Much of the discussion in this forum has understandably centered around the impact that PED suspensions would have upon our NFBC squads. I find myself thinking along different lines, however. I'm concerned about the potential ramifications that such suspensions could have on the labor situation. Since the awful strike of 1994-95 ended, MLB has gone nearly two decades without a strike or lockout. How many of us would have predicted that back in April 1995?
My concern is that league seems so hell bent on nailing the likes of Ryan Braun and A-Rod that they may jeopardize the labor peace to do it. As much as I would like to see PED's eliminated from the game, I am not anxious to see another play stoppage to get it done. I keep hearing the denomination of 100 games thrown around as the probable suspension for A-Rod and Braun. Where is that coming from? Like it or not, Braun and A-Rod are first-time offenders as far as the drug policy is concerned. That would constitute a 50-game suspension. Now it is suggested that the player getting the PED's from Tony Bosch is strike one, while lying to investigators is strike two. But strike two is a 100 game suspension which should be on top of the strike one offense, not in lieu of it. So A-Rod and Braun should be facing 150 game suspensions, by my math.
Frankly, I don't see where the multiple offenses argument is going to fly here. The union will appeal any suspensions of course, but they'll fight the multiple suspensions tooth and nail. Is it really in the best interests of MLB to push the fight to that level? I say suspend them for 50 games each, get the stigma officially on their records, and be done with it. If they push too far, they could be forcing a strike, which would be an unnecessary mess. In that event, I would have to question whether the league's true intentions are not merely cleaning up the game, but rather breaking up the union. Do they want the union to steadfastly defend the guilty while the clean players lose their salaries and their patience? I hope not, but over the years I have grown rather cynical.
Kevin
Potential fallout of Biogensis probe?
Potential fallout of Biogensis probe?
"Fear ... that's the other guy's problem!" - Lewis Winthorpe (Dan Akroyd) from Trading Places
Re: Potential fallout of Biogensis probe?
Good points Kevin. I think its more about trying to continue to clean the game up. Unless I'm reading the clean players wrong, the Union and MLB appear to be on the same page. Its revealing that we do not hear of one player complaining about the Union or the investigation. It's all the talking heads, reporters, seedy characters..saying the union this, the union that. The Union is the players and they appear to very clear these days on what they want. They want the cheaters punished and in some cases banned from the game.
Here is a article and commentary from Latroy Hawkins and it shows how most players feel these days. Good for him all the others that publically commenting.
Mets reliever laments culture of PEDs in MLB
Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports 11:25 p.m. EDT July 9, 2013
Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who has pitched 19 years in the majors and might retire after this season, says the reward for cheating “is way greater than the risk.” (Photo: Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights
MLB is hoping to complete its investigation involving the Biogenesis clinic
LaTroy Hawkins on PEDs: "It's part of the culture"
The accusations get stronger by the day, the headlines continue to blare and the whispers never stop.
Major League Baseball is hoping to complete its investigation involving the now-shuttered Biogenesis clinic and performance-enhancing drugs by the end of July and could announce suspensions that result in the biggest scandal in the sport's history.
The players don't want to believe it and are just as eager to know MLB's findings, but they patiently wait before reacting.
"This is a black cloud over baseball; we all know that," says New York Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins, 40, who grew up in baseball during the height of the steroid era, outlasted the darkest days and is strongly considering retirement after this season. "This is what we love to do. This is our job. You hope this isn't true.
"But it's like the ol' saying, 'Whatever is done in the dark will always come to light.' I believe that will be true this time, too."
Hawkins, who grew up in Gary, Ind., can tell his grandkids one day that he pitched in more games than Cy Young, surpassing him last week on the all-time games list. He has pitched 19 years playing for 10 teams, and his 909 appearances are second to Mariano Rivera among active pitchers.
Yet he's most proud, he says, that he can look himself in the mirror, saying he played the game absolutely clean and is proud to leave it with his image unscathed.
"I don't care what people say about me," Hawkins says, "I know myself, what I've been through my whole career. And I know what I've done. I'm clean.
