MLB (Non-Phils) News and Notes 2016

[julio]

...it is now about finding legal substances that do many of the same things that the illegal substances do.

You recognize, of course, that if the "legal substances" do many of the same things the "illegal substances" do, then all we're talking about is which particular compounds have been added to MLB's list - the metabolic effects would be the same in either case; the ethics of use would be the same in either case. The question that's being begged here is, why is a given substance banned, if a very similar compound that behaves the same way, yields the same benefits, is not banned? Why is it perfectly OK to use dietary supplements that have identical, or "very similar" effects to banned supplements? That's essentially saying it's OK to use substance X until MLB finds out about it and adds it to the list.

Put more simply, that's saying it's OK to use anything, if MLB doesn't yet know about it/hasn't banned it. So...what's the point of banning any of these things? It becomes an unending "arms race" between the users (no, not the chemists - the users) and MLB, and it is, frankly, a joke. MLB's not protecting its reputation, and its not protecting the players' health, either - they'll just move on to the next compound, which may be more dangerous than the banned ones.

So, IMHO, it kind of looks like they should just stop pretending...stop testing the players, let 'em take whatever they want. That seems to me to make more sense than what they seem to be doing now - which is punishing the stupid/careless ones.

[DurhamBull]

The Gordon suspension and some of the last few (like Stumpf) make me think that there must be some over-the-counter supplement that unknowingly included whatever drug is being seen

. If that is true the 80 games does seem a little harsh. Can't imagine a player like Gordon did this knowingly. The whole process just seems a little unfair and arbitrary to me.
Ummm...

I have my doubts about that. I'm inclined to think that there's some particular "use regimen" that has the reputation of being undetectable - but that it's "not quite" undetectable, or that it's very vulnerable to carelessness, or some such.

If you can't imagine a player like Gordon doing this knowingly...that implies that you don't believe PED usage in baseball is fairly widespread...that you believe the "few" who use PEDs have generally been caught. I'm skeptical.

Back in the day (the 1970s), amphetamines were reported to be openly available in MLB's locker rooms. These drugs were illegal, but they were there - and they weren't being sneaked in by misbehaving players. They were believed to improve performance, so they were made available and they were used. I see no reason to believe that the underlying attitudes about drug laws, MLB rules, or long-term health that prevailed in locker rooms in the 1970s have somehow changed; I suspect that more players than we want to think about are in fact using whatever they think they can get away with that might improve their performance.

The difference between the minors and a berth at the end of a 25-man roster is a half-million dollars a year. Advancing beyond the end of the roster to something like everyday play is worth literally millions of dollars a year. Young men with a high-school education (or three years of college majoring in parks and rec) have few prospects outside of baseball, and none that can remotely compete in terms of financial return. It's perfectly rational to do whatever you can to improve your chances of moving onto or up that roster - even if there's a risk of a suspension. The potential return is so great that I might argue that it would be foolish not to use something (or at least seriously consider it).

Freddy Galvis. If he hadn't used PEDs, and never developed any power, he'd likely be in the minors - or else out of organized ball by now...back in Venezuela, age 26, no particular skills. Given the turmoil in Venezuela, he'd likely be wondering how he was going to feed his family. Instead...he's earning $2 million this summer. This is a no-brainer.

The public comments? The "I can't believe he'd do that; he's such a good kid, such a hard worker," yadda yadda yadda? Spin.

I would add that success in hindsight often seems inevitable, but when I read biographies/histories of successful individuals and organizations, there's almost always a few moments where failure seems overwhelmingly likely. They're rescued by fortune, ability, or both. (It depends on whether or not it's an autobiography. ) If success feels unlikely for young players, they probably feel like they're not gambling much by taking 'supplements'.

I also wonder where they get these supplements. I would be surprised if there isn't a whole cottage industry of pill peddlers with questionable ethics chasing atheletes, especially those beginning to smell desperate.

[scorcher]

I was under the impression that MLB provided a list of approved supplements for the players. If they don't follow that list then there's trouble.

[andyb]

I was under the impression that MLB provided a list of approved supplements for the players.

I am pretty sure they do this and can test any product if asked. With so many designer drugs and bio-similar products out there it is a little like whack-a-mole. If someone changes one small thing in a banned product is it then legal if the new product (or underlying drug) does not show up on the formal banned list? It is complicated to ban whole classes of drugs and know where to draw the line.

