Not fans or anyone. We were all complicit. Remember how maligned Jose Canseco was? He was a joke. Now it seems that his book started the dominoes.

I don't love Selig...I just don't hate him.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I am impressed with the MLB Union here tho. They are OK with these guys getting suspended without a positive test, and they are not appealing. And the tide seems to be turning in favor of the Union backing the clean players desire to have the game cleaned up. That is an important step in the right direction.
A-Rod is just a selfish lying ***** who will get what he deserves in the end. Fate and Karma can be a real *****.

Agree with all points.

 

[A Pac]

The NFL players union is a joke compared to the MLBPA (see non-guaranteed contracts in a game that's much more dangerous). On balance, the NFL union has been much smarter with things like revenue sharing, which has allowed the league to explode. The MLBPA just didn't negotiate (it's changing with new leadership) and the commissioner had no chips to play. It wasn't until it was very very clear that Sosa, McGuire, Bonds, Clemens, and others had juiced that there was any momentum for testing...and even then the union fought.

Also, no one believed this stuff. Not fans or anyone. We were all complicit. Remember how maligned Jose Canseco was? He was a joke. Now it seems that his book started the dominoes.

I don't love Selig...I just don't hate him.

No argument with the strength of the unions. Baseball players have their GMs by the balls with their contracts. I just wish Selig would have more balls when it comes to standing up to rule breakers. Or at least have the balls to do it when it starts, not when it's out of control.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

No argument with the strength of the unions. Baseball players have their GMs by the balls with their contracts. I just wish Selig would have more balls when it comes to standing up to rule breakers. Or at least have the balls to do it when it starts, not when it's out of control.

Fair enough. I just don't think it wouldn't have gotten him anywhere.

 

[NDWorld247]

No argument with the strength of the unions. Baseball players have their GMs by the balls with their contracts. I just wish Selig would have more balls when it comes to standing up to rule breakers. Or at least have the balls to do it when it starts, not when it's out of control.

How could Selig have done anything about it before testing was implemented in 2002? MLB has had a drug policy since 1971, but absolutely no way to enforce it as there was no testing. Even the MLBPA said, "Ok, you can have a drug policy, but if you try to discipline any of our players we are going to vigorously challenge it". MLB, and Bud Selig, couldn't prove anything without testing.

I had this Art teacher in HS that I never really got along with. On the last day of school my senior year he wrote me a letter. In that letter he gave me some of the best advice I received at that time of my life. He said, "Tie your brains to your balls and you'll achieve anything you want to in life". I share that because even if Selig had the biggest balls in the game, his brains would have told him he had no shot against the MLBPA.

And how do we know Selig didn't want to challenge the union earlier but his owners told him not to? They were finally starting to make some money again and everything was going well. Why screw it up? If you ask me, they are more to blame than Selig.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

And how do we know Selig didn't want to challenge the union earlier but his owners told him not to? They were finally starting to make some money again and everything was going well. Why screw it up? If you ask me, they are more to blame than Selig.

I'd like to put some of it on the players who juiced as well...

 

[Kanye West]

So they have no drug tests that Arod failed and he is suspended for 2 years. This is going to be an interesting court case.

 

[NDWorld247]

I'd like to put some of it on the players who juiced as well...

Agreed. I wrote this a few posts above:

The players (past and present) are to blame, period. They are adults and responsible for their own actions and their own powerful organization (MLBPA) protected them and let it happen for far too long.

 

[A Pac]

How could Selig have done anything about it before testing was implemented in 2002? MLB has had a drug policy since 1971, but absolutely no way to enforce it as there was no testing. Even the MLBPA said, "Ok, you can have a drug policy, but if you try to discipline any of our players we are going to vigorously challenge it". MLB, and Bud Selig, couldn't prove anything without testing.

I had this Art teacher in HS that I never really got along with. On the last day of school my senior year he wrote me a letter. In that letter he gave me some of the best advice I received at that time of my life. He said, "Tie your brains to your balls and you'll achieve anything you want to in life". I share that because even if Selig had the biggest balls in the game, his brains would have told him he had no shot against the MLBPA.

And how do we know Selig didn't want to challenge the union earlier but his owners told him not to? They were finally starting to make some money again and everything was going well. Why screw it up? If you ask me, they are more to blame than Selig.

If Selig had tried to do something then it would have come out by now. He's a little weasel who hasn't made the game better since taking over. Make the All-Star Game count? Who cares? Adding another wild card team to play in a one-game playoff? Ridiculous. He keeps adding these things that the fans aren't interested in. And yes I realize that the extra playoff spot makes things more interesting, but come on. A one-game playoff? What a joke. You could have the second best record in the league , lose the one-game playoff and be done. But hey, at least you made the "playoffs" right?

 

[ACamp1900]

Before he took over MLB had a great line of marketing and ads as well, and he bascially got rid of all that... SELL THE SPORT BUD!!!

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[IrishJayhawk]

If Selig had tried to do something then it would have come out by now. He's a little weasel who hasn't made the game better since taking over. Make the All-Star Game count? Who cares? Adding another wild card team to play in a one-game playoff? Ridiculous. He keeps adding these things that the fans aren't interested in. And yes I realize that the extra playoff spot makes things more interesting, but come on. A one-game playoff? What a joke. You could have the second best record in the league , lose the one-game playoff and be done. But hey, at least you made the "playoffs" right?

A lot of people cared after the game ended in a tie. Personally, I wasn't one of them. You play the game as an exhibition and let it be what it will be. When they ran out of pitchers, you don't risk injury to try to get a winner.

But people went nuts about that. I think they actually came up with a pretty decent solution. The teams certainly play to win now.

 

[A Pac]

A lot of people cared after the game ended in a tie. Personally, I wasn't one of them. You play the game as an exhibition and let it be what it will be. When they ran out of pitchers, you don't risk injury to try to get a winner.

But people went nuts about that. I think they actually came up with a pretty decent solution. The teams certainly play to win now.

I also didn't care that Selig ended the tied ASG early. No qualms there. But making an exhibition game count? Ridiculous. There also needs to be more accountability with the umpires. I umpire high school ball and it can be difficult sometimes. I can't even fathom how hard calling an MlB game is. However I know that if I blow enough calls that I won't be getting many more games. What are the penalties for the pro umps? Nothing. One guy got suspended a few months ago for blowing an instant replay homerun ball but he the exception, not the rule. I'm not really in favor of more instant replay, but umpires need to be held more accountable. I see umpires out of position for no reason all the time and there seems to be no discipline for it. It needs to change.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Enough blame to go around for everyone... Selig, the owners, players, the union, 24 hour sports coverage on tv, and fans as well. Hopefully the climate is starting to change and MLB can get back to where it was before all this started.

 

[Irish Insanity]

50 games for the 12 who chose not to appeal. Even with no positive tests the info from the clinic must have been enough to get them to concede. As far as ARod, anything less than a lifetime ban is to short. He's admitted to cheating more than once in the past and they claim the evidence they have shows he still was. Plus they say they have evidence showing he was bringing others into the mix and has done nothing but lied thru the entire process.

 

[ACamp1900]

ARod's whole career just seems a list of bad choices... if he weren't such a douche I'd consider tragic...

 

[Irish Insanity]

What I would like to see is his 211 game suspension upheld and immediately after its announced, the Yankees cut him. I know they'll still owe him the 60+ mil, but they don't want him there and he's gonna be paid it either way. It'd be better to pay him to stay away than to do so while he disrupts the clubhouse.