Braun Suspended For Rest Of 2013 Season

[Outlaw]

Tick Tock... scuttle says up to 8-10 players tried buying reports... AROD and Braun are the big fish they want...

Major League Baseball’s investigation of an anti-aging clinic linked to performance-enhancing drugs has taken a new turn, with the commissioner’s office paying a former employee of the facility for documents related to the case. At the same time, two people briefed on the matter said, at least one player linked to the clinic has purchased documents from a former clinic employee in order to destroy them.

The unusual battle, according to the two people, also appears to involve efforts by other players tied to the clinic to buy potentially incriminating documents and keep them out of the hands of baseball’s investigators.

One of the two people said that, in part, baseball, which has no subpoena power, felt compelled to pay money for documents because its officials had been concerned that more than one player was trying to do the same.

In addition, the two people said, baseball has now provided payments to former employees of the clinic who have cooperated with the sport’s investigators. The payments were for the time they provided to the investigators, the two people said, and, in each instance, were not believed to have exceeded several thousand dollars.

That baseball is paying for evidence underscores just how determined it has become in establishing what went on at a now-closed South Florida clinic that operated under the name Biogenesis of America. The clinic is suspected of providing performance-enhancing drugs to a number of major leaguers.

In January, a weekly newspaper, Miami New Times, reported that it had obtained medical records from the clinic that tied half a dozen players — Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Gio Gonzalez, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Yasmani Grandal — to the use of banned substances like human growth hormone.

More records then emerged that tied other players, including Ryan Braun, to the clinic. In turn, many of the named players, including Rodriguez and Braun, denied obtaining any banned substances from the clinic.

But the denials have essentially been brushed aside by baseball and its investigators, who remain intent on obtaining whatever testimony and evidence they can in connection with the clinic’s activities and determining whether they then have grounds to discipline players even in the absence of a positive drug test.

Indicative of Major League Baseball’s resolve in this case, Commissioner Bud Selig sent two of his top deputies — Rob Manfred and Pat Courtney — to Florida in February to try to persuade Miami New Times to share the documents it had obtained. The newspaper declined.

Then, last month, baseball filed a lawsuit against six people with connections to the Biogenesis clinic, accusing them of damaging the sport by providing players with banned substances. At least in part, the suit appears designed to give baseball the ability to subpoena records from the clinic and compel depositions.

But baseball has now gone a step further in paying to obtain evidence.

For years, the commissioner’s office has been frustrated over its inability to discipline players who had been publicly linked to performance-enhancing drugs, either through criminal investigations or investigative articles.

In more than one instance, the federal authorities have displayed little interest in sharing evidence they had developed with baseball officials. In a recent case involving the federal authorities, Rodriguez was linked to a Canadian doctor who pleaded guilty in the United States to providing players with banned substances. Rodriguez met with baseball investigators on the matter and denied receiving any banned substances from the doctor, but baseball remained dissatisfied, feeling it did not know all the facts of the case. The federal authorities did not provide them.

In the case of the anti-aging clinic, the identity of the player who purchased documents is not known, nor is it clear how much that player or Major League Baseball spent on the records they obtained. A spokesman for Major League Baseball denied comment on the matter, citing its investigation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/sport ... ted=1&_r=1&

[headhunters]

my only comment on this story is this: "baseball" has what- 20 billion $ and just braun and arod have what $300 million and yet the "report" says 2 parties who have that much $ only ended up paying " a few thousand $" for the documents. just not very believable to me. if they were really trying to buy them- the bidding would be much much higher.

[Hells Satans]

If MLB is buying evidence from the former employees of the clinic, that means the government has zero interest in prosecuting this case (otherwise, it would basically be a crime) and this is going nowhere.

[Edwards Kings]

Psst...MLB...I saw Carlos Quentin there! Yeah...Yeah...that's the ticket!

[DOUGHBOYS]

What a perfect business model.
Sell illegal PED's to players and whoever else will pay way over cost for them.
Then, when the jig is up, sell all the information to person's with wanted posters on their heads and the bounty hunters that are after them.

Only in America.

[Outlaw]

Could very well play out that AROD turns out to be the next Canseco and spills all the beans. The interesting comment about "rumors" throughout all of the players in baseball suspecting AROD has all the players names possibly involved, have got all the players all wondering who and how many are involved.

