A-Rod gets 200+ games

[MaineDolFan]

Crazy. He is appealing, which will mean he will play out the season. 

11 players, including Cruz from Texas got nailed with 50.

The hammer comes down.

[Brian Fein]

200 games?!?!  WOW!

I wonder how they determined that he deserves quadruple the punishment that everyone else got.

Here's the list, besides A-Roid (12 others):

• Nelson Cruz
• Evereth Cabrera
• Jhonny Peralta
• 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

Also noted: Gio Gonzalez and Danny Valencia were on the reports but cleared of wrongdoing.  Ryan Braun, Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera and Yasmani Grandal have already served 50-game suspensions.

[Landshark]

^^^^^

Because he tried to use his money and influence to intimidate people and destroy documents to hamper this investigation

[Spider-Dan]

I don't understand why A-Rod's suspension was over 3x longer than Braun's.

[el diablo]

Not enough hate for Braun. Its still funny how A-Rod's 1st day back, is the 1st day of his "suspension".

[EDGECRUSHER]

Unfortunately, I would be surprised if the 211 games stand. He did a lot wrong, but I think it gets reduced to 75-100 due to some legal loophole, kind of like the Braun situation.

If he is done for 2014, it very likely gets the Yankees under $189 Million and resets the luxury tax. Basically, this schmuck gave the Yankees back about $80 Million in lower taxes and his salary being forfeited. Thanks for 2009 where you gave one of the best postseason performances of all-time, now go away forever.

[bsmooth]

Unfortunately, I would be surprised if the 211 games stand. He did a lot wrong, but I think it gets reduced to 75-100 due to some legal loophole, kind of like the Braun situation.

If he is done for 2014, it very likely gets the Yankees under $189 Million and resets the luxury tax. Basically, this schmuck gave the Yankees back about $80 Million in lower taxes and his salary being forfeited. Thanks for 2009 where you gave one of the best postseason performances of all-time, now go away forever.

I don't see it getting reduced much, if at all. If it were solely for drug use, then yes...but he actively tried to stop an active investigation, and this gives more leverage to the league that the CBA cannot help with.

[mecadonzilla]

Considering his actions after being caught, I think 211 games is pretty lenient. He's lucky they're not pushing harder for a lifetime ban.

[Tenshot13]

We need a 3 strike rule for PEDs in baseball:

1st offense 50 games
2nd offense whole season
3rd offense life long ban

And once you have a 1st offense you have to have regular tests to make sure your clean. (Ideally, everyone should have this)

[Spider-Dan]

Keep in mind that A-Rod has never actually failed any drug test that counted.

[Phishfan]

^^^ I hate when people say this. This was the same BS people were saying about Lance Armstrong. Any player with half a brain and monetary resources is going to use substances that are ahead of the testing procedure.

[Spider-Dan]

I understand that, and I understand the Sword of Damocles that fell on Armstrong when he ran out of appeals and was finally punished.

I'm not saying A-Rod should get off scot free.  But he's getting 200+ games and he hasn't failed any tests, while other people have failed multiple tests and only gotten 100.

Like Goodell with Bountygate, Selig is overreaching... but Selig doesn't have half the power of Goodell (relatively speaking) and will be forcefully slapped down by the union.

[CF DolFan]

I would think obstruction of justice would carry a much higher penalty than the infraction itself. Isn't that why he is being punished so heavily?


As well ... didn't baseball say they would officially go for a lifetime ban if he fought it?

[Phishfan]

From my understanding, the obstruction is the issue. Plus, he may not have failed a test but he came up in previous investigations and admitted to using PEDs previously. Admission to previous offenses + obstruction gets you what he got.

[MaineDolFan]

We need a 3 strike rule for PEDs in baseball:

1st offense 50 games
2nd offense whole season
3rd offense life long ban

And once you have a 1st offense you have to have regular tests to make sure your clean. (Ideally, everyone should have this)

This is basically what it is now.

1st:  50
2nd: 100.  After extended spring training, rehab, etc - you've basically eliminated the meat of the season.
3rd:  You're gone.