In light of Melky Cabrera's suspension for testing positive for testosterone, a few questions have arisen. 1) the length of the suspension is currently 50 games for first offense, kirk Gibson, former MLB player and current manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, believes that the first offense should be 1 year and second should be lifetime ban. Hard to argue with that, since everyone knows the rules by now.
The next question people are talking about is whether Melky should be eligible to win the batting title, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune wrote this;
"There's no sane thought process in which he would be allowed to claim a batting crown...but even if Bud Selig wants to keep baseball asterisk-free approach to history, he has an easy escape hatch; forgo the Tony Gwynn rule in this one instance. Let cabrera forever linger one plate appearance shy. His hits remain intact, but he's disqualified from the crown.
Selig's got the authority within the famous "best interest of baseball" clause and its imperative that he uses it.
Not after the fact, either. Right now."
Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports HardballTalk believes he should be entitled to the batting title because regardless he did get those hit, (with a little help IMO). I disagree because if he used a substance of any kind that helped his performance, none of the hits should count.
Some might say that players as far back as Babe Ruth used amphetamines and their records are intact and they weren't punished, Now I believe that most would come to the conclusion that amphetamines do help ones performance, as it is a stimulant and helps with focus. We can't go back and change what happened in the early years of baseball, but we can make it better now and in the future.
I therefore say that Cabrera should not be entitled to the batting crown.
Ariel Meredith
Adaora
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Bud Selig has to stop turning a blind eye to problems in the MLB. I hate to say it but the day may come when no one is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Lady's Coach Belicat
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I actually have mixed emotions about this subject. HGH builds muscle, and steroids speed recovery time. These guys are paid to perform, and they will do whatever it takes to remain in the lineup. The Major Leagues represent the difference between being set for life, and spending 8 years in Triple-A without getting that phone call. How long would a team continue to put up with a player that spent more time injured than on the field. As long as one contract will put a player on easy street for the rest of his life, baseball will never stop the use of steroids. This would never be a topic of conversation if Barry Bonds had been a .250 hitter with 25 home runs.
Hllywd: Olskool
Columbus , OH
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Whether the player is taking it to heal faster or not, its still illegal and they know it, if you are injury prone, you're still going to be out of games for a certain time whether you take someone or not, getting back a week early isn't worth the risk of getting suspended. As far Melky Cabreba, he wasn't injured and I agree with Kirk Gibson, the punishment isn't severe enough, we're not dealing with 6 year old kids, a one year suspension, second offense lifetime ban....
~Foxy~
Springfield, MA
Total Comments (6839)
I had to come take a look.
I will say all awards earned should be removed if found guilty of using PEDs. So Melky would be automatically ineligible. I will also add, that the players know the rules and still they try. The time has come to set the standard that cheating is not acceptable under any circumstance. Throw them out. It's not a matter of the injuries or spending time in the minors ... it's about the integrity of the game ... it's about ethics ... it's about the GAME!
ty for letting me have my 2 cents Foxy ...
jctoo, cult elitist
Coolsville, TX
Total Comments (11254)
Do you remember that Olympic swimmer from the late '80's early '90's who won a medal and then had it taken away from him a year or two later when it was discovered he used a banned medication before his medal winning swim? He took a sinus medication that was not on the list of banned substances but should have been. There's no evidence this medication did anything to give him an edge over the others, but the IOC stripped him of his medal and gave it to the next guy. Looks like all sports needs to get as tough as the IOC.
Lady's Coach Belicat
Total Comments (14210)
I wasn't expecting my opinion to be popular. I think it's the diehard baseball fan that has his head in the sand. It's never going to stop. There's too much money involved. Alex Rodriguez has signed for a quarter of a billion dollars --twice. If baseball suspended everyone using steroids, the seson would be cancelled.
Hllywd: Olskool
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (3339)
Professional sports do not pay for effort. If a pitcher can't take the ball every 5 days, he's out of a job. PERIOD Injury takes a player from hero to zero real fast. Cabrera was playing this year for his last big contract. I say the risk was worth it.
Hllywd: Olskool
Columbus , OH
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No problem, I'm in complete agreement with you on this one.....
~Foxy~
Springfield, MA
Total Comments (6839)
It's not that your opinon is unpopular, in fact, there a ton of peeps on these boards that agree with you. I'm just not one of them. Sure they're gonna' keep on trying and it's up to MLB to keep on trying to catch them. Just because the players are gonna' keep on trying doesn't make it right. One of the reasons we all enjoy sports is we want to see the players do their best ... WITHOUT CHEATING ...
jctoo, cult elitist
Coolsville, TX
Total Comments (11254)
this is one of those subjects that just makes me ... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ... woof, woof, arf ...
jctoo, cult elitist
Coolsville, TX
Total Comments (11254)
I just don't know if I would call trying to stay in the lineup, or trying to get back, cheating.
Hllywd: Olskool
Columbus , OH
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Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford will have season-ending surgery on his left elbow Thursday. Crawford has been playing with pain since coming off the disabled list last month and will have Tommy John surgery. Is this fair?
Hllywd: Olskool
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (3339)
using PEDs to try to stay in the lineup or get back in ... is cheating
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree ...
jctoo, cult elitist
Coolsville, TX
Total Comments (11254)
Roger Clemens is back pitching again. This time for the Sugar Land (shortened version of the name mosquitoes) in the independent Atlantic league. If he does well he could try a couple of starts for the Houston Astros after rosters expand in September. smh.
Lady's Coach Belicat
Total Comments (14210)
When he announced his retirement in MLB, there has to be some kind of negotiation before he can play again at the Major League level. I don't think Selig is ready to address that issue.
OlderthanDirt
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