It's almost reaching the point of "you can't make this sh.it up. MLB however seems they will leave no stone unturned. With all the injuries now occuring, talk about fantasy impact if a whole bunch of players get suspended for this mess. We'll be spending big FAAB on guys like Jerry Hairston Jr types...


Sources: Alex Rodriguez bought Biogenesis documents as MLB probe into latest doping scandal intensifies
According to sources, a business associate of Anthony Bosch used two South Florida businessmen to contact MLB officials and the players to see if they would be interested in bidding on the documents that included detailed information about the purchases of performance-enhancing drugs --- and possibly player signatures.
Comments (73)

By Teri Thompson , Bill Madden , Michael O'keeffe AND Nathaniel Vinton / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Friday, April 12, 2013, 5:09 PM
Updated: Saturday, April 13, 2013, 2:54 AM


Yankees injured star Alex Rodriguez allegedly buys evidence related to MLB's latest scandal.
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. .Wayward Yankee albatross Alex Rodriguez has found yet another way to embarrass himself and Major League Baseball – this time by allegedly purchasing evidence related to the latest doping scandal to afflict the sport.

Rodriguez, according to multiple baseball sources, bought documents generated by Biogenesis, a Miami clinic identified as a source of performance-enhancing drugs to a multitude of players, including Rodriguez.

The Yankee third baseman made the purchases as MLB intensified its investigation into Biogenesis and what has emerged as the biggest doping scandal baseball has faced since the feds busted steroid supplier Kirk Radomski. Players who buy or attempt to buy incriminating documents could be suspended for violating the drug program administered by MLB and its Players Association.

RELATED: HARPER: IF PURCHASE TRUE, IT'S ACT OF A-DESPERATE MAN

According to sources, a business associate of Anthony Bosch, the owner of the now-defunct Biogenesis, made the documents available to MLB and players named in documents from the anti-aging clinic that were leaked to the Miami New Times in January.

Anthony Bosch's former Miami wellness clinic is the target of a federal probe and MLB lawsuit. The sources said the associate used two South Florida businessmen to contact MLB officials and the players to see if they would be interested in bidding on the documents that included detailed information about the purchases of performance-enhancing drugs --- and possibly player signatures.

"They showed baseball what they had," said one source, who understood that there was a box full of documents. "I don't think there's much left down there now. Depending what's in the documents, this could be a significant building block in baseball's case against these players."

RELATED: TIMELINE OF A-ROD'S DOPING DEMISE

One of the businessmen who sources say worked as brokers in the document deal said he played no role in offering Biogenesis documents to MLB or Rodriguez. He acknowledged that the Bosch associate was a client at a South Florida tanning salon owned by his family, and that he knew Bosch.

“I stay out of trouble as much as possible,” the businessman said. “I don’t know anyone in Major League Baseball. I haven’t watched a baseball game in 10 years. I didn’t broker any deal.”

Media outlets were also reportedly approached about purchasing the documents, and so was MLB itself, which purchased documents from an intermediary for several thousand dollars in its attempt to get to the bottom of the scandal.

RELATED: MLB FILES SUIT AGAINST BOSCH FOR 'INTERFERENCE'

One source described the transactions by Rodriguez, MLB and possibly other players as “a situation where these people are out there soliciting bids, treating this stuff like it’s baseball memorabilia.”

A-Rod allegedly took up the offer, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the scheme, and sent his own intermediary to retrieve the documents. Rumors have spread through the league and its players that A-Rod possesses a list of names and documents that he has either leaked to the media to deflect attention from himself or destroyed them before anyone can see them.

According to the source, Rodriguez, who is believed to have obtained the documents in the last few months, “also knows all the players who are on the list. ... He obviously thought he could control it.”

Sipkin, Corey, New York Daily Ne/New York Daily News
Alex Rodriguez is on the disabled list as he battles back from a hip injury. PHOTOS: THE A-ROD STORY

A spokesman for Rodriguez flatly denied allegations that the Yankee third baseman had purchased records in an effort to avoid discipline.

Some of the documents are said to bear signatures of MLB players and are believed to be more extensive than the documents obtained and published by the Miami New Times earlier this year.

