20+ MLB players to be suspended? Braun, A-Rod? (1 Viewer)

[jurrassic]

MLB is dirty. So is the NFL, professional cycling, the Olympics, etc. Time to accept that fact and enjoy the spectacle. Where's all the outrage over Bruce Irvin testing positive?

I was outraged. Instead of 8 Busch Lights, I had like 9 or 10 when I heard that. In an angry drinker too.

They were light beers. Real outrage is full calorie

 

[HughHoney]

I could care less.

So you care a little bit? How much do you care? A little bit of caring to you might be a lot of caring to somebody else.Me personally. I don't care at all, so I couldn't care less.

 

[Raider Nation]

I could care less.

So you care a little bit? How much do you care? A little bit of caring to you might be a lot of caring to somebody else.Me personally. I don't care at all, so I couldn't care less.

Nobody cares.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

This place has gotten a little girlie with all the talk about caring.

 

[Das Boot]

And LOL at the ESPN BREAKING NEWS headline. They been trying to ban them for months over this.

Bosch agreeing to cooperate does qualify as breaking news.

 

[Das Boot]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50

Seniors (65 and older): $12.00

Children (7-12): $7.00

AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

 

[Zegras11]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.9 a.m. until 5 p.m.Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50Seniors (65 and older): $12.00Children (7-12): $7.00AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

 

[rodg12]

And LOL at the ESPN BREAKING NEWS headline. They been trying to ban them for months over this.

Bosch agreeing to cooperate does qualify as breaking news.

So say...BREAKING NEWS...Bosch cooperating with MLB. Not BREAKING NEWS: MLB trying to ban Braun, ARod.

 

[Raider Nation]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.9 a.m. until 5 p.m.Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50Seniors (65 and older): $12.00Children (7-12): $7.00AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

shady asks if they charge by the hour.

(3 people will get this)

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

The guy that met his gambling buddies at the gym? All of those buddies that served time for selling steroids. The guy that cut a deal to avoid any more evidence going to the feds for his various crimes? The guy that taught the newbies how to use greenies to get an edge? That guy? We won't even bother with the numerous instances of pursuing personal glory at the expense of his team's fortunes.

 

[Eephus]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.9 a.m. until 5 p.m.Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50Seniors (65 and older): $12.00Children (7-12): $7.00AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

shady asks if they charge by the hour.

(3 people will get this)

 

[Gawain]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.9 a.m. until 5 p.m.Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50Seniors (65 and older): $12.00Children (7-12): $7.00AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

shady asks if they charge by the hour.

(3 people will get this)

If someone lived in Seattle and wanted to visit Cooperstown, what would be the best way to go about it? Cooperstown seems like it's not really close to anything else.

 

[Eephus]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.9 a.m. until 5 p.m.Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50Seniors (65 and older): $12.00Children (7-12): $7.00AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

shady asks if they charge by the hour.

(3 people will get this)

If someone lived in Seattle and wanted to visit Cooperstown, what would be the best way to go about it? Cooperstown seems like it's not really close to anything else.

Take lots of steroids and practice, practice, practice

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Bartolo Colon? Cheeseburgers are a banned substance?

 

[Tony Jabroni]

LOL @ "vindicated"

Believe.

 

[dparker713]

100 game suspension looming. Does this have legs?

Players appealed positive blood tests. The MLBPA will fight suspensions based on this more dubious evidence. I'll go out on limb to predict they'll negotiate some settlement with lesser suspensions to be served at the beginning of the 2014 season.

I doubt it. I think MLB is committed to getting this cleaned up, which is why the OTC story is already out. They don't want to suspend the guys; they want to shame them and make them "cheats" for as long as they are in the public eye. They want the penalty to be so severe on so many levels that other players will really start to think about whether it makes sense to cheat.

Without a link to provide, I speculate that the penalties for cheating do not even come close to the potential payoff in MLB. If I am coming up on FA 2-3 years from now, I am absolutely playing the odds of not getting caught and getting a 9 digit contract vs. a 50 game suspension for first offenders. The penalties are not nearly stiff enough, or these guys wouldn't do steroids et. al. banned substances.

