While I applaud the testing, I think the penalties are kind of lame. Five positives needed for a year ban? It should be two, max. If you're busted once it could be chalked up to an accidental use of a banned substance, but not twice.
(edited by JayJayDean on 13.11.03 1534) “To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
I agree with the fact that that penalties are way low on this stuff. But I think the actual numbers are far lower than the 5-7 percent being thrown around. If I remember corrctly, all of the White Sox refused to take the test, which made it an automatic positive test. They refused the test in order to get this mandatory testing done. So there's 3.5 percent right there. Who knows if other tests were intentionally rejected and failed for the same reason.
But it is peculiar that they year they start testing nobody hits 50 HR...
The White Sox had discussed doing that, but in the end they were convinced to take the tests and let the process take its course. Now maybe they all went out the night before and took banned substances, but I do know they consented to testing.
Originally posted by spf2119The White Sox had discussed doing that, but in the end they were convinced to take the tests and let the process take its course.
Originally posted by GrimisBut it is peculiar that they year they start testing nobody hits 50 HR...
Yeah but two of the guys who have hit 50 in the past had real issue seasons. With injuries, and his Dad dying and nobody pitching to him for Barry, and with a suspension and an injury to Sammy. He takes forever to get hot and his injury killed him. What'd he have, like 10 in June? People pitch to him, cause he isn't hitting 380 while hitting 50 HRs.
Originally posted by Jayson Stark on espn.comOne final Olympics note: Not much has been -- or ever will be -- said about it. But sources say that several minor-league players being considered for the team the U.S. sent to Panama were disqualified for failing to pass the we-ban-everything Olympic drug test.
Hmmmmm...
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
Baseball's policy is nothing more than a token measure so that people can't get on them for not testing for steroids. If there was a real desire to deter steroid use among Major League players the penalties would be substantial. The NFL wants to deter it's players from using illegal substances; the second violation is a 4-game suspension. In baseball terms, that's the equivalent of a 40-game suspension. Slap that on a guy for a steroid bust and you might make guys think twice. Under the current plan all a guy is going to take is a PR hit.
Originally posted by GrimisI agree with the fact that that penalties are way low on this stuff. But I think the actual numbers are far lower than the 5-7 percent being thrown around. If I remember corrctly, all of the White Sox refused to take the test, which made it an automatic positive test. They refused the test in order to get this mandatory testing done. So there's 3.5 percent right there. Who knows if other tests were intentionally rejected and failed for the same reason.
But it is peculiar that they year they start testing nobody hits 50 HR...
The way I interpreted it was that AT LEAST 5% tested positive. Remember this was for a test that they knew ahead of time about. So there's at least 5% of complete idiots in baseball who couldn't beat a test they knew was coming.
This steroid testing is an absolute and utter joke. Either go hard at the issue or don't. Players in other sports get longer suspensions for rule infractions then ball players would get if found juicing.
This doesn't address the issue at all. Baseball players have the money to afford designer drugs which can go undected and have countless people working with them to be able to beat the tests. The same goes for most sports but at least the penalties are more severe.
The thing that always gets overlooked about steroids and will here is that by taking them, the player is BREAKING THE LAW. It should at least be treated the same way as players who get caught doing cocaine or other narcotics. That's at the very least because narcotics aren't performance enhancers.
One last thing, it will only hurt the player's image if the media doesn't like them. If they like the player, they'll believe his bogus excuse of the week, talk about it for a little while then sweep it under the rug.
MLB Playoff Standings with 2 weeks left E- Eliminated from Divisional title W- Eliminated from Wild Card X- Eliminated from playoffs Games back listed are games back from the #2 wildcard team AL 1. Texas 88-60 (West leaders) 2.