Biogenesis is suspected of being an outlet that provided performance-enhancing drugs to scores of players. The Daily News first reported on Jan. 26 that MLB was investigating Bosch and A-Rod’s link to him. The Miami New Times then reported that it had documents linking numerous players to Bosch’s clinic.

RELATED: MLB TO CALL ON A-ROD AND OTHERS TO SPILL JUICE ON BOSCH CLINIC

Alex Rodriguez allegedly takes up the offer to buy the documents. Former Yankee outfielder Melky Cabrera may have triggered the whole messy affair in the summer of 2012 with a bizarre scam involving a fake website. As first reported Aug. 19 by the Daily News, Cabrera had just won the 2012 All-Star Game MVP award as a Giant when, to explain away a positive test for testosterone, Cabrera presented a phony website offering a phony product he blamed for contaminating his urine.

But the web of lies unraveled amid arbitration and MLB soon discovered that Cabrera’s co-conspirator was Juan Nunez, a former gofer for the ACES Sports Agency. In an interview with the News, Nunez took responsibility for the scheme. His bosses at ACES, Sam and Seth Levinson, tried to distance themselves from him.

Then the Miami New Times reported that Cabrera and two other players repped by ACES – Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez – had their names listed in records from Biogenesis. Others listed were Cesar Carrillo, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Baltimore third baseman Danny Valencia, Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal and Bartolo Colon.

The list of players included some of the biggest names in the game, including Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewer outfielder Ryan Braun, whose name appeared on a Bosch list as someone who owed money to the self-described anti-aging doctor. Braun has said that his association with Bosch came as a result of his lawyers enlisting Bosch as an expert on PEDS after their client's name emerged in 2011 for a having failed a drug test. Braun has been in the MLB crosshairs since he successfully beat the accompanying 50-game suspension by arguing that MLB's collection process was flawed.

Braun has said that he will cooperate with MLB's investigation into Bosch and his clinic, the only player to publicly do so.

MLB’s department of investigations, established at the recommendation of former Sen. George Mitchell in his 2007 report on baseball’s doping culture, has taken a strong interest in the documents and the players they link to Bosch, but the department lacks governmental investigative powers like subpoenas and search warrants.

In recent weeks, baseball has been calling around to clubs instructing them not to interact with middlemen or others associated with the South Florida schemes. MLB recently sued Bosch and others tied to the Biogenesis clinic in part in an effort to ensure the preservation and MLB’s obtaining of the records.

“I wonder if the Hall of Fame will be interested in drug documents,” said one source.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-tea ... z2QLytXD8l

[Cotton1]

My take is we will talk about this all season and it will be sprinkled in the media but nothing will happen til the season is over. I just have a hard time believing MLB will affect the pennant races of 10-15-20 teams. It will be easier on baseball if the suspensions(if any) are effective next year giving the teams time to plan and allowing MLB to still crow about being tough on cheaters. Not to mention the legal issues that will drag the process down. I know I could completely miss just playing the odds. A suspension of 10-20 players in mid season or late in the season(which would affect TWO seasons) is unprecedented. This has a chance to go down as big as the black sox scandal or die a slow death. We shall see.....

[Outlaw]

The Cano "rumors" have been around for 2 years and one of, if not, his best friend is the Milk man.

Now his assistants names shows up in the records. IMHO, Me thinks Cano is going down for this, just like the others named. End of May - June time frame. Well before the all star break so as not to have the next All Star MVP get suspended soon after for this stuff....


Biogenesis records that link MLB players to PEDs are for sale to highest bidder
The detailed documents linking dozens of Major League Baseball players to Anthony Bosch and performance-enhancing drugs that are floating around the back alleys of South Florida have landed in the hands of at least one consigner looking to peddle what he described as 'the kind of stuff that keeps someone out of the Hall of Fame.'
By Teri Thompson , Michael O'keeffe , Christian Red , Nathaniel Vinton AND Bill Madden / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, April 23, 2013, 12:49 AM
Alex Rodriguez is one of the players whose signature is likely on one of the documents.
MLB files lawsuit against Anthony Bosch accusing the owner of Biogenesis Clinic of ‘intentional interference’

Former NY Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez, prospect Cesar Puello join Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun in link to Anthony Bosch's clinic: report

. .The seedy world of baseball memorabilia has officially collided with the seedy world of Anthony Bosch.