Guys are getting busted for trying to hold onto their $16K jobs in single A. Bigger penalties probably aren't the answer.

 

[Raider Nation]

Braun stood in front of his locker tonight and claimed innocence again.

Might as well keep up appearances til the end.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50

Seniors (65 and older): $12.00

Children (7-12): $7.00

AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

shady asks if they charge by the hour.

(3 people will get this)

Beat me to it.

 

[Judge Smails]

100 game suspension looming. Does this have legs?

Players appealed positive blood tests. The MLBPA will fight suspensions based on this more dubious evidence. I'll go out on limb to predict they'll negotiate some settlement with lesser suspensions to be served at the beginning of the 2014 season.

I doubt it. I think MLB is committed to getting this cleaned up, which is why the OTC story is already out. They don't want to suspend the guys; they want to shame them and make them "cheats" for as long as they are in the public eye. They want the penalty to be so severe on so many levels that other players will really start to think about whether it makes sense to cheat.

This. The shame angle is huge. In their communities. In their home countries. Hampers their next contract and the HOF? Fugghedabouit.

Throw the book at these clowns. Can't think of two more guys I'd rather see go down than A-Rod and that arrogant ##### Braun.

 

[dparker713]

100 game suspension looming. Does this have legs?

Players appealed positive blood tests. The MLBPA will fight suspensions based on this more dubious evidence. I'll go out on limb to predict they'll negotiate some settlement with lesser suspensions to be served at the beginning of the 2014 season.

I doubt it. I think MLB is committed to getting this cleaned up, which is why the OTC story is already out. They don't want to suspend the guys; they want to shame them and make them "cheats" for as long as they are in the public eye. They want the penalty to be so severe on so many levels that other players will really start to think about whether it makes sense to cheat.

This. The shame angle is huge. In their communities. In their home countries. Hampers their next contract and the HOF? Fugghedabouit.

Throw the book at these clowns. Can't think of two more guys I'd rather see go down than A-Rod and that arrogant ##### Braun.

By the time these guys are eligible for the HOF, they'll sail in if they have the careers to justify election.

 

[whoknew]

100 game suspension looming. Does this have legs?

Players appealed positive blood tests. The MLBPA will fight suspensions based on this more dubious evidence. I'll go out on limb to predict they'll negotiate some settlement with lesser suspensions to be served at the beginning of the 2014 season.

I doubt it. I think MLB is committed to getting this cleaned up, which is why the OTC story is already out. They don't want to suspend the guys; they want to shame them and make them "cheats" for as long as they are in the public eye. They want the penalty to be so severe on so many levels that other players will really start to think about whether it makes sense to cheat.

This. The shame angle is huge. In their communities. In their home countries. Hampers their next contract and the HOF? Fugghedabouit.

Throw the book at these clowns. Can't think of two more guys I'd rather see go down than A-Rod and that arrogant ##### Braun.

I've never understood this thinking, but whatever.

The MLBPA will fight this every step of the way. Its not like MLB has great evidence here.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Let Pete Rose into the HOF

Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day)

Adults: $19.50

Seniors (65 and older): $12.00

Children (7-12): $7.00

AAA Member: Adults $17.50, Seniors $10.75, Children $6.25

I recommend going for two days to soak it all in.

shady asks if they charge by the hour.

(3 people will get this)

 

[ajm27501]

So who takes custody of them? Will they go through the court system? Will there be a trial? Or do they go to Guantanamo?

 

[NCCommish]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

 

[shader]

MLB is so stupid. They should be like football and look the other way. Suspend a random relief pitcher or utility infielder every once in awhile.

 

[whoknew]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I wish I could watch baseball less in protest.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I wish I could watch baseball less in protest.

Maybe you could participate in baseball threads on message boards less in protest.

 

[NCCommish]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

 

[the moops]

I am going to withhold judgment until I hear from Mr Pack

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I wish I could watch baseball less in protest.

Maybe you could participate in baseball threads on message boards less in protest.

But then I wouldn't be able to show how blasé I am about baseball. People need to know these things.

 

[timschochet]

Let Shoeless Joe in the Hall of Fame.

