Baseball isnt a clean sport.We all know this, of course. Its almost certainly cleaner than in the past, but theres too much money and fame and glory on the line
Joe Mauer Jersey to not expect at least some competitive athletes to try to push every po sible boundary in an effort to get better. As fans of the sport, wed all love to live in some bli sful alternative reality where players are competing on a completely level playing field, but were not that naive, no matter how much we might want to be bli sfully ignorant.Still, when we hear news like what broke Tuesday afternoon Pirates center fielder Starling Marte was suspended for 80 games for testing positive for Nandrolone and violating the leagues Joint Drug Agreement it stings a bit.FOSTER: 7 questions for Starling Marte and other PED cheatsAt first the news is disappointing because its surprising to hear what name is attached to the suspension. But then, after weve had a moment to digest the revelation, its disappointing because the reality is thatits not surprising no matter what name is attached to the suspension.Joe Buck, in an interview with SNs Michael McCarthy that published Tuesday morning, offered a thought that seems pretty insightful at the moment.It would be naive to think all that stuff has been completely eliminated from the game of baseball. I know theyve done a good job of eliminating amphetamine use. Thats why you see guys wearing down. Thats why you see a lot of the teams that are younger are more effective at the end of the year. The older teams just cant sustain that kind of physical performance without some of the help that guys used to rely on," Buck said. "So theyve done a good job with amphetamines. But by no means can we say the steroids i sue has been solved.Youre right, Joe, the i sue clearly hasnt been solved.Baseballs powersthatbe are moving in the right direction. The current penalties are harsh, no doubt. This is Martes first incident, and hes banned for 80 games. Even if the Pirates somehow survive the lo s of their best player his 4.9 rWAR was easily the best on the club last year (Jung Ho Kang was secondat 2.3) Martes ineligible for the 2017 playoffs.A second incident is a 162-game suspension; Marlon Byrd was hit with that last June, e sentially ending his career (he was 38 when the suspension hit). A third incident is a lifetime ban; Jenrry Mejias career was officially done, at 26, after MLB handed down that penalty inFebruary 2016.Those are harsh penalties. But for some, the risk is clearly still worth it.Baseball fans have proven they
Jose Berrios Run Derby Navy Jersey re more than willing to forgive PED suspensions as long as the cheater isnt an abhorrent jerk about it (hi, Ryan Braun!). Look at this sampling of players who have been hit with lengthy suspensions in the past five years. Ervin Santana, 80 games Dee Gordon, 80 games Raul Mondesi, 50 games Nelson Cruz, 50 games Jhonny Peralta, 50 games Francisco Cervelli, 50 games Arodys Vizcaino, 80 gamesWho hates those guys? They all served their time (some for positive tests, some connected to Biogenesis) and came back to the game, with few lingering effects. Marte will be the same way.FANTASY: Top waiver adds after Marte's suspensionWho knows when he started using Nandrolone? Heres what we do know: Marte signed a six-year, $31 million extension in March 2014, and though hes not getting paid during the suspension, hes still guaranteed $17.5 million total for 2018-19, and the Pirates have club options for 2020 and 2021.By the time the decision on his 2020 option rolls around, this suspension will be but a footnote, and the Pirates (or whatever club they trade him to) will happily exercise that $11.5 million club option for Marte, who will have just turned 31 in October 2019. Theyll do the same with his $12.5 million option for 2021.Every baseball player faces the PED decision. Most opt to stay within the rules. Those who choose to use PEDs are taking a gamble that has a very significant upside (fat contracts) and very significant downside (80-game minimum suspension).If baseball really wants to be fully clean, theres only one real acceptable punishment a lifetime ban for the first offense. Thats it. Thats the only penalty harsh enough to effectively stop players from pushing the boundaries.Well never see that, though. There are too many i sues for the MLB Players A sociation to agree to a one-strike-and-youre-out
Kyle Gibson Jersey policy. And thats OK with MLB, too, because heres the truth: Two or three 80-game suspensions a year arent a horrible problem for baseball.Thats not an epidemic and not a catalyst for change.