The detailed documents linking dozens of Major League Baseball players to Bosch and performance-enhancing drugs that are floating around the back alleys of South Florida have landed in the hands of at least one consigner looking to peddle what he described as “the kind of stuff that keeps someone out of the Hall of Fame.”

The consigner recently contacted a prominent memorabilia dealer with an offer to sell what he said were “original documents” from Bosch’s clinic for which he said he had already rejected a $50,000 offer from a different bidder.

He added that he had already sold “copies of them to a fool.”

The documents offered for sale include detailed information about the purchases of performance-enhancing drugs — and possibly player signatures.

The memorabilia dealer, who requested anonymity because of the controversial nature of the documents and the evidence they might contain, declined the offer. The seller, who did not identify himself, asked the dealer to pass along the information to any clients who might be interested.

An interested party then contacted the seller, who told the person the documents from Bosch’s now-defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic are “black and white. It’s all there.

You’ve read about it, the list of names. It’s serious stuff. Kick it around, kick it around. You might have a direct line to some of these guys, I don’t know.”

The seller seemed to be referring to collectors looking to acquire scandal-stained material involving the game’s biggest stars.

“This stuff should go in the Hall of Fame,” the seller said. “If you show what it is, maybe they’ll stop doing it. It’s leaking down to 13- and 14-year-old kids now.”

Several parties have already purchased documents from Bosch’s clinic, or have been given access to them, including:

- The Miami New Times, which published a story in January based on notes and records obtained from a former employee of the clinic that listed some of baseball’s biggest names — Alex Rodriguez, former Yankee and current Blue Jay Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz of the Rangers, former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon and Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez — as having allegedly procured performance-enhancing drugs, from human growth hormone to testosterone to anabolic steroids, from Bosch.

- Yahoo! Sports, which reported that Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun’s name had appeared in a list reflecting money owed to Bosch but not reflecting drugs purchased.

According to Braun’s representatives, his lawyers retained Bosch as a consultant during his 2012 successful appeal of a positive drug test during the 2011 postseason.

- ESPN, which named five more players listed on documents from the clinic.

- A-Rod, who the Daily News and the New York Times reported had obtained his own set of documents, possibly to destroy them or to keep them out of the hands of MLB investigators.

- And MLB itself, which purchased copies of documents for several thousands of dollars but is believed to still be seeking more information.

As for the sellers of the documents, it is unclear how some of them obtained the Biogenesis records. The Daily News reported earlier this month that disgruntled investors in Bosch’s businesses and former employees have worked through middlemen to sell some of the documents.

“I know they are stealing from each other,” said one source familiar with the transactions. “These are not nice folks.

According to the seller, he’s in possession of “thousands of pages. Thousands. The meat’s probably 100 pages. To be honest, I haven’t been through them all. I know what the whole story is. But I looked at a little of it and it was enough.

“I’m thinking, what if these were numbered and framed. People love and hate this game. I’d work with you on something like that.

“But if you got somewhere where you can put it.”



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... z2RI79zarg

[CASS]

this is going absolutely nowhere anytime soon. You really think the Union wouldn't have a field day with this? Wait he has a spreadsheet with names on it and dollar amounts??? WOW!! Or is it in pencil on a napkin? And the fact he's trying to sell it to the highest bidder destroys any shred of credibility this clown might have. Come with a failed test...otherwise this is pure garbage. And the appeals alone by the union would drag on forever.

[DOUGHBOYS]

All these stories really mean little. Besides conjecture about time frames, rumors, now names of people 'associated with' players, nothing has changed. It's become a 'blah, blah' story till MLB feels they have enough to actually act on the evidence.

I know we'll never see it, but it'd be different to have transparency with PED's. For instance, MLB relaxes rules on PED's and allows 'milder' forms of PED's as long as teams, teammates, and fans know that players are using.
Fantasy thoughts going into drafts would change......

'Montero is clean, let's drop him down to the 12th round.'

'Agreed. Buck is juiced, let's move him up.

'So, do we go Miggy, Trout, or Braun with our first pick?'