 

[jurrassic]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

 

[jurrassic]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

 

[larry_boy_44]

Voiding contracts just gives the teams (and therefore MLB) further incentive to continue to turn a blind eye to PEDs.

Arguably voiding contracts also leads to higher FA contracts, because only the player and not the team suffers the suspension/ban. Higher FA contracts further incentivizes both PEDs and doing whatever it takes not to get caught.

I think for punishments to have any real meaning the teams have to suffer too.

plus it would hurt small market teams and help big market teams.

If Ryan Braun were a Free Agent tomorrow, do you think the Brewers would have a shot of matching the contract the Yankees offered him? No.

 

[dickey moe]

I could care less.

So you care a little bit? How much do you care? A little bit of caring to you might be a lot of caring to somebody else.Me personally. I don't care at all, so I couldn't care less.

Nobody cares.

LOL

 

[Sinn Fein]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

CBA does not require failed drug test to suspend/punish.

As others have mentioned, this is probably as much a PR move as anything. It helps vindicate MLB's position on Braun - cheater; it also demonstrates a proactive move by the league to address what some, including congress, consider a problem; and, it will put the players on the defensive when talking about future testing - and since it appears most players want a "cleaner" game this will go in the owners favor at the next CBA bargaining session.

There really is no down-side for MLB owners here.

 

[NCCommish]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

A-Rod has already admitted to steroid use once. And of course nothing happened. He isn't exactly a paragon of virtue either. Plus now they can verify the records they already had that show sustained buying of the PEDs by the people they are going after. Oh and the Florida Dept of Health has been reporting it's findings directly to law enforcement. This probably isn't going to work out to well for these guys.

 

[TLEF316]

So who takes custody of them? Will they go through the court system? Will there be a trial? Or do they go to Guantanamo?

still awesome

 

[Bob Sacamano]

RYAN BRAUN IS A NATIONAL TREASURE AND WAS CLEARLY PROVEN INNOCENT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

CBA does not require failed drug test to suspend/punish.

As others have mentioned, this is probably as much a PR move as anything. It helps vindicate MLB's position on Braun - cheater; it also demonstrates a proactive move by the league to address what some, including congress, consider a problem; and, it will put the players on the defensive when talking about future testing - and since it appears most players want a "cleaner" game this will go in the owners favor at the next CBA bargaining session.

There really is no down-side for MLB owners here.

Not to mention the likelihood of evidence existing beyond simply his word. What does Braun say if this guy's records show payments predating Braun's initial failed test? Or a testing schedule with associated results?

 

[Jaysus]

If someone lived in Seattle and wanted to visit Cooperstown, what would be the best way to go about it? Cooperstown seems like it's not really close to anything else.

Fly into Boston, rent a car, and make a week out of it.

 

[Jaysus]

P.S. I want my pro athletes on steroids, especially in baseball. Steroids saved major league baseball - they provided the viewership to recover from the nearly fatal strike, and they helped to reestablish the game as great entertainment at a time when it was needed most.

 

[dparker713]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

His testimony will be highly suspect. He's hardly an upstanding citizen and he has every motivation to lie in a manner that would please Bud Selig. He's got major credibility concerns and if this were a criminal case, no prosecutor I know of would go to trial without more that Bosch's word.

 

[dparker713]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

CBA does not require failed drug test to suspend/punish.

As others have mentioned, this is probably as much a PR move as anything. It helps vindicate MLB's position on Braun - cheater; it also demonstrates a proactive move by the league to address what some, including congress, consider a problem; and, it will put the players on the defensive when talking about future testing - and since it appears most players want a "cleaner" game this will go in the owners favor at the next CBA bargaining session.

There really is no down-side for MLB owners here.

Congress considered PED usage in MLB a problem prior to their implementation of drug testing and the Mitchell Report. There is no indication that Congress still considers this a problem.

 

[comfortably numb]

100 game suspension looming. Does this have legs?

Players appealed positive blood tests. The MLBPA will fight suspensions based on this more dubious evidence. I'll go out on limb to predict they'll negotiate some settlement with lesser suspensions to be served at the beginning of the 2014 season.