"My grandmother used to have this saying, 'They can say what they want about you, but just don't let it be so.' As long as it's not true and you're true to yourself, you don't have to worry about anything else."
Hawkins, one of the most popular players among his peers in the game, heard the same whispers many veterans have shared over the years. There was this phony medical clinic in South Florida. If you had the money, you could drop in, buy what you want, even performance-enhancing gummy bears, and no one could detect a thing.
Few knew the actual name of the clinic, Biogenesis, or director Tony Bosch, but rumors persisted that something funny was happening in Florida.
"I'm from the inner city, so I know that money talks," Hawkins says. "If you got money, you can get anything you want. You heard stuff was going on, but nobody was testing positive, so you didn't know what to believe.
"The first you really heard of it was when Manny (Ramirez) got popped. So then you're thinking, 'Well, that won't last long.' That scheme isn't foolproof anymore."
Brewers' Ryan Braun tested positive for an illegal synthetic testosterone during the 2011 postseason.
Now, Hawkins likely will retire in a few months, knowing the game is much cleaner than when he started. But no, it's not pure.
Maybe it never will be.
"The game is definitely getting clean," Hawkins says. "But as far as being completely clean, you're always going to have players test the system. You can't guard against that. Just like regular folk, they continue to commit crimes, hoping they don't get caught, so I don't know why athletes are any different.
"It's part of the culture. You're always going to have guys push the envelope as far as they can push it. There's always going to be somebody out there one step ahead of testing.
"I've always been a firm believer Major League Baseball should go out and hire those guys. Put them on the payroll so they can be one step ahead of the other guys that are out there trying to taint the game."
Yes, he's talking about Victor Conte, the former founder of BALCO, the godfather of the biggest performance-enhancing drug scandal in sports.
"Go hire Victor Conte, just like the movie Catch Me If You Can," Hawkins said. "People can laugh, but it's the truth. It's obvious guys like that are on top of their field, whatever their field is.
"They helped a lot of people make a lot of money."
Hawkins doesn't know the answer to completely stopping drug use and scoffs at the notion that stiffening the penalties for first-time offenders will change anything.
"All I know is that 50 games is a lot of games, and if 50 doesn't stop them, you think 100 will? I don't either," Hawkins says. "The reward is way greater than the risk."
Yes, when Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera can test positive for performance-enhancing drugs last season and get even more money on the free agent market, something is wrong.
"I'm not going to say I'm pissed about it, but it's an eye-opener, that's for sure," Hawkins says. "I can see people being upset about it. There are a lot of people that do it the right way, and they don't get rewarded for it. It's sad, but that's the business we're in."
Now, Hawkins and his peers wait. They know you're supposed to be innocent until proved guilty, but in this case, everyone's image has been damaged, with no innocence involved.
"We're going to have to see what happens now with this Biogenesis stuff," Hawkins says. "Let's see what Bosch has. If he has the goods to back his mouth, then let's play ball.
Here is a article and commentary from Latroy Hawkins and it shows how most players feel these days. Good for him all the others that publically commenting.
Mets reliever laments culture of PEDs in MLB
Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports 11:25 p.m. EDT July 9, 2013
Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who has pitched 19 years in the majors and might retire after this season, says the reward for cheating “is way greater than the risk.” (Photo: Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights
MLB is hoping to complete its investigation involving the Biogenesis clinic
LaTroy Hawkins on PEDs: "It's part of the culture"
The accusations get stronger by the day, the headlines continue to blare and the whispers never stop.
Major League Baseball is hoping to complete its investigation involving the now-shuttered Biogenesis clinic and performance-enhancing drugs by the end of July and could announce suspensions that result in the biggest scandal in the sport's history.
The players don't want to believe it and are just as eager to know MLB's findings, but they patiently wait before reacting.
"This is a black cloud over baseball; we all know that," says New York Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins, 40, who grew up in baseball during the height of the steroid era, outlasted the darkest days and is strongly considering retirement after this season. "This is what we love to do. This is our job. You hope this isn't true.