'Let's go Trout.
He says he's going to PED's this year. Braun has already probably been on them, he ain't getting better...and Miggy has already declared clean.'

'Trout it is.'

[BK METS]

Buck is juiced, let's move him up.

'

Bite your tongue!!

[Outlaw]

Just as I predicted a few times here... the suspensions would occur before the all star break and number in the 20's at least. Seems Tony B is talking now and handing over all the "proof". I also heard two weeks ago from somone that a few players are talking too.... they will be getting a pass and supposedly their names will not come out.... we shall see.... I gave up posting any info, as it seemed everyone could care less... Not saying all the facts are as they appear with today's news, but MLB is intent on cleaning it up.... Cashman and Stienbrenner actually let the cat out of the bag the other day with their comments about AROD...

Should be an interesting few weeks in FAAB

[Billyhaze]

This report is the reason I saved my FAAB money

[KJ Duke]

Just as I predicted a few times here... the suspensions would occur before the all star break and number in the 20's at least. Seems Tony B is talking now and handing over all the "proof". I also heard two weeks ago from somone that a few players are talking too.... they will be getting a pass and supposedly their names will not come out.... we shall see.... I gave up posting any info, as it seemed everyone could care less... Not saying all the facts are as they appear with today's news, but MLB is intent on cleaning it up.... Cashman and Stienbrenner actually let the cat out of the bag the other day with their comments about AROD...

Should be an interesting few weeks in FAAB

I hadn't forgotten Mike, been waiting for it. This will shake up some races.

[Glenneration X]

They'll all appeal and drag this out as long as possible. Braun's case took 4 months to settle. It wouldn't surprise me if this doesn't affect 2013 much at all.

[BK METS]

They'll all appeal and drag this out as long as possible. Braun's case took 4 months to settle. It wouldn't surprise me if this doesn't affect 2013 much at all.

I completely agree, as I mentioned in the other thread. This isn't a simple, "you are suspended 50 games" and then the player accepts it. The witness is not necessarily credible and even if he has more "evidence", considering he already denied providing the players with anything, then he changed his story to save himself. I am not saying these guys will escape getting suspended altogether, what I am saying, as is Glen, is these are going to be battles, for the most part, other than the isolated player accepting. And Braun is one who will not go down quietly, especially facing 100 games.

[KJ Duke]

They'll all appeal and drag this out as long as possible. Braun's case took 4 months to settle. It wouldn't surprise me if this doesn't affect 2013 much at all.

That's what a lot of fantasy players are hoping for, but because that happened in the past doesn't mean it will play out the same way this time. Braun and others' playing time is definitely at risk. Risks don't always come to fruition, but I don't see anyone giving "it's not gonna happen" type odds in a wager.

[Outlaw]

They'll all appeal and drag this out as long as possible. Braun's case took 4 months to settle. It wouldn't surprise me if this doesn't affect 2013 much at all.

I suppose it's possible with some players it might not affect this 2013 season, especially with the players who have the money and the will to fight it like Arod and Braun. For fantasy purposes we are in the same position as we were when the news first broke, to draft or not to draft the named players. There is not much any of us can do now if we have any of the named or unnamed players, other than review possible options should it happen. The only difference now is that this is not going away and it now seems there is the very real possibility of suspensions occurring and very soon.

I think it goes down like this the next over the next few weeks. MLB determines they have enough to suspend almost all the players they feel are connected and have used or bought this stuff or associated with the private enterprises and Clinics and they notify each player and present to each player what they have. Each player then decides to appeal or not. If they decide to appeal, their names don't get released with the ones who accept thier suspensions. Players are faced with 50 games to accept thier suspension, if they appeal and lose they will be getting 100 games. In some cases like Braun and AROD, they more than likely are facing 100 games initially because of multiple offenses and not just failed tests. I've heard that some of those already suspended like Colon, Grandal, Melky were faced with similar predicaments and that is why they admitted and did not appeal and took the 50 games. Melky never appealed and he knew his suspension was coming right before the all star game last year. They are going to get a lot of these players on affiliating with these clinics, buying and lying. If they appeal and are asked did you know so and so was buying these or did so and so player recommend you go this clinic and they lie, they will be caught on that. It's all because they will not know who is saying what and what MLB has on them or how much MLB knows. It also will not just be Tony B they will see in the appeal process, there are others involved that will say they saw them, they saw this, they were told this, other players told us this, etc...

