MLB Steroid Melodrama

[aznando]

It was nobody that sexy. Matt Lawton was the one suspended.

Aznando

 

[Renz]

Lawton becomes 12th suspended for steroids
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Former All-Star outfielder Matt Lawton was suspended Wednesday for a positive steroids test, becoming the 12th player penalized for violating Major League Baseball's policy.

Lawton, acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 27 and then left off New York's postseason roster, became a free agent last Thursday. He would serve a 10-day suspension at the start of next season.

An All-Star with Minnesota in 2000 and Cleveland in 2004, Lawton hit a combined .254 with 13 homers and 53 RBI this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cubs and Yankees. He turns 34 on Thursday.

With the Yankees, he batted .125 (6-for-48) with two homers and four RBIs, hitting a key two-run homer in a 2-1 victory over Baltimore on Sept. 21. Lawton has a .267 career average with 138 homers, 165 steals and 630 RBI in 11 major league seasons.

His positive test was the third announced by the commissioner's office since the end of the regular season, following those of Texas pitcher Carlos Almanzar and New York Mets pitcher Felix Heredia.

Players and owners, under pressure from congressmen, are attempting to negotiate a new steroids agreement with harsher penalties. Under legislation proposed Tuesday by Sens. Jim Bunning and John McCain, a first positive test would result in a two-year suspension.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig proposed in April that an initial positive for steroids result in a 50-game suspension.

 

[AZZenny]

Steroid and Speed penalty proposal

A glance at Tuesday's drug-testing agreement between baseball players and owners:
Steroid Penalties
• First positive test -- 50-game suspension, up from 10 days.
• Second positive test -- 100-game suspension, up from 30 days.
• Third positive test -- Lifetime ban, with player having right to apply for reinstatement after two years and an arbitrator being able to review reinstatement decision. Under the previous agreement, the earliest a player could be suspended for life was for a fifth positive test.
• In addition, a conviction for possession carries a 60-to-80 game penalty, while a second offense carries a 120-game to one-year penalty. A third offense nets the offender a lifetime ban. If a player is convicted for distribution, he will be suspended 80-to-100 games, while a second offense equals a lifetime ban.

Amphetamine Penalties
(There was no testing for amphetamines in previous agreement)
• First positive test -- Mandatory additional testing.
• Second positive -- 25-game suspension.
• Third positive -- 80-game suspension.
• Fourth positive -- Commissioner's discretion, with an arbitrator being able to review.
• In addition, a conviction for possession carries a 15-to-30 game penalty, while a second offense carries a 30-to-90 game penalty. A third offense nets the offender a one-year ban, while a fourth offense equals punishment at commissioner's discretion. If a player is convicted for distribution, he will be suspended 60-to-90 games, while a second offense equals a two-year ban and punishment for a third offense is commissioner's discretion.

Testing frequency
A player will be tested during spring training physicals and at least once during the regular season, with additional random testing. Under the previous agreement, each player was tested once from the start of spring training through the end of the regular season, with additional random testing. Both the new agreement and the previous deal provided for offseason testing.

Independent Administrator
A person not connected to management or the union will schedule and supervise the tests, which currently are administered by a join management-union committee.


I'm surprised they added the amphetamine part! I figured that was a couple years off.

This means the many guys with ADHD will have to be properly diagnosed to be able to take stimulants medicinally. Maybe I can carve out a little niche specialty. Alex Cintron, step right up!!