Miami Times Report: ARod, Others Named In PED Lab Scandal - Gary Armida's Blog

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Miami Times Report: ARod, Others Named In PED Lab Scandal Stuck

Posted on January 29, 2013 at 01:20 PM.

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It was only a matter of time before the next big story broke about performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. There was always going to be another BALCO-type discovery. Steroids and HGH were only the beginning. Today, The Miami New Times broke the story that everyone had hoped not to see, but knew was coming. BALCO East is located in a facility called Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic located in Florida. The report cites names from a variety of sports, but it is once again Alex Rodriguez who gets the headlines. Other baseball names cited in the Times story are Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera, San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, Oakland A�s starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, and Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

The well researched and documented Times story reported by Tim Elfrink is a result of an investigation of Anthony Bosch whose records were secured. The records are mostly handwritten notes containing the players� names, nicknames, payment information, and lists of medication. The article contains photographs of these documents.

The impact of this information is something that has yet to be determined. There is a feeling that the Times is actually withholding names until they can get something more substantial in terms of proof. But, this has to be a day that Major League Baseball was dreading. It survived BALCO; it survived The Mitchell Report. And, it will survive this one too. But, coming off of a Hall of Fame ballot that was tainted by performance enhancing drugs and now heading into the World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball and the Players Association now have another scandal to deal with. If the Times does, indeed, have more names--they do--this will be another slow process in which players will be identified as users of performance enhancing drugs.

Within an hour of the Miami Times story, Major League Baseball released a statement:

Quote:


	We are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances. These developments, however, provide evidence of the comprehensive nature of our anti-drug efforts. Through our Department of Investigations, we have been actively involved in the issues in South Florida. It is also important to note that three of the players allegedly involved have already been disciplined under the Joint Drug Program. The recommendations of the Mitchell Report have once again played a critical role in Major League Baseball�s ongoing efforts against performance-enhancing drugs. MLB implemented all of the recommendations made by Senator Mitchell in 2007, several of which emphasized the significance of installing proactive investigative services.

The statement concludes with the following:

Quote:


	Vigilance remains the key toward protecting the integrity of our game. We have the best and most stringent drug testing policy in professional sports, we continue to work with our doctors and trainers to learn what they are seeing day-to-day and we educate our players about the game�s unbending zero-tolerance approach. We remain fully committed to following all leads and seeking the appropriate outcomes for all those who use, purchase and are involved in the distribution of banned substances, which have no place in our game. We are in the midst of an active investigation and are gathering and reviewing information. We will refrain from further comment until this process is complete.

The statement essentially makes the point that Major League Baseball is now conducting its own investigation. Nothing in the Times Report will directly cause a suspension. Therefore, this report and each player allegation coming from it will be met with zero comments from Major League Baseball for quite some time.

The next question really pertains to what happens to the players listed in this report and if Major League Baseball finds this evidence as proof of guilt. There is a lesser known part of Major League Baseball�s drug enforcement policy that allows them to suspend players for PED use without a positive test. Obviously, this suspension would be the result of overwhelming evidence that would be presented to the panel. With the Times already printing Alex Rodriguez�s documents, evidence, at least with Rodriguez�s case, doesn�t seem to be a problem.

While Rodriguez has already admitted to using performance enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003, this would be his first offense under the drug testing policy. If Major League Baseball believes that the evidence would warrant a suspension, Rodriguez would serve the first time offense of 50 games. If MLB acts quickly, it would be served while Rodriguez is on the disabled list recovering from recent hip surgery. It would, however, cost him about $10 million in lost salary. Again, that is assuming that Major League Baseball acts quickly and deems the evidence worthy.

What happens to the other players named is a little less clear. Melky Cabrera, Yasmani Grandal, and Bartolo Colon have all just been suspended for violating the drug testing policy. Perhaps they argue that they were already punished for this. But, for names like Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez, this will require further investigation.

One of the downfalls of another occurrence of this scandal is that it brings up the witch hunt factor again. Neither Cruz nor Gonzalez have ever been linked to PED use. Their names are new to the arena and due process should be given. But, there is already a presumed guilt even when the Times story talks about Gio Gonzalez�s father saying it was he who was the patient and that his son never met Anthony Bosch. Perhaps, it is a cover up, but the burden of proof shifts to Gonzalez to prove his innocence rather than where the burden should be placed. Gonzalez has already tweeted his innocence. Hopefully, he can prove it. Of course, this will open up all players to more scrutiny. It just adds to the uncertainty of the era.

For Alex Rodriguez, this is the final shot at what little credibility he had left in the sport. Players who get caught cheating have a choice. They can tell the truth, admit the mistake, and move on. Andy Pettitte took that route. Several others have too. Eventually, there is a sort of forgiveness. It is never forgotten, but the incident becomes more of a footnote. Or, a player can lie and continue to perpetuate that lie. Alex Rodriguez seems to have chosen the latter.

But, why wouldn�t he? He�s made millions that way. The benefits of cheating far outweigh the risks for getting caught. Sure, he�ll never be welcomed in baseball again, but he will live a nice life with the $500-plus million he made during his career. The Players Association and Major League Baseball do have the power to change that, but there isn�t a good enough reason to. The money is too great.

There will be more names as the weeks go by. Today�s report is just the beginning. But, baseball will go on. Pitchers and Catchers report in under two weeks. Opening Day is around the corner. We will get lost in what we love about the sport. Names will continue to trickle out, punishments will be doled out. And, we will wonder when and if the sport will ever be clean again. It may never again, but investigations and reports like this do result in one thing. Players eventually get exposed. Some get punished. If that happens enough, perhaps the sport will get cleaned up.

If not, we�ll continue to watch and be invested. It�s baseball. Despite the cheating, the sport is beautiful. Our connection to it is beautiful. The game is still great. Days like today aren�t good and unfortunately, they are becoming far too common. It is our present and future of the sport. But, it is not the death of baseball or anything like that at all. It�s a bad day and something we wish we didn�t have to deal with. We know that there are more to come. But, we also know that first pitch is around the corner. We�ll get lost in what matters most: the action and strategy on the field.

Gary Armida is a staff writer for Operation Sports. He also writes at fullcountpitch.com. Join the conversation on twitter @garyarmida