The problem that those players that want to appeal like a Braun and Arod will have is; just how many of the Dominoes will have fallen before them. If MLB has 15-25 players accepting suspensions and admitting and players like Braun and Arod wanting to appeal, how do they think they can win an appeal when most of the others have admitted and possibly even implicated them. All they will accomplish is buying themselves a little time.

MLB is hoping a few do appeal and its not hard to figure out who they want to appeal. MLB will also be prepared for the legal routes some like Braun and Arod could take. One thing is clear though, MLB has proven it has enormous power when policing themselves. It would be very hard for any player to "win" in court if the majority of them took thier suspensions because they did cheat and admitted.

Me personally, I think its possible Arod spills the beans, just like Canseco did, hoping to save his own skin. I also watched Braun's statement right after last nights game, where he intimated he had not heard of the latest news until the game ended and obviously did not have much time to come up with a response. He stood by his statement in the spring where he said he is not involved, and said :

"I've already addressed everything related to the Miami situation," Braun said. "I addressed it in Spring Training. I will not make any further statements about it. The truth has not changed. I don't know the specifics of the story that came out today, but I've already addressed it, I've already commented on it and I'll say nothing further about it."

What stuck me was how tired he looked and how much smaller he looked, almost skinny and it appeared to me he was smug and lying through his teeth IMO... just like Armstrong for 13 years, Arod for 7 Years, Rose for 20 years, McGwire for 6 years and all the other sports creeps who have lied to save their skin. If Braun wants to play another 10 years and make his 150 million he better make the right choice and in the remote possibility he never has done anything wrong, I say fight then.

The other angle MLB will be taking is that they will be fast tracking the appeals process for any player that wants to appeal, so there is the very real possibility it will affect this season. It is estimated that MLB has so far spent about 2 million on this and is prepared to spend whatever it takes to rid the game of PEDS and PEDS users. It's ironic when you compare it to the salaries that exist today...

[Hells Satans]

There are serious due process concerns with how MLB has gone about this. They have essentially bribed a person to sign an affidavit incriminating other people. He may very well be telling the truth now, but who knows. It's absolutely critical from MLB's side that they find corroborating witnesses from the clinic. A good defense lawyer will have no trouble absolutely destroying Bosch on cross.

Basically, there isn't going to be any "fast-tracking" of anything. MLB needs to get it right.

I am near certain that no one will be officially suspended until August (i.e, post-appeal). I would expect that players on bad teams might just accept the 50 games at that point so they don't miss the start of the next season.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

There's not a chance that Arod spills the beans because that would mean telling the truth....the guy is a habitual liar and has been for many years.....

[Outlaw]

There are serious due process concerns with how MLB has gone about this. They have essentially bribed a person to sign an affidavit incriminating other people. He may very well be telling the truth now, but who knows. It's absolutely critical from MLB's side that they find corroborating witnesses from the clinic. A good defense lawyer will have no trouble absolutely destroying Bosch on cross.

Basically, there isn't going to be any "fast-tracking" of anything. MLB needs to get it right.

I am near certain that no one will be officially suspended until August (i.e, post-appeal). I would expect that players on bad teams might just accept the 50 games at that point so they don't miss the start of the next season.

That is a good point about players wanting to get their 50 games in this year and I’m sure MLB would like that too, with the exception of some that might be facing 100 games. Due process though, this is baseball, not a court room yet. Baseball has proven in its history that they can and will suspend players for cheating, breaking the rules, etc.

As for Fast Tracking, Consider that MLB has multiple other witnesses that will be filling in some of the blanks and cross checking the information Tony B provides or has already provided. There are handwriting experts that they will be using, Computer Forensics experts reviewing the Data (every file produced has a history in the Meta Data portion of the file that is like fingerprints), plenty of other experts providing accurate and verifying real information. The known 20 or so players were told weeks ago they were under investigation and the interview process with those players is almost complete if not already completed.
Now if you are one of those players already interviewed by MLB and you are asked a series of questions and you answer them one way thinking that Tony B (the head turd) has destroyed the records and will not be cooperating, and the answers you provided were not the truth or are proved by Tony B and others, as well as the records, to not be the truth, I think it’s pretty clear you lied and are involved with these clinics. Everyone seems to think its just one clinic too. MLB knew they had a big problem on their hands for some time and they appear to have been very methodical with everything they have done. You don’t have all these investigators on this for as long they have had because there is nothing here. Too many players have already admitted there is something wrong or they were invlvoved.

