50 Game PED Suspension Upcoming Today

[uniquebaseballcards]

While I'd generally agree, some purists could argue that players fifty years ago didn't have the same advantage.

But this is just another reason why its impossible to compare players across eras.

Ya know, that's sort of not fair. If you're not playing, and not planning on playing, and injured, why not use whatever is legally available under a doctor's prescription to rehabilitate yourself so that you can play?

I know, I know, that it's hard to draw the line as to what is a healing enhancer, and what's a performance enhancer... but... hell.

Glad it wasn't Raul.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

While I'd generally agree, some purists could argue that players fifty years ago didn't have the same advantage.

But this is just another reason why its impossible to compare players across eras.

Ya know, that's sort of not fair. If you're not playing, and not planning on playing, and injured, why not use whatever is legally available under a doctor's prescription to rehabilitate yourself so that you can play?

I know, I know, that it's hard to draw the line as to what is a healing enhancer, and what's a performance enhancer... but... hell.

Glad it wasn't Raul.

Players 50 years ago didn't have the same "MLB approved" methods of training/rehabilitation either.

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Edinson Volquez has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Finally, the big reveal. Volquez is on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery and isn't expected to be healthy until well after the mid-July All-Star break. Once activated, he'll have to sit out 50 games, so it's a safe guess that he won't throw a pitch in 2010. The 26-year-old right-hander owns a 24-19 record and a 4.37 career ERA through 62 major league outings. He may have been using the performance-enhancers in an attempt to speed up the recovery of his right elbow. Apr. 20 - 2:57 pm et

Ya know, that's sort of not fair. If you're not playing, and not planning on playing, and injured, why not use whatever is legally available under a doctor's prescription to rehabilitate yourself so that you can play?

I know, I know, that it's hard to draw the line as to what is a healing enhancer, and what's a performance enhancer... but... hell.

Glad it wasn't Raul.

I feel what you're saying, but the only way to truly ban a substance from a sport is to put it on a list and say that there is zero tolerance. If a doctor says that a particular steroid is the best treatment for your ailment (or Adderall for your ADD, or female hormone replacement for your nads that have shrunk from previous steroid abuse, etc), you then have to decide whether you want to follow that doctor's advice and risk MLB's suspension.

 

[Wes]

This might be a stupid question but what is to prevent the Reds from activating Volquez and having him start his suspension while injured? Other than taking up a spot on the 40 man?

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I definitely agree with this, zero tolerance should be the way to go. But I don't know what agreement the players have with the MLB concerning all of this, could Edinson appeal?

I feel what you're saying, but the only way to truly ban a substance from a sport is to put it on a list and say that there is zero tolerance. If a doctor says that a particular steroid is the best treatment for your ailment (or Adderall for your ADD, or female hormone replacement for your nads that have shrunk from previous steroid abuse, etc), you then have to decide whether you want to follow that doctor's advice and risk MLB's suspension.

 

[LazerShow15]

EDINSON VOLQUEZ 50-Game Ban - WTF

Unreal. Guess you do not need to be smart to throw 97 mph.

 

[Sly]

This might be a stupid question but what is to prevent the Reds from activating Volquez and having him start his suspension while injured? Other than taking up a spot on the 40 man?

If you're on the DL, you can't be activated early, so he's got to sit out his 60 days on the DL before being activated.

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

This might be a stupid question but what is to prevent the Reds from activating Volquez and having him start his suspension while injured? Other than taking up a spot on the 40 man?

If you're on the DL, you can't be activated early, so he's got to sit out his 60 days on the DL before being activated.

Article says he can serve the suspension while on the DL. He just loses the salary.

 

[mredsox89]

The following drugs are on the list that make it complete crap:

Adderall, Ritalin...

It's incredibly easy to go to the Dr. and get a script for one of these.

"You know doc, I find myself daydreaming too much, really struggle to focus, can't finish what I start, can't pay attention to anything longer than about 20 seconds before my mind wanders. Can you give me anything?"

Those drugs are effectively speed and are simple as pie to get your hands on.

I'm no expert and it may be different for MLB players, but I've heard that these are much more difficult to get than you illustrate here. I've heard that you don't just say these things and get a prescription, you have to take a test that only a person who has ADD or ADHD can "pass". If you don't "pass" the test, then you do not get a prescription. That said, I'm not a doctor and have nothing but word of mouth evidence to back this up.

It would also be a smart idea for the players to go to their team doctors, or MLB doctors, not their personal doctors. You would think that is a pretty simple concept, but clearly the point hasn't been made clear enough to some of the athletes.

Case and point with the Volquez situation. He took something prescribed by a Doctor back in the Dominican. Got to wonder if he even asked his team doctor, or if he would have, would the team doctors have told him it would cause a positive test.