[julio]

It's not really difficult - MLB provides a list of approved medications/supplements. Anything and everything else is prohibited, unless specifically prescribed by the player's physician - and in those cases, the club's medical staff must be fully informed, and must be empowered to question anything dubious. If the player uses something not on the list, he's suspended. If he's prescribed something that is not appropriate, and the club's medical staff has been informed and doesn't intervene, then the club is fined - a large fine ("large" in this case meaning "large" in the context of payroll - $ millions).

[LegoDoom]

It's not really difficult - MLB provides a list of approved medications/supplements.

I'm not sure JC Romero would agree with you.

[zambonir]

It's not really difficult - MLB provides a list of approved medications/supplements.

I'm not sure JC Romero would agree with you.

And what a shame he was stripped of his World Series ring because of that.

To me, if you want to be tough on PEDs, start taking away wins. If the logic is they make the games unfair, that means the results were tainted.

(I don't personally care if they are tough on PEDs, mind you.)

I reckon there are still more people actively cheating than there are people accidentally ingesting banned substances, or we'd actually see a lot more suspensions. Because probably 100% of the players still take supplements, and many still work with questionable trainers (questionable in that, they don't know what's in these products either).

[zambonir]

Great read from Stark

espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15428 ... suspension

[andyb]

I am happy we got Williams, but it looks like the other name we wanted last year might be even better:
espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/ ... young-star

Just turned 21 last week.

[Philsmania]

Justin Verlander got engaged to longtime supermodel girlfriend Kate Upton prior to the season.

espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15449505/justin-verlander-kate-upton-engaged

[Philsmania]

Pablo Sandoval has reconstructive shoulder surgery and is out for the remainder of the season. Reportedly, the Red Sox have insurance on his contract.

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/05/pablo-sandoval-to-undergo-left-shoulder-surgery.html

[Lawman]

Pablo Sandoval has reconstructive shoulder surgery and is out for the remainder of the season. Reportedly, the Red Sox have NO insurance on his contract.

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/05/pablo-sandoval-to-undergo-left-shoulder-surgery.html

See my edit above

[Philsmania]

Pablo Sandoval has reconstructive shoulder surgery and is out for the remainder of the season. Reportedly, the Red Sox have NO

insurance on his contract.

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/05/pablo-sandoval-to-undergo-left-shoulder-surgery.html

See my edit above

I must have read it wrong. Money down Boston's drain.

[LoneStarPhan]

I've read that the cost of the insurance was getting so high that more and more contracts were not insured.

[gmwannabe]

hmmmm... what do you think the redsox would give up for Maikel? strike while the iron his hot. Mora is waiting in the wings, then walding. i would never do it, obviously,but any guesses?
gm

[Slinging_Southpaw]

A possible eat some salary gift? Hyun Soo Kim?
The little bit of time he has played he has hit, but the Orioles aren't playing him.
They have a history with David Lough. Lough for Kim with us eating all of Kim's salary may be doable.
There was some friction when the O's wanted to send him down, they're also kinda cheap(though only 7 million/2 years), so they may be willing to just wash their hands of him.

[David_Criss]

I doubt the O's would trade Hyun Soo Kim. Didn't he sign just before Christmas? Way way way to early for them to give up on him is my thought process if I am the Orioles.

[California_Dreamin]

Actually, Dave, I think they might. In fact, I was reading recently that they were even thinking of letting him go but felt it would be very embarrassing to acknowledge such a mistake so soon. I think I read it on MLBrumors. This well could be the way the Phils get a decent hitting outfielder, by picking up a player whose salary has become a burden for another team but would hardly dent the Phils budget.

But I do believe they would lean towards bringing in a guy who is going to be around for awhile, doubt they want a "one and done" guy, why bother with that now?

[baseballoldie]

Hyun Soo Kim - I struggle with the idea that anyone would want to take on his contract when the player hasn't proved he can play at the MLB level. He has no MLB experience, the Orioles aren't playing him because of his inability to hit MLB pitching so why would the Phillies want to gamble on a player like that? And why would anyone think he is a decent hitting outfielder given his performance this spring?

[Slinging_Southpaw]

Actually, Dave, I think they might. In fact, I was reading recently that they were even thinking of letting him go but felt it would be very embarrassing to acknowledge such a mistake so soon. I think I read it on MLBrumors. This well could be the way the Phils get a decent hitting outfielder, by picking up a player whose salary has become a burden for another team but would hardly dent the Phils budget.

But I do believe they would lean towards bringing in a guy who is going to be around for awhile, doubt they want a "one and done" guy, why bother with that now?

2 years/7 million.