I believe MLB made their agreement with Tony B right after they filed suit against him 2 months ago. I believe he has been singing like a bird for a lot longer than we know. As for his credibility, sure it may be questionable, but real corroborated proof is proof. Will it all ever be relased? – There is a good chance it will not be. As for why would anyone believe him, why would any players get in involved with him in any way, shape or form, especially when these clinics were on MLB’s radar and Tony B was on their radar as far back as 3 years ago.

Multiple players such as Braun, Gonzalez, Cano, Cervalli, Grandal, Colon and others have already admitted and established they knew him, his clinic, dealt with him and his clinic or their representatives or their family members did. Kind of hard to present the argument he is dirtbag liar when so many admit they dealt with him or these clinics, what does that make them then- dirtbags too?. Cant’ have your cake and eat it too, that is the predicament these players are facing.

What we all are hearing now is what MLB wants us to hear and in the time frame they want put out there. Tony B evidently is filling in the blanks too about all the other pieces of information that MLB needed clarification on, such as other players involved. From the very beginning and throughout, there have been whispers in baseball and amongst insiders of up to 80 players involved. If he has provided all those player names or explained what the coded names were on all the records MLB has, it will take more time to bring them all in and interview them and determine their involvement. But the players at this point now know all the parties seem to be singing and cooperating, possibly even some of the players.

It was very interesting all the comments and opinions today and especially the player’s union statement stressing their continued cooperation in ensuring the Integrity of the New Joint Drug Program they agreed to this past January. Also some of the “clean” players coming out today and saying the cheaters need to be punished severely. The Mark Derosa interview was very telling. Cruz and Braun seem to be the only 2 named players that said anything today, and that was basically no comment. In and around baseball I believe they all know what’s coming. WADA released a statement today also, basically saying that MLB has accumulated mountain of evidence through its investigations and that the partnership they have with MLB and the Union and how they have gone about this should be used by other professional sports.

If there are suspensions coming, they will probably start happening soon and at the very least will happen sometime this season, so either way, there will be quite a few players missing games this year. I believe Most of these players were cheating and they need to be held accountable, but that is just my opinion. In terms of Fantasy I would sure hope this does'nt linger into next year… it will not make for fun drafting or a fun season.

[Outlaw]

There's not a chance that Arod spills the beans because that would mean telling the truth....the guy is a habitual liar and has been for many years.....

Wait till he sees the pictures...he might think differently.. him and Tony B make a cute couple...

[Outlaw]

A few other addtional details, the Feds and US Attorney in Florida, as well as Flordia authoriites are possibly preparing to go after all these people involved, inlcuding players.

Watch for possible information coming out going back to Brauns Univeristy of Miami days when he first met his "friend" Tony B.

Who knows, maybe more pictures of another cute couple...

[Outlaw]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9347425

Interviews with current players about the cheaters...

[Edwards Kings]

There are serious due process concerns with how MLB has gone about this. They have essentially bribed a person to sign an affidavit incriminating other people. He may very well be telling the truth now, but who knows.

If there are suspensions coming, they will probably start happening soon and at the very least will happen sometime this season, so either way, there will be quite a few players missing games this year.

Two things I agree with. I believe there are serious due process concerns and "real" trials will be few and unsuccessful. MLB, however, in its position as the ultimate regal baseball authority is not concerned with due process because they really do not have to be. Suspensions are coming, whether the individuals are guilty or not (seriously, I would not trust old Tony enough to lend him $1 to buy a soda), because MLB WANTS suspensions to prove there are still the big dog, to get over the stigma of Braun calling their bluff last year, and as a PR gesture so they can go to the public and say MLB is "tough" on cheaters (rather than just whacking a few minor leaguers with 50 game suspensions).

Are there cheaters? Yes, but MLB powers at be are more guilty (turning the blind eye, ineffective enforcement efforts) than the charged players.