Talking Baseball: 13 Men Out

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

"Black Monday" has arrived with 13 men out for use of performance enhancing drugs. ESPN reports MLB suspends 13, including A-Rod:

Major League Baseball came down heavy Monday on the players it found to
have been involved with the South Florida clinic Biogenesis, suspending Alex Rodriguez through the end of the 2014 season and banning 12 others for 50 games, including three All-Stars: Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, Everth Cabrera of the San Diego Padres and Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers.

* * *

The 12 other players agreed to deals for their suspensions in which they gave up the right to appeals. The other nine are:

• Antonio Bastardo, Phillies reliever

• Francisco Cervelli, Yankees catcher (on DL)

• Jordany Valdespin, Mets outfielder (minors)

• Jesus Montero, Mariners catcher (minors)

• Cesar Puello, Mets outfielder (minors)

•  Sergio Escalona, Astros pitcher (minors)

• Fernando Martinez, Yankees outfielder (minors)

• Fautino De Los Santos, free-agent pitcher

• Jordan Norberto, free-agent pitcher

MLB commissioner Bud Selig, in two statements addressing Rodriguez's
discipline and a more general one on the state of baseball's anti-drug
program, said he was "proud of the comprehensive nature of our efforts
— not only with regard to random testing, groundbreaking blood testing
for human growth hormone and one of the most significant longitudinal
profiling programs in the world, but also our investigative
capabilities, which proved vital to the Biogenesis case."

Selig said Rodriguez's punishment will begin Thursday and cover the
postseasons and was covered under the drug program's protocols and based
on Rodriguez's "use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited
performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human
growth hormone, over the course of multiple years.

"Rodriguez's discipline under the Basic Agreement is for attempting
to cover-up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of
conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the
Commissioner's investigation," Selig said in the statement.

Rodriguez suspension is the equivalent of 211 regular-season games
because he has 72 hours to inform baseball that he will appeal. He is
expected to take that avenue and will be allowed to play until his
appeal is heard.

"Under the terms of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,
Rodriguez's suspension will be stayed until the completion of his appeal
if Rodriguez files a grievance challenging his discipline," Selig said.

The players' union made a late appeal to MLB for a deal for Rodriguez
but was told there would be no more negotiations, sources told ESPN's
T.J. Quinn.

* * *

The Yankees also expected Rodriguez to be eligible to play Monday night,
sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, because they expected
his suspension to be tied solely to a drug-policy violation and thus
eligible to be appealed. [Damn Yankees!]

* * *

Beyond Rodriguez, the suspensions come with potentially stiff
consequences for at least two of the players and their teams. Cruz,
Cabrera and Peralta were each All-Stars this season, with Cruz's Rangers
and Peralta's Detroit Tigers contending for playoff berths.

* * *

Two players named in Biogenesis reports — Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals and Danny Valencia of the Baltimore Orioles — were cleared of wrongdoing and will not be disciplined.

The Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera, Athletics' Bartolo Colon and Padres' Yasmani Grandal
have already served 50-game suspensions for PED use and will not face
additinoal discipline for Biogenesis, the league announced.

Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun
was the first player to reach an agreement with MLB on a suspension for
his connection to the Biogenesis case. The 2011 NL MVP accepted a
season-ending 65-game suspension last month.

It's a sad day in baseball.