Major League Baseball has announced that Orioles left-hander Troy Patton will be suspended for 25 games after testing positive for amphetamines.
The loss of Patton for a month only adds to bullpen uncertainties for the Orioles. Having traded closer Jim Johnson to the Athletics, Baltimore looked to have found his replacement in the form of Grant Balfour. Problems with Balfour's physical now have his two-year, $15MM pact with the O's in jeopardy, however. The Orioles are reportedly turning their focus to Fernando Rodney as a result of that situation.
Patton, 28, pitched to a 3.70 ERA with 6.8 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate in 56 innings last season. Though his numbers against lefties took a step back in 2013, he was a force against left-handed hitters in 2012, holding them to a .212/.262/.292 batting line.
Who is Troy Patton?
Not that hard to find out.
I was being ironic, but thanks for your help!
Didn’t seem like you were being to ironic to me. Sometimes it’s hard to tell on a PC if someone is being serious or not.
It’s a long-running joke on the Orioles SB Nation blog that Troy Patton doesn’t actually exist. Well, I guess now he won’t for 25 games.
Did not know that.
Apologies then, I missed that joke completely… which wouldn’t be the first time. ;)
likewise for me lol
Wow, that is one great joke, thanks for sharing! Surprising that everyone doesn’t read the Orioles SB Nation blog, especially with gems like that being served up!
Curiosity question: anybody have an educated guess as to whether this would have been a positive hit from an in-season (or perhaps end-of-season) test that’s just now being announced?
I guess I am assuming so, as I would think it to be a bit odd (even beyond the obvious rule-breaking) to be using that kind of drug during the off-season.
Amphetamine abuse is actually very common, but I have no idea about this specific test.
Certainly after the Braun fiasco (the first one), everybody was being very careful about procedures – including the bit about keeping everything under wraps until after any/all appeals were done. So I could understand it if this were the result of a test dating back to perhaps early October.
That said, your point is well taken (and what I had in mind) if indeed the test was later: it could be pointing to a different kind of use/abuse.
/speculation
I wondered the same thing. An offseason test could be from use while training. But if it’s street usage, that could be very murky.
Failed during the season. Adderall
Failed the test in-season.. adderall was the drug of choice.
Edit: sorry thought my first comment disappeared. Didn’t mean to post it twice..
am I the only one who is surprised that Troy Patton of all people would be the final nail in the Orioles Bullpen’s Coffin?
Glad to see there are no pro-adderall posts. It is a prescription drug and banned by the MLB, any player who tests positive should be punished. These guys have the rest of their lives to do drugs after they retire if they so wish.
I wonder what Patton will be like coming back
Kind of surprised with this one. A lefty specialist taking illegal drugs.
Carlos Ruiz was suspended for the same medication last year. Rumor has it that he has been cleared by MLB to legally begin to use it again. A player is allowed to use it if he has been properly diagnosed with a condition requiring it’s use and has followed the proper procedures to gain permission from MLB. There is the possibility that Patton was abusing Addrerall, but it is also possible he has the need for it but didn’t follow procedures. I like to withhold the “cheater” word until we know the real story.
By the way, 119 players have been cleared by MLB to use Adderall. That amounts to nearly 10% of the players on the 40 man rosters.
That kind of disturbs me. I doubt that 10% of MLB players actually need Adderall, and probably not before games. Maybe MLB should require multiple second opinions for their players to take it.
It is a much higher percentage when compared to the adult population in the US, which amounts to about 4.5%. MLB states that the demographic which most of the players fall into skews the rate higher. They are younger,wealthy and in high pressure occupations.
MLB requires each player to submit to a review by three experts each year to renew their exemption. They look at things such as childhood medical records and usage prior to the start of their pro careers.