I doubt it. I think MLB is committed to getting this cleaned up, which is why the OTC story is already out. They don't want to suspend the guys; they want to shame them and make them "cheats" for as long as they are in the public eye. They want the penalty to be so severe on so many levels that other players will really start to think about whether it makes sense to cheat.

Without a link to provide, I speculate that the penalties for cheating do not even come close to the potential payoff in MLB. If I am coming up on FA 2-3 years from now, I am absolutely playing the odds of not getting caught and getting a 9 digit contract vs. a 50 game suspension for first offenders. The penalties are not nearly stiff enough, or these guys wouldn't do steroids et. al. banned substances.

Guys are getting busted for trying to hold onto their $16K jobs in single A. Bigger penalties probably aren't the answer.

They are not taking steroids to hold onto their 16k year job, they are taking them hoping it turns into a 1.6M dollar job in the big leagues.

If you are not going to hit players where it hurts (i.e. in their wallet) the reward will always outweigh the risk of getting caught.

 

[dparker713]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

A-Rod has already admitted to steroid use once. And of course nothing happened. He isn't exactly a paragon of virtue either. Plus now they can verify the records they already had that show sustained buying of the PEDs by the people they are going after. Oh and the Florida Dept of Health has been reporting it's findings directly to law enforcement. This probably isn't going to work out to well for these guys.

ARod's confession only covered the time in baseball when no punishments were in place to suspend players due to use of performance enhancing drugs. As for the findings of the Department of Health, law enforcement should not be sharing that information with a private entity such as MLB, and if they do I certainly wouldn't be surprised by a legal fight over their admissibility.

 

[NCCommish]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

His testimony will be highly suspect. He's hardly an upstanding citizen and he has every motivation to lie in a manner that would please Bud Selig. He's got major credibility concerns and if this were a criminal case, no prosecutor I know of would go to trial without more that Bosch's word.

Well then luckily they have documentation. And of course the baseball guys have plenty of reason to lie. No one here is exactly George Washington.

 

[Eephus]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

By all accounts Bosch isn't exactly the most credible or upstanding citizen. The guy is an illegal drug dealer who signed a deal with MLB in hopes that it would reduce his sentence with the federal courts. Additionally, this is a slippery slope for MLB. The current system is dependent on a player failing a test. There were no tests failed here. All there is, is one guy stating that X players were provided with these drugs. Even if they were supplied with them, if there is no evidence they took them, what is the grounds for suspension? Seems like a long court battle is about to begin

CBA does not require failed drug test to suspend/punish.

As others have mentioned, this is probably as much a PR move as anything. It helps vindicate MLB's position on Braun - cheater; it also demonstrates a proactive move by the league to address what some, including congress, consider a problem; and, it will put the players on the defensive when talking about future testing - and since it appears most players want a "cleaner" game this will go in the owners favor at the next CBA bargaining session.

There really is no down-side for MLB owners here.

The downside for the owners is the bad publicity for the sport. The public may not distinguish between the players and the game. If they are discouraged enough by a drawn-out, sleazy battle in the press and the courts to stop attending and watching, the owners will lose money. I suspect this would only be in the short term because American sports audiences have short memories.

 

[Eephus]

You guys do know that the legal system often uses one criminal turning on the others to get convictions. This whole idea that because someone involved is testifying negates their testimony is just stupid. It's how it works here every day of the week. If this guy has some kind of corroborating proof, and you can bet he probably does, the players union can stamp it's feet all it wants.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that because MLB has one witness and some handwritten notes, the MLBPA can't fight the claims? Or are you saying even if they do fight it, they will lose?

I'm saying people who think the testimony is worthless are fooling themselves.

His testimony will be highly suspect. He's hardly an upstanding citizen and he has every motivation to lie in a manner that would please Bud Selig. He's got major credibility concerns and if this were a criminal case, no prosecutor I know of would go to trial without more that Bosch's word.

Well then luckily they have documentation. And of course the baseball guys have plenty of reason to lie. No one here is exactly George Washington.

He couldn't hit a curve