Rays pitcher Alex Colome has been placed on the restricted list after being hit with a 50-game PED suspension, the Commissioner's office announced today (story from MLB.com's Bill Chastain). Colome tested positive for the steroid Boldenone.
The 25-year-old righty had been an important part of the Tampa pitching depth. He was expected to open the year at the Triple-A level, but had been considered a candidate for the fifth rotation spot. Colome was strong last year, throwing 70 1/3 innings of 3.07 ERA ball at the Triple-A level and posting a 2.25 ERA in three big league starts before an elbow strain ended his season.
Landing at the fifth slot on Baseball America's ranking of the club's top prospects heading into the season, Colome is said to have made large strides forward in his command and feel. The hurler's durability is the main concern cited by BA.
I can’t believe some people still try to get away with it. It’s ridiculous.
Yeah, but guys have millions of reasons to try and get away with it I guess. At least guys are getting caught and held accountable now.
How many on this board would not take an illegal drug to bolster performance that could double your salary. Heck, many take them just for kicks.
For every guy who gets caught in MLB, likely 10-100 times that use with no problem.
I don’t.
It really depends on how much the product improves their performance. If you aren’t good enough to make an impact at the majors then it still might be worth it. If you get caught, then you get suspended you miss 50 games. If you aren’t good enough to make it to the majors then you don’t miss any games, but you never play any. What Braun did worked out really good for him. He was able to parlay the performance into a huge extension, but he didn’t miss any of the big paying years of the extension.
That’s why the penalties must be stiffer, though I’m sure the union would balk. First offense: suspension of one calendar year and surrender of HOF consideration, possible pension, etc. Second offense, total ban (such as Pete Rose’s) for life. Would also like to see 1st-time offense include banning of endorsements and bonuses, but that’s a legal mess unto itself.
Why would the players agree to that?. Maybe if they shorten a teams control to 3 years they would agree to longer suspensions.
What probably works better is to fine the team they play with as much as the players salary reduction is, and count all wins incurred for the last 20 games as losses. Yes, that would work fine. Players would be more fearful of costing their teammates wins and their team money for fear of being blackballed
I am pretty sure teams know what their players are doing. They have accurate weights, fat content. BMI’s, strength data so can see a blimp. They can also see hat size increases and acne on the players torso. Some even hire investigators to keep tabs on their investments before signing them (Red Sox did that with Crawford, others likely do it as well). Point being they are not blameless
I think he was trying to come back from an injury… maybe he thought it would help his performance while he healed?
Considering Colome is a known injury risk, I imagine the steroids were to help him heal quicker. Him out with injuries could, had he not been caught obviously, have cost him the chance for a big league call up during the season.
Why, we saw last year a bunch of guys did get away with it for years, until their records got released by a newspaper
50 games is nothing. I’d do it.
Boldenone? That’s a horse steroid. These guys are nuts. Sure, I can throw a 95-mph fastball, but I neigh occasionally.
Minor leaguers can’t afford the good stuff
I guess they figure that because there are so many getting away with it that they will too. After all most of the Biogenesis guys skated on the tests
Sadly the deterrence of a 50 game suspension is nothing compared to the millions they make by getting caught after they sign the big contract.
He is making about 50,000 this year, 500L if he makes the 25 man. The suspension actually could work out ok for him, saves some wear and tear on the arm. He can pitch simulated games and still be ready after the ASB.
Well, this is sad. Here I was thinking the kid had talent when really he was just a filthy PED user.
Could still have talent
I’d say his main concern is being a gutless cheater, not having durability issues.
This just reminds people, with all the testing and all the penalties, they are still out there. And they are still getting paid even after they fail a test. Some of them are even still fawned over. It’s a little perverse that a guy like McGwire, who juiced back in the old days when it was tolerated or tacitly approved of, and retired after 2001, have such a long road to redemption while the Brauns, Peraltas, Cruz, etc. will be back bringing down the big bucks. And they will be cheered by their home town fans. I’m a Yankee fan and loathe A-Rod, but if he comes back in 2015 and gets put in the lineup, am I really going to root for him to keep striking out? Maybe in a rout.
Absolutely not.
These are not little kids, they should be responsible for themselves. It is unfair to the team, and to the fans. Do a lifetime ban, but lets not get into redistributing wins because a player used steroids.
Another over hyped Rays prospect.
Just make a lifetime ban. You’ll see it stop dead in its tracks and probably some young entrepreneur will start a league of ex-pedders with no replay, no high salaries and tickets that cost $15 max.