 

[All The Hype]

Yeah looks like Volquez... Even if it was Pujols/Howard/Lincecum Etc, it would never see the light of day... would just be to big of a hit to the MLB's Marketing boys .

Shep :ugeek:

Alex Rodriguez?

 

[LazerShow15]

Viagara

 

[pujolsjunkie]

This might be a stupid question but what is to prevent the Reds from activating Volquez and having him start his suspension while injured? Other than taking up a spot on the 40 man?

If you're on the DL, you can't be activated early, so he's got to sit out his 60 days on the DL before being activated.

Article says he can serve the suspension while on the DL. He just loses the salary.

Yup - he will not miss any additional time. It's bad. lol

 

[Weimer]

Awesome story. :lol:

 

[Topnotchsy]

Yeah looks like Volquez... Even if it was Pujols/Howard/Lincecum Etc, it would never see the light of day... would just be to big of a hit to the MLB's Marketing boys .

Shep :ugeek:

Alex Rodriguez?

Manny...

 

[Super Mario]

Didn't read any posts in the thread.


Not going to bash him, or any player for PED's. Never have, never will.


BUT BUT BUT BUT...............


I have a HUGE problem with the player being able to serve his suspension while being on the disabled list. That's a bunch of ********!!! The suspension should start when he's activated, and there should be rules in place to prevent early activations so the system can't be played for a fool, like it is now.


This is like a pitcher serving a 3 game suspension and not even having to miss a start. It's ********. When a starting pitcher is suspended, it should be for STARTS, not meaningless (to the SP) games.

 

[VizquelCollector.com]

The following drugs are on the list that make it complete crap:

Adderall, Ritalin...

It's incredibly easy to go to the Dr. and get a script for one of these.

"You know doc, I find myself daydreaming too much, really struggle to focus, can't finish what I start, can't pay attention to anything longer than about 20 seconds before my mind wanders. Can you give me anything?"

Those drugs are effectively speed and are simple as pie to get your hands on.

I can't name a single doc that would prescribe without first doing background and some testing on a patient before writing the script. They are out there, sure. But it's not that simple, especially for an adult, anymore.

Either way, who do we trust then if we cannot trust our medical doctors to prescribe the correct things. Who is MLB to question the sincerity of a diagnosis by someone that went to medical school and rotations up to a decade? I can understand if they need to corroborate the story that is given w/ some testing by MLB doctors also. To say that a lot of those that are getting prescribed, are getting them illegitimately is something that I don't think anyone but an MD, DO, ARNP, etc., should be judging.

It really really really is that simple, because I've done it. I was shocked by the "test" which amounts to a dozen or so questions. You see from a mile away what they're fishing for. I had a "that's it?" moment. And for what's it's worth, I think Focalin is amazing. The problem I had was sleep related but the stuff flat out works.

It's easy to imagine an athlete getting tired, looking for an edge to get geared up before the game and taking this stuff. Make a Dr.'s appt and take a silly test like the one below, and walk out with a script. Want more? At your follow-up appointment tell the doctor it's not quite getting the job done. You'll get a higher dose, larger quantity, or different drug that you may have a bit more luck with.

I'm NOT endorsing the practice, but it is absolutely 100% that easy. And covered by insurance.

http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm

 

[Tick-Tock-Man]

i wonder how much it's gonna hurt Edinson Volquez card prices.

 

[Super Mario]

Has getting busted ever hurt ANY players card prices?

 

[VizquelCollector.com]

The following drugs are on the list that make it complete crap:

Adderall, Ritalin...

It's incredibly easy to go to the Dr. and get a script for one of these.

"You know doc, I find myself daydreaming too much, really struggle to focus, can't finish what I start, can't pay attention to anything longer than about 20 seconds before my mind wanders. Can you give me anything?"

Those drugs are effectively speed and are simple as pie to get your hands on.

I can't name a single doc that would prescribe without first doing background and some testing on a patient before writing the script. They are out there, sure. But it's not that simple, especially for an adult, anymore.

Either way, who do we trust then if we cannot trust our medical doctors to prescribe the correct things. Who is MLB to question the sincerity of a diagnosis by someone that went to medical school and rotations up to a decade? I can understand if they need to corroborate the story that is given w/ some testing by MLB doctors also. To say that a lot of those that are getting prescribed, are getting them illegitimately is something that I don't think anyone but an MD, DO, ARNP, etc., should be judging.

There was a segment on 60 Minutes this evening and they effectively said the same thing, that's it's a cinch for college kids to acquire these drugs.

 

[bodiaz]

It would be horrible if it's Howard,utley or pujols

LOL! Like Selig would let Pujols get busted! Pujols is the savior of the game, no way Selig would let his name get released! He is an obvious user, but will never be reported on.