"But it's like the ol' saying, 'Whatever is done in the dark will always come to light.' I believe that will be true this time, too."
Hawkins, who grew up in Gary, Ind., can tell his grandkids one day that he pitched in more games than Cy Young, surpassing him last week on the all-time games list. He has pitched 19 years playing for 10 teams, and his 909 appearances are second to Mariano Rivera among active pitchers.
Yet he's most proud, he says, that he can look himself in the mirror, saying he played the game absolutely clean and is proud to leave it with his image unscathed.
"I don't care what people say about me," Hawkins says, "I know myself, what I've been through my whole career. And I know what I've done. I'm clean.
"My grandmother used to have this saying, 'They can say what they want about you, but just don't let it be so.' As long as it's not true and you're true to yourself, you don't have to worry about anything else."
Hawkins, one of the most popular players among his peers in the game, heard the same whispers many veterans have shared over the years. There was this phony medical clinic in South Florida. If you had the money, you could drop in, buy what you want, even performance-enhancing gummy bears, and no one could detect a thing.
Few knew the actual name of the clinic, Biogenesis, or director Tony Bosch, but rumors persisted that something funny was happening in Florida.
"I'm from the inner city, so I know that money talks," Hawkins says. "If you got money, you can get anything you want. You heard stuff was going on, but nobody was testing positive, so you didn't know what to believe.
"The first you really heard of it was when Manny (Ramirez) got popped. So then you're thinking, 'Well, that won't last long.' That scheme isn't foolproof anymore."
Brewers' Ryan Braun tested positive for an illegal synthetic testosterone during the 2011 postseason.
Now, Hawkins likely will retire in a few months, knowing the game is much cleaner than when he started. But no, it's not pure.
Maybe it never will be.
"The game is definitely getting clean," Hawkins says. "But as far as being completely clean, you're always going to have players test the system. You can't guard against that. Just like regular folk, they continue to commit crimes, hoping they don't get caught, so I don't know why athletes are any different.
"It's part of the culture. You're always going to have guys push the envelope as far as they can push it. There's always going to be somebody out there one step ahead of testing.
"I've always been a firm believer Major League Baseball should go out and hire those guys. Put them on the payroll so they can be one step ahead of the other guys that are out there trying to taint the game."
Yes, he's talking about Victor Conte, the former founder of BALCO, the godfather of the biggest performance-enhancing drug scandal in sports.
"Go hire Victor Conte, just like the movie Catch Me If You Can," Hawkins said. "People can laugh, but it's the truth. It's obvious guys like that are on top of their field, whatever their field is.
"They helped a lot of people make a lot of money."
Hawkins doesn't know the answer to completely stopping drug use and scoffs at the notion that stiffening the penalties for first-time offenders will change anything.
"All I know is that 50 games is a lot of games, and if 50 doesn't stop them, you think 100 will? I don't either," Hawkins says. "The reward is way greater than the risk."
Yes, when Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera can test positive for performance-enhancing drugs last season and get even more money on the free agent market, something is wrong.
"I'm not going to say I'm pissed about it, but it's an eye-opener, that's for sure," Hawkins says. "I can see people being upset about it. There are a lot of people that do it the right way, and they don't get rewarded for it. It's sad, but that's the business we're in."
Now, Hawkins and his peers wait. They know you're supposed to be innocent until proved guilty, but in this case, everyone's image has been damaged, with no innocence involved.
"We're going to have to see what happens now with this Biogenesis stuff," Hawkins says. "Let's see what Bosch has. If he has the goods to back his mouth, then let's play ball.
Re: Potential fallout of Biogensis probe?
I truly hope that the players are strongly behind the effort to clean up the game. It will be very interesting to see what happens when and if these anticipated suspensions come down. I expect the union to fight the suspensions because historically that's what it has always done.
"Fear ... that's the other guy's problem!" - Lewis Winthorpe (Dan Akroyd) from Trading Places