BUD SELIG BE LIKE: NO NO NO, NOT IN MY HOUSE
Being the avid sports fan that I am, I watch Sports Center: a LOT of it. In June when Tony Bosch's drug clinic was ripped open with the suspension of Ryan Braun, every day for the next 2 weeks were about Braun, and NASCAR. While ESPN continue to show the same 4 clips of highlights, and T.J. Quinn's starting-to-gray-beard, I did read outside the lines (yes pun intended) and noticed the graphic they showed from a February interview with Tony Bosch outside of his Miami-based clinic. The picture below shows just a portion of the names connected to the biogenesis clinic suck as Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Ryan Braun, Francisco Cervelli, and Danny Valencia. Braun got suspended for the rest of the season and if the stars and moon align, the postseason. Than comes August 5th, 2013. Buddy S drops some big suspensions on all players found guilty. Many of these players are apart of teams in playoff races so this could impede their team's postseason runs.
A-Rod/Roid/Fraud is the most notable name, but he joins a list of players to be shamed. Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, Ryan Bruan of the Milwaukee Brewers, Evereth Cabrera of the Padres of San Diego, Cesar Puello and Jordany Valdespin both New York Mets, Sergio Escalona of the Astros, Jesus Montero of the Mariners, Jhonny Peralta of the streaking Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Antonio Bastardo round it out. In addition to those major-minor leaguers, there are two less important free-agent pitchers: Fautino De Los Santos and Jordan Norberto. Rodriguez is the only one of the named players to be fighting the suspension. Since he is challenging the ruling, Rodriguez is aloud to play until the arbitrator hears his case and gives him the final say. In case you readers of this fine blog are thinking, "If he is suspended, why is he playing?" Well to answer you fine readers of the fine blog there is a deal between the MLBPA and the league itself saying that if he's (A-Rod in this case but any player who is suspended) fighting the suspension, he's technically not suspended yet, so therefore he's eligible to play... he might as well play. Now that you look at the rules that were agreed upon by the two parties, it makes sense. That being, there is a legal reason why he's still aloud to play. It might not be right because he is a proven second-offender to the joint-drug prevention program. The clause is in there for players who are innocent, yet were accused of being guilty. "You're innocent until proven otherwise."Alex Rodriguez will be a boost to the Bronx Bombers no matter what kind of fan you are. All other 3rd base options have only had 6 home runs through 700 plate appearances through August 5th. He is the biggest name in this scandal and was rightfully suspended throughout next year due to this being his second offense.
Nelson Cruz will be a bull missed by the Rangers because of his power hitting. Entering Monday, Texas was 2.5 games out of first in the AL West.The Rangers do have some young players in the minors though who stride with big bat. And there's a guy named Manny down their somewhere too... but he was on 'roids, as well.
Detroit was smart. While it seemed like nobody moved during the trade deadline except for Jake Peavy, the Tigers grabbed a youthful infielder from the Bo-Sox in Jose Inglesias. While Jhonny Peralta is one of the best defensive shortstops in the majors right now, a young player like Inglesias can help them while Peralta is suspended. I suspect an AL Central crown for the reigning American League Champions no matter how hard the Cleveland Indians think otherwise.
Evereth Cabrera is on a team who is just playing for fun at this point. But he was a bright spot on this Padres club who is lacking in every position. While they did retrieve Ian Kennedy from the divisional opponent Arizona Diamondbacks, Evereth was a defensive and offensive piece that could be the best on the team. He is arbitration eligible so his next contract wouldn't be impacted as much as a younger player.
Cesar Puello was a player whom the Mets thought fondly of. He is a 22 year old Double-A outfielder. While he is likely to begin the 2014 season in Triple-A for the Las Vegas 51's, if he produces on an average rate and does't strike out around as much as he did this year (82 k's in 329 at bats) he could more than possibly make a spot on the 25-man roster next Spring Training.
Fellow Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin has not been on a power surge as of late, but if he goes on a hot streak, he could possibly be in Citi Field for the Mets soon. Jordany has a very high chance to be the replacement for current big-leaguer Marlon Byrd if he gets traded, claimed off of waivers, or isn't resigned at the end of his contract. The Mets have Jordany locked up for the next few years under the rookie deal he signed when drafted.
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| Fernando Martinez is pictured above playing for the Astros this season |
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| Bastardo was on the Phillies during the 2009 World Series run |
My hometown of Philadelphia was hit with three suspensions the past two seasons. Freddy Galvis two seasons ago was smacked with a 25-game suspension for a PED that wasn't major, but it kept him out of the pinstripes for the first few weeks of the season. In the beginning of the current season catcher Carlos Ruiz was suspended for using Aderol when it wasn't medically necessitated. Aderol is a substance that isn't banned, but it is a medication only allowed to be used by players who have ADHD. Chooch took Adderall during his career season in 2012 and was suspended in the offseason for doping. Finally, Antonio Bastardo was found guilty of taking the drugs disposed by Tony Bosch and his affiliates and he's wound up suspended. Bastardo was a relatively decent pitcher this season for the Phighten Phils as he tossed just over 42 innings with 42.2 and compiled a 3-2 record with a 2.32 ERA. The suspension could mean something for the Phillies being that they didn't ship away Papelbon during the trade deadline so Bastardo and Chad Durbin were the veteran relief pitchers in the pen. Durbin and Bastardo are the only two pitchers in the Phillies' bullpen to have an extended period of time in the majors on the team as well. From an overall team standpoint, this could affect the positioning of the Phillies in the standings. Yes, you and I both know the Phillies have about a 5% chance of making a pennant run and a shaky team in general won't help.
The Houston Astros have built up a great minor league because of all of the losing they have done in the past 5 seasons. This player wanted to be big, and well... he did. Lefty Sergio Escalona was apart of the group who was suspended for 50 games. He is 29 years old and is supposed to be in the prime of his career. He hasn't really made it into anything being that he suffered Tommy John surgery in early 2012 and just got off of the injury. But he got onto something else. Only throwing 15 innings this year with Double-A Corpus Christi, he has given up 25 hits and was awarded with a 6.60 ERA. DON'T WORRY ASTROS FANS!!! His chances of returning to the bigs aren't out of the question.
Catcher Jesus Montero was coming into the season as one of the best minor-leaguers in the MiLB. BleacherReport calls him "a sure-fire middle-of-the-order bat." He has a chance to come up for the Mariners next season if he goes through arbitration and can work out a deal to get some more years on his contract. He is in a situation much like Jordanny Valdespin or Cesar Puello being that he could return to the 25 man roster just in the starting nine... not so much.
***AN EXTRA NOTE***
Bartolo Colone, Gio Gonzalez, and Melky Cabrera were all linked to Tony Bosch, just all three of them were found not giulty being that all substances that they got from Bosch were legal. The substances also were not in anyway a violation of MLB's rules.
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| (from left) Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Bruan, Nelson Cruz, and Melky Cabrera Yours truly, Simon Williams |
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